Relocation and its Effects on Culture

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Recommended: The similarity between the US and the Jamaican culture

Relocation and its Effects on Culture part 2
This ethnography paper is concentrated on the cultural differences a Jamaican man, coming from Jamaica, has to endure or thrive in order to belong into the culture of the United States. The person I interviewed is a close friend of mine and his name is Travis. Originally he didn’t want me to include his name but had a change of heart while I was editing the original paper. Travis is a pure bred Jamaican. His parents are Jamaican, his parent’s parents are Jamaican, and so forth. Along with him being Jamaican, I interviewed Travis to learn how the transition from one culture to another has affected him and his daily activities. I also wanted to know if there were any differences or similarities that he has witnessed between the two cultures, and this led to my research questions being: What are the lifestyle changes for a Jamaican entering American soil, how does this affect the mental attitude, and can they notice a difference in themselves since the time of arrival?

The interview took place in the living room of his house. Travis’ house had a Jamaican theme going on. There was a large Bob Marley posters hanging on his bedroom wall. The green, black and yellow colors of his flag reined on the wall above his bed. The concoctions in his kitchen consisted of homemade remedies that I thought were unusual. He had a grin on his face while describing to me what were in the drinks and what the drinks were for. Travis had a garlic and water drink that was made to help battle cold and other various minor illnesses. He asked me to try some but I gently declined. I have had my fair share of unusual foods, but drinking garlic and water was outside my comfort zone. After the tour guide around his ho...

... middle of paper ...

...er understood why. Travis’ story relates very similarly to mine. I have noticed differences in everyday life since coming to America. I don’t do chores as often, my parents are ore subtle and patience with things, and the way they call me has changed as well. I believe Travis has had the same things happen in his family and it’s almost impossible to stop. In order to survive in a new environment one has to evolve and adjust to the surrounding.

Works Cited

• "Climate." Climate. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. .
• "Jamaican Experience." Jamaican Experience. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. .
• Pillai, Prabhakar. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 08 Feb. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. .

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