Does a person's culture change when they move to a new country?

... When immigrants leave their home country and settle down in a new one, does their culture change?

If so, how? Do they adapt to their new country's culture entirely?
Or rather, do they create a new culture for themselves - a combination of their old traditions + their new lifestyle?

It's for a research essay in my anthropology class.

All ideas and opinions are welcome!

LV-Gnome

I think it depends where they come from.

If they're from a westernized country, it's much easier to adapt however I believe most people still retain a few things from their own countries.

For example, I'm from New Zealand and while it's westernized and we eat mostly the same kind of food, wear the same style of clothes and speak english as a first language, some stuff is slightly different and I do try and incorporate that in to our lives here and in our wider family. We made traditional kiwi deserts for Christmas dinner, and I don't think I'll ever stop calling the hood and trunk the bonnet and the boot.

I don't think there's anything wrong with maintaining part of your old culture. It's where we came from and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. I would never force it down somebody's throat or alienate anybody through it though.

Aztec

Yes! Before they allow you in the country, the immigration officer firmly asks you to forget about your culture and adopt theirs.
LOL, just joking...

you-asked!

it depends on the person, what country they're from, and where they move to. i would imagine that age influences it alot. a person who moves at 4 yrs. will probably adapt, his parents may never adapt. an example is people in the U.S. who can't speak a lick of english and keep all their old traditions, but their americanized kids are just like evry other kid in the country.
i saw a special once on asian women who have creases surgically put on their eyelids so they look more american, there are alot of asian women who are against this, its pretty controversial.
i think that kids who have traditionally cultured parents sometimes feel really torn between their parents' expectations and the expectations they get from their american peers. its always hard to appease both sides.
i knew a girl who was muslim, she was very americanized. i'll never forget during the fasting month feeling so bad for her because she was expected to uphold the muslim fast during the day and wake up to eat in the middle of the night, and she was also expected to be at school early in the morning and be able to concentrate even though she didn't get any sleep. talk about being stuck between two worlds.

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