Shreya just came to America from India. She was very good in class and also talented in the arts such as classical dancing (Indian dance), classical singing, everything. She had won the championship in drawing in her town. She is more likely an Indian traditional girl. Before coming to America, she was outgoing and bright, but now she is standing in front of her new American 8th grade class and everything she was in India vanished. She became this very shy girl. Her teacher was smiling a smile so wide she was afraid the muscles in her face would burst. After the headmistress or as the people here call her, the principal introduced her to her new class, her new teacher clapped her hands and motioned to Shreya to sit in a seat in the front of the class. Before beginning class, she whispered to Shreya, “Hope you enjoy your time at your new school, Shreya. If you have any questions or problems whatsoever, please let me know. I was actually wondering if you could give the class a little presentation about India and some of your favorite parts of being there.” she nodded her head, not knowing what else to do.
Then she began with class. After class, the lunch bell rang and she was looking at what the other kids were doing. Some were listening to music, while others were reading. There were even some who were drawing. They all had their place in this place. Shreya just didn’t know where she belonged. She sat near the back of the cafeteria. She packed her lunch, not knowing if she would like the food they served in the cafeteria. As she was eating her food, one of the kids in her class came and sat next to her. “Hey, you’re new here, right?” Shreya just nodded not knowing what to say. The girl just smiled and said, “So, I heard about your presentation. Would you like some help? I could show you how to start the presentation on my laptop and you can continue it on your home computer.” Shreya smiled and nodded. She forgot about the presentation but was glad that this girl was willing to help her. Shreya finally spoke up and said very softly so that she wouldn’t make any mistake, “What is your name?” She smiled and said, “My name is Rose. Your name is Shreya, right?” Shreya nodded. Then Rose pulled out her laptop from her backpack and opened up a window. She showed her how to use Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation.
After showing her how to use the software, Rose also showed her some artwork that she had done. It was a picture of her room. It was very realistic and Shreya knew that one must possess the great artistic talent to be able to draw what Rose showed her. After showing her the picture, Rose showed her some of the music that Americans listen to. Just as they finished listening to Rose’s favorite song, the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. As they were walking to their classroom, Shreya realized how different the American culture was to that of her Indian culture. She wished she could show her new friends and classmates how great her culture was just like rose showed her how great the American culture was.
At the end of the day, Shreya returned home, very excited to tell her parents about her day at school. She was also excited to tell them about the idea he had about her presentation. She got home and the first thing she did was tell her parents about her first day at school. She loved it and she wanted them to know how much she loved it. Then she told her parents about the presentation and her thought, on the presentation. Her parents thought it was a great idea. They showed her some of the old family albums from some of the events. After she got everything, she got her presentation ready. Her teacher had told her at the end of the day that she would do her presentation tomorrow. The next day, she was so excited for her presentation. She told her teacher that she made a PowerPoint Presentation and she wondered if her teacher could bring the presentation up in the SmartBoard like Shreya saw her do the other day.
At the end of the day, she was ready for her presentation. Her teacher called her up while pulling up the presentation on the SmartBoard. She started to talk about her culture. Shreya started by saying, “Hello, a fellow classmate. My name is Shreya. You may know me as the new girl from a different country. Some fun facts about India are that the official languages of India are Hindi and English. Most, if not all Indians know at least a little bit of English. We may have accents but we can read, write and understand it. Another fact is that India is very well known for its artistic beauty. When you think of art, you think of drawings, but it also includes sculptures, monuments, and paintings. Most Indian art is part of the Indian traditions and culture. I think India is the only place where the traditions are being still followed.
Indian culture and American culture vary in many ways, but the core or central beliefs are all human; we look at each other differently because we speak different languages and come from different backgrounds. We must always know that no matter where we come from, our emotions and thoughts are the same, and as humans, we always have to strive for understanding each other. Even if you think a person is different from yourself, you will be surprised what they can achieve when you get to know them.
Then she began with class. After class, the lunch bell rang and she was looking at what the other kids were doing. Some were listening to music, while others were reading. There were even some who were drawing. They all had their place in this place. Shreya just didn’t know where she belonged. She sat near the back of the cafeteria. She packed her lunch, not knowing if she would like the food they served in the cafeteria. As she was eating her food, one of the kids in her class came and sat next to her. “Hey, you’re new here, right?” Shreya just nodded not knowing what to say. The girl just smiled and said, “So, I heard about your presentation. Would you like some help? I could show you how to start the presentation on my laptop and you can continue it on your home computer.” Shreya smiled and nodded. She forgot about the presentation but was glad that this girl was willing to help her. Shreya finally spoke up and said very softly so that she wouldn’t make any mistake, “What is your name?” She smiled and said, “My name is Rose. Your name is Shreya, right?” Shreya nodded. Then Rose pulled out her laptop from her backpack and opened up a window. She showed her how to use Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation.
After showing her how to use the software, Rose also showed her some artwork that she had done. It was a picture of her room. It was very realistic and Shreya knew that one must possess the great artistic talent to be able to draw what Rose showed her. After showing her the picture, Rose showed her some of the music that Americans listen to. Just as they finished listening to Rose’s favorite song, the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. As they were walking to their classroom, Shreya realized how different the American culture was to that of her Indian culture. She wished she could show her new friends and classmates how great her culture was just like rose showed her how great the American culture was.
At the end of the day, Shreya returned home, very excited to tell her parents about her day at school. She was also excited to tell them about the idea he had about her presentation. She got home and the first thing she did was tell her parents about her first day at school. She loved it and she wanted them to know how much she loved it. Then she told her parents about the presentation and her thought, on the presentation. Her parents thought it was a great idea. They showed her some of the old family albums from some of the events. After she got everything, she got her presentation ready. Her teacher had told her at the end of the day that she would do her presentation tomorrow. The next day, she was so excited for her presentation. She told her teacher that she made a PowerPoint Presentation and she wondered if her teacher could bring the presentation up in the SmartBoard like Shreya saw her do the other day.
At the end of the day, she was ready for her presentation. Her teacher called her up while pulling up the presentation on the SmartBoard. She started to talk about her culture. Shreya started by saying, “Hello, a fellow classmate. My name is Shreya. You may know me as the new girl from a different country. Some fun facts about India are that the official languages of India are Hindi and English. Most, if not all Indians know at least a little bit of English. We may have accents but we can read, write and understand it. Another fact is that India is very well known for its artistic beauty. When you think of art, you think of drawings, but it also includes sculptures, monuments, and paintings. Most Indian art is part of the Indian traditions and culture. I think India is the only place where the traditions are being still followed.
Indian culture and American culture vary in many ways, but the core or central beliefs are all human; we look at each other differently because we speak different languages and come from different backgrounds. We must always know that no matter where we come from, our emotions and thoughts are the same, and as humans, we always have to strive for understanding each other. Even if you think a person is different from yourself, you will be surprised what they can achieve when you get to know them.