Boiadjian !

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Sarkis Boiadjian
Professor Corri Ditch
English 113B
19 February 2015
Between Two Cultures
Some might find it difficult to be multi-ethnic, but being an Armenian-American has
become a lifestyle for me. Growing up as an Armenian child in the North American society has
set different views and traditions that have left me wondering which path leads to the person I
really am. Both of my cultures have unique social norms that I am expected to follow as a
member of both groups. There are difficulties in following both cultures because both have
traditions and beliefs, such as behaviors and holiday customs that tend to differ. There are
Armenian traditions that overlap with American traditions, but in some cases, American
traditions are excepted by the Armenian community living in America. Transitioning between the
Armenian and American culture was overwhelming, but after adapting to the expectations, it
became practical and pleasant to choose from the customs of each culture that I favor.
Greetings can be the most simple forms of communication, but it can lead to an
embarrassing outcome if one does not know how to greet the person they are confronting. In the
article Greeting Customs Around the World, Relocation Expert states In Armenia, by
tradition, and especially in the rural areas, a woman needs to wait for the man to offer his hand
for the handshake. Between good friends and family members, a kiss on the cheek and a light
hug are also common. Most situations, in the American society, people tend to greet each other
with a firm handshake or a hug (Expert 12). In the the Armenian society, handshakes and

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hugging are just the beginning. The formal greeting in the Armenian society consists of a kiss on
both cheeks followed by a hug or a handshake depending on who you are greeting. For instance,
Armenian girls hug and kiss while the men give a handshake followed by a cheek kiss. This
greeting style is usually done when confronted by family, friends, and relatives. Learning how to
overcome the different greeting techniques might not be complicated as you learn to greet both
cultures how they expect it. I always consider the fact that it would be unpleasant if I greet
someone that is not part of my culture the same way I greet a friend that belongs in the Armenian
culture. It would create confusion among the person who I am greeting. This, for instance, is why
I have to adapt in terms of communication with others.
Certain rules and beliefs are held by Armenians and Americans, which are followed by
both cultures in unique ways. The American society has different ways to punish a child when
he or she misbehaves. Grounding is an option when a child doesn't listen to his or her parents;
forbidding the child from participating in fun activities, games and television. In my adolescent
years, there have been moments when I have misbehaved, but my mother did not consider
grounding me because she is an Armenian born and raised in Armenia. Instead of grounding me,
my mother commanded me to stand in the corner and explained to me the mistakes in my morals.
It does not matter if these two forms of punishments are ineffective, they are ideas past down
from each culture. In many Armenian families, grounding is now an optional punishment. In the
future, when my children misbehave, I will consider both punishments depending on their
actions.
Holiday festivities are a major factor in many cultures especially in the Armenian and
American society. Many Armenians and Americans celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving,

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Christmas, and New Years Eve. The only difference between these two cultures are the days
these holidays are celebrated, such as Christmas. Celebrating Christmas on December 25 isn't
believed to be the actual Christmas for Armenians, as they believe it is on January 6. On the
Armenian Christmas, there isn't a massive feast or celebration. The major time of the year for
Armenians is New Years' festivities. In the article Holidays and Traditions it is stated that
New Year is celebrated a whole week after the holiday which starts on December 31, by baking
New Year cookies and with a table laden with food and different kind of sweets (1). During this
week, houses are open for friends and relatives: gifts are exchanged as well. One way to cope
with this situation is to simply celebrate both holidays. My family simply hosts a Christmas party
on December 25. After Christmas, there is enough time to prepare for the New Years feast that
approaches six days after. We followed this tradition ever since my parents arrived from
Armenia. This is a significant way we spend time together during the year.
Most cultures originate from different areas across the globe which leads them to
acquiring unique thoughts and beliefs. In the article, Self Identity and Culture Ronald, Glenn
and Williams state Each identity has a shared system of meaning only understood by those that
are part of it (Ronald, Glenn and Williams 136). When it comes to Armenians, the list goes on,
especially when it comes to marriage and dating. Armenians look at marriage as a necessity for
their lives. In the Armenian society, men or women who do not get married are looked down
upon. They are also expected to get married with other Armenians. The ideal time period for
Armenians to get married is in their twenties. Some couples commit themselves to marriage at
eighteen. It may be considered a young age to the American society, but it is a cultural norm
accepted by Armenians for centuries. Armenians are also strict when it comes to their children

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dating in their adolescent years. Females are mostly affected when it comes to dating; they are
not allowed by most parents, as opposed to Americans which don't mind most often. In rare
situations, there are Armenian parents who let their daughters date during their teenage years.
Those parents are usually Americanized. Even when a girl has strict parents, there are always
ways to overcome the situation.
About two years ago, at my cousins birthday party, I met the girl that I now want to
spend my entire life with. My girlfriend is Armenian as well and I didn't have an idea of how
difficult it would be to achieve simple tasks such as seeing her. My girlfriends mother knows
and accepts our relationship but her father doesn't know that she is dating yet. She is less than
two years younger than me which makes our situation more difficult to control. Formally
speaking to her father about dating her would most likely lead to the painful end of our
relationship. That is why waiting until she is eighteen is eighteen years old to talk to her father is
a considered option. Even though we don't see each other too often, we talk to each other over
the phone every chance we get. Her mother helps us find a way to see each other without her
father knowing. This situation is heavy on me because our communication is very important to
me. In her article Culture and Communication Kurylo states that a A multicultural worldview
is held by a person who is open minded, worldly, and open to diversity (Kurylo 10). Sometimes
change is needed to adjust to customs and traditions. If follow the Armenian tradition and wait
until she turns eighteen, it will not be difficult to continue our relationship. I chose the American
tradition of dating at a young age because that is more convenient for me. For marriage, I am
siding with the Armenian custom because we both want to be together.

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I am an Armenian male raised in both the Armenian and American society. There are
beliefs and traditions I must to adapt to in order to fit in both cultures. Choosing from the
customs of the Armenian and American cultures that I favor is very practical. If I have a problem
with one tradition or belief, I do not have to conform to it. Instead, I can follow the tradition that
I please because I am coming from two diverse cultures. Learning little things such as
differentiating between greeting techniques is one of the many factors that I needed to get used
to. Traditions and beliefs felt innate to me as I was growing up.

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Work Cited
Expert, Relocation. "Greeting Customs Around the World." Move One. Move One, n.d. Web. 13
May 2011. <http://www.moveoneinc.com/blog/relocations/greeting-customs-around-theworld/>.
"Holidays and Traditions." Liberty Armenia. Liberty Incentive, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Jackson, Ronald, Cerise Glenn, and Kesha Willams. Self Identity and Culture. Vol. 6. N.p.: n.p.,
n.d. Print.
Kuyrlo, Anastacia. Chapter 6. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.