Being a European-American

Questions of Identity, Culture and Adaptation
by Neal R. Karski

I began my journey into the unknown at the age of 12 from Eastern Europe, Poland. I had been born an American yet had spent only a couple of years there before moving to my native land. Living on the brink of the Western and Eastern worlds that diverged from each other vastly due to the varying ideologies, religions and economic policies, I was only had a small taste of the “over-Atlantic influence”. This influence largely depended on sports apparel, music and cinema products. Otherwise, Poles lived their lives the way they desired, or rather how their somewhat conservative yet recently revolutionized culture dictated.

That was before…

And now… many years later I sit back at look at the path that I have marked the steps in my life on in the United States of America as a European-American.

And it has been astoundingly difficult to identify yourself fully with the virtues of either society from the beginning. I believe this lies at the core of many immigrants who come to the United States – a melting pot of nationalities, cultures, traditions and ethnicities. In Europe, we’re taught certain ways of behavior, manners, ethics, numerous etiquettes, interaction with friends, strangers or family, and even how to exactly tie your shoe or ride your bike. Yet after attempting to carry out these “lessons” here, it seemed as if they were not effective or that many people of different ages were not familiar with them. Different land, different creed.

Throughout these years of my life here in the United States, which engulfed residing in the Carolinas and the Chicagoland, I gradually realized that as a European I needed to retain my true sense of origin, values and inner conscience, if you may. Frequently, I failed to do so, but I came right back up to tackle the challenges of adapting to a culture which was a world way. To this day, I see distinct differences in the lifestyles of Americans and Europeans and attempt to find balance – a happy median. Generally, I noticed that Europeans, like all other nationalities and ethnicities in the U.S. tend to find others of the same “kind” more comfortable to establish friendships, as they are able to relate to them on a closer level. Personally, I found that very true, yet my outgoing nature allowed me to meet other notable friends and figures that did not belong to my native realm.

But quite oft’, I would find myself confused… pondering upon my actions. My European side would say: “That’s wrong, or inappropriate,” and my American side would say: “Go on, it’s OK”. This bewilderment arose with dozens of events, people and place that I have encountered. Yet the necessities of life such as faith, family and giving back to others that I have learned to cherish in Europe have helped me to make two ends meet and I think that after linguistic and social struggles, I was able to find a spot in this country. A spot that would elevate me to progress and development of my character, and eventually success…

The Quest for Identity: Being a European-American

by George A. Miu

From the onset of my American journey, I sought to find a common denominator that reconciled my Eastern European heritage with my adopted homeland. There are two prominent parts to this task: the first is becoming wise enough to let go of any unnecessary habits, and the second is gaining enough vision so as to incorporate only beneficial thought patterns.

Without a doubt, the United States has very much to offer in terms of self-discovery and the improvement of oneself. Sure, the cynics will all sneer into their chins and say that America is evil, and that the culture has deteriorated and has proven itself to be a burden to the world time and time again. I reply that, if it were such, immigrants from all over creation would not flock to America like they do. As with all things, the US is capable of corrupting an individual who is unable to keep his-or-her-self in check; there’s all the casinos and hookers out there, waiting. But what is indicative of the fact that these define America more convincingly than, say, hard-working families hoping the send their kids to college? I am sure that the latter category is more numerous than the former. So let’s save that easy breath with which we criticize the US and use the surplus of energy to engage in legitimate reflection about what best exemplifies America.

As far as Euro-Americans go, there are several things that we must come to terms with. For the most part, Europe is not as large, plentiful or well-organized as the United States. The New World contains an over-abundance of activity that easier-living Europeans are baffled by. The adjustment cannot, and must not, occur overnight, as many born-and-bred Yanks (pardon the mild pejorative for some of you) happen to believe. At first glance, America threatens newcomers, with its bustling cities and gargantuan suburbs, the centers of a productivity that the Old World cannot conceive of matching. Eventually, the shock wears off, and the first-generation immigrant is better equipped to assimilate American-isms.

Of course, any non-American will have some kind of burden that relates to the home country. Families grow up, age, and die, societies evolve beyond what their original scope, ultimately rendering the expatriate homeless, for all intents and purposes. The longer a citizen of the EU is a resident of the US, the more irreversible the whole process becomes. The crucial matter is that we are okay with that.

Just last Thursday, I became a citizen of the United States of America, having spent five whole years here. My own, personal journey is far from completed; I would, however, be foolish to say that I have not changed – become nearly unrecognizable – with respect to who I once was. The perpetual act of dropping an outdated habit in favor of a modern one can have severe repercussions. I speak from experience when I say it’s a risk I’m more than willing to take in exchange for a shot at a better life.

