Bridging the Divide: An Exploration of Cultural Identity in Two Worlds

This essay delves into the author's personal experience of living in two distinct worlds: Kuwait and San Francisco. Drawing parallels with Marcus Mabry's 'Living in Two Worlds,' the author reflects on the challenges of navigating differing cultural norms, values, and lifestyles. The essay explores the sense of displacement and internal conflict that arises from straddling two identities, particularly the feeling of being disconnected from one's roots while striving for a better future. The author grapples with the desire to return home while acknowledging the growing divide between their experiences and those of their family and friends, ultimately highlighting the complex and ongoing struggle of living in two worlds.

1
Living in Two Worlds
Introduction
I am from Kuwait and currently live in San Francisco for my studies. Kuwait and San
Francisco are two separate worlds that are very different from one another. The difference is not
only physical but also in terms of ethnicity, culture and the lifestyle. Kuwait is more conserved
than San Francisco. More to that, the people differ in ideologies and how they carry out even
business. Coming here took a lot of getting used to. It seemed as extra work to have to learn a
new culture and to live according to it. Though right now I am used to it, I still feel there is a
conflict within me from the two worlds. I find it difficult to make up my mind whether to stay
back and complete my study or to go back and stay with my family. However, the reading of
Living in two Worlds has greatly helped me in my attempt to pursue my studies and make a good
career so that I can help my family.
Discussion
Just like the author of the article ‘Living in two Worlds’ Marcus Mabry, I left my Home
County and town for purposes of pursuing my education. In his story, he came from a poor
background in New Jersey and moved to a prestigious school by all standards, Stanford
University, which is in the West Coast. Many differences there are, as he narrates, between the
two regions. These differences, he states, are affecting him and his vision of the world. It is
evident from the study that he had experienced two different worlds – one of poverty and other
of affluence. The author seemed to struggle between these two worlds and had trouble switching
between these worlds. I can thus clearly relate to the author’s condition, as I too, am stuck
between two different worlds.

2
The first time I went back home from school, I felt like there was a major difference
between my people and me. I felt as if I was being unfair to them because I was exposed to more
opportunities than they were. Among the friends I had gone to school with, I was the only one
who had gone to America to study, and as such, I felt that this was a little bit unfair to them.
Though I had dearly missed home, it had turned out that the excitement was a little bit washed
away by the feeling of being more privileged than my friends. Here, I can relate my feelings to
that of the author who also had the same feeling when he went back home from school for the
first time. The section on page 35 clearly states Mabry’s conflicting feelings.
Although unlike the author, I am not from a poor family, some aspects of his experience
are familiar. Kuwait is a very conservative nation. People there are more reserved compared to
San Francisco where people are more frank and open. This has made me, on frequent cases, feel
out of place when at home. To cite an instance, I would not speak out freely when at home, as I
would do here in San Francisco. This makes me feel as I am living in a parallel world.
Apart from other similar instances in the story, one thing with which I mainly relate to is
the purpose for which I have distanced myself from my home – a better life for me and my loved
ones. Instead, in my pursuit of ensuring a better life for the people I love, I feel I have gone
further away from them as opposed to what I wished. This has been a major challenge for me,
since the main reason I want to get an education is to ensure a better life for me and my family.
However, just like the writer, the endeavor of mine is taking me away from my actual aim in life.
Conclusion
My life has practically turned out to be living in two worlds and that too on regular basis.
In a year, I am compelled to switch frequently between two different worlds. It has not been an

3
easy road but I am still doing it. However, I strongly desire to get back home even today, but
with each milestone I achieve in education, I am finding it harder to relate to my original roots,
my home. Therefore, I can assert that the author has given an apt title to his story, as people do
live in two worlds and like me and the author, they face constant struggle, not knowing when
will it end or will it ever end.