Everyone celebrates their own culture and are born and raised by their family’s own traditions. However, what happens if one has to live between two cultures? Many people nowadays find themselves in this situation especially when they immigrate to another country or when they are born and raised in one country by parents who came from elsewhere. They may belong to one culture at home and in front of their families but their identity may change when talking to their classmates, colleagues or friends depending on their familiarity with the person.

Living between two cultures and balancing their identity within more than one culture may be challenging at times. People who experience being bicultural may struggle with an identity crisis which means that they struggle to fully assimilate with both cultures. They may feel like they are living double lives, playing a certain role at home and another when they are not with their families. Often, many children of immigrants may feel like they have to pick one culture over another which may impose mental health problems on them. They may feel like they are betraying their families if they are ‘too much’ of another culture and vice versa, which may cause them to feel like they don’t fit in anywhere. This may lead to anxiety, depression or isolation. It can also lead to an overwhelming amount of stress when these people are trying to please their parents while trying to discover who they are as an individual.

Another common issue in being in different cultures is language barriers. Bicultural individuals may be fluent in multiple languages, but they may also struggle with communication, as they may not have complete mastery of either language. This can lead to difficulties in communicating effectively in an intercultural community. Furthermore, a lack of communication may lead to conflicts rooting from the judgment of other people prior to even knowing them. These problems are often experienced by bicultural individuals. Though learning the new language by talking and accepting the new norm can certainly solve it.

When you arrive in a new country, the culture prevalent there may be odd for you because it is not the normal way of doing things for you. However, you are expected to blend in as soon as possible to make friends or excel at work because their culture is the norm there. The reason is that one might do something which is usual in one culture, but unpleasant or impolite in another. Although it is essential to adapt, people from other cultures will eventually have to accept the fact that you are not as accustomed to their culture as they might perceive.

However, research has shown that being bicultural is a tremendously beneficial trait. It can expand your creativity and be more flexible. We tend to think about and experience the world around us in our own unique way – one that is influenced by our own personal heritage and the cultures experienced growing up. By being exposed to more than one culture, we are more likely to consider the cultural perspective of others during intercultural encounters which can help reduce conflict and misunderstandings. This is because we will be able to imagine ourselves in another person’s shoes and understand the influences on their thoughts and decisions. This will ultimately allow us to appreciate and respect another person’s point of view.

Having lived through more than one culture promotes a posture of curiosity. Rather than judging and criticizing someone’s actions at first sight, bicultural children and people tend to be curious and interested in the thought process behind their actions. This way, they are more open-minded to the different perspectives people may have and may also be fascinated how others may think distinctly to them. They may then put massive effort into welcoming people into their lives, understanding that people are complex and full of stories we are not introduced to yet. By presenting a genuine interest in this difference, people may also unexpectedly develop relationships with people who are very dissimilar to them.

Nevertheless, living in between two cultures may seem difficult and lonely at times but it is always important to recognize that allowing yourself to discover and embrace both cultures can be very freeing. Moreover, it is helpful to recognize that both cultures offer different strengths reminders as you allow yourself to discover both cultures.

What it Means to Get Caught in Between Two Cultures

Sources

InSight Scoop