Exploring Third Culture Immigrant Experience

The Immigrant Experience

The journey of Caribbean immigrants to America is a complex mix of identity transformation, cultural adaptation, and personal growth. Simone Johnson Smith, host of “The Immigrant Experience in America” podcast – shares how immigrants from collectivist Caribbean cultures face unique challenges when integrating into the individualistic American society.

This isn’t merely about learning new customs or overcoming language barriers; it’s about a fundamental reshaping of identity. As Simone poignantly describes, “I have changed in so many ways and life is so much richer. I had no idea what the experience I was about to go on.” This sentiment captures the bittersweet reality of immigration – gaining new perspectives while navigating the disorientation of culture shock.

Third Culture Person

Simone explains her concept of the “third culture person” – someone who becomes a hybrid of their birth culture and adopted culture. Rather than fully assimilating or maintaining rigid cultural boundaries, many immigrants eventually recognize they’ve become something entirely new. This hybridity isn’t a weakness but what Simone calls a “superpower” – a unique perspective that allows them to navigate multiple worlds with adaptability and insight. However, this transformation doesn’t happen without significant internal conflict and external challenges.

Immigrant at Work

One particularly resonant aspect of the immigrant experience discussed is the workplace environment. Caribbean professionals often face microaggressions, cultural misunderstandings, and pressure to code-switch. They may find themselves caught between expectations from their home culture and American professional norms. As Simone explains, “The microaggressions in the office and not understanding why… you feel microaggressions before you can actually decode it. You just know something does not feel right in your body.” This physical and emotional discomfort can lead to a gradual erosion of confidence and identity.

Mental Health

Mental health emerges as a critical concern throughout the conversation. Culture shock is described not as a minor adjustment issue but as a serious condition with symptoms ranging from “mild depression to fatal self-harm.” Yet many immigrants lack the vocabulary to articulate their experiences or the cultural framework to seek help. Coming from collectivist societies where the focus is on community rather than individual wellness, many Caribbean immigrants struggle with concepts like boundaries and self-care that are essential for thriving in America.

Perhaps most powerfully, both hosts emphasize the need for immigrants to “come home to themselves” – to integrate aspects of both cultures deliberately rather than passively. This means critically examining which cultural values to maintain and which to leave behind. It requires creating boundaries, practicing self-care, and embracing one’s unique cultural position instead of striving for an impossible “pure” assimilation. As Simone states, “You get to decide what goes into that pot.”

Hope for future Immigrants

The conversation concludes with a message of hope – that today’s immigrants have resources their predecessors lacked. Through podcasts, books, and online communities, they can find guidance to navigate their journey with fewer pitfalls. This reflection offers a powerful reminder that the immigrant experience, while challenging, contains the potential for profound growth and transformation.

This episode beautifully aligns with the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM), developed through Carry On Friends to reflect the unique journeys of Caribbean people living outside the region. Simone’s work on third culture identity—particularly the disorientation, adaptation, and eventual integration many immigrants face—mirrors several core CDEM components. Where Simone highlights the emotional and cultural shifts of becoming a “third culture person,” CDEM offers a structured model for understanding how factors like age at migration, professional identity, and cultural connection evolve over time. Together, these perspectives offer powerful language and tools for navigating the in-between—honoring both our roots and the new realities we inhabit.

Resources Mentioned:

• Simone’s book: Decoding America
• Simone’s podcast: The Immigrant Experience in America

Connect with Simone:

• Website: thebridgeconcepts.org

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