Waiting To ExhaleWhen we are confronted with a radically different reality, it can be an overwhelming experience. Steve Biko uses the term “cultural contact” when referring to exposure of one culture to another. Many people would think that culture shock only happens in foreign lands, but they don't realize that culture can vary from region to region. Moving from one state to another, I had to suppress my lifestyle to adapt to different environments. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Growing up in California, there were many people of different ethnic backgrounds on my street. There were Asians, Latinos, Jamaicans, Africans, Caucasians, and Black Americans who had a different way of life. My father always shined a light on our Native heritage; which was spiritual. I was taught to stay educated and be a righteous person by balancing my chakras. Our family leads a relaxed life. In my father's eyes we were human; never limiting ourselves to one race. In Reading, Pennsylvania, where I moved with my grandmother, the Hispanic/Latino population was eighty percent. Since our cultures were similar, it was easier for me to convert. Most of the school administration, as well as other citizens holding high positions in the community, spoke only Spanish. Since I attended a school in the city, I was forced to learn the language. With language came fashion, word choice, dance style, musical preferences, and it even shaped the way I viewed food. If we didn't see smoke in the kitchen while cooking, it wasn't wise to eat it. The “clean kitchen” was for white people, whose food was colorless and tasteless. After a few years in Pennsylvania, I was granted the opportunity to live in Virginia. Driving along I-64, I see a lot of Confederate flags. I quickly established myself as a second-class citizen. The fact that they were allowed to wave those hateful rags introduced their characters, but it didn't make me feel "at home." Besides, my host mother seems like a country slut; The fact that he was from Boone, North Carolina didn't relax me at all. The transition was not easy at all. I went to a private school in the country for basketball. Those children treated me like a new toy. When I wore my natural hair down and curly, they had to touch it. If I knew the answer to a question, they would gasp or sing my praises. Every time I expressed my frustrations, in a respectful way, they were swept under a Jesus rug. Every time I cooked, the fire alarms went off and everyone panicked. These cases shook me and I called back. Answering meant wearing my hair up or in braids, not cooking, not being eager to answer questions, and simply talking behind someone's back instead of to their face when I have a problem. I was extremely depressed and felt like I was losing pieces of myself every season. I was just a half-breed basketball player, but I knew I could contribute so much more, I just didn't have enough confidence to do it. By attending Howard University, we meet people from all nations. Being a historically black university, all types of “blacks” are present. The atmosphere evokes in me the need to truly find my identity as an American, a professional and a human being. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The effects of cultural contact often fall under the rubric of acculturation. Ideally, the two o's.