When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.
When people move to another country, most likely, they will face the choice between following the customs of the new country, or keep their original one. Some people choose the former one to assimilate themselves into the new culture, while some insist the latter one because the new customs are difficult to be accepted. As for me, I would follow the new customs, if I migrated to another country.
On one hand, it will be easier for people to assimilate into a new country, if they follow the new customs. When people migrate to a new country, more likely, they will suffer the culture shock, because of the difference between two cultures. The customs is just a form of the culture and following the customs is a good way to know more about this culture. For example, if one wore in white and went to common Viharas to observe a rather longer-than-usual, full-length Buddhist sutra in Buddha's Birthday in India, he or she would learn something about Indian religion and culture. As a result people understand the culture, and then they adapt to the new country.
On the other hand, keeping own customs stably might cause discrimination. When people insist to keep their own customs and refuse to accept the new one, they regard themselves as a special group in the new country, which may cause that the local people regard them as a special group as well and separate them from the main-stream society. One example is that the Chinese immigrants in Indonesia in 1969. They formed Chinatown and kept Chinese language and customs in it. While the Indonesians stopped working at 4:00 pm and went home for rest, Chinese immigrants were still working. Although being much richer than local people, they faced the discrimination: their houses and private cars were buried by local people, because the locals were jealous of Chinese hold so much wealth, which should have been theirs. If the Chinese immigrants had followed the local customs and assimilated into Indonesia, they would not have been regards as a group of Chinese and discrimination might have been alleviated.
All in all, the immigrants should follow the customs in the new country, which can help them survive from the culture shock sooner, and assimilate to a new culture.
I'd like to make a small change to one of the sentences here:
...while some insist the latter one option because the new customs are difficult to accept.
As for me, I would follow the new customs if I migrated to another country, because _______________________- (sum up the reason).
On one hand, it will be easier for people to assimilate into a new country (no need for a comma here) if they follow the new customs.
For example, if one wore dressed in white and went to common Viharas to observe a rather longer-than-usual, full-length Buddhist sutra in Buddha's Birthday in India, he or she would learn something about Indian religion and culture.
When people insist to on keeping their own customs and refusing to accept the new one, they regard themselves as a special group in the new country, which may cause that the local people regard them as a special group as well and separate them from the main-stream society. -----Well, I guess I disagree, but that is probably because I am from America. I know Americans who think immigrants should drop their cultures and embrace American culture, but I think that is stupid intolerance. People should be able to move from place to place without having to change and be like the locals! :-) So, even though your essay has much wisdom, I think it is important to have Chinatown and other ethnic communities. If Boston had no Chinatown, I would lose my favorite place to visit in Boston. :-)
