What is the best description of your cultural identity and what traits of cultural identity are most valuable to you?
Ashley describes her cultural identity as vibrant. I think there is not a single boring aspect to her culture. And it is valuable to her because I believe that as well as her culture she is also a vibrant person, so having that as part of her identity is a good thing for her.
How do you think your culture has changed over the generations?
Over the generations, Ashly feels that her culture has progressed into its own individual identity, especially in the U.S. Mexico has its own tourist attractions and products that come and go. They even have their first female president, which is a huge step forward considering the U.S. has never had one.
What aspects of your culture do you find surprising?
One aspect that Ashley shared with me that she finds surprising is how colorful Mexico and its culture in general is. The houses and streets in Mexico are very colorful. Vibrant colors like blue, pink, green or red, colors that you have never seen in buildings in the United States. Not only that, but the people are also colorful in the sense that many are very fun and their energy is the same way they like to joke around and be friendly, most of the time.
Do you have any artwork that represents your culture? What is it? What story does it tell?
Ashley has a kind of figure that moves with its head; one piece is hanging from a rope from the inside and it looks like the head or tail is swinging. They are inspired by the alebrijes, they are usually colorful and vibrant, something very valuable to her since it is part of Mexican craftsmanship but it has much more sentimental value for her since they are gifts from her mother to her.
What aspects of your culture do you try to maintain in your daily life?
I always try to maintain that kindness that characterizes the Mexican culture and people. The kindness/courtesy between Mexicans is different but the most amazing thing is that we are like that with any person from any culture, for example in Mexico people always greet each other regardless of whether they are friends, acquaintances or strangers. In my case personally I may not always greet everyone I see on the street, but I try to smile at people if we cross paths and maintain a friendly aura and I think that is something that I have adapted to my life thanks to my culture.
How does your culture affect your personal views on family or education?
Ashley told me that family is important along with education for her since she has many cousins, uncles and aunts who had difficulties accessing higher education than secondary school since in the place where they live in Mexico the schools are too far away for many or the school materials are too expensive and I think that is something that perhaps limits many of the people in my culture since not everyone in my culture has them. a high economy on the contrary the vast majority are people of middle economy and live in places where the full use of technology has not yet arrived, that is why I appreciate living here in the United States because, thanks to my parents, I can easily access a higher education that many cannot access.