A Walk in Two Worlds, the making of a cultural identity
A Walk in Two Worlds
A book by Ghina Makari Cane
My whole life I wanted to be normal. For the seven-year-old daughter of immigrants that meant having a name like
Jane, blue eyes, silky blonde hair and pale white skin. Not hairy arms, fuzzy dark hair, brown eyes, bushy eyebrows and a name no one could pronounce.
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A Walk in Two Worlds is a book about my journey. First through the eyes of a child that came to a new world for a better life. A world where she didn’t know her place and didn’t feel she belonged. She looked differed, ate differently and was different. The journey continues through the eyes of a teenager contending with two cultures but belonging to none. As an adult she travels the world to find herself and learns that we are not our parents, we are not our heritage and we are not our country. We are our own perfect fusion of them all. We are designers of our own cultural identity.
I have met many people that live with angst, guilt and confusion. Lost between two cultures, two religions or two races. Feeling torn like they are being pulled in different directions. Trying to please their family, community and society. Trying to be everything everyone wants them to be. Juggling two worlds, two rule books and two ways of life but never feeling like they truly belonged to any. This book is for them. I want them to know that they are not alone and that they no longer need to feel lost.
Through better understanding comes acceptance. I hope that through sharing my story it will help others with theirs. I want to empower them to design and define their cultural identity.
Throughout the book I will share the stories and reflections of others, from all walks of life and different nationalities, races and cultures. I’ll also inject the wisdom of philosophers and inspirational writers that have touched me.
This is my first book. I have always wanted to be a writer but never knew what to write about; until this book came to me. I have spoken to so many that need it, there are hundreds of thousands of children lost between two worlds. I hope to be able to help them.
So I invite them to walk with me through the love, tears and laughter. To grow with me toward self-acceptance and understanding. To arrive with me to a place where they confidently and proudly walk in two worlds, knowing that they are defined by none.
If you would like to stay in touch to hear about the progress of the book, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook
Ghinamak
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