*CAMERA FLASHES!!* Aaaaaaaaand action!!!

Soooo being new at this whole blogging thing, I figure I should at least start with a couple of things that I feel are... let's say, "significant" about me.

• I am 4'10
• I love Chinese food
• I am a Psychology student 

and oh yeah... I'm predominantly Mexican.

Now the reason why I say that I am predominantly Mexican is because I grew up in a small little town inside one of the most populated cities in North America. Not Mexico. Most of the time, it's not such a bad thing because I notice just how much America is spoiled when it comes to having a variety of options. Options in careers, lifestyles, food choices, and my all time favorite...*drum roll* variety in ethnicity.

E-T-H-N-I-C-I-T-Y

This 9 letter word has shaped the way I see the world on so many levels. Black hair, blonde hair. Dark skin, light skin, medium skin. Everyone that I come across looks so different, despite their ethnicity, yet living here in America, I feel like I am constantly seen as a nuisance and unimportant because of my Hispanic culture.

Yes, I am a Mexican American. I love it most days, and I hate it others. I love knowing that I know two languages and that I grew up with both tacos and hamburgers. (Legit tacos, not that Taco Bell stuff) I love having light skin and dark hair. I love that I am in an awesome university that has so many awesome and awkward opportunities for me to explore. It would honestly all be worth it if it wasn't for the constant feeling of disapproval all around me.

I realize that this disapproval mainly comes from the fact that my culture tends to be ignorant when it comes to being socially acceptable in matters of civility. Mexican men idolize the arrogant ways of machismo and women will submit to their husbands, despite their own happiness, and become bitter with their lives. Then there's the obvious matters of drug cartels all over the mother land that is Mexico and all the immigration stories we hear on the news. If you are not Mexican or if you are not foreign to this country (USA), you will never be able to truly experience the horror that it means to give up all that you know for the sake of a better future. Many of my people have died in the hopes of having a better life here in America and those who succeeded in crossing the border are only treated like vermin. I know that I am lucky. Not lucky, blessed. I am blessed to have such an awesome family that actually tries to be a positive attribute to society and not a nuisance.

Something I don't ever look forward to is when I go to a simple shopping trip to my local Wal-Mart and I can feel someone staring me down because of how I look. Granted, I am pretty short for my age considering North American standards so I know some of those stares are because of my height but honestly, most of them are not. I am currently living in a very beautiful small town that happens to be predominantly white so I can say with no regrets that this place is not home and probably never will be. However, that does not mean that I can't appreciate it's beauty and everyone who lives here.

I guess what I am trying to say with all this is that I really wish there was more acceptance. Are you really not going to like someone because they are different than you are? I hope that one day I won't have to feel like I'm sticking out like a sore thumb in American society. The US is a very beautiful country and the patriotism is literally off the charts. It really sucks that acceptance is not something that is often practiced because I know in my heart that we would all benefit from it in more ways than one.

Take it from someone who is dating a wonderful and incredibly handsome Caucasian guy that is so white, his last name also happens to be White.



Until next time,

The Little Mexican Girl ✿