https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir By: Estefany Bissell en-us 2018-05-13 16:10:19 UTC 2024-05-17 00:15:24 UTC hello@padlet.com estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260248599 Though born and raised in Mexico, I think of myself as both Mexican and American. Speaking Spanish, though it has become Spanglish in the recent years, eating tacos, listening to Spanish music, and dancing to Mexican folkloric music is what I love from my Mexican culture. From my American culture, I love eating burgers any really anything but seafood. I also love English radio music and American movies. ]]> 2018-05-13 17:14:52 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260248599 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260249284 I come from a house of many. During my childhood (up until age 5) I lived in Mexico with my dad and his side of the family which included two aunts and their children as well as my grandmother. Afterwards, I live in South Jersey with my mother and two sisters. When in middle school, our house was filled with 8 people: my mother, her boyfriend, my oldest sister and her 4 children, my other sister, and myself. Now I live with my husband, son, daughter, and the occasional overnight visits from my mother. Family has always been important to me, and they come first, always. 


*The following picture is of my son, Kevin, daughter, Estella, husband, Kevin, and I.]]> 2018-05-13 17:21:47 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260249284 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260251087 Since 16 I have had two jobs. After getting pregnant with my first, I had to stop working all together. After my son was three months old, I was finally able to work again, however, only one job. Working is very important to me. I strongly dislike staying home, or at least the part where I don’t have to go out to work. Currently, I work at Ikea as a part time store stocker, and love how physical of a job it is. I believe working can help relieving the day to day stress some people deal with. It may also help with daily moods (especially when you have to smile all day at customers). 


*The following picture is a few of my Ikea coworkers who keep me going  and encourage me daily to follow through and do my best with school. ]]> 2018-05-13 17:39:11 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260251087 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260251407 Money doesn’t matter when you die.]]> 2018-05-13 17:42:35 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260251407 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260425425 Traveling is part of my culture and I love it! I love traveling all around the world and have no fear to go outside of my comfort zone and into a   Country on the other side of the world! Currently, I have traveled to Sweden, Mexico, and Canada. Within the US, I have been to Indiana, Illinois, New York, Florida, Virginia, California, and Utah. Also, I have lived in New Jersey, Hawaii, South Carolina, and now, in King of Prussia, PA. 


*The following picture is of myself with two coworkers when I worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.]]> 2018-05-14 12:12:04 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260425425 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260433936 The way I behave, is sometimes wreckless. I don’t go doing illegal things, but I do wrecklessly spend money to gain experiences. I love trying new things (except roller coasters, no thank you!) and experiencing life at its best. While in Sweden, I went on my first boat trip to Finland. I also toured all of Stockholm and got to meet a variety of people. In, Canada, I went to Niagra Falls and downtown. In Mexico, I went Zip lining for FIVE HOURS! 

*The following picture is right before I started my zip lining adventure!]]> 2018-05-14 12:36:36 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260433936 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260438384 Before getting married, I only celebrated Christmas, Halloween, and New Years. After getting married, I realized, my family didn’t celebrate SO many holidays! Now, even my side of the family celebrates all the big holidays like Easter, Mother’s Day, and Thanksgiving. However, after having children, my husband and I decided to begin (or bring back really) celebrating El Dia de Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day: January 6th). For this year, we also decided to begin celebrating Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead: November 2nd). This, we have and will continue to do to teach our children to carry on their Hispanic culture as well as traditions, learn and be okay with being different, and teach others about their culture and the way they have been raised. ]]> 2018-05-14 12:47:26 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260438384 estefanybissell https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260824835 My family has a few weird but very serious customs. First, at the dinner table, if anyone asks for the salt shaker, one can not give the salt shaker in the person’s hand. This is viewed as rude and having no manners. Now, this custom, I have seen in other Mexican families but not all. Another custom of ours is a restaurant bill. Whoever picks up the bill first, must pay all of it. For this reason, when ordering one must make it clear with the waiter how the payment will be made. This is also seen as rude for someone to pick the bill up and not pay for all of it. Finally, a very fun custom of ours is during birthdays. Mexicans, as a whole, usually do a “Mordida” (Bite) after the Happy Birthday song. We chant “Mordida” many times and when the birthday person goes to bite,  we push their head in the cake. Then, we proceed to eat the cake. However, because we have noticed that other cultures see this as unsanitary, we have begun to cut a piece of cake first and then solely use that piece for the “Mordida.” 


*The following picture is of my sister after her “Mordida.”]]> 2018-05-15 12:52:48 UTC https://padlet.com/estefanybissell/Cultureandmemoir/wish/260824835