Building a Dream in The Evergreen State

Living abroad is always very interesting for some people since all media is always showing the most beautiful places and best people. When I was a child, that was the only side I saw, moving to U.S was only to the city of New York and have fun, making new friends and getting the best products of any kind. However, when I grew up, I realized that all things are different. The cultural identity plays a big role in society and strongly when we move from our original country to a completely new one, it feels like we need to start all over again. Abandon the life style you had before in your hometown and all the achievements you’ve reached. Particularly for me, Mexican culture is really positive, full of colors, music, and traditions, as long with beautiful places. All these characteristics call tourists attention. People from all over the globe confirm how Mexicans are mostly happy and welcoming. Specially, in the state of Chiapas where the culture teaches us that being united and close to family is more important than anything. This is what helps up to build our identity. When emigrating to the U.S, the Chiapanecos (that´s how we call someone from this state) our identity is full of biases. One clear example is that we´re hardworking people, because we are in jobs that require a lot of effort and some of them are areas that not many Americans   want to work for.

I grew up in a medium-sized family. In my house, we´re only my father, mother, brother, and me. However, my family is large since I have 8 uncles and aunts and each of them have minimum 3 kids.  My brother is 6 years younger than me, but he has been more mature in decisions ever since kids. I also lived surrounded by all my family because my house was next to my grandparent’s. This made my childhood so adventurous because having the cousins next to me was a wonderful time! Playing every afternoon after school until dusk. My house is around 10 mins out of town but that makes it special. It´s really quiet and calm. It is also a beautiful place because it is so similar to Washington State. Surrounded by mountains, green everywhere, volcanoes; the only difference is that we don´t have the pine trees or cold lakes.  Eventually, I had to go to college and sadly had to move from my hometown. It was 4 hours away so in the beginning I used to visit my parents every two weeks and later on it was every month or two. I always wanted to travel around the world and that’s why I studied my degree in second language acquisition. When I was 23, I decided to apply to the Aupair program so I could practice the English I learned from the school. In the second year, I moved to Washington State and I decided to apply for the school in Lake Washington Institute of Technology. I think all the experiences of my childhood, my family and people I have met during my journey in helped to build my cultural identity. “The infantile and adolescent phases play a crucial role in the formation and consolidation of identity” (Mann, 2016, p. 212) I think this is very true because I really keep the values, I was taught regarding the family aspect.

Growing up in a small place where there is not much to see or to do, complicates the ability to have an open mind about reality outside the box.   “How one’s racial identity is experienced will be mediated by other dimensions of oneself: male or female; young or old, wealthy, middle-class, or poor; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual; able-bodied or with disabilities; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or atheist” (Tantum, 1997, p. 33) I identify as Hispanic since I am from Mexico and I have characteristics from the small town I am from. I consider that I’m short because most people in south of Mexico are smaller compared to the north, also because I am a woman. I think that being Hispanic is, at first, related to the bias like most people work in certain jobs as gardeners or cleaning houses, among others. We’re also seen like hardworking people and that’s the reason people related to those jobs. This places us in positions where communities need to show that they are united, they need to show their support to other people that have lived the same conditions like them. Maybe the way they came to the country or just to refer friends to the jobs they know. I am aware that Washington have are small towns where most people are Mexicans or Hispanics. Some of the advantages for those places is that they might be really well known for having great food and meetings so this might attract more tourists. I think one disadvantage that I have right now is the fact that I can’t apply for any office job since I came under a Visa J1 when I applied for the Au pair program. That’s why I want to get my associate and try to get a job. Although, I think all my background will influence my job opportunities. I think it is better that we try to work out our plans beyond the bias that we might have as race.

Cultural identity can have two sides in society. It can be beneficial for some with particular characteristics or prejudicial for some others with less appealing characteristics for Americans and the acceptance in their social groups. When I say appealing characteristics, I mean skin color, height, education, language, traditions, clothing among others that shape cultural identity. This regulates the interaction between residents and immigrants, making one culture dominant over the others. This dominance can be seeing in area of school and work. When we talk about work, Americans are more likely to be in jobs related to office and better areas. That´s why foreign people are more driven to look in education in order to obtain better jobs opportunities. This can change the biases that Americans and other countries have about immigrants. And we are not seeing as people that only work in restaurants or kitchens. Everyone is looking for a better life and this doesn´t have to be judge if we do what we can with the resources we count with.

References

Mann, M. A. (2006). The formation and development of individual and ethnic identity: Insights from psychiatry and psychoanalytic theory. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 66(3), 211-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11231-006-9018-2

Tatum, B. D. (1997). Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? Revised edition. Basic Books. https://sbctc-lwtech.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01STATEWA_LWTC/117qsle/cdi_proquest_ebookcentralchapters_5368838_10_96