When Baba and Amir first move to America it is difficult for both of them, but it’s truly a shock for Baba when he is thrust into a life of labor and hardship. He went from being the prosperous and commanding man that everyone knew so well, to having next to nothing in a country that was not his own. He is forced to work at a low paying job that wore him down just to provide for Amir and himself. Even though Baba enjoyed what America represented “America…gave him an ulcer” (132). No matter how hard he tried Baba could never totally learn to fit into life in America. When asked for his ID at the grocery store Baba becomes enraged, not understanding this is a normal occurrence. Apologizing for his father Amir says “My father is still adjusting to life in America” (135). No matter what he does, Afghanistan will always be Baba’s home, and he will always be an orphan in America. It is only a place where he can mourn what has happened to his own country.
While his father struggles, Amir has a much easier time adjusting to life in America. This is partly due to the fact that he already wishes to get away from Afghanistan, for reasons unknown to Baba. America is a place where Amir can bury his memories of his past, of Hassan. Another factor is his youth. Amir never had a chance to build a life in Afghanistan, this makes it easy for him to slip into a new culture with ease. It is in America that Amir finds love, prosperity and happiness. For Amir, America is a second chance, to start over and try to do better. Though every small reminder of his past life causes him grief, Amir is still able to forget about his old life. He says himself “I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom…if for nothing else, for that, I embraced America” (144).
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