Jennifer Matute’s reflection
For our group project, we made a zine that reflected upon Afro-Latino culture with topics surrounding food, hair, athletics, and various Afro-Latino communities across both Central and South America. For my specific portion of the zine, I focused on making the pastelitos along with Arlene. Through this project I was able to embrace the culinary art of a common dish amongst Latinx countries; pastelitos. In the Dominican Republic, this dish is referred to as “Pastelitos,” while in Ecuador and Colombia, where I come from, it is commonly called “Empanadas.” This dish, through different names, forms a vital part of our shared history and traditions. Hence, this project made me reflect on how although we all come from different backgrounds, we still find ourselves having some similarities embedded within traditions and experiences. My reflections were echoed in the variety of subjects we explored in class, including when we listened to audio recordings about Puerto Rican migration to New York City.
To begin with, the lecture on Puerto Rican immigration to NYC also demonstrated how although we come from different backgrounds, we share commonalities in our experiences of assimilation. Common feelings such as regrets leaving their country due to differences in weather and language barriers are shared all throughout a diverse amount of backgrounds that migrate to the United States. When I listened to the audio, the struggle of adjustment to a new location was clearly noted as there was a big weather difference in NYC to what immigrants are accustomed to in their home countries. Additionally, overcoming language barriers presents another significant struggle. Thisbarrier impacts people’s ability to communicate effectively and fully integrate smoothly into their new society.
The audio recordings I listened to conveyed the disorientation and difficulty that immigrants face as they try to adjust to a new location, struggling with a sense of loss for their familiar surroundings. This concept of readjustmentand adaptation is not just an abstract concept to me; it’s a reality I’ve observed closely in my personal life. I have witnessed friends and family members who regularly come to the U.S. experience similar challenges. They often share stories about the initial (and continued) hardships they faced, such as navigating a new culture, understanding local traditions, and the feeling of being an outsider trying to find a sense of belonging due to other issues such as racism and discrimination. Oftentimes, these stories are shared starting at a very young age but failing to enjoy those youthful years because of long working hours, children, and other responsibilities. These experiences, while unique in their specifics, echo a common theme of resilience to pursue a better life, despite the emotional and physical difficulties involved in this transition.
Overall, I really enjoyed the content of the class and diving into the similar experiences immigrants face when coming to the country. This highlighted that despite our varied backgrounds, we often share similar stories. Similarly,the zine revealed that despite our distinct customs and traditions, our cuisines often emerge as one of the most commonly shared aspects.
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