There are about 7 billion people in the world; each one of us is different in our own way. Everyone has had different life experiences, some good and some bad. This world is full of cultures that aren’t the same. Being Mexican-American has made me who I am today because I come from a different culture. I know both of my languages, English and Spanish. Also it has built my character. I am familiar with both the Mexican culture and the regular American Culture. Those two cultures aren’t alike. Mexicans celebrate different holidays. In American culture, we celebrate 4th of July because of the declaration of independence. But in Mexican culture, we also celebrate Independence Day but on the 16th of September, because we won the war against the Spaniards. Also, in American culture we celebrate the holiday that all kids love, Halloween on October 31st. Halloween is a day to go trick-or-treating and have fun. In Mexico, we celebrate “El Día De Los Muertos “(Day of The Dead) on November 1st. Day of the dead is a day where we remember all the people that have died and that holiday is in honor of them. Mexicans also celebrate “El Día De Los Reyes Magos” also known as “Day Of The Three Wise Men”. This day is celebrated for the day that the three wise men took each 1 gift to the Virgin Mary’s son. Columbus Day is a holiday that is celebrated in both American and Mexican culture. But besides the holidays, Mexican food is different from the all American food that is seen everyday. From pozole, tacos, quesadillas, and so many other foods, the cultures aren’t the same. Being Mexican-American, means that I am able to speak both English and Spanish languages. This is something that is a good to have with you, to be able to read and write the Spanish language fluently. English is also a language that I can read a write because I was born here and grow up with people talking that language all around me. If there were someone that didn’t understand the English language or the Spanish language, I would be able to translate for him or her so that they can understand.
Most importantly, I wanted to understand why people are so dedicated to their heritage even though they are apart of the United States culture. Even though this does not personally impact me, I have known other people who can relate to this first-hand so I wanted to become more aware, as well as, connect with what they go through and feel. During my reading 3 placement at Morse Elementary School in Poughkeepsie, I worked with two boys who were Mexican and fluently spoke both languages. When both students presented a poster about themselves, they described many aspects of their Mexican culture and when asked to identity themselves, they said they were “Mexican.” After reading the article and having this first-hand experience, this allowed me to understand what Casares is describing. This is another reason why I selected this reading because I wanted to see the connection and if there were any similarities or
Cinco de Mayo, also known as the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, is a national holiday in Mexico that commemorates the 1862 Mexican victory over the French forces of Napoleon III in Puebla, Mexico. This holiday, celebrated on the fifth of May, has deep roots in Mexican culture, but in American-Mexican culture as well. Cinco de Mayo serves as a proud reminder of an unlikely victory, as well as a day to express and cherish Mexican pride and heritage.
Other counties also celebrate Cinco de Mayo like in Canada. It is not a big holiday there but they skydive there at the annual Cinco de Mayo skydiving show. They have Mexican food, Air time shows and they even have lessons. In Spain they don’t celebrate this day they celebrate the second instead. In Australia it is only celebrated in a couple restaurants where there is Mexican food and drinks. It is also only celebrated where there are largely populated Americans.
Latinos who were raised in the United States of America have a dual identity. They were influenced by both their parents' ancestry and culture in addition to the American culture in which they live. Growing up in between two very different cultures creates a great problem, because they cannot identify completely with either culture and are also caught between the Spanish and English languages. Further more they struggle to connect with their roots. The duality in Latino identity and their search for their own personal identity is strongly represented in their writing. The following is a quote that expresses this idea in the words of Lucha Corpi, a Latina writer: "We Chicanos are like the abandoned children of divorced cultures. We are forever longing to be loved by an absent neglectful parent - Mexico - and also to be truly accepted by the other parent - the United States. We want bicultural harmony. We need it to survive. We struggle to achieve it. That struggle keeps us alive" ( Griwold ).
Since before I was born, my Hispanic heritage played a huge role in who I am and what I have achieved. My great-grandfather immigrated to this country with the desire to provide his family with a better future than his own. My grandpa grew up in Texas on the boarder of Mexico and traveled to Blue Island, Illinois as migrant crop worker. This desire passed down by my grandparents and my great-grandparents has played a tremendous role in propelling me to where I am today. Each generation sought to make the the lives of their children better than their own. My grandma received the opportunity to live in the country of opportunity from her father, and my grandpa paid for my mom to get an education. My mother pushed me to do my best in school and
My identity is different from many of yours or you can connect from it. Being Mexican-American is hard like Abraham Quintanilla said, “ We gotta prove to Mexicans how Mexican we are, and we gotta prove to Americans how American we are…”. Always trying to prove to others that we are Mexican and American is hard. People will always judge you no matter what you go as. This is why I am writing this essay because I want others to stop judging how I talk, my personality, and what my identity truly is. Curly hair, brown eyes, brown skin, tall but not too tall, is who I am. A latina with different backgrounds, the meaning of my name, and what my family represents me. The most important part is my identity because is what I want to be viewed as.
I am an chinese and mexican american. You might think those are the best mixes of race you can get but you are truly wrong? Growing up in a small farm town in the outskirts of San Diego I truly wish I was white like the rest of the kids at my school. For the hardships I have faced with race discrimination I am truly ashamed of being the color and human genetics I have.
