What is the life of Native Americans now? Are they fully integrated into society, or are they integrated into society?

Due to the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, usually international students or immigrants (himself) will experience a certain degree of cultural shock when they come to the United States. Integrating into American society takes a certain amount of time and process. The best advice is to communicate more. Communication is the root cause. The specific points can be summarized as follows:

(1) Living on campus.

Schools typically require freshmen to live on campus during their first year for several reasons. The first is to enhance the relationship between classmates and get to know many people in the same grade. Generally, best buddies meet at this time. After all, people in the same grade will experience many of the same things together, such as attending classes, parties, and activities together. Each grade has its own unique features. For example, when I was in college, my grade held Octopus’s garden, Recycling program, and Campus Kitchen project together at Union College. Then there is campus life which is a great experience.

(2) Roommates.

It is highly recommended to find an American or someone of a different race as a roommate. First of all, it can promote communication and improve English level. At the same time, I learned about American culture and other cultures during the exchange process. We had different roommates for four years in college, including African Americans, Italians and whites. Each roommate taught us different things, including their eating habits, living habits, and the unique culture of their respective ethnic groups.

Americans are usually friendly, good at communicating, and willing to explain American culture and customs. I haven't been rejected for so long. As long as you are willing to ask, it also represents your curiosity and respect for their culture, so there is no reason to reject you. At the same time, they will also be very interested in our own culture. For example, they are full of curiosity about Chinese traditional holidays, customs and culture. When I was an undergraduate, the school held many culture shock activities for Americans. We took this opportunity to promote mutual exchanges and serve as a bridge between the two cultures. Why not do it.

(3) Watch more American TV series

For example, House, Big bang theory, Survivor, etc., and operas, such as classic Lion King, Catch Me if You can, Dessa Rose , Marry Poppins, Birds, Hamlet and more. Pay attention to domestic news, such as elections, immigration topics, terrorist attacks in Boston, and Chinese life. Check out the local newspapers, especially World Journal. Listen to how everyone lives in this new land. It is also a science. Listening to their experiences and stories, you will find that many things are similar to yours, which may give you some inspiration whether you are studying or pursuing the American dream. The most important thing is to practice yourself (suggestion from a classmate), do your work every day down-to-earth, and work hard to pursue your dreams, and they will bear fruit soon. Such successful examples of Chinese Light are reported every day.

(4) Enter American life.

If you have the opportunity, it is recommended to stay at your American friend’s house for a few days during the long vacation and experience their life up close. You will be surprised. For example, one time I went to a gathering at the home of one of my mentors. We drove for an hour, and their home was actually in a very hidden forest. One of the wooden main houses was still under construction, and they now live in the built garage. A large piece of land nearby was purchased by their family. It is said to be quite cheap, and they can also grow some vegetables and so on. In Upstate New York, the forest coverage is huge and the area is lush and green. It’s really beautiful. When I entered there, the first question that came to my mind was "How do you live here?" There were no homes around, let alone shops. This completely overturned my view of American life. It is not all about the bustling financial centers of New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and the political center of Washington, DC.

In fact, most Americans also live a simple and leisure life. I also asked many of my American friends why you like this kind of place where birds don’t poop. The unified answer is that city is too much.

Indeed, every time I go back to New York, I feel as if I have a lung allergy and the air is smoky. I have to say that the air here is so good, so comfortable, and it feels like entering a paradise. Recently, I heard that people with lung disease in China were fine after they came here and stayed there for a while. I was surprised when I heard that. In fact, there is nothing wrong with this kind of life. After a long time, you will gradually fall in love with this pastoral and simple life.

My parents really can’t figure it out. They often say that I’m almost turning into a savage. Maybe they can’t adapt to anywhere except Chinatown. As soon as it comes, make peace with it. So I sometimes feel disgusted that some classmates often say things like "return to the village". Maybe they don't mean any harm, but it's not very nice and harsh. What happened to the countryside? One more question. So the suggestion is to stay away from big cities, such as New York, Chicago, etc., because they are no different from big cities in China. They are all high-rise buildings and shopping malls, irritating and exaggerated. Just go once or twice to enjoy it. In fact, real American life can only be experienced in remote rural areas.

(5) Summary

“Listen to American music, watch American movies, and go hang out and talk to the local people. Go out and travel around America, and go on road trips. Learn to drive, get lost, and ask for directions. Go out of your comfort zone, and don't be afraid. Practice your English, and read English books." quoted from Ivy Jiang, a best American-born Chinese friend from San Francisco. "Be independent and use your own strengths to be accepted." Another thing to note is that the United States is a country of diversity. Its culture is mixed with the culture of many other countries, so we call this phenomenon melting pot. This is the beauty of it. As long as you communicate and learn more with others, you will quickly integrate into American society. A warm reminder, while you are learning and exploring the culture here, don’t forget your own culture. This is what many American friends and teachers often teach, keep your heritage and culture.