o human being is culture free. Every single person has their own culture and unique identity.

We are a product of the many different cultures which surround us. Who I am; my beliefs,
values, morals, and values on diversity are shaped based upon my upbringing, the values within
society, and the norms adopted by our culture. Culture is what made you the person you are
today and determines who or what you choose to associate yourself with. I would like to take
you on a journey inside my unique culture.Developing a concept of self or personal identity is a
result of interaction with people who make up your culture. You associate yourself with the
larger group pf which you are a member. For example, I was born in Baghdad, Iraq so I consider
myself as “Iraqian”. This is part of my identity. Islam is the religion I believe in- this is again part
of how I identify myself. My ethnicity is Arab American and this is what matters to me the most.
I value both of my ethnic backgrounds. My race is considered white even though when we say
white, we think of someone of a European decent. However, I do not think of myself as white.
When filling out an application, I always check the “other” box. In terms of social class, I’m
considered middle class. My father has told me that my great great great grandfather was from
Turkey and I think this is very cool. I don’t think I look Turkish but I wish. I moved to Damascus,
Syria when I was nine years old and lived there for almost three years. I moved to Aurora,
Illinois in the year of 2008. Traditional foods include biryani (rice and peas and), hummus which
is a very popular dish made of chickpeas and is eaten with pita bread called khubus. Baba
Ghanush is the same as hummus but with an added flavor of smoked eggplants. Falafels are
also very popular and taste great with hummus. Chicken and lamb are the most popular forms
of meat eaten by Arabs. Shawerma, which is skewered meat pieces is an all time favorite of
mine. Desserts include Baklava, Kenafa, and Zelabiya. We are also chai tea and big coffee
drinkers. Pork is considered unclean and is prohibited. Lunch is considered traditionally the
day’s main meal. Alcohol consumption is forbidden due to religious practices. Arab women are
tranditionally dressed in an abaya, which is a simple long black maxi like dress with a headscarf
called the hijab and some women ear the face cover called a niqab. I wear the hijab and it’s a
huge part of who I am. I love wearing it because it shows that I’m modest. Dawn to dusk fasting
in the holiest month of the year is called Ramadan. During this holy month, fasting and focusing
on prayer and charity is meant to purify the body and spirit and bring us closer to God. Families
break their fasts together at sunset. I recognize that Ramadan increases the bond between my
family and I. I love the month of Ramadan because the Quran was revealed in this month. I also
love it because I get to learn and go through what it’s like to be hungry. It gives me an idea on
how the poor people all over the world feel when they are extremely hungry with no source of
food. At the end of Ramadan, comes Eid. That is like the Muslim Christmas, without the trees
and Santa. Gifts are given such as money, and toys. When Eid happens, Muslims no longer have
to fast. It is about celebrating with others like you would on Christmas day. Eid is basically the
conclusion to Ramadan as if it were a story.Family was the most influential system in my life.
Growing up in a family system that was also quite accessible to the community helped me find
supportive role models and acceptance in who I was as a young person. My family was most
influential in shaping my cultural identity as I grew up. Everyone in the family knows what is
expected of them: the father is the king of the house that has authority and the responsibility,
the mother is the assigned the role of the housewife, and children must obey. A man is
expected to take care of his family financially and feels shame if he is incapable of providing for
his wife and children. Many women in the Middle East keep the traditional role and stay at
home. A women’s job is to raise her kids, help educate them and take care of the house. My
mother was a housewife back in Iraq but everything changed once we came to the U.S. My
father did not like the idea of my mom working when we first arrived here. However, with time,
he adapted and found that he needed a little help financially. I worked as well and if I was back
in my country, I would never think of getting a job.On the other hand, when I left Syria I was not
prepared for the cultural shock of the United States. I am still struggling to comfortably live in
both communities and find comfort in the values of both my Iraq and American identities.
Lastly, I know my parents came to this country for a better life for themselves and for us. The
U.S definitely gave us a better future for me and my family. It’s not easy being an Arab-
American. After Trump was elected, I have seen lots of change. I noticed that people get scared
when they see me sometimes. I see hate and racism towards me other times. I do understand
that terrorism is huge and how it is portrayed in media makes people act the way they act
towards me. All of this makes me sad because I truly want to hug whoever out there is scared
of any person that is Arab or Muslim. I remember asking my father “Why are we such bad
people?” once. He was horrified by my question. It saddens me that the images perpetrated by
the media could make me question a proud heritage.In conclusion, it is important that we not
hold entire communities responsible for the acts of a few. I know for a fact that the Arab
community I grew up with has worked so hard to be a contributing and productive members in
the U.S. Let’s be careful not to place anger on those that are innocent. Lastly, I think there are
benefits to having cross cultural relationships. Every culture has their own beliefs and ways of
thinking. By having an open mind to other people’s perspectives, you open your eyes to
opportunities. Keeping an open mind to others is very important if you want to be able to
understand and empathize with culturally diverse situations.