I remember learning new words, trying to figure out what common things like cider, finding myself upset that my parents couldn't help me understand this new culture, that it was up to me to interpret for them as well as myself.

In this quote, An Na reflects on her experience of navigating a new culture as an immigrant. She speaks about the challenges of learning and adapting to unfamiliar aspects of life, such as language and everyday objects, symbolized here by the word cider. Na recalls the struggle of trying to understand common things in a culture different from her own, and how her parents, unfamiliar with this new environment, were unable to guide her through it. This made her feel as though she was not only learning for herself but also interpreting the new culture for her parents.

The quote also highlights the emotional strain of feeling responsible for both understanding and translating a new world, a role that falls on many children of immigrants. Na's experience of learning new words and concepts in a language she wasn't fully familiar with reflects the complexity of growing up between two cultures, often acting as a cultural bridge for her family. This can be an overwhelming task, especially when the parents themselves struggle to comprehend the new culture, leaving the child with the burden of interpretation.

The origin of this quote stems from Na's immigrant experience, likely drawing from her personal journey of cultural assimilation and language acquisition. As someone who has written extensively about the immigrant experience, Na’s words here speak to the larger challenges faced by children of immigrants—balancing the pressures of adapting to a new world while also trying to maintain connections to their heritage and family.

Ultimately, Na's statement emphasizes the emotional and cognitive labor involved in growing up in a bicultural environment. Her struggle to understand both the culture she is immersed in and the world her parents come from reflects the complexities of identity formation in the context of immigration. The quote underscores the resilience of immigrants, especially children, as they juggle between their personal growth and their responsibility to help their families adjust to new cultural norms.