I am a southern, white, American woman that was born into a typical dysfunctional American family. I was fortunate to have more than one set of parents to influence my life. My raising wasn't anything too out-of-the-ordinary, but I always seemed to have an attraction to other cultures.
In high school I became friends with several foreign-exchange students and a couple of immigrant students. Two of these friendships had a life-long impact on me. This led me to study Spanish as a foreign language and began my attraction to the hispanic culture. Studying spanish in school also led me to meet my wonderful husband. (That is another post entirely!)
Have you ever liked a pair of jeans, and when you try them on, they just don't fit? They can be your perfect size, and even be a nice, expensive, designer pair of jeans. They still just don't feel like YOU.
Well, that's how I feel being in my own skin. Even though I respect the things I was taught and my up-bringing, I just never felt like it was "me". I honestly love who I am as a person and I know it's not an identity crisis, I've felt this way as long as I can remember.
The attraction to the hispanic culture that I have developed has only grown over the years as I became the woman, friend, wife, and mother that I am now. Most people that know me will tell you that I am "more Mexican than American", and I always take it as a compliment! Being Latina is more in the heart than in the outer shell.....and this chica (girl) has a Latina heart!
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