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Fresh off the boat is a term that is commonly used when immigrants from a foreign nation have not yet assimilated the host nation's culture, language, and behavior. For example, Richard Lim Note that assimilation to the host nation's culture is not a certainty; there are historical examples of a foreign nation assimilating a host nation (ex. Sinicization or Romanization). The five pillars that are commonly associated with being a "FOB" are fashion, social preferences (i.e. cultural activities, cuisine, and religious practices), behavior toward others, knowledge of multiple dialects, and accents. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... In the social sciences, assimilation is the process of integration whereby immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into a generally larger community. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... In the social sciences, assimilation is the process of integration whereby immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into a generally larger community. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... Sinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification, is the linguistic assimilation or cultural assimilation of terms and concepts into the language and culture of China. ... Languages can be romanized in a variety of ways, as shown here with Mandarin Chinese In linguistics, romanization (or Latinization, also spelled romanisation or Latinisation) is the representation of a word or language with the Roman (Latin) alphabet, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language... Such styles may change quickly, and fashion in the more colloquial sense refers to the latest version of these styles. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

In the sociology of ethnicity, this term can be seen as an indicator of a nature of diasporic communities, or communities that have left their country of origin and have migrated, usually permanently, to another country. A split can occur in such communities between those who have assimilated or acclimated in their host countries and those who still cling to their native culture. The usage of "FOBs" is often used by the former group to differentiate themselves from the latter. Often this difference is a result of a generation gap, where the sons and daughters of immigrants born and immersed in the culture of their host country develop an identity distinct from their parents or recent immigrants. For other uses, see Diaspora (disambiguation). ... Identity is an umbrella term used throughout the social sciences for an individuals comprehension of him or herself as a discrete, separate entity. ...

The term also has been adapted by immigrants themselves or others in their community who instead see the differentiation as a source of pride, where they have retained their culture and have not lost it to assimilation. In some instances, people who have assimilated or acclimated into their host country still identify themselves as a "FOB" to show they have not assimilated completely.

References

• Ludvig, Sämi. Cultural Identity as Spouse From Fusion of Cultures?, edited by Peter O. Stummer and Christopher Balme. Reprinted by Google Books. Retrieved July 27, 2006. ISBN 90-420-0044-9.

• Nakazawa, Donna Jackson. Does Anybody Else Look Like Me?: A Parent's Guide to Raising Multiracial Children. p. 132. Reprinted by Google Books. Retrieved July 27, 2006. ISBN 0-7382-0950-3.