Differences Between Puerto Rican Culture And American Culture

Mayra has not had the easiest life. Identity has been a continuous struggle throughout her time adjusting to the differences between Puerto Rican culture and American culture. Professor Hefferan of Grand Valley State University defines culture as the learned and shared way of repetitive thinking, feeling, and acting (Hefferan, 2018). If two different ways of thinking and acting clash, it causes some issues when trying to define where your own allegiance should lie. Mayra has learned two cultures and adapted various aspects of each one, which has unfortunately caused inconsistency in her values and traditions. Such as the financial assistance expected from her mother, the holidays she celebrates, varying aspects of religion, even the food
Constant clashing of expectations from each side has caused severe depression and a division between herself and others. Mayra’s membership of social groups is split between her upbringing in Puerto Rico and the expectations of the United States, resulting in an uncomfortable in between imbalance of both cultures which causes questioning of identity and a lack of social cohesion. In other words, Mayra is still fighting to understand who she is and how to find the healthiest balance between her past and present identities and traditions. This uncertainty of norms is also known as Heterodoxy, or the questioning of what is considered common belief (Hefferan, 2018). Mayra continues to question what is considered to be normal in both American and Puerto Rican cultures and which aspects are needed in her life to finally bring a sense of equilibrium to her sense of who she
The clash of two cultures has not been easy to decode and balance, and her question of “who am I” will continue to be asked well into her future. Both Puerto Rican and American cultures will play a hand in how she lives her life, allowing her the opportunity of experiencing what it takes to assimilate into a new culture as well as holding on to cherished traditions. I am very grateful to have had the chance to get to hear what it is like to look back on one's own culture and the difficulties in finding a sense of identity. Culture and identity are both only relative, depending widely on the experiences and actions you take throughout your life. Mayra will continue to work towards an internal equilibrium, passing on traditions and learning to live with a combined cultural