Re: How to raise Bicultural kids ?
first of all, its a question of being able to deal with different cultures, east or west does not matter. anyone who says saudi culture is the same as pakistani culture obviously does not know either very well. religion may be the same (debatable really) but thats about it.
t has little to do with east or west. there are cultural differences among ppl who live in Pakistan as well. when some UP background girl from karachi marries some pathan guy in attock, they have diff cultures, foods, literature, norms, and a kid growing up should be exposed to both.
Even when I was in KSA, I spent 4 months each year in Pakistan and UK. and home waa always UK, never saw KSA or Pak as home. As I moved between countries each year I had to be able to relate and function in all those cultures. the parents always helped us and taught us and guided us to be successful.
and did move to US at 16 and was able to have a great college experience because I was able to integrate in university community and not the ghettoised vesion of college experience many foriegn students have by staying in their cliques. nd this was US, as I studied in Europe, where my american friens were havign issues I was able to be okay. and many others like me whose folks helped them be able to be culturally sensitive and accepting, open and respectful of others cultures etc, have that as an advantage, and the credit goes to teh parents who did not shield their kids and taughtthem just ‘their way’