I personally was not born in America. I came here when I was 13 years old, just about 7 years ago. I came here during the spring break recess, which meant I had a week to enjoy before school actually started. I will never forget the first day of school here in America. It was probably one of the biggest culture shocks that i've experienced since coming here. Back in my country, Belarus, there is a specific way students are supposed to represent themselves in school. They are obligated to dress appropriately. Boys are supposed to wear a suit with a tie, just like little businessmen, and girls are supposed to wear a neat dress that is lengthy enough to cover their knees. This was definetly not the case I saw during my first day of school here in America. As a matter of fact I was very upset that I didn't have a tie that I could use for my first day of classes. I thought I was going to stand out from the rest of the students. Sure enough I stood out, but for a whole different reason than a simple tie. I was the only one in the school that was wearing a suit! Everyone else around me was wearing jeans, regular t-shirts, and plain sneakers. I was very suprised to see such a free dresscode. After being disciplined for almost six years to wear formal clothes, it was starnge to me that anything else could be allowed.
That same day I went with my parents to buy a pair of jeans and a pair of sneakers because I didn't have any back at the house. Here I was worried that I was going to stand out because of a tie, and it turned out that I stood out for a much bigger reason. From that day on I started adjusting to the new dress style and I began to like it pretty quick. Obviously it was much more comfortable and I didn't have to look like an outsider.
Nowadays I sometimes see those tuirist people that wonder around manhattan with a funky looking outfit and a camera on their neck looking up at the tall buildings around them. I can't help but laugh because that is probably how ended up looking on my first day of school in America, awkward and amazed.
There was a boy I knew growing up who wore a suit and tie every day. I went to public school with little in the way of a dress code. But he stuck with it from the time we were in 4th grade until the day we graduated. He was of course voted Best Dressed in the Senior Awards.
ReplyDeleteBut you didn't wear the suit in Belarus by choice so I have to wonder... were you more comfortable in the suit or the jeans?
Hey Vitali..I definitely know what it feels like to have to wear a suit to school. when I was in elementary school, we had a uniform that included a tie and jacket. Even throughout high school we had to wear ties but no jackets. Only after I started college, was I able to start dressing the way I want. It sure feels much better.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting how we can tell if someone is from out of town just by how one dresses. I had similar experience when I moved to US. I was in six grade and unfortunately I was not use to picking out clothes everyday to go to school. I too had uniforms before moving out to the US but thankfully my cousins made sure that I didn't put on a suit for my first day of school! :)
ReplyDeleteI also thought it to be very interesting that I found even young kids would wear make-up to school. Back in Korea, most girls do not start wearing make-up till end of high school where in the US most girls start wearing make-up as early as elementary school.
the day I was packing to come over here... my dad saw my faded and reaped jeans collection... and he was screaming PEOPLE WEAR GOOD CLOTHES THERE... so I couldn't pack them.. then when my dad came for a visit... sometimes my dad amuses me with his sarcasm..he told me: ugghh.. maybe you should have brought those ugly jeans of yours... and the new fashion, wear them LOW to your knees and walk like a penguin..
ReplyDeleteThis is just like the story that my dad told me. When he moved to america from India he always wore dress clothes everywhere and to school because that was how it was at his school back at home. He slowly adapted and now that his brothers from India are moving to America, they are all following in his footsteps. He makes fun of them for they way that they dress during certain occasions, but he fails to remember that that was how we was also when he first came. lol
ReplyDeleteHaha, I guess Americans do enjoy the dress free code in most of our educational institutions. In Korea, every student beyond primary school is expected to wear a school issued uniform. Although I do hear that the dress code has changed a lot since the time when I left, student freedom definitely still far behind those of American students. This is one of those things that I have forgotten about foreign students. Thank you for reminding me!
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