There have been numerous times that I have been put in to a culture that I have no or little idea about. One of these many times I have experienced a different culture was when I went to spend time with my Spanish speaking grandparents in Virginia. I chose this expierence because it was my most memerable and influential trip that I have had over my life. They were from the country Bolivia in South America. They both grew up there were married there and then had children and then moved to New York and then later to Centerville, Virginia. Then they rasied a family there from the ground up.I went there over the past summer for an unforgettable expierence. Almost everybody on my Dad’s side of the family lived there (including my cousins, aunts, …show more content…
Since they came from a Latin community they were very different from a Caucasian community (In which I live in). Some of the thing that where different where, food, priorities, dress style, but the biggest one of all was the language (they spoke Spanish fluently). It was almost impossible to know what they where saying because I was there knew little to no Spanish except on coganates then I could understand them because they look and sound English but when there was false cognates and then I was very mislead about the coverstion my family members were having. Also I began to notice how the houses were differently styled by community to community. The style was very diffent from what I was used to at home in The District of Colombia (since my grandparents live thirty minutes away without traffic). The style their was very diverse so its hard to fit it into one genralization but in the national mall every thing is very Greek god inspired. There are many columns on all of the goverment owned buildings and have faces carved on the top of the columns of the gods. I could only imge what it would have been like what it would have been like when all of those buildings were being …show more content…
From top to bottom. Even on the roadtrips and such. I plan on return to the East coast for an extended visit again next summer. I also plan on moving to the East coast (most likley Centerville) for college and maybe staying ther after that but that is still to be determined. If I ever had the chance to learn Spanish in a foreign country such as Bolivia or Spain I would most definitely take the chance. I might also move there before highschool ends but that is also undetermined. Overall I loved being able to have the chance to travel back to the East because not many people have that chance out here and I have been blessed with that oppertunity. I am looking foward to next summer to have even more expierence with my elders and take the time off to relax and not have to worry about any of my problems back at
Some people may still think that being from a certain culture is strange due to the way that a person dresses, acts, or portrays themselves. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they may feel. They may be the only person out of all their peers from a different background. Culture should not be the foundation of life’s choices but, instead should be the opportunity to change minds for the good of
Growing up in a Mexican-American family can be very fun and crazy. Having two different perspectives on two different cultures almost daily really shapes you to become a certain way as you grow up, which is what happened to me. Ever since I was about three months old I have been taking trips to my parents home town for a month time each time we have gone. Practically growing up in both Mexico and the United States for six years has really helped me understand my cultural background and the different parts of my whole culture, such as the food, heritage, language and culture.
By definition, my grandfather is handicapped. However, he doesn't act as though he is, and he certainly does not want to be treated in any special way.
In understanding how my worldview was subconsciously constructed by my life experiences from the past nineteen years, I had to first think about my roots. I was born in Tampa, Florida to a Puerto Rican mother and white father. They divorced when I was too young to remember, and while I did have a relationship with my dad, I lived with my mother and was raised in a tight-knit Puerto Rican family, often times being cared for by my grandmother. I was an only child for ten years which I’m sure has impacted my personality, and at ten I got a baby sister whom I am very close to. Growing up in Florida was interesting because I was half white and half Hispanic, which mirror the main demographics of Florida well, but I never quite fit in with either group because while I look very white and this is what people perceive me as, I was not raised by the white side of my family but rather the Puerto Rican side. Still, I don’t quite fit into this group either because I don’t speak perfect Spanish at home and most Hispanic people treat me as an “outgroup” and not one of them.
