by Canaan W.E.J. Robinson

Created on: October 23, 2009

The United States is a melting pot of people, even though I have traveled to many parts of North America, you don't have to leave your backyard in most places to experience culture shock. In this country you have the opportunity to live, date and even intimately relate with someone of another culture. From religious practices to how the laundry gets done, it seems people from many cultures dance to a different beat.

Have you ever dated a Latino? My experience with a Latino was passionate, much different from dating a Caucasian or African American. At first all of the passion was fun, it was like living in a fun loud Spanish soap opera, but after awhile the shock from the difference in our cultures led us apart. Physical fights, Great food, passionate sex, sassy finger pointing and plethora of family members added to the dramatic suspense in my relations with a Latino.

After being a 'Dominican' for four years, I decided to pass on Latinos, the shock of constant expressions and needs of fulfillment wore me out, that soap had to be canceled. Next, I dated a few African American's that came into my life. Those relationships were a roller-coaster ride; at first it was a game of shame and play, but then I realized they did not know what they wanted and was scared to show any affection or who they were. The culture shock here was to go from someone being overly passionate to someone being cold as a riverbed rock. I thought I was going crazy for the duration of these relationships with African American's, so I grew a perception that many African American's were stuck in a oppressed material obsessed, religiously shamed mind trap.

Next was an Italian Caucasian. The Caucasian was the most stabilized lover. They were like a duller Latino but very progressive about life. The Italian was very passionate but in a more subdued action type of way. The culture shock there was the selflessness to my needs, not even my mother catered to my desires. Between the various serious relationships with different cultures, I learned that certain cultures approach relationships and life differently. While Latino's are passionate and African Americans are guarded, Caucasians seem to be more open towards life.

Could lighter colored cultures be freer than the rest of us? Even French and Asian people I have met seem more confident in their approach to life. The difference in cultures seems to stem from the history of their culture. People of certain cultures approach life with ambition if they did not come from a culture that has oppressions in it's past. When a culture comes from a history of being held back, it seems like there is a constant fear of themselves and expression of themselves through material possessions, but there are some exceptions to the rule based on upbringing. But even in different classes of certain cultures, the same perceptions seem to loom over certain people.

So, as the United States of America continues to be a melting pot of people, each citizen can learn so much from different cultures, especially how they approach life and love. Certain cultures empower the American dream of making ones desires come true, but some cultures approach life with uncertainty and defeat before even trying. So, if any major observation of differentiation could be expressed within the United States, it would be how each culture approaches their true wants and desires, and how they utilize them to progress their personal lives.

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