gabrielr18

[gabrielr18]

Crossroads of Culture

medium.com (Image Reference)

In Life as Crossing Borders, Sergio Troncoso reflects on the challenges he faced growing up in Ysleta and how his Identity was shaped when he moved to Harvard. By moving here, Troncoso became a minority, as the rest of the surrounding population was majority White. Because of the struggle that he faced reconciling his cultural background along with the expectations at Harvard, he went on to explore different cultures. Ultimately, through these experiences, he was able to find his identity. His journey of crossing both literal and figurative borders helps me to relate to his story. My parents are both immigrants meaning crossing both physical and metaphorical borders is something that shaped my childhood. One “border” that I had to cross was the language barrier that I faced. Eventually, similar to Troncoso, I was able to find my identity through experiences with other cultures. This story ties to the concept of Nepantla as Troncoso navigates the in-between space of both cultural identity and academic environment. Both Troncoso and I had to find our place in environments where we initially felt disconnected, but through resilience and a sense of connection to our roots we were able to find our true identities and embrace them with pride.

[gabrielr18]

Finding Belonging

destinationlesstravel.com(Image Reference)

In Dia de Muertos by Stephanie Elizondo Griest , the author reflects on her deepened understanding of and connection to Mexican culture. After arriving in Oaxaca, Griest is met with the vibrant decorations of the marigold flowers and the festivity taking place. In order to further her connection to the culture, she participates in a ceremony held by the local people, led by a Mixtec curandera. Here, she begins to bond with other Chicanas while telling stories of their loved ones who had passed that they were there to honor. This experience helped her feel like a part of the cultural tradition, where she had previously felt distant. What particularly stood out to me was Griests initial feeling of being an outsider that eventually transitioned into her feeling welcomed because of her experience with the local people. This illustrates how others' behavior can ultimately affect one's experience to some extent . Additionally, this also displays how one can determine how they enjoy their own experience in different ways such as being open to participating in a ceremony with the local people. The Nepantla that is represented in this story is a combination of culture, identity and emotion. Griests journey in navigating this space reflects how one can find comfort through  connections with others when moving between different cultures and experiences.

[gabrielr18]

Bridging Identities

flickr.com(Image Reference)

“Here, There” by David Dorado Romo discusses liminal zones across a cultural, personal, and spiritual sense. In Aztec times, these liminal spaces were referred to as Nepantla, meaning “mutual space” and “in between”. As the story progresses, Romo tells about the crossing of various different types of borders, both physical and metaphorical. He then uses these examples to relate to how they can help form one's identity. For example, Romo tells his experience at the Santa Fe bridge where he and his girlfriend lost their virginity together in the liminal space of two countries. The bridge ultimately serves to symbolize Nepantla. This narrative resonates with me because of how I’ve struggled with the feeling of being caught in between multiple cultures at once. Living a life in between two different cultures has been a special experience for me, as it comes with benefits and disadvantages. On a personal level, it was difficult for me to find which culture I related to most and if there was a right or wrong culture to be a part of. Along this journey, I learned about myself and who I am, including what makes me who I am. Romos short story highlights the potential emotional toll of living in Nepantla, but also the possibility for discovery and self exploration.

[gabrielr18]

Losing Connection

https://mg.co.za/article/2013-10-18-mother-tongue-classrooms-give-a-better-boost-to-english-study-later (Image reference)

Losing My Mother Tongue, by Reyna Grande, discusses the obstacles and challenges that she faced growing up in the United States. Initially, she spoke about how she lost her mother tongue through the schooling system. As a young child, she was encouraged to speak English primarily over her mother tongue. Figures in her life like teachers made her feel like an outcast. Additionally, she was bullied for not being able to speak English and for only knowing her first language. This story reflects Nepantla because of the in between space that one experiences when navigating two cultures. The authors experiences reveal the tension that comes with prioritizing English and keeping ones mother tongue, highlighting the struggle to balance cultural identity and societal expectations. Growing up, Spanish was also my first language. In church I was encouraged to speak English and was told not to speak to my family in Spanish, because "we're in America". Consequently, I have started to lose the ability to speak my mother tongue fluently because of how others around me reacted to it. Now that I am older, I realize that knowing a second language is a skill and can connect you to your heritage and culture.