I’m going to answer for my husband. He was born in Mexico, raised there until high school, then moved to Texas, USA for two years and back to Mexico to finish school. After graduation he went to college in FL, USA and has stayed here ever since.
He says when he first came to live in Texas it was really tough, he hated to speak English, because he was worried about saying something incorrectly, but he had taken English since the age of 4, every year throughout his education. He lived in a small town in Texas and now realizes that the town was part of the reason it was such a difficult transition, other pla es in the US might have been easier. But, he adjusted, was on the football team, it was ok in the end I think.
One of the things he missed, and I think this is always a very big adjustment for most people who move, is the local food. Although, when he arrived in America he loved all of our horrible caloric food. Corn dogs, cheesecake, Oreo’s the plethora of prepared food was overwhelming. He had discovered many of the foods during visits to the US before moving here.
In some ways his personality was very American. His family for many years blamed his high school years in America as being a really bad influence, but I think actually it is his innate personality and America just fit better.
Moving back to America for his education was an act of seeking independence amd autonomy from his family. His sister was living in FL, and so he decided to go to college here.
He says he feels he never would have had the opportunities in Mexico that he had here in America. He still has pride in being Mexican, but also pride in being an American. In many ways he is self made, although his parents did provide the financial backing for his education, but he found his own way, his own path, with no direction from anyone really. In my own opinion I think the American education system helped him find his way, because we reinforce trying many courses, interests, and electives, while other countries tend to more set you on a specific path at a younger age. Of course it varies from stats to state, and cou try to country, but our university system I think always has some elective requirements. My husband found his career in a random college course, one he had never thought of or was aware of previously.
He is always willing to travel, or to work abroad, I guess maybe he is just that type of spirit, sort of fearless, and wanting to see and experience new things. And, I guess when you no longer live in your country of origin, the whole world seems rather open, but in the end he is very American to me, the American dream. On his race car he has an American flag and a Mexican one.
It seems to me my husband never is really thinking of himself as a minority or an immigrant, unless the specific subject comes up.
He has been back to Mexico to either visit family, or for business, and he has no desire to live there again, unless it was just some sort of vacation condo. But, even he worries about the crime and corruption there, similar to how an American might look over their shoulder. But, his favorite taco place still is missed.
On a side note his father has mentioned that America is so different in the macho world regarding gender differences. And, also that Judiasm and religious tension is drastically different in America compared to Mexico. Maybe now it is similar to America?
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