At the age of two my parents made the long and devastating journey to bring me and my siblings to the United States from Mexico. Wanting a brighter future for us, my parents fought tooth and nail to give us the world they didn’t grow up having. Ever since stepping foot on the U.S soil, going back seemed impossible. The effects of this life-changing move, couldn’t mask the unforeseen disadvantages. Lacking exposure to Mexico’s colorful culture, little to no bonding time with my family from abroad, and the struggle of trying to blend into an environment that was so different, soon began to interfere with my overall identity. Realizing this, my wonderful parents prepared a transformative trip back to my homeland, and back to the past, facing
Much of my family still lives in the area where my great-grandfather settled and started his church. My great-uncle now pastors his father’s church and lots of family members attend his church regularly. My grandma’s family has always been big on getting the family back together, and they hold a family reunion every two years in Blue Island. I have only had the privilege of being a part of a couple Contreras family reunions, but when I have been, the overwhelming sense of family and inclusion stood out to me. My Mexican family taught me what it means to love family unconditionally and it doesn’t even matter if we didn’t grow up together, we are still family. No matter what life throws your way, you always will have family, and I hope to embody this sense of family in my own someday. My family has shaped who I am as a person, and prepared me to be the type of person that has a positive impact on the people around me. I believe that I can have a positive impact on my fellow students at Southeastern
Since at a very young age, while growing up in a traditional Mexican household, I was raised and surrounded by Mexican customs and traditional beliefs. However as I
These situations that I have expressed through my life are only of two percent of the incidents that have happened to me. Moving to different cities have helped me understand more then most people. There are conflicts around me from people with different backgrounds. I have my own conflict with myself because I know very little about my own heritage, but living through others, has helped unit myself with the comfort of myself with letting me accept everyone. Misconceptions are huge roles that cause such areas of conflict. Let’s try to stop them, there is no such thing as a culture shock, unless you believe there to be one.
The strong Spanish influence did not allow us to fully assimilated within the culture that the US shared with us. When you take a domestic flight from any state of the US to Puerto Rico, as soon as you arrive at our main airport in the capital city of San Juan, you can already feel the sudden shift of culture. From language, hospitality, and the way of living. The place is still a part of the US but the ambiance can tell it is not because it displays a totally different façade. In this strange scenario, being a Puerto Rican makes me feel blessed with a double dose of cultures because it gives me the fluidity to grasp their benefits that can enrich and improve my
My family’s Mexican traditions and life experiences played a great role in shaping my individual beliefs and values. I learned to embrace important values, roles, and norms from the Mexican culture. However, the experiences I have encountered throughout my life have influenced my interactions with others, life’s point of view, and the development of having my own sense of reasoning that differs from my family beliefs and values.
I was so close to my Mexican culture that when I was actually exposed to the American culture it was like I was from a foreign place. When I started to get used to the American culture and started becoming an “American” I was sent to Mexico to a Mexican rodeo camp. There I was with people that had the complete different ideals than what I was just getting used to. I went through the exact same thing that I had went through in America. I was found in this big mix-up.
Growing up in a developing country has really open up my mind about setting up for a better future. My home in El Salvador wasn't the most lavishness, but it's also not the worst. I grew up in a house with two levels; three bedrooms on the top floor, one on the bottom, a garage and laundry room at the lower level, and a small sale shop at the front of the house. Growing up in this home has been a meaningful place for me. Its where I found my sense of place.
There are a lot of different cultures in the world we live in today. Finding the place you belong and discovering your own culture can be a challenge. This is especially true when you look at culture as an individual versus culture in your family, or even within your community. I’ve always been very family oriented, so that plays a big part in who I am and how my family’s dynamic works. I believe that my family has had a huge impact on the development of my culture, and I hope that I have had the same impact on theirs.
They say grandparents, are the two most favorite people in the world to children. Grandparents are the main characters of your childhood, they are the ones that leave you with the most beautiful memories of your life. Some grandparent’s teach you a very valuable lesson of life, they teach you respect, hard work, family values, and unlimited love. They show you their love in many ways, they say I love you in words as well as actions. Grandparents are the ones that sometimes get you out of trouble and guide you to the correct path. They show you trust, a trust that cannot never be broken.
I grew up in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, where I was one of the twelve Asian students in my grade of three hundred and fifty and the only Chinese student in my class. I struggled to understand what my classmates, friends, and teachers talked about because they spoke primarily Spanish outside of the classroom, and I could barely count to ten. Fitting in was hard not only because of the language barrier but also the racial and cultural differences. Making friends with people who have little or nothing in common is difficult, so I attempted to copy whatever my classmates would do. I ate what they ate, watched what they watched, and played whatever sports they played. I took Spanish lessons with the family who lived below me, and in exchange I taught them a bit of Mandarin. By the second grade, I had eased into the community around me despite only having two close friends. They helped me to embrace my Chinese side while being assimilated. I could stop being someone I wasn’t, and I was not scared to be myself with them because they were fascinated by my unique characteristic from having Chinese heritage. I enjoyed living in Corona, since everything I needed was so close, and this i...