Compare And Contrast Amir's Move To America

Amir’s experience in America differs greatly from that of Gogol’s. Amir moved to America when he was around ten years old due to the conflict that broke out in his home country, Afghanistan. Although he was not born in America, he can still be considered a full fledged first generation American. Living in Fremont, California with his father, Amir takes advantage of all that America has to offer him. This move to America is a lot difficult for his father since he had lived in Afghanistan his whole life and was widely known and praised throughout his community. Not only was the move hard on him emotionally, but it was also hard on him physically, as mentioned early on in the novel when they first arrived in California. “But the Bay Area’s smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough. The fruit

Gogol’s relationship with his family, as previously mentioned, was a rocky one. Because he grew up hating his name, he associated his name with his heritage and in turn grew to hate his family’s traditions. When he grows up, he tries to separate himself from these traditions by avoiding the Bengali themed parties his parents throw and immerses himself in American traditions. “He didn't want to go home on the weekends, to go with them to pujos and Bengali parties, to remain unquestionably in their world,” (Lahiri 126). This active rebellion of Gogol’s peaked at the time that he was dating his girlfriend, Maxine, and also when he changed his first name to Nikhil. This change of name symbolizes the new turn in his life he wants to make; a new start as his own person. After his dad passes away, however, he pulls himself back into the traditions of his heritage by spending more time with the remainder of his family and shaving his head in respect of his dad’s