Africa, a continent made up of 54 different beautiful countries, which has very different characteristics and wealth. Cameroon, located in the center of Africa, is where I am from. I was born and raised there. I grew up with a lot of family around, but I am the only child of my parents. I am proud to say that I was raised by my family. They play an important role in my life, and who I am today. Growing up, I was taught values to respect, and beliefs to go by. These values and beliefs helped build my strength and not focus on my weakness.
My principles and values were obtained by lessons I learned at home, or habit that I took home. Some of the values I am to maintain are respect, obedience, love and to stay hardworking. As much as I would …show more content…
My family, relatives, and friends also helped in the process of making me learn what they believed is right, and how to behavior in an appropriate manner according to my culture. Once, I moved to the United States of America, I was acculturated to the western way of life and manners. I was already use to Cameroon way of life, so once I move here, I had to adapt to the different ways of living. The culture was completely different from what I was use to: hence I experience culture shock in the beginning. It made me very uncomfortable. Learning how to use American English, how everyone interacts with everyone else, and what is consisted good, bad, or what not say to people. I remember when I stepped out of the airplane and the airport, I immediately noticed the change in air and behavior. What really surprised me was the fact that everyone was unbothered and busy looking. The air felt cleaner. Everyone seem to have an important place to be at, with no time to waste. It took time before I got use to looking at people in the eyes. This is because in Cameroon, you are not supposed to maintain eye contact with people who are older than you. Here, in the contrary, when you can’t look at someone in the eyes, it means you are lying or not being honest. I still struggle with this here, because at home I have to manner my Cameroonian culture, and once out of the house, I have to maintain the American
My principles and values were obtained by lessons I learned at home, or habit that I took home. Some of the values I am to maintain are respect, obedience, love and to stay hardworking. As much as I would …show more content…
My family, relatives, and friends also helped in the process of making me learn what they believed is right, and how to behavior in an appropriate manner according to my culture. Once, I moved to the United States of America, I was acculturated to the western way of life and manners. I was already use to Cameroon way of life, so once I move here, I had to adapt to the different ways of living. The culture was completely different from what I was use to: hence I experience culture shock in the beginning. It made me very uncomfortable. Learning how to use American English, how everyone interacts with everyone else, and what is consisted good, bad, or what not say to people. I remember when I stepped out of the airplane and the airport, I immediately noticed the change in air and behavior. What really surprised me was the fact that everyone was unbothered and busy looking. The air felt cleaner. Everyone seem to have an important place to be at, with no time to waste. It took time before I got use to looking at people in the eyes. This is because in Cameroon, you are not supposed to maintain eye contact with people who are older than you. Here, in the contrary, when you can’t look at someone in the eyes, it means you are lying or not being honest. I still struggle with this here, because at home I have to manner my Cameroonian culture, and once out of the house, I have to maintain the American