The research and exploration are focused on the deeper but often overlooked aspects of cultural integration. By investigating how immigrants navigate, preserve, and adapt their cultural identities in new social contexts, the research aims to explore how both immigrants and their host communities integrate into one another.
this is Roli’s story
A 23 year old Nigerian immigrant from Lagos, Nigeria that has been an immigrant in the United States for 7 years
“I’m Roli Bolorunfe”
“Hi, what’s your name?”
"I moved to the United States about 7 years ago and quickly began to alter parts of my identity. "My name became something I had to mold into something easier, more digestible. I would correct people, only to be met with a light shrug. I often got asked, “do you have a nickname?”
“Oh, okay sure”
“Can I call you Roli B?”
Eventually, 'I just stopped correcting people. It was easier that way."
I remember when my friends came over and I was eating pounded yam and egusi. They made comments about me eating it with my hands as we traditionally do.
I started to code switch my accent when speaking, brought “normal” lunches to campus. But these adjustments day by day felt like I was losing parts of myself just to fit into a space.
In that moment, it felt like something to be ashamed of. I started eating it with a fork and knife, it wasn't the same.
"What struck me most was how little people wanted to understand where I came from. I learned about their holidays, their jokes, their culture, but no one asked about mine.
let’s dive into the immigrant integration experience
Interview questionnaire - Immigrant
This interview guide was used as a qualitative research tool to facilitate in-depth narratives from immigrants, particularly around themes of identity, cultural continuity, and assimilation. The purpose of the guide is to facilitate dialogue that will capture the complexities of the immigrant assimilation experience beyond linguistic adaptation. The insights collected through the use of this guide serve as a critical foundation for determining the direction of the project. The goal here being that the design outcomes are as culturally responsive as they are grounded in lived experiences.
Joel Palmer
Dual citizen - Nigeria, United States of America
Misan Bolorunfe
F-1 MBA student
Wangui Mwangi
Dual citizen - Kenya, United States of America
Yaenie Ngebeh
Dual citizen - Sierra Leone, United States of America
Tofunmi Akinniraiye
Dual citizen - Nigeria, United States of America
Minoo Marasi
F1 Masters student
Mehrnaz Amouei
F1 Masters student
"I didn't want to dwell on Nigerian-ness for too long"
"Look forward to eating Nigerian food makes me feel like I have a piece of home with me"
When I miss home, I run straight to food. All the time. Once I have my food, I have my culture to be honest following that would be music but mainly food keeps me connected
To connect with other people, I use music and food. Food is always a good middle ground because who doesn't want to eat and I love hosting so this is my area for real
Everyone has a form of 'puff puff' so it's always nice to learn about everyone else's version of a popular dish
“What's missing is the education on immigration, people have no idea of what the process entails”
“Identity crisis was a huge problem I was heavily conflicted about my identities”
“I connected with people mainly over food. One of my Asian friends talked to me about boba and that was how I was able to learn and get exposed to that”
“I was the only black person in my office, and it was hard to get anything out of anyone. We had such different cultures; we weren't actually connecting because we didn't know what to connect over”
“I will always bond with people over food. That is an easy crossover to get to know other people”
“"Let's go to the Brazilian restaurant, let's go to the Asian restaurant”
“I bonded heavily with my co-workers over food. It was weird and hard to integrate before that”
“Everybody has to eat, so you might as well eat together”
“If I had a magic stick, It would force me to go out of my comfort zone and learn about other people's cultures”
“I preserved it in the food we eat and the music we listen to at home”
“I struggled largely with an identity crisis being here and there on both sides”
“Started feeling like I belonged when I met people that were similar to me. Similar backgrounds felt like I belonged. Friends in college made it feel worthwhile.”
"I don't want to lose my identity, that's who I am"
"I always feel disconnected"
“Finding a good community in college who were similar in cultural values, upbringing”
“I code switch accent to get by the days”
“I preserve culture by speaking creole at home and eat the food and listen to the music. We really preserve food and language culture at home.”
“I eat Nigerian food and just remember oooh! For Nigeria e go sweeet! I just love the food and sharing it with others is easy”
“I miss the food. ooouuuueeee. I miss having access to my food and my people"
“Music, friends, food and gatherings like weddings remind me most of home”
“I teach my friends Farsi, offer them my food and sometimes music but they never really understand what I'm saying”
“The barrier between us is different culture and language but really we're all the same”
“"I was amidst my Iranian American friends and it was the fourth of July and they had different humor than they did and I felt out of place amongst them"“
“Food reminds me most of home, Persian food; both buying and making it.”
“I share my culture by talking about it, I also share art history and sharing foods”
“My friend Ziyu loves my food and she's not from Iran and we always exchange food, Chinese and Persian.”
“Language was a lot. Caused a lot of anxiety. I had to practice a lot before going in to class”
one thing that was consistently mentioned was…
"Everyone has a form of 'puff puff' so it's always nice to learn about everyone else's version of a popular dish"
“To connect with other people, I use music and food. Food is always a good middle ground because who doesn't want to eat and I love hosting so this is my area for real”
"When I miss home, I run straight to food. All the time. Once I have my food, I have my culture to be honest, following that would be music but mainly food keeps me connected"
‘food’
"Let's go to the Brazilian restaurant, let's go to the Asian restaurant"
"I connected with people mainly over food. One of my Asian friends talked to me about boba and that was how I was able to learn and get exposed to that part of their culture and learn more about them"
"Everybody has to eat, so you might as well eat together"
"I will always bond with people over food. That is an easy crossover to get to know other people"
"My friend Ziyu loves my food and she's not from Iran and we always exchange food - Chinese and Persian."
"I share my culture by talking about it, I also share art history and sharing foods"
"I teach my friends Farsi, offer them my food and sometimes music but they never really understand what I'm saying"