From cigars and rum 

I am from the sugar bowl of the world

from the palm tree in my great grandma's backyard and the salty and fresh smell coming from the beach across the street 

from Francisco Velazquez and Mireya Aguilera 

From a family with all types of skin colors

I’m from a small pueblo

From “are you white” and “where is your name from”

From arroz congri and paniqueques 

From plantains and exotic fruits. 

I am from the island that continues to fight for its freedom, Cuba 

from nara.

and nike,

1 am from the sand and water

Tropical,

It tasted sweet

I am from the orchids.

the palm trees.

I'm from the Christmas gift giving

and thick skin.

from Elor.

and John

and Odette

I'm from the annoyance, but caring.

From never give up

Stand up for yourself

I'm from Catholicism.

and
Church on Sundays.

My first language was English

I learned of the history I’m not a part of

I’m an American 

My name belongs to 2 men

Their dreams from Chile y Nicaragua make up who I am 

Each put their families before themselves, no matter the costs 

From the pueblos de Antofagasta to the junglas de Nicaragua 

They left for better lives to the “land of the free”

Both made a home in the land without rain, California 

Rolando tried to forget the roots of Nicaragua

Juan lived each day remembering those he left behind en Chile 

I’m an American 

Nicaragua is a land I can’t remember or return to

Gallo pinto is the only memory I have left 

The rest was left behind like my heritage

I’m an American 

I am a Chileno, coasts to coasts, Spanish is there.

I speak the language de empanadas y palta

Cuecas can be heard por mi corazón  

I’m an American 

These 2 men are the conscious which binds my two worlds,

Chile is my home in the valleys of Richmond 

Nicaragua is the land unknown to me in San Francisco 

I am a 1st generation immigrant, we the few are going to thrive 

I am the past present and future of my family and those to come

Yo soy Chileno, Nicaragüense,y un niño de la Américas

I am a soul 

From two that makes me alive

I am from earth

Green, calming, and ethereal

The sounds of the ocean waves on earth

The smell of wood and pine

The feel of the bark trees

And the taste of the sweet fruit that grows 

I am from the evolution of animal

A human 

With intelligence, feeling, and power

From the God up above we so praise to

And the forgiveness of the earth

Mother and Father

Where their souls combine

And present Me

I am from a soul that is loyal  and determined

And another soul that is well spoken and protective

From tough love on the soul to handle greater challenges

And food that is good for the soul

I am from a higher being that created life

God

A woman and a man

I am from the father of black and beautiful

I am from a mother of the islands

Food so good it's for the soul

Cornbread, mac, and ribs

And Pancit, lumpia, and sinigang

For the fight for freedom and change

To absent mothers and deadbeat dads

The images that are A reminder of where my soul is from

A body of dense and mass

A conscience with love and guilt

Though I do not give up

I am from earth

And I am calm

I am ethereal 

I am a soul

I am also from the hilly mountains in the east, salty ocean waves on the west 

It looked like green landscapes colliding with the crispy blue waves of the ocean

I am from the natural grown mangoes grown near the family house,

The sweet carabao mango that can be widely found across the whole island nation

from my aunty lita and cousin Mak

to my brother Francis

 

From being told to not go outside after washing my hair in the shower and 

My mom telling me to acknowledge and be respectful to the spirits when entering the cemetery, when visiting passed loved ones

I’m from a somewhat of a Catholic-Christian rooted family that has faith and trust in Jesus

I’m from the east bay, descended from my parents who immigrated from our small coastal town up north in the Philippines

Pinakbet (PEE-KNOCK-BET) (popular Ilocano dish consisting of shrunken variety of vegetables with a hint of fermented shrimp paste) and Bagnet (BAHG-NET) (Ilocano version of “Chicharron” pork belly that’s boiled and deep fried until it becomes crispy

The brother of my grandfather who served sometime in the U.S. army and who petitioned him to come over here . 

