#second generation immigrant

okay lemme explain.

So Clark is an alien and did immigrate to the planet illegally, his story has never truely felt like one of immigrants to me. For the main reason that he fits in and never truly grew up with his culture.

Immigration wasn't a choice for him, and growing up Clark doesn't really expeirence kryptonian culture.

Like his experience is probably closer to that of someone who was adopted from another country as a baby and so never learned how to speak the language or anything about thier culture. But even that feels weird to me because Superman fits in.

He is a white man, and he doesn't expeirence the same looks or questions that those adopted children get. And Clark will always fit in. He has the advantage in society, and can consider himself an american man without anyone questioning him. And I know his powers make it hard for him to fit in and all, and he does get told to go home and the like.

but he will never experience the same systemic xenophobia that a nonwhite immigrant who moved to another country in the middle fo thier life will feel.

Like I feel two really good examples of immigrant stories are more Martian Manhunter and Supergirl.

Because they both grew up surrounded by their culture and then were forced to adapt to this new way of life, and people will always see them as not human enough.

While Kara defintatly has it easier than J'onn it still is difficult to go to a new planet where you don't speak the language and be expected to fit in immidetly.

Also they are both refugees, so they don't have the option of returning home like some immigrants do.

I’ve been crying all day because my sister passed a few days ago. At first I didn’t feel anything because I hadn’t ever met her, only spoken to her once. But instead of crying about all I had lost and memories I think I was just crying about what could’ve been. We had recently spoke for the first time ever, I didn’t think anything of it but I wish I had now.

I’ve never met my grandparents, I know that I have relatives but those are just titles, I know nothing about them otherwise.

But how could I identify as just German? My father is fully german, I've never been close to him. When I think of childhood.. I am watching Nu Pagadi and Mascha and eating Oreschki during Christmas time. My mother is on the phone with my grandma, I do not understand their conversations because they switch between Russian and German. I don't eat the same foods as my classmates. I don't understand their hatred of certain German cities or states. I don't know what the phrases or idioms they repeat mean. I could only tell you ones translated from Russian. I feel like I'm behind on learning to be German, and my father is not teaching me either.

Visiting my grandparents house brings a comfort that I'm longing for anytime I'm away. I cry thinking about my uncle Viktor making Oladji for breakfast, waking up to the comforting smell of apples and fried dough. He died 8 years ago, I haven't eaten Oladji since then.

And when I think of comfort, I am sitting at my grandma's kitchen table eating her Plov or Pelmeni or my grandpa's baked fish. I still don't understand their conversations, they still keep switching back to Russian. My grandparents are struggling with my German, I am struggling with their accents. It feels like home.

Just to use english as an example: yes, I promise that I usually don’t say “like” as a placeholder every other sentence when speaking, but your own native language is the only merit of measurement you have when speaking to me so you have no way of knowing that

Tfw when you’re fluent enough to speak your second or third language properly but not well enough to sound like you’re above the age of eight