Karla's Culture Identity by KARLA GONZALEZ

Karla

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-03 18:02:51 UTC

My name in German means "free man," In Spanish it means, "Gift of God." My name has a couple of different meanings. My mom named me all alone. At first she thought of naming me Brianna or Miriam. My mom didn't name me over cultural or religious beliefs, she chose the name "Karla" because it reminded her of her brother, his name was "Carlos." Sadly, Carlos took his life away and to honor his name my mom named me, Karla. She named me alone, no one helped her come up with other names or anything. I love my name, and I think it does fit me. Knowing the reason my mom named me makes me value my name more.

No rompas mas mi pobre corazon

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-04 18:00:23 UTC

No rompas mas mi pobre corazon reminds me of my childhood. There are no specific lyrics I relate to, but just listening to the song makes all the old memories come back to my head for example the first few seconds of the song. It reminds me how everyone would come to the dance floor preparing to dance. This song reminds me of all the parties i've been to. I remember how I would always be on the dance floor ready to hear "No rompas más mi pobre corazón Estás pegando justo, entiéndelo , Si quiebras poco más mi pobre corazón, Me harás mil pedazos, quiérelo, woah"

La Jaula

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:21:28 UTC

This very popular and famous song that the radios play when thinking about the lyrics, a very timeless story that millions of Mexicans live when they immigrate to the United States to look for a better life and spend their entire lives without returning to Mexico because they have already formed a family, they had children and grandchildren. This part of the song says

"Mis hijos no hablan conmigo otro idioma han aprendido y olvidado el español piensan como americanos niegan que son mexicanos aunque tengan mi color."

I personally have friends who cannot communicate in Spanish with their parents who do not speak English and Mexican people feel offended when they hear "I don't speak Spanish" from their own race. Many people have told me stuff saying "I don't speak taco bell." I find it disrespectful, but I'm proud to be part of Mexican culture.

Tamales

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:22:34 UTC

Most of the time, I hear people saying, "Mexican's only eat tacos, burritos, beans, rice, and tamales." But to me tamales are more than a meal, they are part of my culture. My mom used to explain to me how she would do tamales with her grandma out of scrap, she would pick out the corn husks, pick the grain for masa, make the salsa, make the fillings for the tamales and so on. Now when she makes them, she makes them with love and uses the same exact recipe that both her grandma and mom used.

Chilaquiles

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:22:51 UTC

The second Mexican dish I chose are Chilaquiles Verdes, I remember when my mom would offer me some, but I would always decline and move my head. Eventually, I tried them, and they became one of my favorite foods. You can top them with different toppings such as cream, cheese, and pieces of avocado. My mom says her mom used to cook her Chilaquiles with a egg on the side and now my mom does that to me too. My grandma passed all those cooking traits onto my mom, and now i'm learning them. She makes them just like her mom.

My mom

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:23:37 UTC

My hero is my mom. All my 14 years of my life she has taken care of me, provided me with every single thing. She gives me love, support, inspiration, and she encourages me. She makes me a better version of myself. My mom is an extremely hardworking Woman. Every single day she wakes up around 4:00 am - 5:00 am, to get ready for work, yet she manages to prepare food for both her and my dad. Then she goes on to work. The time from her work to my school is almost 30 minutes, yet she manages to pick me up no matter the traffic she has to go through, she also picks up my dad from work, even if she's tired and stressed. We all get home around 4:00 pm, then she has to dedicate time for my little sister. After she dedicates time to my little sister, she cooks, washes dishes, cleans her room, and wash clothing and the list goes on. The day goes by so fast, yet she manages to do all of that in one single day. Whenever she has more time, we go out and spend time together, either to eat or somewhere simple, she gives me advice. My mom has been there during my hardest times . She influences me to work harder and be like her in the future.

Quote

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:24:01 UTC

“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.”

This quote has a strong meaning, it means that our culture should support and respect diversity around the world, instead of one set of appearances. Religions and languages, it could help grow acceptance and diminish discrimination.

Family Folklore & Mythology

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-05 18:42:13 UTC

Actually Yes, I have heard about so many Folklore's and Mythologies but this actually doesn't really apply to me because my mom, and my family have never mentioned these stories to me. I've either heard them from other people or seen videos online such as movies. Since my mom has been a Jehovah's witness ever since I was born she would tell me stories from the Bible. For example one of my favorites Biblical stories is the Ark of Noah, which is actually a real story.

Spanish & English

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-06 06:27:57 UTC

My First language is Spanish. Although, I speak Spanish, I have an American accent, I've noticed people who come from Mexico (such as my mom and aunties) have an accent or different ways of saying things. I don't have that specific accent. It's like when you listen to music, not all genres of Mexican music all sound the same, maybe they lived in Mexico and came here, and developed a different accent. Even though I learned English later on. My first ever language is Spanish. It's the one I most use to communicate with everyone I know, except in school.

Ethnicity & Cañada de Virgen

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-06 07:33:46 UTC

I am from the U.S., My mom comes from Guanajuato, Mexico. Honestly, she wasn't really related with the celebrations or religion during her 16 years in Mexico. She's been more time in the United States than Mexico. But overall I do have genes passed on and it's in my blood, so technically i'd be half Mexican.

Cañada de Virgen is a few minutes away from where my mom lived in Mexico. One time my Uncle went digging to put trash inside a whole, but as he started digging he noticed pots, arrowheads, jewelry, and remaining humans such as skulls and bones. This for me is important because it means our ancestors lived there. Adding to this, where my great grandma and grandma live right now, there's something buried in their background, but they have never digged further, and to this day I wonder what's under there. I want to learn more about these beautiful antique findings.

Clothes

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-06 07:51:39 UTC

The clothes I wear do not have to define it specifically other than comfortable and lazy. Everyone has their own style and something they feel comfortable in. I'm personally not very interested in cultural clothing from Mexico, but sometimes when I go to swap meets or places like those, the boots, the shirts with flowers, the guaraches with sunflowers, they are super pretty but not something you would catch me wearing (it depends). But I don't have a style, I just like to wear sweatpants and black long sleeves, I feel comfortable. Sometimes clothing gives people a little glimpse of what you're like, when my mom sees me, she says i'm lazy.

Jehovah's Witness

kgonzale0579 — 2024-09-06 08:17:33 UTC

My mom grew up in Catholicism, she never really went to church with her mom though. Her mom was a Catholic. As she came here to the U.S , she didn't practice it or go to church as she got older. Until one day Jehovah's witnesses offered a study to my auntie, since my mom was at work during the study, she wouldn't get to listen much. One day she decided to stay and listen, and what they told her, got her attention. Eventually, she started going to the reunions, and any particular event that had to do with Jehovah's witnesses. When I was born, (when I was old enough like 5-7) she would teach me when I was old enough to comprehend. She would tell my stories everyday, and I loved them. I go to meetings (church) every Wednesday and Sunday. I also go preaching on Saturday and I have biblical study on Monday's.