Growing up in a Mexican household where education isn’t a priority or important has been one of my major obstacles that I’ve had to overcome. Although my family’s culture believes that education isn’t necessary their experiences and lifestyles have influence and motivate my choices for my future. I come from a home where I have no role model or someone influential. I have no one to ask for advice for college or anything involve in school. In most homes, older siblings help their younger siblings with their homework or projects but in my house no one was able to provide me with any help. I grew up to be independent and to do anything school related on my own. My parents are both immigrants who didn’t get to finish elementary
I was raised in an encouraging household where both of my parents greatly valued education. Although they were high school graduates, neither could afford to attend college; a combination of family and financial woes ultimately halted their path. As a result, my parents frequently reminded me that getting a good education meant better opportunities for my future. To my parents, that seemed to be the overarching goal: a better life for me than the one they had. My parents wanted me to excel and supported me financially and emotionally of which the former was something their parents were not able to provide. Their desire to facilitate a change in my destiny is one of many essential events that contributed to my world view.
Hispanic Americans are one of the biggest culture groups in California. Hispanic Americans have very strong ties when it comes to their culture background and food. Food represents a strong symbol for Hispanic Americans, bringing the family together by providing a plate of rice and tacos with rich protein. Hispanic culture also comes with religious background that calls for time with family and praying a lot to Jesus. In Florida, the Hispanic culture is also major. Especially with the Cuban Americans living in south beach, Miami over more than 75 years. Hispanic American culture has changed Florida in significant ways. What is more, Hispanics have a very beautiful and inspiring way of representing their culture. In Florida, they celebrate national Hispanic heritage month through September 15 to October 15, and this event happens every year. The Hispanics who celebrate this culture, start it by kicking it off with music, dancing and a lot of delicious food from a variety of Hispanic countries. Also, one of the biggest well-known festivals is celebrated during national Hispanic heritage month that goes well throughout Miami and through specific streets like Calle Ocho and three
In my Spanish 103 class, I have learned a lot about the Hispanic culture. I have looked at the similarities and differences in Hispanic and US culture. In this essay, I will be seeing the similarities and differences in holidays in each culture. Specifically Christmas, Easter, Holy Week, and specific holidays to each culture. I will show how each culture celebrates it then compare and contrast each holiday.
Being a Hispanic have impacted all my entire life; I lived 15 years of my life in Mexico I love being there because most part of my family live in Nuevo Laredo, I was cursing my last months of 8th grade and one day my mom told me that she was thinking about send me here to the U.S to start learn English; since I’m a U.S citizen and I didn't know the language of my country, I accepted. The most hard prove was live without having my mom at my side, since I live with my aunt now; when the days passed here in the U.S I started to depressed myself because I missed so much my house and all my family, one day in the middle of the night I call my mom crying and I told her that I really want go back to Mexico, but she didn’t take into account my desire my mom just explained me that it will be the best for my future and with the time I will be thankful with her for don’t let me go back. My mom, and my grandmother are the ones who motivates me to be a better student. Actually I’m in dual enrollment and I have taken AP classes; sometimes is hard for me talk, read or write in another language that the one I was accustomed but, every time I fail I get up and persist until I’m able to do what I want.
I was born in Mexico and raised in beautiful San Diego since the age of four. Coming to the United States at a very young age I had to face many challenges that have shaped me to the person that I am today. I consider myself a Chicana woman who has overcome the obstacles to get were I am know. Being raised in a Mexcian household has thought me to embrace my culture and its roots. The Spanish and native blood that is with in me remind me of many Americans today. The reason I consider my self Chicana is because of the similar background that I shared with many Americans today. Living in the U.S. I have learned to adapt and embraced the American culture so much so that it came a point of life were I struggled to find my own identity. Taking
...an-American culture has differences from American. Mexican-Americans are very family-orientated so much that they identify themselves as familial instead of individualized or spiritual as other cultures do. The culture has changed over time and is receiving less opposition from Americans as they have in the past. Immigration demographics can be used to see how America is becoming more homogenous accepting Mexican-Americans and eliminating discrimination because of ethnicity. Selena gave great insight into her culture and created some understanding on the differences between Mexican-American and my culture. Knowing these differences will create a more successful interaction any potential person from a Mexican-American culture and myself.
My parents didn’t want me to be made fun of for being mexican like they were when they were in school, so they didn’t teach me how to speak spanish. If only they knew how different our country is now as opposed to when they were in school. Spanish is America’s second language, making it an extremely valuable skill to have. In the poem, I Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes, it says, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed -- I too, am America.” This poem shows how in the past, the hate against other races was extremely visible, but people knew their worth and they knew that people who treated them wrong would regret it in the grand scheme of things. Knowing multiple languages opens up a wide range of job opportunities. When employers see the skill set that you have, speaking multiple languages and coming from a culturally diverse background is desired and often looked for. These traits can show that you have to ability to bring them new perspectives, thoughts, and ideas, based on where you came from. Knowing your story is an important part of knowing what makes you an