Sampling the Menu
Throughout the journey of life, travelers are exposed to so many different types of things. From simple things like food and clothing to more advanced topics like ideals and moral principles, everyday life serves as a sampler. Similar to a person in line at the local deli, the shopper has a taste and decides whether or not they want to take the item home. In her novel Jasmine, author Bharati Mukherjee illustrates the balance between embracing the American culture and holding firm to one’s cultural roots.
Even by moving a few hundred miles from New York City to rural Iowa there can be quite the culture shock. One can imagine how large of a culture a shock would accompany a move from third world India to the United States. In the novel Jasmine, the title character is exposed to many foreign things in the United States, some which she incorporates into her repertoire, and some which she deflects.
Having come from an apparently bleak upbringing, Jasmine understandably seems to be sort of captivated by many of the commodities of United States lifestyle and culture. Because of the demanding and sometimes difficult aspects of her early life, one cannot blame Jasmine for taking hold and embracing “The American Dream”. Coming from a non-western Hindu background, Jasmine is fond of the “love-marriage” concept, where free will plays a part in picking a partner rather than it being pre-arranged. Jasmine obviously takes full advantage of this in her love life. From abundant television to enhanced medical attention, life in the United States isn’t a bad thing.
Jasmine does not abandon every facet of her upbringing the native culture, and actually rubs off on the Iowans. While living in rural Iowa, Jasmine raises quite the stir with her ethnic Indian cooking, as it becomes quite the demand with those who know about it, particularly her son’s friend. Similar to Jasmine, there are parts of this foreign culture which the Iowans sample and have taken a liking to.
Coming to the United States from a non-western background would give one a broad spectrum of culture to learn from. From cooking to arranged marriages, there are many discrepancies which give the subject a first hand view at the pros and cons for the different ways of life. After being exposed to something new, it is best for one to take a moment and decide whether or not it is something they should integrate into their way of life.
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I definately agree that although a culture shock may exist in a move from New York City to rural Iowa, I believe it to be uncomparable to the culture shock associated with moving from India to the United States. Ideally I would like to think as the United States as the "creme de la creme" however our customs and way of life may not reflect an idealistic society to foreigners. I think that is nice that other cultures have learned to create a hybrid way of living where they embrace US Cultures while maintaining some of their own.