I think one of the reasons our class, and my self included, struggled liking Ashima and Ashoke throughout reading the The Namesake because we could not actually understand their internal conflict of attempting to maintain their own native traditions, while also accepting new ones. Yesterday my family went on our annual trip to cut down our Christmas tree at this place about 30 minutes away called “Whispering Pines”, the same place we have gone for the last eight years or so. While driving there we always listen to the same Bing Crosby Christmas CD, and then once we get our tree we listen to it on the way back as well. Once we get home, my brother and dad trim the tree outside, put it in the stand, and put the lights on it while my mom and I bring the boxes of ornaments and decorations up from the basement. With Christmas music blasting through the house, we all sip on eggnog and sing along while we put up the decorations. We always do the ornaments last and then after we finish everything, we turn off most of the living room lights and sit to talk while looking at the glowing tree for a while. Basically, this day of tradition has remained the same for as long as I can remember, and I cannot explain how upset I would feel if it changed. No one can truly understand how much silly traditions may matter to and impact someone else. So, as I thought about my life in relation to The Namesake (which I do a little too much these days), I finally began to understand Ashima and Ashoke’s situation a little more. I cannot imagine changing this tradition, probably the way they felt about many traditions that began to die when they moved to America. I feel like if I moved somewhere that did not accept listening to Bing Crosby or drinking eggnog, I would not know what to do with myself.
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