Cultural Influences On My Personal Culture

Only in Miami can you see a Cuban family-run restaurant serving Italian pizza while playing a style of music that originated in Africa. Every day we experience the foods, music, and traditions of many different cultures. Almost no family shares the same cultural blend as another. My family is no exception to this trend. My mom was born and raised in Florida however; her father has descendants from England. My paternal grandmother’s family came from France, but the war kept sending them back and forth between Spain and France. My grandmother is the only one of her siblings born in Spain. I also have German and Venezuelan roots. I think of it all as the ingredients in the dish Chicken Chop; the most prominent ingredients in this “Cultural Dish” are the English and Hispanic cultures. These are the elements, sprinkled with some cosmopolitan influential flare, that have influenced my personal culture over the years. First up on my cultural recipe list is the English side, represented by the chicken. Chicken is obviously the most important part of the Chicken Chop
Beans and yellow rice are staple ingredients used in many Hispanic countries. Starting at a young age, my favorite food was my paternal grandmother’s black beans and rice. I have always enjoyed flavor rich Hispanic foods. Just as Hispanic foods contain layers of different textures, Hispanic music layers many instruments and rhythms to provoke different emotions. I feel a strong connection to music. Over the years, I have picked up many instruments including guitar, a very Hispanic instrument. Some of my physical features show my Hispanic side such as my brown eyes, naturally red highlighted hair and the fact that I tan easily in the sun. Those genes have been passed down to me through my dad’s side of my family and will continue to be passed down from generation to generation along with many Hispanic family