Culture of Vietnam vs. America’s
When I come to Chicago in 2004, I get lost in culture through people’s life-style. Behind the culture is usually is a story telling differences in life-style of the nation. The differences in culture begin with the method of raising-up children, and then come under the importance of togetherness through the celebration of new year day. The combination of American-Vietnamese cultural changes over thousands of Vietnamese has been recognized worldwide. It has become an essential problem of oversea Vietnamese. Vietnamese people have lost through many differences and/ or translations in culture to get used to life-style in the US.
First of all, it is about the method of raising children. According to Vietnamese culture, parents want children to live with them until children grow up and have their own job. During the time of living with children, parents always support in tuition and living expenses. To support children in many means of life is to make children understand that nobody can replace their blood parents. Furthermore, Vietnamese parents want children to understand what adults have done during the period of growing-up. So, when Vietnamese children become adults, they always listen to their parents. In addition to listening to parents, grown-up children not only respect parents but also understand how important parents are in their own life. For example, when my brother gets married, he has a problem with his wife. Then his wife comes to see my mom, and my mom knows how to control my brother. As a result, my brother knows how to correct his mistakes. On the other hand, American parents let children live away from parents since children are eight teen years old. In addition to letting children live away from parents, children have to work to earn money. Because of this method, grown-up children never know how important parents are. Parents lose their control upon children. For instance, my sister gets married to American man. When she has a problem, she tells his mother. As a result, his mother answers that she has no idea or she does know how to control his son. In other words, I cannot be familiar with method of raising children of Americans and I feel lot of luck when my parents still remain Vietnamese culture of raising children in the US.
First of all, it is about the method of raising children. According to Vietnamese culture, parents want children to live with them until children grow up and have their own job. During the time of living with children, parents always support in tuition and living expenses. To support children in many means of life is to make children understand that nobody can replace their blood parents. Furthermore, Vietnamese parents want children to understand what adults have done during the period of growing-up. So, when Vietnamese children become adults, they always listen to their parents. In addition to listening to parents, grown-up children not only respect parents but also understand how important parents are in their own life. For example, when my brother gets married, he has a problem with his wife. Then his wife comes to see my mom, and my mom knows how to control my brother. As a result, my brother knows how to correct his mistakes. On the other hand, American parents let children live away from parents since children are eight teen years old. In addition to letting children live away from parents, children have to work to earn money. Because of this method, grown-up children never know how important parents are. Parents lose their control upon children. For instance, my sister gets married to American man. When she has a problem, she tells his mother. As a result, his mother answers that she has no idea or she does know how to control his son. In other words, I cannot be familiar with method of raising children of Americans and I feel lot of luck when my parents still remain Vietnamese culture of raising children in the US.
Next, it is unexpected difference in family reunion on New Year between America and Vietnam. Vietnamese lunar New Year falls into lunar February, which is solar March. Celebrating New Year is very unique because it is the most meaningful family reunion that teaches children the importance of family reunion and of how to respect adults. For instance, one week before lunar New Year in Vietnam, other families, my family and I often go to either flea markets or supermarkets to buy ornaments to decorate the house. In addition to buying ornaments, my siblings and I have to clean up the house. Moreover, my mom usually makes sticky rice cakes that are wrapped in banana leaves and prepares the most delicious food for three days. When New Year eve comes, my siblings and I have to prepare the best wishes for my parents. Then my parents will give red envelops of gift money to me and other sibling. Furthermore, I have a chance to see firecrackers. Next days, my family and I visit relatives in the countryside, adults often give children a red envelop of gift money. Through celebration of New Year, young generation will learn the importance of the holiday that it is not only family reunion but also the importance of respectfulness towards parents and adults. On the other hand, Vietnamese New Year in the USA falls in winter. My siblings have to go school or go to work. My mom cannot find the right recipes and materials to make sticky rice cakes. We have no chance to have the right family reunion. Therefore, I do not feel the atmosphere of lunar New Year. In addition to losing the feelings of lunar New Year, I have to adapt with American New Year that is so boring because it does not show young American generation how important New Year is and what it is for. Also I have to miss how to celebrate lunar New Year because there is no chance to go out to buy ornaments or materials in winter. Therefore, I always feel boring when New Year comes, and I am afraid that young generation in my family will forget Vietnamese tradition.
In conclusion, I get lost since I live in the USA because there are a lot of differences in raising-up children and it is hard to maintain the traditional family reunion through celebrating New Year.
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