My name is Maheen, and I moved to Fremont from Pakistan around March. The biggest change was the school system. Back home, you stay in one classroom the whole day, but here you move from class to class, which means you meet a lot more people; people from different religions, cultures, and backgrounds. It was surprising at first, but I enjoy having the diversity.

Life in the U.S. is way different than that of Pakistan. Back home, other people usually help with daily tasks; we had drivers and maids. Here, you do everything yourself. It was the most difficult adjustment to be made due to moving. 

One of the biggest culture shocks was how liberal people are in the United States. In Pakistan, things are more traditional, especially at school. We had uniforms, dress codes, and even rules about tying our hair. I didn’t realize how much of that affected me until I came here. Being required to dress and act a certain way made me feel insecure, like I didn’t have the option of expressing myself.

Here, it’s totally different. You can wear whatever you want, dress however you like, and no one really judges you for it. That freedom actually made me more confident. I can express myself through clothes, my personal style, and appear in a way that I couldn’t before. It feels good to be able to make those choices.

Even with the good parts of the U.S., I still miss Pakistan. I miss my family, and the feeling of being able to visit them anytime. There, everyone is close and connected, but I don’t get to see them often now. I also miss the familiarity that I had in my home country; the environment, the culture, and knowing everyone and everything around me.

Something I’m proud of keeping is my language, Urdu. Even after moving, I still speak it at home when I’m around family, and I don’t want to lose that. A lot of people feel pressured to become more Western, but I like holding onto my own culture. It helps me feel connected to home.

Even though moving was hard, I appreciate how open-minded people are here. No one really judges you, and that makes it easier to express yourself and live your life carefree.