I am from the east bay area with roots deeply tied to my family from the Ilocos sur province in Northern Philippines

from chocolate Abuelita and pan dulce

I am from the trees nestled in the Bay Area

where kids' laughter fills the air and the paletero's bell rings

Where it sounds like the family parties that last till the am

I am from the mud pies

The rollie pollies

My favorites to play with as a child

From my mom and my dad

And my grandparents, who made my education possible

I'm from the corridos blasted in the car and the weekend grandma sleepovers

From handmade tortillas and the beans that go with them

I am from the hardships overcome by my parents

To form a better life for us

I am from the black walls

And the popcorn ceilings

It felt rocky

I am from the flower,

the sunflower

The bright yellow petals

I’m from the watching movies once a months and laughing till it hurts

from  Claudia and Danny

and Danielle

I’m from the joy and

Going out on the weekends

From always smiling and

Thick hair

I’m from mother god

And the spiritual auras

I’m from lynwood and durango,

Tamales and pupusas 

From the long travels across the borders of mexico that mother Esperanze, child cristina and claudia took

The lost of mother and father that daughter Irma had to face .

The palms spring trip the family took

I am from many different cities, from south central to hawthorne to culver city, to huntington park and south gate and now san francisco 

From  “no second chances for first impression” and  “you are not done until you are finished”  I’m from (representation of religious or spiritual beliefs or lack of it) born again Christians, believing in forgiveness, hope, guidance, and selflessness. I am from an ever changing home, I am from a family of saints and hypocrites, and I am from the lies I would tell myself for comfort.

 

The lake that runs cold in the Icy wintertime,  busy mountains stand and what prevents me from visiting my mother's homeland, how long  I want to live there so I can be free. Quechua is the language they speak. 

I don't really know it but I can see, that it is one of the languages the natives teach. Lomo Saltado is one of my favorite dishes to eat. My grandma teaches it and I see and feel a little bit at home.

One day It’ll all be the same, my dear home Puno In Peru it stays.

“Where I’m From” Template/Draft

First Stanza: 

I am from (specific ordinary item)-cheetos and arrizonas,

from (product name)2 dollar lunches every day and (another product name)_powder doughnuts for dessert

I am from the (home description) east oakland

Adjective that describes the above home description pot holes that will ruin your car, the flea market, the oracle, rtash all over the streets

It (tasted, sounded, looked , felt –choose one)__smells like shit, homeless people everywhere

I am from the (plant, flower, or natural item)___green grass at berkeley schools durring recess

the (plant, flower, or natural item) playing soccer grass in the field

(Description of natural item) trees are green 

I’m from the (family tradition) mexican birthday parties and (family trait)___music and food

from (name of family member)____church on sundays and (name of family member) sidney my sister that is wiser than me

and (another name)______my younger brother cristian that could use some catholic practice___

I’m from the (description of family tendency)___________mcdonalds and in n out sundays____________ and 

(Another family tendency)_going to the movies theatre only when we get free tickets__

Second Stanza….turn over 

From (something you were told as a child)_getting a cold when I dont wear a sweater outside_ and 

(another thing you were told as a child)__the remedies my grandma makes for sickness allways work

I’m from (representation of religious or spiritual beliefs or lack of it)___catholicism___, 

(further description of spiritual beliefs)___only watching my grandma praying at night to the virgin maria___

I’m from (place of birth and family ancestry)________, 

(Two food items that represent your ancestry)__tacos______and ________birria______. 

From the (specific family story with a detail about a specific person)_______uncle that over does the alch, on parrajete sundays and gets me buzzed and completely ruins the chocolate milky bruh_______ 

the (another detail of another family member)____god brother that got all the gifts and allways showed them off to me and my little brother_______. 

(Location of family pictures…You pick the preposition) ______the pictures of my ancestors and family in mexico that will live there forever without being seen__________ 

I am from (general statement with DETAILS about who you are or where you are from)______the better streets of oakland, I whent to schools in berkeley and grew up in a mexican touted family with a strong conection to catholicism_______