Understanding Different Cultures

     I interviewed a friend, who is Hispanic, about what its like to grow up in a mainly white community and how her culture has shaped her.  Claudia was born in the US to parents who came to this country illegally from Mexico (they have both since gotten their citizenship).  Claudia is bilingual, her parents know limited English so Spanish was her main language growing up.  She says this has been a great advantage in her education and very helpful in her job to be able to translate for others.  She taught both of her children Spanish and that is the language they use in their home as well. Spanish is an important part of her life, she identifies the language with many other things such as food, church and community.   She said that being a minority has advantages and disadvantages.  She is unique and didn't look like everyone else in her classroom but that made her stronger.  She was teased growing up because her parents didn't speak much English and she felt that they were alienated from certain things because of the language barrier.  She identifies strongly with the Hispanic culture even though she is American.  She says she is bi cultural, that she can pick the best of both and leave the rest.
     It was very interesting to talk to someone who has grown up in the US but doesn't consider herself completely American.  Claudia is a mixing bowl of languages, ideas and beliefs.  Her Catholic heritage is very important and she attends mass in Spanish. She is also addicted to America's Top Model, which I consider to be very American.  She is full of contradictions but that is what makes her so unique.  She is neither Mexican nor American but a combination of both.  I hope that in my future education profession, I am able to see that a person is not always one thing.  Different experiences and cultures shape the people that we become.  I understand how important it is to be able to communicate with people and how speaking another language can be difficult and cause problems.  Looking at America through her eyes was also eye-opening for me.  I hope that I can move forward in my life by being more understanding to those who are different from myself.  We are all on this planet together, we should embrace our differences but learn to work together.