By Kulwinder Singh Grewal Age 13 & Gurinder Singh Collotia Age 18
Being a Sikh’in America is different in many ways than ‘Khalistan. The reason is that the customs of these people are so different than ours which make it a little difficult to do the same things they do to live in America. The schools here are very clean due to the fact that there are smokers and kids who like of make a mess. How we felt when we first went to school and what problems we faced as being the only four kids who were Sikhs in school. Another reason is the language barrier that we had and still have but not as muck. We also ‘faced discrimination that we just ignored Because we were too busy and still are busy. We also want to tell why we didn’t do “amrit”: We will also tell about our parents ‘and how they take care of us and support us every step of the way. Then finally we will do an interview by asking and answering some question. .
As we all live in an American community we try to adjust our way of life. Kulwinder ‘and I feel that it is very important to mix in with Americans to a certain point, which is 10 be able to go to their house and bring them to our house to play and do homework. Now we cannot date because that is not the way we do it. We feel our culture very unique than others.
Kulwinder and I use to live in the same town and use to goo the same school with my brother. We lived in Lodi and it was fun 10 go out and play with each other and do whatever we wanted to. It was a good ‘feeling when we got a paper role together ‘and every day after school we went 10 do our papers. It was fun and we also found out many things about living in America. We feel that was a great experience and a ‘opportunity 10 show who we are. When we went to school we always tried to help each other out with understanding English and doing homework. Now that we have moved to different towns tis very awkward 10 g0 10 school alone. Gurinder lives in Dumont and Kulwinder lives in Mahwah, but we still are the best friends that we ever were. Now it is a lot different especially when you do not have that same feeling that we use to have when we went of school together.
Going 10 schools very easy for Gurinder ‘and me. The reason that is behind this is that we almost meet each other every day. It ‘feels very different when you are with American friends because it comes to our thinking that we are hurting them by, hanging around them because then they start losing friends when we are seen with them. We have many good friends that say, “Who cares what anybody says. Some kids in school do tease us, but we feel they are Jealous of us for having courage to keep our ‘hair and everything else and sometimes they want to start fights for no reason at all. But anyway we stay calm and quiet and our American friends handle the other kids themselves. That is our school life.
We faced discrimination many times, but we were too busy to do anything about it One was when Gurinder went for an interview in Grand Union and was told that they do not have room for students and two weeks later one kid, one of his friends got a Job in grand union for five dollars an hour. Now I would call that discrimination, what would you call it? The second one was when J, Kulwinder went to fill out an application in Burger King, they told me if I take my turban off I could work there I told them I would rather die than do that and I left Again I say that is discrimination.
This is an interview where we will ask each other questions and answer them. Kulwinder how do you feel when you go to school?
Just goo school like anyone else except Stay calm and try to communicate with other classmates. If anyone teases me do ‘not pay attention, but if anyone gets on my nerves I get angry and lose my temper. Sometimes I tell my teacher. How do you feel Gurinder?
Well, Ig0 10 school just like you and just say Hi to my friends and mind my own business and go to class.
How do girls in school look at you Gurinder?
You know basically the same thing as ‘you, but they also ask me if did my lab and if they could borrow it.
Now these examples may show and may make you understand how and what we do in school. We also participate in many sponis. In 1987 I Kulwinder was in a wrestling team and I won a trophy and a couple of medals and in 1988 I was in a baseball team, [also was awarded for that.
In 19871, Gurinder, was in cross country and I was only in ninth grade when qualified for Varsity Team. In cross country T won many awards. We did this for our religion and our moral and character in school.
Finally, how we live with our parents at home. Our parents sport us through every bind we are in, it could be that we need something real fast they go with us and get it for us. We feel we should help our parents ‘just as much as they help us. Our parents are also very good friends with each other which makes us feel a lot better. Our parents put confidence in us and say “you can do it if you put your mind 10 it” we love both of our parents.
This article won the first prize in the senior category of the Talent Competition in Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Glen Rock NJ.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1989
