Two Worlds, One Girl There are many different cultures around the world, but you never really know what is like being between two different cultures, until you are experiencing it yourself. While growing up, I had the privilege and misfortune of becoming familiar with two different cultures: my family’s culture, from their birth country, Guatemala, and the culture of the United States of America. I say misfortune not because it was a disaster, catastrophe, or bad luck; I say it because sometimes you get so used to being in one culture that you start to forget about your family’s origin. Sometimes you even like something in one culture better than the other, and you feel guilty for having a preference. Guatemala and the United States …show more content…
One of the biggest differences is the language; Americans speak English. The United States also have many other cultures mixed, since people migrate into the Unites States all the time. On the other hand, Guatemala does not have a mix culture, they speak Spanish, along with other dialects that are found in different parts of Guatemala. Some dialects that Guatemalans speak are: Achi, Akateko, Awakateko, Xinca, and many more. The United States also has many other cultures mixed in with theirs, since many people migrate into the Unites States all the time. As we all have witnessed on our every day routine, while we walk to our job, school, or any place, we will always come across a person who speaks a different language that we do. There are people from Mexico, El Salvador, Russia, China, Japan, India, Pakistan, etc. The United States is known for having the most cultural diversity, and that is one of my favorite part of being from here.
Even though they have many differences there are some similarities in the way they communicate through social media. They both share the same Social Apps such as; Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, and many cellular brands. Facebook, is one of the most popular social media that both countries share. Families that are separated use and businesses use Facebook as a method to communicate, since Facebook offers video chats, instant messages, and video calls. Throughout time, Facebook has become the most popular and easier social networking site for both countries to
Guatemala was part of the Spanish Empire for about three hundred years (1524-1821).19 During this Colonial period, Spanish immigrants, who imposed a new culture, religion, and language on the local inhabitants, changed Guatemala's 12. See generally OAKAH L. JONES, GUATEMALA IN THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD (1994). 13. See generally W. GEORGE LOVELL, A BEAUTY THAT HURTS - LIFE AND DEATH IN GUATEMALA (2000). 14.
Although In more developed cities, the citizens forgo these traditional wear for a more western style. Not only are our clothing very expressive, so is our food and taste. ▸ The Food: Guatemalan food has to be one of my favorite foods ever. My mom’s cooking is the best. Many Traditional Guatemalan foods are based on Mayan Cuisine, which features ingredients like corn, chilies, and beans.
Cuba and Mexico share more than just language and existing in what some call Latin America, they are brothers that were raised by the same family, but after coming of age and leaving home they went in very different directions. Cuba and Mexico both experienced the extended struggle to become independent nations and each was forced into a bloody revolution by a different set of circumstances. It is clear that Mexico experienced more change and is to be considered more
“The Other Family” by Himani Bannerji, can teach people a life lesson about appreciating the culture they come from and that they should stay true to who they are regardless of what others think is right. In “The Other Family” when the little girl came home from school, she showed her mom a picture she drew of their family. When the mom saw the picture, she was very disappointed because the picture showed a white family, not theirs. The little girl said she drew a white family because all the books she read showed only white families. “I drew it from a book…all our books have this same picture of the family.”
U.S. manufacturers can sell their products to the markets of these countries and can invest in the resources available. Cuba was an especially sought after territory because it provided a vast market, an investment territory, and a cultural outpost for Americans (Paterson 348). Due to its economic and political influence in the region, the U.S. had a hand in the affairs of many Latin American countries. In the late 1800s, sixty-four percent of Guatemala’s trade was managed by the U.S. (Paterson 346). While this may appear to be a generous gesture, their involvement was conducted with minimal consent from the country they controlled.
America and Guatemala are very different cultures; sometimes these cultures can be viewed in a poor light or it can be viewed in an interesting light, but I think these differences are very interesting and nice. One big difference that can be seen is that America loves upgrading technology and making technology to make life easier. In Guatemala, it is not like that. Guatemala does have some technology like smart phones and new types of cars, but if something is fine how it is, it is not upgraded and not much technology is made that would supposedly make their lives easier.
In the 16th Century, Spain became one of the European forces to reckon with. To expand even further globally, Spanish conquistadors were sent abroad to discover lands, riches, and North America and its civilizations. When the Spanish and Native American groups met one another, they judged each other, as they were both unfamiliar with the people that stood before them. The Native American and Spanish views and opinions of one another are more similar than different because when meeting and getting to know each other, neither the Spaniards nor the Native Americans saw the other group of people as human. Both groups of people thought of one another as barbaric monsters and were confused and amazed by each other’s cultures.
Guatemala is located in Central America and was once heavily populated with the Mayan population. Ever since the Spaniards took over the land that the Mayans called theirs, the Mayans became enslaved in their home country and have been struggling to regain power ever since. For many years the people of Guatemala have been poorly treated and have been constantly fighting to keep their land against the government. Guatemala has been at civil war for a very long time due to economic and political inequalities which in turn lead to the Mayans protesting against the governments that were causing damage to their land. Although the Mayans believed that these protests would solve the issues that they were facing but in reality the government just invested
I have lived in two different worlds. The duality of the immigrant experience is a battle that every first-generation child has to wage. As I conquered my language barrier, a whole new world full of traditions and customs opened up. Seeking acceptance from my peers, it was hard not to adopt their culture and ignore my own in the process. However, abandonment was not an option in a family with a strong cultural identity.
At first I wrestled with where my identity lay. The strong values and traditions of the Indian culture sometimes made it difficult to fit in with the crowd. As I grew older, I began to understand that I was not part of an individual culture, but a fusion of two rich and colorful histories. I recognized that there is remarkably more to an individual than where she comes from, and more to her than where she currently lives. Importantly, being from two cultures allows me to incorporate the best qualities of both.
One difference is the weather. United States have four seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter, while Venezuela has just two all the year which are fall and summer. On addition, in the United States the climate varies widely across the nation, summers are warm
Food Hispanic food traditions in Spain are more sacred and ritualistic than American food traditions. They eat garbanzos, gazpacho,
With facebook becoming so big it makes it easier for everyone to talk through that. Even if you don’t have facebook most social media sites offer ways of conversation with other people. Most people in the country own computers and if they don't own one they have access to them through school or even a local library. The internet is becoming easier and easier for anyone to get access to with all of the places that offer free Wi-Fi, which is why it is no surprise that we have become dependent on the internet and all of its services. If you want to meet someone now you usually meet them online.
For a long time I believed cultural assimilation plagued non-native cultures in America. Names became Americanized and people left their native languages at home. It is easy to see how anyone could feel pressure to blend and adapt. Being in a new country and having to learn new things all at once can be overwhelming. Upon reading “The Chinese in All of Us” by Richard Ramirez, I learned that the blending of cultures is not forced.
Culture and Women In “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “ How to date a Brown girl, Black girl, White girl or Halfie “ by Junot Diaz, both authors elaborate on culture and how it shapes outlook on women. In Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” a mother enforces her culture’s strong beliefs on her daughter. As the result, she displays her parental authority with a sequence of short commands influenced by her culture. A sense of judgment can be seen in the young girl, after questioning her mothers’ request.