The Islamic Culture: from Yemen to the United State
Alwathiqubellah Abumaali
Mr. Daher
English 1A
28 January 2013
The Islamic Culture: From Yemen to the United States We all perform rituals every day but the way in which we do these rituals defines who we are. We all have similar rituals and routines in the sense that we do the same things but in our own unique ways. The Middle Eastern culture is unique in its own sense, having its own rituals, routines, and regimens, much like any other culture abroad. A lot of people that come to the United States from overseas tend to adapt to the cultures here and leave their original culture behind, thus becoming “Americanized.” Amongst those who immigrate to the United States, there are few who retain their roots from the Middle East whilst adapting to the westernized culture, thus creating a balance between cultures. I chose to explore the daily rituals and routines of my good friend Tarek Ahmed from Yemen. He arrived in the United States in the year 2006 and we’ve been great friends since then. Over the years I’ve realized that he’s carried his culture as well as rituals and routines that he practiced in Yemen to the United States. These daily rituals and routines are of daily importance to Tarek because as a child, he was taught to never forget his culture. “When I came from Yemen, I knew that I could not forget my hometown and that I had to carry my culture with me.” Ever since Tarek came to the United States, he’s had trouble fitting in. His culture was very different to the people around him. They didn’t accept him for who he was and where he came from. Tarek knew that he had to adapt to the cultures of the United States, but not to the extent where he’d forget his original culture. “I knew I had to change who I was around other people so that they would accept me,” said Tarek. Tarek had only changed the way which he acted around the people who did not accept him for who he was. At home, he still practiced the same rituals and routines which he practiced in
Mr. Daher
English 1A
28 January 2013
The Islamic Culture: From Yemen to the United States We all perform rituals every day but the way in which we do these rituals defines who we are. We all have similar rituals and routines in the sense that we do the same things but in our own unique ways. The Middle Eastern culture is unique in its own sense, having its own rituals, routines, and regimens, much like any other culture abroad. A lot of people that come to the United States from overseas tend to adapt to the cultures here and leave their original culture behind, thus becoming “Americanized.” Amongst those who immigrate to the United States, there are few who retain their roots from the Middle East whilst adapting to the westernized culture, thus creating a balance between cultures. I chose to explore the daily rituals and routines of my good friend Tarek Ahmed from Yemen. He arrived in the United States in the year 2006 and we’ve been great friends since then. Over the years I’ve realized that he’s carried his culture as well as rituals and routines that he practiced in Yemen to the United States. These daily rituals and routines are of daily importance to Tarek because as a child, he was taught to never forget his culture. “When I came from Yemen, I knew that I could not forget my hometown and that I had to carry my culture with me.” Ever since Tarek came to the United States, he’s had trouble fitting in. His culture was very different to the people around him. They didn’t accept him for who he was and where he came from. Tarek knew that he had to adapt to the cultures of the United States, but not to the extent where he’d forget his original culture. “I knew I had to change who I was around other people so that they would accept me,” said Tarek. Tarek had only changed the way which he acted around the people who did not accept him for who he was. At home, he still practiced the same rituals and routines which he practiced in