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The Distance Between Us By Reyna Grande

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To find an American Identity is to find what’s important to you, because identity Is something that defines and proves who or what a person is. To have an Identity means to feel known and a sense of belonging to yourself and to the people important. The Distance Between Us is a memoir wrote by Reyna Grande in 2012 about her life before and after she arrived in the United States from being in poverty while in Mexico to becoming a U.S. citizen. Reyna’s growth throughout the story tells us that in unknown places it is fitting to find a quick and certain way to survive and adapt to unfamiliar situations, while keeping family close because family will try to be supportive and encouraging. In the United States Reyna felt like an outsider and like …show more content…

This feeling of isolation was encouraged by the culture differences Reyna experienced. When Reyna arrived in the United States she spoke and perform differently from the people around her, which she felt like an outsider in this strange place that she thought she knew about. Reyna understanding and knowledge of the United States was different from what her family told her. In the text the author states, “Most of the kids had someone to hang out with. I seemed to be the only person at Raging Waters who was alone. I tried to go on the rides, but on the third one, when I went down a waterslide and landed in the pool and couldn’t touch the bottom. I freaked out. Reyna felt like she didn’t want to be alone anymore and needed someone by herself. She didn’t want to be different and separate from other and needed comfort. Reyna had sometime felt like she didn’t belong because she was in a place she didn’t know very well or understood …show more content…

Also, while many other things come along with an American Identity that could benefit you or have a negative impact on your life depended on what it used for. Like knowing or not knowing where you belong or who you belong with. Also like accepting that there will and won't be people there for you that weed you need them the most. Reyna journey was her finding out what she was and what she wanted to be, which she went through some up and down that had a huge an effect on her life to figure out. Reyna still persevered through it all even though she went through abandoned neglection, and abuse through all her caretakers. She still became a U.S. Citizens and accomplish things with her life even though she was born into immense poverty and

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