Two Ways to Belong in America

How to become an American Citizen?

Did you know that you can have a dual citizenship?

The Two Sides of Immigration

• By marriage
• By taking a U.S. Citizen test
• By being born onto American soil
• Having someone within the Military

Side 2

Side 1

There are some immigrates that hold a green card. A green card is a card that allows someone from another country to work within the U.S. for long periods of time. You can think this as the driver license or social number, if they loose that then they might be deportated back to their original country. This is a format where one can live within a country without becoming an actual citizen

There are some imigrants that wish to be a U.S. citizen, they will then take the naturalzation test to become one. Which can mean that they will slowly move towards the American culture, leaving behind their old one, and becoming a part of the country.

For instance, my mother took the naturalzation test for me when I was a child so that I could be a U.S. citizen. My mother also could have made me a dual citizan, however, to do not knowing how I'd feel when older she opted out of this option. Also the fear of if a war was to break out, how would that affected me then?

I have someone who I think of as a big sister, her name is Wei. She is currently a proffessor within the University of Knoxville, Tennessee. She has always held a green card and I doubt she'd become a U.S. citizen because her home country is China, where all most all of her family lives and where she grew up.

Writing To Discover

Examples

Ethnic Identity

The world of immigrant has many connnotations. What associations does the word have with for you?

If you were to move to another country, how do you think it would feel to be considered an immigrant?

Like in the story that we read, the two sisters learn about their identities. One who became a U.S. Citizen and adapted to the culture while the other one clinged closely to their native culture. As such, those who 'betray' their home country are confronted by those who retain their original identity leading to tensions and more then often prejudice on either side.

Can you think of any similarities/differences of the choice of lifestyle that members of an ethnic community that you're familiar with as they try to find a comfortable place within the American society?

Two Ways to Belong in America

By Bharati Mukherjee

Page 164 -169

Bio on Bharati

Presented by Yi Church

• Prominent Indian American Witer
• University professor
• Born to an aristocratic family in Calcutta (Kolkata)
• Married an American husband
• Together they moved to Canada and a few other states
• Taught at many different Universities (Queens College ad the City University of New York)
• Current works have the common theme of immigration (policies and communities) for mostly women

The End

Two Ways To Belong in America