Culture is an important and vital component that defines who and what we are as a person. We interface with cultural difference on a daily basis. So what exactly is culture? Good Question! I will attempt to identify my own cultural and explain what cultural means to me. So, lets start by defining the term culture. “Culture is a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc.”. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015) My cultural identity consists of several parts. I am most foremost a female that has a variety of racial genetic makeup of African-American, Native American, and European descent. I was raised in a Christian religious household and in a primarily single parent home. I have a sister and a half brother on my father’s…
Have you ever been so sure of something that the simple consideration of the opposite seems to overwhelm you? I have been; or, I had been. Since the age of ten, I had considered myself bilingual. This course has given me an increasingly wide opportunity to acknowledge the fact that speaking a language does not necessarily mean I have sufficient tools to write in it. In fact, I have noticed many misconceptions, errors, and even some atrocities.…
I am Puerto Rican, or, as my family constantly reminds me, "boriqua". As a result, I grew up learning two languages; English and Spanish. However, ever since I have attended school I have lost much of my Spanish. Unlike the other kids who cried and clung to their moms, I was very enthusiastic about starting school. I think the enthusiasm came from my parent's encouragement to learn, as well as their assurance that they'd be there at the end of the day to pick me up and take me back home.…
It’s always on the back of my mind, and resurfaces to my thoughts when I’m in any social setting regarding Spanish—my second language. I am 3/4 Puerto Rican and 1/4 European, though my pigment carried from the European side, as I have the typical blonde hair and blue eyes. My father was born in Puerto Rico and my mother, although being born here, her mother was Czechoslovakian and Polish, my mother’s father was born in Puerto Rico much like my own father. It always boggles me why I don’t look more Spanish due to the more Spanish heritage I contain. When people see me, they only see my pigment—white. They don’t see the Spanish part, supposedly, until I tell them; then they give me a “Right” or “I see it now” as if they’ve known all along.…
Throughout my seventeen years, I have met and dealt with various groups of people with diverse ethnic backgrounds from school or through my volunteer activities. However, nothing prepared me for my summer job at the new local Walmart store. The first day of my first paying job was also the grand opening day for Walmart at the Dulles Landing store. I have met countless employees and customers with so many different backgrounds and cultures, who communicate with each other in so many different languages. The whole atmosphere at the Walmart store feels like I am in the middle of the busy World Market. There are countless demanding and exasperated customers that I deal with each day at the customer service counter. Through this experience,…
Growing up, I lived in a predominantly Latino community. I was always around people who shared my same culture, beliefs, and background. Rarely did I ever experience challenges against my culture and beliefs. As I grew older, and attained more experiences, I became aware of the problems in my community, and in the world. Just recently, I learned how imperative it is for me to embrace my culture and to help my community. For this reason, I was inspired to help make a difference. Over the past few years, I have committed myself to various community service organizations; and have become more active within my Latino community. My biggest community service commitments so far have been with the Toby Keith Foundation Teen Board and the Junior Rotarian…
It’s Monday, December 9th. Today just seems unusual, like something big is going to happen! I wonder what it will be for a split second, then go back to studying for the Latin America quiz we have tomorrow. Mr. Fielder announces what questions we should highlight on our worksheets. I watch him go back to his desk. I look up and out the window, I see the glistening shimmer of fresh snow dancing in the sky. I cherish every second of it, wishing the time would go by slower. As time creeps closer to 12:20 p.m., the more I shudder at the thought of having to go to room 224. I finish making my flashcards, using splendid handwriting, and proper spelling and grammar. The clock whispers 12:18 p.m. in my ear, I turn white as a ghost.…
One day, I was out with my family at a French bakery. As I opened the door, the sweet scent of baked goods entered my nostrils, an old man approached and he said thank you in a strong thick French accent. I asked the old man if he was French and he replied with “oui je suis français”( yes i'm French). I responded with “ Je ne suis pas français mais je peux parle français”( I'm not French but I can speak French) . His brown eyes widened and as his mouth slowly opened with shock, I gave him a small smile. He said he didn't expect to get a response in French and he asked if my parents were French I said no, my mom is from Mexico, so he asked how I knew French, then I explained that I take French in my high school. The old man said “Your French is excellent for you to not be a native speaker and you've developed the accent.”…
whEN I wAS FoUr YEArS oLd, I fell in love. It was not a transient…
On the weekend while celebrating labor and my sister birthday party, we went back to my old hometown. While in Texas we were hungry driving around looking for a good place to go eat. We decided to go and try a Mexican restaurant located in Arlington Texas, where my friend Jose Reyes lives.…
Growing up in a community that is mostly Hispanic creates a type of shield, not allowing for different cultures or ethnicity to diversify the community. A Hispanic family living in such an isolated community takes a toll on the way we view the world. This environment has indulged my curiosity. Being the second youngest sibling of my family of seven has allowed me to learn from my older brothers, and have the privilege to be a leader to my little brother and serve as a role model to him. Though none of my family members went to college, and my parent’s highest education being a high school diploma, it hasn’t discouraged me to follow their footsteps, but rather give the encouragement to dedicate myself to be the first generation and in my whole…
But there is one thing, that, my family don't know about me. It's that i became a man in front of them and they don't think about it!.…
This year, my first year in Color Guard and Marching Band, I’ve learned discipline and what it means to be a part of something bigger than me. Working with the other girls on guard, we work as a team to learn our routines and how to stay in sync with our flags which takes a lot of hard work and repetition. During our long, strenuous rehearsals, it is important to stay focused and pay attention to directions. By setting an example for the younger members, I hope to show them what it takes to be successful in what we do, because it cannot be done without a huge amount of commitment and pride to represent West and our Marching Band program.…
What is a legacy? Lin Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton described it as “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see”. In a similar way, the Broadway musical, In The Heights, sings about continuing what is passed down to you because one day it may be gone. One song in particular titled, “Paciencia y Fe” inspires me to work as hard as I can just like Abuela Claudia did when she immigrated from Cuba. The Broadway hits’ harmonies and melodies have instilled in me a sense of hope for the future, where I can continue a family legacy.…
Coming from a low income Hispanic family, I’ve had to overcome different challenges. One thing I recall from my childhood, was enjoying myself from reality. Reality in which no child knows about life and death, bad news and good news, or right from wrong. I still remember when I was upset for quite some time for not celebrating my first birthday party at the age of 4. Instead, at 4 years old, I had to spent my birthday and week at a funeral praying up to two weeks. But then I was finally triggered at the age of 9 when I found out that the man I saw in his casket years ago was no stranger, it was my father. I grew up thinking my father had abandoned my mother and siblings, but never did I consider such thing. As time went by I did not think…