Spiced Up Life

In high school, a vast population of students in my school were Hispanic and/or Latin American. As well, some of my former coworkers were native Mexican. Prior to my schooling and working experience among this population of wonderful people, I will admit I was a typical uncultured and slightly racially challenged individual. I did not understand the struggle and trivial times that some go through to experience a life that I was merely just born into here in the U.S. I was unaware of the lives that these kids and hard workers had lived just to make being here possible. I was ignorant.
The more and more I got to know several fellow students in school I learned the hardship of obtaining citizenship, and the quest to arrive here. It is a miracle, alone, that I was able to meet these people. They truly showed me a reason to be proud of where I am from and what I have. They came here with nothing but themselves and started completely fresh. Meanwhile I am complaining about life being "hard." I had no clue.
Aside from the battle of simply getting here they also taught me something else. They taught me about their culture. This I especially learned from my coworkers. After I became more well acquainted with my coworkers Hilda and Lalo they taught me about the traditions they celebrate and keep alive with their friends and families. They commonly would invite me to come along outside of work to join them. I regret never taking them up on their offers. The accepted tradition of Cinco de Mayo and Dio de Los Muertos es  mas que is more than just a day to drink and eat. It is a day of true pride. U.S. Americans do not truly understand this. We celebrate July 4th more commonly as a way to get out of work and to cookout with loved ones. This is not the case for mis Hispanohablantes(my Hispanic cultured friends). They celebrate to bring alive the culture they are so proud to label themselves as. It is not just about be of Latin decent, it is about being proud of your specific culture and what makes you unique from everyone else in this world.
Although it probably violated some workplace health codes, Hilda would commonly try and teach me such dances as the raggaeton, bachata, and the salsa when we would get bored during our shifts. I had told her how I had studied such styles in music and that I understood the musical differences so she knew I could grasp the differences in movement in a possibly just as easy manner. She partly succeeded in doing so.
They exposed me to authentic cooking practices and recipes to traditional dishes that were customary for several popular holidays within the culture. This among the differences in religious practices which I also had a vast familiarity to, due to my Catholic upbringing. These among other things have only spread my love for Latin culture grow more immense.

Jose "Lalo" Cruz Ortiz: "Mexico es mi home. Mexico es where I go for happy. I want to be happy. I will always love my home. Never let go of your happy, your home."