Jennifer Arceo / Mexico
As a little girl I never really understood or notice difference in color or in standings of what made my family different. All I knew is my household was always full, we had paintings of the first supper and a statue of the Virgin Mary, we always had beans on the stove, Spanish music playing and plenty of family always watching over us. As early as I could remember both my parents worked endlessly to support our household and our ever revolving door of family. My mother a chef for a retirement home and a caregiver at night, we rarely saw her but to say good night and her two days off where she would spoil us. My father stereotype was a landscaper who would employ all his nephews, cousins and so on and would work 10 to 12 hour days. I never really understood why we had so much family constantly in our home. Now older I recognize that it was based on tradition and the ideal , you work hard and take care of your family. My parents would support and help family from Mexico transition to the states and support them till able to go on their own. My sister and I had a world of nannies, babysitters, and live in caretakers that were cousins and aunts. Other than my household I never knew anyone else lived differently. My parents worked very hard to make sure we never were without any of our needs. My ethnicity was never one that I saw in shame or something I wished to be different. I had a feeling of tradition and of value and always been proud of being Latina.