By: Lisa Patrick
‘Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants’ has deeply resonated with readers, recently hitting the bestseller list. Curated by Vicky Giouroukakis, this powerful collection offers a poignant exploration of the lives of those born to immigrant parents or grandparents, shedding light on their unique experiences of navigating two worlds—the rich heritage of their families and the culture of their birth country. While many immigrant narratives focus on the journey to a new land, Giouroukakis shifts the lens to the second generation, who wrestle with the complexities of identity and cultural integration. The essays in this collection provide a wide range of perspectives, capturing moments of struggle, triumph, and personal growth, all shaped by the immigrant experience. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Giouroukakis to delve into the inspiration behind her work, the process of bringing these stories to life, and the impact she hopes the book will have on its readers. Her insights offer a deeper understanding of the themes and narratives that make this collection a significant contribution to the ongoing dialogue about immigration and identity.
In your own experience, how has growing up in an immigrant household influenced your identity and sense of belonging?
Growing up the daughter of immigrant parents is like straddling two worlds, the world of my parents and the world in which I was born. When I was younger, I wanted to assimilate and fit into American culture, yet I was also keenly aware that I was a part of my parents’ culture, which brought about its own challenges and complexities. Some examples: At a very young age, I had to serve as a translator for my parents. I was raised by my Greek grandmother who did not speak a word of English because my parents had to work long hours. I ate meals that other kids my age had never heard of. Nobody could pronounce my first or last name. When I traveled to Greece, I was considered an American. In America, I was a Greek. The list goes on. I struggled to figure out who I was and where I belonged. Today, while I consider myself an American, I also embrace my Greek heritage. I hope the stories resonate with immigrant families but also with young people who feel out of place or in the middle of two cultures and want to fit in somewhere.
The stories in the book cover both adversity and good times. How do you feel the balance between these experiences helps shape a more complete understanding of growing up in immigrant families?
The stories in the book cover both adversity and good times and thus reflect the human experience and what it’s like to grow up in any family. Growing up in an immigrant family adds another layer to the experience. Immigrant parents work hard and make sacrifices so their children can have a better life. They experience and embrace hard times and good times in their pursuit of the American dream, and their children are the beneficiaries of those experiences. In all the stories, there is a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the lessons their parents and grandparents taught them, lessons of hard work, perseverance, determination, pride, familial duty, and love.
What role do you think storytelling plays in fostering empathy and understanding about the immigrant experience, particularly for people who haven’t lived through it themselves?
Storytelling is a powerful vehicle for fostering empathy and understanding about the immigrant experience. The stories in the book are authentic and make you feel any number of emotions (e.g., joy, contentment, amusement, sadness, disappointment, anger, nostalgia) and perhaps even change you.
Were there any recurring challenges faced by the descendants of immigrants in the essays?
The biggest challenge descendants of immigrants faced was straddling two worlds–dealing with other people’s perceptions of them/their cultures as odd or different while trying to fit into mainstream American life and at the same time trying to understand and appreciate their heritage culture. It’s hard enough being a teenager, and when you add the layer of cultural diversity, it becomes even harder. We all want to be understood and heard, and when other people don’t understand who you are, what your background is, how you were raised, and so on, then you can start feeling lonely and alone. I hope the stories resonate with immigrant families but also with young people who, at some point in their lives, felt like “the other” and just wanted to be accepted. I hope the reader develops understanding and empathy for the immigrants depicted in the stories but also an appreciation for the ways in which they enrich our communities and make our country unique and special. Their stories can teach us a lot about other cultures, including our own.
How do you feel these challenges compare to those faced by first-generation immigrants?
Whereas immigrant parents know what their cultural background is and understand that America is their adopted country—and have a strong sense of purpose— children of immigrants typically feel suspended between two worlds. Most children of immigrants question who they are, where they belong, and who they want to become. By growing up in an immigrant household, children of immigrants must go through their own challenges and struggles to figure out their identity and how they fit into their multiple worlds.
Pick up your copy of ‘Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants‘ now available on Amazon.
Published By: Aize Perez
