Anthropology
...’t have much enculturation, I have had to learn about my culture while not being able to live in it and experience it. I do not remember much of when I was a little girl. I still get caught up on some words in my native Spanish language sometimes, because now I am so used to having to speak English around my friends. My parents insist that I always use Spanish around my grandparents. So, when my friends come over, they always get frustrated when I constantly in Spanish because they do not have a clue of what is going on. It is hard living in a culture that doesn’t embrace your own. Especially being a teenager. Being a teenager is hard enough as it, much less having to deal with the stress of always having to explain why your culture is so “weird.” If my friends would just get to know and understand me, they would see that my culture is pretty neat and some aspects of it aren’t too different from their own. In 1607, Spanish explores planted our seeds in a place now known as Santa Fe. These seeds took root and the Hispanic culture was born. We built villages and towns, and houses of worship from an adobe mix of mud and straw. Although this concept was already being used by the Native Americans, we altered it a little to make it our own. Early Hispanics had a great sense of subsistence. They knew how to get their food and fend for themselves. Even their houses took some knowledge and creativity. When I tell my friends that I used to live in Santa Fe, they automatically assume that we were poor, living in some sort of “mud hut” as they call it. They assume that we had no food or clothing and a very hard life. When in reality, we had a very good life in Santa Fe. My dad is a doctor and my mother is a school teacher. We were among the higher class in our town. Even after moving to Virginia, my parents kept their same jobs, and I think my white friends find it hard to believe that a Hispanic man is a doctor. They perceive that he would be a farmer or a factory worker or some job which doesn’t carry high status. People look at one group of Hispanics who might not be well off, and who work in factories and maybe dress poorer than others, and automatically make the stereotype that all Hispanics are dirty, unkempt, and poor. My family is Roman Catholic, just as many Hispanics are. The church is a great influence on our family life. Being Roman Catholic causes me to have different values and beliefs as others. We still celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Easter, and we also celebrate Three Kings Day. I guess just because I am not Baptist or Methodist that makes me weird as well. I don’t think people realize the globalization of our culture. Our culture has made a great impact all across the United States. We have popular books, films, paintings, and of course the food. My friends absolutely love going to Mexican restaurants. I think that is the one thing they find cool about my culture, because they know there will always be good food at my house. As far as movies go, I guess no one knows that Martin Sheen, Lynda Carter, and even Walt Disney come from Hispanic backgrounds. Also, I think it is pretty cool that there is a Hispanic People Magazine. That should show that there is a lot going on in my culture, things interesting enough to make a magazine about. As far as the United States impact on the Hispanic culture, globalization impacts our culture because we generally view Americans as rich and prosperous country that we thrive to be a part of, and those who don’t live in America thrive to get to. When we moved from Santa Fe to Virginia, it was for that reason. My mother and father could both make more money living in Virginia where there were more white people with a higher level of economy. My family and I try not to judge others based on the aspects of our culture. We try to keep a culturally relative look on things. We know we are different, but that is what makes us Hispanic, and that is what makes us special. All cultures are different; ours shouldn’t be looked down upon, just as others shouldn’t. But i...