Reflection on week #1

I thought I'd write in English until my Spanish gets a little better, so people can actually understand me!

On our first day of class, we talked a lot about identity and community, and Mariana's description of general differences in Mexican and US cultural identities made me think a lot about an aspect of my own identity of which I'm not usually aware. I heard everyone else in my class talk about their perceptions of what someone from the United States is like, and while most of what they said is true in terms of larger trends, these comments elicited a very unexpected reaction from me. I felt the need to defend myself, and my nationality, and I've never really felt that before. In San Diego, I often feel closer to Mexico than the rest of the country, but I forget that there are still a border and a whole range of cultural distinctions that separate the two. While I know I have no right to be angry when someone else casts the United States in a negative light (especially since I often do the same in conversation), I still reacted emotionally, but I hope I can take advantage of that reaction and use it as a reminder to be more aware of my actions. Though my citizenship may not be the most important part of my identity, I am still a representative of the United States and I should act in a way that reassures others that everyone from my country is not ignorant or bigoted. Maybe this seminar, and my next four weeks in Mexico, can be a start to that.

Kelsey