Two Styles?

1. I believe the one thing that influenced her the most are friends. Teenagers that i know of are most afraid of their friends's disapprove in the U.S. People like immigrants could often be excluded from some groups unless they approve them. I didn't feel much afraid of my chinese customs, i didnt have anything interesting or wierd thats diffrent from these people.
2. The difference are that immigrants just moved in here. With the kids that have their parents move in first then they are borned are viewed more as a resident here already. It wasn't your idenity of where you from, its what you look like or how you do things in school that they make the separations. If i move in to the U.S now, i don't think i would be viewed as such an outsider like what Jhambi Lhahiri thinks she is.
3. The part where she fears to her origin and express them is stupid. Why not show yourself? Sometimes instead of hiding them, expressing them could attract attentions from people around. Be proactive to the people in school and they could feel that interesting part of you. Who knows? maybe they'll love your indian foods or customs that they find you pretty cool. When i was in the U.s, i shared everything about Taiwan, i didn't got scold at or excluded, instead they loved it. They find Taiwan absollutly interesting and a must travel destination for food.