Becoming an American

Gogol practices and becomes a part of the American culture more than his parents, Ashima and Ashoke.  On Page seventy-five, the reader learns some new, American habits Gogol does like occasionally addressing his parents in English, and sometimes using a fork at dinner.  Both, using a fork at dinner, and speaking in English to his parents are habits that many Americans, including myself, do.  Around the same point in time, Gogol had a thirteenth birthday party with just his American friends, and then, another party with Bengali people.  Ashima becomes more stressed for the party with Gogol's American friends than the Bengali party which expresses to the reader her comfort level with people from her own culture versus people from another culture.
To extend this topic a little further, is the question whether Gogol practicing and becoming a part of American culture a good or bad thing he that he should be doing?  After reflecting on the question, I believe that Gogol practicing American culture to the extent that he continues at during a highschool year, is good because he has to grow up in America and find a job there.  Knowing the culture to a place where one has to work, is important so that person can keep a job and support themselves and getting along with people.  Practicing the American culture to extent that Gogol is,  leaves a smaller amount of room to practice Benglais culture which is important because it is apart of who Gogol is