From One Language to Another World
Literacy and language are key components of one’s culture and the way one connects with their environment. Being multi-literate enhances that connection and gives the advantage of exploring different parts of the world and understanding ideas that contrast from ideas someone might be used to. My literacy has given me a chance to experience two cultures that I’m proud to be a part of. While I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, my roots stem from the Slavic lands of Poland. Being fairly fluent in both English and Polish, I can adjust to both environments without a problem and find it very useful to have such mobility. However, the range of the experience from one culture to the other is colossal.
West Bloomfield, Michigan is home to many successful lawyers, entrepreneurs, doctors, and even a handful of celebrities- I’ve come across several professional hockey players, singers, and TV stars around my own neighborhood. Most families live on the shores of Orchard Lake or Upper Straits Lake and have Range Rovers and Mercedes Benz’ lining their driveways. Crime is nearly unheard of. The vibe around the township is peaceful yet luxurious. It’s hard to imagine a society more utopian than ours. In West Bloomfield High School, everyone knew that you had the potential to go wherever you wished after graduating. Many of us didn’t take this fact for granted since 86 graduates this
previous year went on to the University Of Michigan: Ann Arbor, setting a record for our high school and any other one nationally. Our reputation is one to uphold.
Aside from my hometown, across America, it’s no hidden fact that English is the dominant language. I’ve been to New York and Los Angeles on rare occasions and it’s a pleasure being able to communicate on opposite ends of the country with the common code. Skimming through a dinner menu, chatting with a waitress or a local, or listening to the classics on the radio are easy to do when...