complete essay

Lee

Erica Lee

Prof. Alvarez

Writing 1

3 Sep, 2018

Essay 1

I am living in the state that people called it a dream factory, the place filled with dreams and ambitions. California is one of the most beautiful and livable places in America, from Hollywood dream to Silicon Valley high-tech rising; from Malibu to southern of miles of amazing free beaches. Those countless perfect traits have attracted immigrants and tourists to accomplish their California dreams. Even though individuals can find a wide range of people, languages, and cultures in California by it's diverse society, but caused them lack of identity to even ,

Diversity has been the heart of California from its earliest until nowadays, especially in terms of geographical, racial, and cultural diversity. People of color make up a majority of the population in California. However, California native born Gustavo Arellano, in his article “No, California isn't 'done'” writes about the fact that people of color are gradually rise and be a part of contribution to California. “And every single one of these groups made the state better. Their struggles, their plights and — most important — their success stories allowed California to improve and show the rest of the country how to form a better place” (Arellano). California has been called “the place to starts a new life” no matter for Americans or immigrants, and the increase of Latin American and Asian immigration, along with more widespread contact with the cultures of those regions make this golden state a diverse society.

As a newcomer to Irvine, California, it filled all of my imaginations about California: no pollution, clear blue sky, and different faces from variety ethnic. In a region known for its cultural mix, Irvine stands apart. After I moved to Irvine, I met people from different countries, I met Koreans at school and learned the Korean etiquette, I met Iranians in the restaurant and learned the history of their national war. Since I have opportunities to meet people from different races everywhere, it makes me more open-minded to accept things different from me. The diversity is the reason I live here.

However, David Ulin, as a long term newcomer to LA, in his article “What makes us Californian for life” explains that his identity had been infiltrated, transformed after he moved to California from New York, California changed him. Since he had lived in California for over 25 years and build a life a raised his family here, he gradually discovered the problem of California. Wallace Stegner famously wrote, "California is unformed, innovative, ahistorical, hedonistic, acquisitive, and energetic — only more so" (as cited in What makes us Californian for life). “California's ungovernability is part of its identity — and part of ours. It's a young state, a young culture, very much a work-in-progress, a place we must continually reshape” (Ulin).

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