Forgetting Quickly

Forgetting Quickly

             Family unity and respect are lost in America. When I was living in Mexico, the most important thing was my family. The respect for the family was so big. Children really need to watch out how they talk to their parents back home. It is not acceptable to yell at parents in front of the strange people. In the US people do not have too much respect to the family. In US, the day people is born parents teach them to be independent. On the other hand, in Mexico the day people is born their parents just teach them to never leave them. It is as if children owe their lives to their parents. The weekend reunions, the family unity and the respect for the family were lost when I arrived to the US, which sometimes makes me feel disappointed and lost.

                    The reunions on the weekend with my family were the best. Every weekend, my family gathered to do something different. Some weekends, we just visited our grandparents or drove four hours and went to the beach.  In Chicago, all my family workes all week and more on the weekend because in this city, it is more difficult to earn the money and that means more work. In Mexico, does not matter if we had too many or no money we just worked, Monday to Friday, in the weekends we were always for the family. However, not just the work limits the reunions, but the American lifestyle too. I have always learned that in US is so different about gathering with the family, and because of that, our family reunions stopped. In addition, when we tried to gather my brother and sister just said it is an old Mexican tradition. They just wanted to assimilate to the American life. However, that made me sad because they could live the American life without forgetting our Mexican tradition.

            The reunions were important, but the family unity is more important to me.  I do not know what the US had, but instantly when we arrived, it was as if the unity disappeared.  When I was in Mexico, the unity was so strong in my family. When some member had some difficulty, our family always helped us. That part of my culture it is the most important because is what made me a Mexican person. I remember one time when I had a problem, the only thing I needed after that bad moment was my family. When I tried to call them, they were so busy in their American life forgetting how in Mexico, we always called each other and we always had time for each other. I really do not know why the family unity is losing, but the only logical answers I found was that we tried to adapt to the new life and because in this country it is so different that we just forget about our strong unity.

         

       Respecting my parents and the elder people were my biggest tradition in Mexico.  In Mexico, the parents teach their children that the respecting family or  another person is the most important thing in the world. “If you respect your elders you will have everything in your life, and you will be powerful.” My parents always said. However, like every child my siblings and I talked bad to our parents when we were young, but the way our parents’ taught us is sweet as if angels sang.  In spite of this, when I arrived to the US, I saw that some teenagers do not respect their parents. I saw how they yell at their parents and did not care if an other person witnessed it. I do not know what is happening to me, but now sometimes I yell at my mother and sister and I did not respect my family, things that I never did in Mexico. I do not know why I do it, but the only explanation I found is because I am surrounded by American culture.  I know that is not an answer, and it made me feel bad that I am lost the only thing that I really love from my culture respect the family.

                 The family is the most important thing for me and unfortunately it is getting lost in translation. I really miss the way I used to live with my family.  However, I understand that in Chicago life is different and I am just trying to adapt to a new culture, but trying to do not disrespect my family. Maybe I cannot attend the reunions so often, visit my grandparents or go to the beach, but I can try to do something different with my family.