Not Home Away from Home
After watching Daughter from Danang, the difference in the birth family and the adopted family is very evident. One can relate from being from one country and traveling to another. The experience has the power to change one’s life. From the different languages to the different traditions, it can be a whole new world. Heidi’s experience was a culture shock, even though it is technically her home. The birth and adopted families have their own culture and traditions they live by.
When Heidi was adopted, she entered a whole new life. As time passed, Heidi became for Americanized. She grew apart from her Vietnamese heritage. She no longer knew how to speak the language or practice the traditions. She even began to lose her Vietnamese look. If Heidi had stayed in Vietnam, she would have probably been poor. She also would have had a more stoic personality like her Vietnamese family. Instead, she had a sweet, sensitive, and Southern personality that she acquired while living in Tennessee. Her personality has been shaped by her social location (Ruanee, Cerulo pg. 55). Although Vietnam is where Heidi was born, she does not consider it her home. She was basically raised in America from the beginning. She was taught how to be an American so no one questioned her …show more content…
Heidi’s idea of “home” is a grey area based on her experiences. Her home in Tennessee would be different than her home in Vietnam. Her main idea of home is based on space. If she had grown up in a village rather than a city, she would have a whole new outlook on home. Roy also describes nations as “group of people who claim a common heritage and history, a sense of “us” or an imagined community that distinguishes them from other groups and gives them claim on territory” (Roy 192). Vietnam has a totally different heritage than America. Heidi knew this, but had no idea it would be so
After watching Daughter from Danang, the difference in the birth family and the adopted family is very evident. One can relate from being from one country and traveling to another. The experience has the power to change one’s life. From the different languages to the different traditions, it can be a whole new world. Heidi’s experience was a culture shock, even though it is technically her home. The birth and adopted families have their own culture and traditions they live by.
When Heidi was adopted, she entered a whole new life. As time passed, Heidi became for Americanized. She grew apart from her Vietnamese heritage. She no longer knew how to speak the language or practice the traditions. She even began to lose her Vietnamese look. If Heidi had stayed in Vietnam, she would have probably been poor. She also would have had a more stoic personality like her Vietnamese family. Instead, she had a sweet, sensitive, and Southern personality that she acquired while living in Tennessee. Her personality has been shaped by her social location (Ruanee, Cerulo pg. 55). Although Vietnam is where Heidi was born, she does not consider it her home. She was basically raised in America from the beginning. She was taught how to be an American so no one questioned her …show more content…
Heidi’s idea of “home” is a grey area based on her experiences. Her home in Tennessee would be different than her home in Vietnam. Her main idea of home is based on space. If she had grown up in a village rather than a city, she would have a whole new outlook on home. Roy also describes nations as “group of people who claim a common heritage and history, a sense of “us” or an imagined community that distinguishes them from other groups and gives them claim on territory” (Roy 192). Vietnam has a totally different heritage than America. Heidi knew this, but had no idea it would be so