Alien in a Foreign Land

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Alien in a Foreign Land

ID # 3741

Hi! I am Alekhya Yechoor and I am a Biology major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was born in India and lived there for the first five years of my life.

When I moved to the U.S. it was January. I remember being shocked at the lack of people roaming the streets. In comparison to the huge population of India, the small suburb I had moved to seemed like a ghost-town. Where were all the street-side vendors? Where were all the auto-rickshaws? It was hard to believe that I was even on the same planet.

School was equally strange. My black hair, brown skin and Indian accent all stuck out like a sore thumb. I was lucky to have understanding teachers that helped me learn. It took a little over a year for me to understand the culture and integrate myself. Soon, I was playing hopscotch and trading Pokemon cards with all the new friends I had made.

However, I never forgot my roots. My family and I still eat Indian food on a daily basis and celebrate Indian festivals. We practice our religion and go to Hindu temples. We even visit India periodically. Though it has changed through the years, it is still a country full of great food, rich history, and wonderful people. It will always be a huge part of who I am.

My culture has shaped who I am as others are shaped by their own. I feel that by understanding the cultures of others, we can begin to understand who they are. I am always willing to teach people about my culture and to learn about the culture of others.