Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Melting pot or Tossed Salad

Daddy ran into another reverse culture shock situation today.

“People don’t drive the way I remember they used to.” They probably do but I just want to remember differently.

A question that is asked in classrooms that study cross cultural understanding and communication: “Is America a melting pot or a tossed salad?”

“Well, if you look at the way people drive in the Bay Area, America is chaos. Like Main Street Disney Land.”

Daddy’s friend Rick can be heard sometimes commenting, “Wow, look at how they blend in.” when he sees some people from some countries wearing very traditional garb from their home countries.

Nothing against diversity, mind you. But American’s cannot wear their, ahem, traditional garb in other countries. You know short shorts, tank tops and flip flops. But nor should they. Or should they?

But is it okay for people to not blend in when they come to the US? And what does blend in look like?

Daddy says that there are some drivers from some countries that cannot merge. They stop at the end of the entrance and block all others who are trying to, well, blend in.

These same groups will set up shopping centers devoted to their tastes. And and and …

The question: Do new immigrants need to blend in more with the US customs? And what does blending in look like?

Is America a tossed salad – everyone holding their distinct flavor, or a melting pot, blending in?

What do you think?

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.