Culture shock: A glimpse through the eyes of a teenager at the intersection of two communities
By Marina (Nhu) Pham Universal Audenried High School
Everything feels blurry and overwhelming when an immigrant first steps into the United States. At that time, many emotions are running through the immigrant mind: happiness, relief, uncertainty, curiosity and anxiety. They are asking themselves, “What do I do now?”
This is what I was feeling when my mom, my sister, and I moved from Vietnam to America eight months ago. Culture shock and the feeling of disorientation are common, but are not talked about enough. This is a series of photographs from my point of view that show how different and sometimes similar these two cultures are.
The morning light shines on my South Philly neighborhood. This signifies the start of a new day.
The sky when the sun sets down to sleep.
Birds eat leftover rice thrown on the street by my grandmother, in the early morning. This reminds me of my hometown, Nha Trang City in Vietnam.
In the evenings, my family worships our ancestors at this altar. The altar includes lights, statues of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, photographs of my ancestors and fruit. The fruit are placed as offerings made to the deceased to earn soul merits. They are typically my ancestors’ favorites. Food offerings are replaced daily, but fruit can be left on the altar for longer.
My 9-years-old sister’s eyes looking at the dinner table asking me if she has too much acne on her forehead.
My sister finishes her homework at the dinner table, alone.My favorite dolls, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, holding hands. They sit on my desk everyday and bring me comfort. Seeing them makes me feel safe and secure. When I left Vietnam, I couldn’t bring my teddy bear with me which made me very sad. When I was walking through the Italian Market, my eyes landed on Raggedy Ann and Andy in a thrift store. I had never seen such mesmerizing and kind-looking dolls. Food made by my grandma and great aunts for a Lunar New Year family gathering, on Feb. 10th, 2024. They say that homemade food tastes better than take out.
A moment before a Pham family portrait. This moment meant a lot for my 100-year-old great grandfather, sitting in the middle.
My classmates and I, coming back to school after a school trip on Feb. 28th, 2024, in Harrisburg. It was raining, and this is the view through the bus window.
After school, when I walked through the door, the very first sight I saw was my grandmother making dinner. She was making tofu stewed in tomato sauce, which always tastes like home.
The tunnel that leads to the Philadelphia International Airport and connects the rest of the city. Driving under the tunnel makes me feel like I’m in two different worlds, a connection between my hometown of Vietnam and my current country, America.
The hand of a friend from the gaming club trying to grab my camera.
My church priest, Father Duc and my great aunt at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church in Philadelphia, on Feb. 10th, 2024. My aunt wears “Ao Dai,” a traditional Vietnamese dress. The red Ao Dai are worn during Tet, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, for luck and prosperity. It is a symbol of women, the pride of Vietnamese people.
My aunts and uncle talk with each other in the living room after a Lunar New Year ceremony at church, while my younger sister builds a lego set.The men in my family eat and talk in the dining room, while my great Aunt tries to calm her grand baby on Lunar New Year.The scholars of Universal Audenried High School wait in line for lunch in the crowded and loud cafeteria.This school lunch contained an eggroll and brown fried rice, paired with Wawa chocolate milk. It didn’t taste great, but to have energy for the rest of the day, this will have to do.A view of Center City Philadelphia, from the bus on the way home from a field trip to Harrisburg.The sunset at the end of the day, on Morris Street. The sunset is pretty and peaceful, and it reminds me of the time when I was in Vietnam, riding my bike on the sand, looking at the sea, while the sun was setting down for a night’s rest.
