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Fresh off the boat (often abbreviated as '''F.O.B.''', '''FOB''', '''F.O.T.B.''', '''FOTB''', '''fobbish''', '''freshie''','''boat''', or '''fobbie''') is a Slang phrase applied to people of foreign nationality who have arrived in a host nation as Tourist s, Immigrant s, Student s, or, most commonly, as Work Permit applicants. The term is commonly applied to Eastern and Southern Pacific Asian s, as well as South Asians , in the United States , Canada and Australia , as well as to Pacific Islanders in Australia and New Zealand . It was originally applied to Europe an immigrants to America who had just stepped off of ship. The term is commonly used when immigrants from a foreign nation have not yet Assimilated the host nation's Culture , Language , and behavior. 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 ). FOBs tend to be identified by their Fashion , social preferences, behavior toward others, and Accents . 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. 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. NON-OFFENSIVE USE The term "FOB" is also used in a less offensive way of describing Asian American youths, as well as those in Australia and other countries, that display contemporary East Asian youth cultures. This behavior is part of a new trend of Asian American teens displaying their modern cultural roots (like listening to Asian music and watching Asian movies) rather than conform with mainstream Western culture. Thus the term "Fob" is used in a social context to describe a particular clique or subculture of teens. A few modern-day "Fobs" may actually be American-, Australian-, etc., born Asians. "Fob" is also used as a slang term for these youths to refer to each other, such as American blacks using the word Nigger . The same can be applied to Iranian American youths, who use the term in the same non-offensive way as Asian American youths. Furthermore in the United Kingdom , when the term "fresh off the boat" is used by expatriate Australians, New Zealanders, and South Africans, it is commonly intended as a neutral description of their newly-arrived countrymen and women. A modern stereotype of "FOB" people is that of Pacific Islanders living in Australia and New Zealand. Cook Islanders, Tongans, Samoans, Fijians, Papua New Guineans, and Tuvalu are encompassed in the cultural FOB stereotype. "FOB" is acceptably used by people of any nationality in Australia. However, if used by a non-Pacific Islander in New Zealand, it is considered highly offensive. REFERENCES
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