Stepping into Unknown

Stepping into Unknown… Part 1
by Neal R. Karski

As I’m sitting here and indulging in music on this beautiful Wednesday morning, I can’t help but to reminisce about many memories I’ve had, especially pertaining to this particular matter. Stepping into Unknown can be widely defined as coming into contact with something or someone that we are unfamiliar with or have not had the chance to explore. But to take a closer look at one’s life, millions of people can truly say that their experiences with new and undiscovered range far beyond. For many years now, I’ve inherently believed that taking that step [or steps] is essential to inner growth, shaping of character and accumulation of diverse knowledge.

Following, I will share some thoughts about Stepping into Unknown and relate it back to some of my own experiences.

Emi and immigration

Whenever one leaves a native country, he or she commits to a significant change and this decision translates into a leap… a leap into Unknown. It’s a decision to leave one place, one’s comfort, and to become part of another. This, at times, becomes strenuous, not only physically but also mentally and socially, as one strives to fit in and adapt to the new environment. It’s extremely difficult to leave things behind, yet it is even harder to let them go especially where the forecast for the future is not clear. But we’re faced with difficulties on a daily basis and life challenges us to take a look around and not cling to the days that have passed, even when nostalgia and memories reappear frequently. Every breath, every look, every touch, every taste, every sound, is a step into another dimension, into something new. Emigration and immigration just define it more particularly in regard to people, places and external conditions. Moving from one location to another was quite the trend for me and family; our constant re-locating from the U.S. to Europe and back became a part of my life. I was forced to, by my circumstances, to play the system and recover from the loss of consistency and settlement by establishing a fresh life wherever I had gone. I’ve seen a lot and I have learned a lot. And at this point of time, when I have realized that everything in my life has happened for a reason, I began to understand that my will to reach out and to build upon new grounds has taught me how to be strong and expand my capabilities.

Faith

Concept of faith has always interested me immensely. A few years ago, I began observing the responsiveness of people to the supernatural or divine. I’ve found that many people were on the edge; they were hesitant about picking sides. Their beliefs were hanging and undefined, just waiting to be realized into bigger commitments or be diminished by the lack of desire to step into Unknown. In the bottom line, faith is purely just that. It is a huge step into Unknown – a dedication to one’s moral and ethical beliefs that helps that person lead his or her life in a manner freely chosen. Faith is not easy. It does not come with a warranty. But it does bring results and fulfillment of the soul. Faith calls for believing in the state of uncertainty [imagine knowing what truly occurred or is occurring, faith would not exist as faith anymore, it would purely stand as a factual component of one’s knowledge].With many obstacles, injuries and sorrows in my life I’ve found this step to be one of the most amazing ones I’ve ever taken.

And remember… Every day, we come across a plethora of people that we influence, directly or indirectly. Today, learn and know how you can influence those people in a positive way!

God Bless.

Facing the Unknown. Taking the Plunge.

by George A. Miu

Throughout the course of any given lifetime, there comes a moment in which no amount of reasoned decision-making spares the necessity of undergoing some experience that involves many unknown factors. In order to work with these terms handily, I have to define my concept of the “unknown”: namely, that of an event or series of occurrences whose internal mechanisms are not well-understood, or impossible to consider, by the subject therein.

All people must confront the unknown. Whether this is in the form of moving to a different country, or a new school district, it almost always constitutes a stressful experience and has the power to elicit personal traits that lay dormant in the person. Nevertheless, one should never associate novel occurrences with negativity or fear. In fact, they can catalyze a great deal of internal development and ultimately serve to bring about an increased maturity and perspective on life.

Ultimately, the only certainty that exists in the universe is that of death – one of the greatest unknowns conceivable. However, in today’s complex society, an ever-increasing proportion of the general population is forced to grapple with decisions that may result in the genesis of an unknown, or hitherto unknowable, experience. It is in these instances that we look to familiar sources for solace; Today’s Realities intends to provide these for all who care to read. So, yours truly, an immigrant across three continents and lifelong nomad, attempts to distill the difficulties of facing the unknown:

1. Recall, always, that the unknown is finite. Contrary to popular belief and immediate perception, no individual situation is perpetually unfamiliar. As humans, our capacity to adapt will kick in, at some point, and we will eventually acclimatize ourselves to the new surrounding state-of-affairs.

2. All knowledge is rooted directly in having been a part of unfamiliar environments. As newborns, we have no intrinsic understanding of the world around us; we merely acquire it through continued experimentation and a willingness to “explore”. Indeed, as our desire to investigate the most minuscule aspects of life diminishes, so too do our learning faculties, in terms of rate of acquisition of information.

3. Personal development cannot occur without interactions in a medium that is on the periphery, if not totally outside, of our comfort zone. Personality traits that we use on a daily basis were, at one time, unknowns, which would have been rendered permanently unknowable had we had an aversion to the experience that brought them forth. Many would claim that there can be no maturity without the unknown playing a part in its formation.

While these comments are mere generalities, they are designed to encourage our esteemed readers to look inside of themselves and recognize that taking the plunge is not only necessary, but downright beneficial in the long-run. So take a chance. Your reward will be the rest of your life to reflect upon it.