The novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri begins with a newly married couple, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, moving from their hometown of Calcutta, India to America. While America has the appeal of new opportunities, they find themselves immersed in a completely foreign culture. They both struggle to figure out their new culture without losing their old one and they long for their family back home. Ashima feels about living and raising children in America "...she is terrified to raise a child in a country where she is related to know one, where she knows so little, where life seems so tentative and spare" (Lahiri, 6). Ashoke and Ashima are able to find balance between American and Indian culture by making subtle adjustments to their daily life and building a community of Indian friends. Their two children, Gogol and Sonia, who have lived their whole life in America, fail to appreciate their Indian culture and grow to be much more "Americanized" then their parents.
Orchomenos, Greece (My grandfathers village) [left] and Ottawa, Canada [right]
You may notice some small differences!
Although I, aswell as my parents, have lived my whole life in Canada, my grandparents immigrated here from Greece and their story reminds me much of Ashoke and Ashima's. Like Ashoke, my grandfather came to Canada to pursue and education he would not have had in Greece. Although my grandfather is able to appreciate Canada for it's freedom and opportunities, it must have been difficult for him to adjust to a new lifestyle that is far different from that of the small village he comes from in Greece. When I ask my grandfather how life is different in Greece, he always speaks of the pace of life, saying that life is much slower in Greece. My grandfather also immigrated to Canada alone and like Ashima, must have missed his family back home. I can connect with Ashima not from my own experiences, but from the experiences my grandfather speaks of; how a 2 minute phone call was the only communication he had with his family, how it was years until he saw his family again. Like the Ganguli's, finding friends of the same culture was very important to my grandparents. They have been involved in the Greek community throughout their lives in Canada and have made close family friends that have played an important role in their lives. My grandfather proudly speaks of Greek traditions his group of friends brought to the Greek community in Canada that we still practise today. I found it heartbreaking how lonely and depressed Ashima felt in America, and constantly wondered if it was as difficult for my grandparents coming to Canada.
In some ways, I can connect to Gogol as he is faced with growing up with two different cultures. Like Gogol, I am much more "Americanized" then my grandparents. For one, I speak very little Greek which makes it difficult to communicate to my relatives when visiting them in Greece. I feel that the main difference between me and Gogol is that he makes an effort to distance himself from his Indian culture while I make an effort to be more connected to my Greek culture. Gogol has very little interest in having Indian friends or participating in cultural events with his family. My Greek friends and family are very important to me as is practising Greek culture. I understand Gogol's desire to fit in with his American friends, but I feel that he should appreciate his Indian culture that is an important part of his identity.
Orchomenos, Greece (My grandfathers village) [left] and Ottawa, Canada [right]
You may notice some small differences!
Although I, aswell as my parents, have lived my whole life in Canada, my grandparents immigrated here from Greece and their story reminds me much of Ashoke and Ashima's. Like Ashoke, my grandfather came to Canada to pursue and education he would not have had in Greece. Although my grandfather is able to appreciate Canada for it's freedom and opportunities, it must have been difficult for him to adjust to a new lifestyle that is far different from that of the small village he comes from in Greece. When I ask my grandfather how life is different in Greece, he always speaks of the pace of life, saying that life is much slower in Greece. My grandfather also immigrated to Canada alone and like Ashima, must have missed his family back home. I can connect with Ashima not from my own experiences, but from the experiences my grandfather speaks of; how a 2 minute phone call was the only communication he had with his family, how it was years until he saw his family again. Like the Ganguli's, finding friends of the same culture was very important to my grandparents. They have been involved in the Greek community throughout their lives in Canada and have made close family friends that have played an important role in their lives. My grandfather proudly speaks of Greek traditions his group of friends brought to the Greek community in Canada that we still practise today. I found it heartbreaking how lonely and depressed Ashima felt in America, and constantly wondered if it was as difficult for my grandparents coming to Canada.
In some ways, I can connect to Gogol as he is faced with growing up with two different cultures. Like Gogol, I am much more "Americanized" then my grandparents. For one, I speak very little Greek which makes it difficult to communicate to my relatives when visiting them in Greece. I feel that the main difference between me and Gogol is that he makes an effort to distance himself from his Indian culture while I make an effort to be more connected to my Greek culture. Gogol has very little interest in having Indian friends or participating in cultural events with his family. My Greek friends and family are very important to me as is practising Greek culture. I understand Gogol's desire to fit in with his American friends, but I feel that he should appreciate his Indian culture that is an important part of his identity.
No comments:
Post a Comment