Book 1 Post 1

 American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures 

I am so glad that 'American Like Me' by American Ferrera was one of the books as part of the Random Thoughts series. This is mainly because this book has always caught my eye due to its title. 'American Like Me' symbolizes that there is no one true meaning of being American, but each of us can have our own identities and we are all American. 

Being Indian but growing up in Dubai and now spending the past 4 years in America due to USC, the book particularly resonated with me. Even though I've only just started reading the book, so far, the anthology format which brings together a diverse set of voices has in a way made me feel comfortable with being uncomfortable about my identity. When I first got to USC, I would often feel weird or an outsider because back home in Dubai if anyone would ask me where I am from, I would say India, but as soon as I landed at USC, I realized that the question 'where I am from?' now meant where I grew up. This was due to my accent, I didn't sound Indian, and I didn't sound American and so I often dreaded answering his question as I would never have a "simple" answer for where I am from. However, after reading even just a few pages of this book, for the first time in my life I felt normal as the book was a celebration of the mosaic of the cultures that make up America. 

I am beyond excited to continue reading this book and learn more about the struggles, success and the search for belonging that many immigrants and children of immigrants such as myself feel. As I continue my journey at USC and in America, I hope that this book can offer me some insights and inspiration from this anthology series to help me shape my own version of the American Dream.