Milena Berhane
How has your or your family’s immigration story played into role to your adaptation here?
“One thing my parents told me and my siblings that they thought was important when they first came to the U.S. is that being open-minded is key. You have to be open-minded because you would want people to be open-minded to you. It is wrong to criticize others for superficial things, and it is better to judge someone's character by getting to know them. The U.S. is a mix of many different cultures and personalities, including your own culture, so you should be open and accepting to others. When my parents first started working and getting adjusted, they didn’t face much discrimination because the D.C. area is so diverse, but there were often times where people in the workplace or other places would pick on them for their accent or their lack of knowledge on certain American customs. But, my parents also told me that being open-minded does not mean you should make excuses for people. You should not allow yourself to be disrespected, and stand for yourself when you are being disrespected. So, that's one rule I have used throughout my life.”
How do you alleviate, or reconcile the two sides of your identity?
“It can be kind of hard sometimes, trying to find a balance between the two sides. My sister and I always joked about us living a double life, having Eritrean cultural activities to tend to on the weekends and hanging out with our school/American friends during the week. I really appreciate my parents teaching us about our Eritrean heritage and speaking to us in our native language because it has been an important aspect in making me who I am today. But, sometimes I feel like I struggle to balance the two sides. I want to hold my Eritrean values close, but not completely override the American values that have been reiterated all of my life. In order to find that balance, I have kept both my Eritrean and American perspectives at the forefront and not let one take over the other. It's harder with my parents, sometimes explaining to them certain topics that are not within their traditional mindset, but they are learning. They taught me to be open-minded and accepting, and it is amazing to see them also become open-minded to many things as well.”
