Book 1 - Blog 1

        The book I decided to read for book 1 is American Like Me by American Ferrera. As a first generation American, I thought that this collection would be interesting for me to peruse. So far, I have gone through the introduction and the first three guest stories. Despite the fact that all these guests come from different backgrounds from me, it surprised me to see how much I noted and resonated with as I read through their stories. My feelings seem to be the point of the book— regardless of our ethnic backgrounds and our immigrant parents’ stories, we often find ourselves living variations of the same childhoods and lives in America.  

“In fact, having parents with deep ties to another country and culture feels part and parcel of being an American.” — America Ferrera 

        I grew up in a primarily immigrant dominated neighborhood all my life. To me, immigrant families are the norm in America. I grew up with stories of friends’ parents fleeing their countries due to war or immigrating here in search for better opportunities. I didn’t know what multi-generational families meant. Also because of my neighborhood environment, I never felt alienated by my peers. Having immigrant parents never made me feel less American. That being said, I also have had alienating experiences that the guest writers have lived through. I never found my name on key-chain carousels like Reshma, never slept over at a friend’s like America, and also thought Sizzlers was the cream-of-the-crop like Jenny. Even though I grew to see these differences, I, just like them, have found peace with the fact that we are not supposed to be like white people and share the same background as them. And I’m proud that I get to have a unique immigrant experience the way these writers have too.