Misa Yamada

English 12, Mrs. Hala

Bicultural Obstacles and Opportunities

In the novel Orchard, written by Holly Thompson, a young teenage girl named

Kana deals with various issues such as the struggle to identify herself because she is

bicultural. Within the novel, it is revealed that surrounding environments, such as

cultures and societies, control and influence the actions and personalities of

individuals. In which the bicultural struggles Kana experiences in finding herself are

the confusions between the two cultures and which set of cultural expectations she is

to follow and obey. I myself was born into a bicultural environment that allows me to

share an exclusive connection with Kana, as we are both bicultural by heritage.

Accordingly, the environments in which I have grown up in, have allowed me to

gradually identify myself as I learn to adapt, appreciate and recognize my

surroundings.

Being bicultural by heritage creates confrontations of complex situations, as each

culture and society has different “appropriate” expectations that act as guidelines. I

am half Japanese and half Thai and I have been at an international school in Thailand

since kindergarten. With parents of different nationalities, there are many

expectations, guidelines, and views that are diverse and sometimes contradicting that

causes confusions and conflicts. Therefore, I am able to understand the feelings and

struggles Kana is challenged with during her visit to Japan. Particular situations where

I am able to share a connection with Kana is when she feels and looks like an outcast

amongst her family and classmates. Although through my personal experience, I feel

like a foreigner in both Thailand and Japan, even though I have lived in Thailand my

entire life. I too, feel like a foreigner not only in Japan but in Thailand as well,

because of the way I look and the way I behave.

The Thai people assume that I am not Thai because my appearance is not of the

typical Thai female. Instead, I would more so fit into the typical Japanese look, with

short legs, broad shoulders and a longer upper body. Also, the way I portray myself

with my choice of clothing is not a typical Thai ‘style’. Since my wardrobe contains

mostly of apparel typically seen and worn by westerners, it does not fit into the

“appropriate” “Thai” style. In addition, because I have attended an international

school since kindergarten and speak mostly English, my Thai accent slightly sounds

foreign and I am not as fluent in Thai as I should be. Also, I have a friendly, outgoing

and overjoyed personality that may seem overly wild, as the way I act and behave is

as well influenced by the western society. Thus, the way I act and behave may not be

the “appropriate” characteristic that an authentic Thai would perform.

In Japan, I am also viewed as a foreigner because of the way I act and behave as

well as the way I speak. This is because, I have lived in Thailand and again I have

attended an international school my entire life. Therefore, I am not fluent in Japanese,

though I am able to somewhat comprehend and speak the Japanese language to a

certain extent. Also, I am carefree unlike most Japanese people who are usually strict

and uptight. And the way I act and behave is culturally influenced by the western

society, because the way I act is the opposite from the “appropriate” expectations.

Typically, Japanese females are imaged as quiet, shy and tactful, though having been

enclosed in an international school with many western influences, I am occasionally

outspoken in a modest way, though to most Japanese people, it may appear as

obnoxious.

By way of having parents of different nationalities and educated in an

international school with numerous western influences, it creates several obstacles as

well as opportunities. With many dissimilar expectations, a lot of the time I feel

obliged to obey each and every guideline according to each culture to somewhat

please my parents. Although it is difficult to obey all the different cultural and social

expectations, I have learned to find an in-between set of my own guidelines to follow.

I have also learned to adapt and appreciate the different cultural and social

expectations. The opportunity of being bicultural has also allowed me to adapt,

appreciate and recognize all the cultures and societies in the world that allows me to

become more understanding. As a result, being bicultural has shown me that the

surroundings in which enclose you affects the way you are and the way you behave.