Month: January 2025

I have just submitted an interview that I did with another student, we curated the questions together and we wanted to focus on the topic on how language and communication forms cultural identity. One of the questions was: “How do you see language as a reflection of cultural identity?” I answered the below:

I think that language is a piece of reflection of cultural identity because through language you can see how people of that culture use their words, movement of expression and their tones. It is quite fascinating for me when I learn a language. In the beginning of not knowing a certain language, that language when spoken sounds like noise and not making any sense. Plus when adding gestures through the hands and facial expressions, I am curious what they are saying and why. But once you learn the language, it is like you are entering their world. The noise turns into words and meaning, and I have the opportunity of understanding more the identity of that culture through communication.

I feel this topic is so interesting, and it is true before you learn a language it is just sounds. But once you just learn the simple question “how are you?” it is like wow, your foot has entered their universe. The way people communicate in different countries around the world, or even within the same country, but of different towns have their own slang and gestures that sheds light on their identity. I guess that is why I enjoy learning different languages because I love the idea of being outside a world that I cannot communicate in, but once I learn just even the basics, I get to see what is on the other side of the language barrier.

If you are not from Brazil, you are a ‘gringo’. That is the term used here to label anyone other than Brazilian. I am Mexican American, and I grew up being called gringa by my Mexican family because not only because I am half American, but because of my lighter features such as my eyes and hair. Basically in the Mexican culture, ‘gringo’ is used if you are basically white. However in Brazil, anyone other than Brazilian. You can be from the neighbor country of Argentina and you are gringo, from Africa you are gringo, from Asia you are gringo. It is quite funny, because gringos are grouped as if there are only two ethnicities on the earth Gringo and Brazilian. What I mean by that, is if you do something that is not the way here the reason is because you are ‘gringo’ as if all gringos do the same thing. I argue sometimes when hearing comments, as I say someone if France and someone in Russia are two completely different cultures and have their own ways of doing. Just because a French person does something doesn’t mean the Russian person does the same thing because they are gringo.

Brazil is a mixed country of an abundance of mixed races such as Japanese, German and African. And because they are mixed race, I find it odd with the term ‘gringo’ because it feels very exclusive, when especially this is a country of different types of people. I try not take offense to the word, even though I am sensitive it because I have been called this from my own family because of my white side. Then I move to Brazil and that is what I am labeled, no matter what I do to try to integrate in the culture. Some foreigners find it hilarious, and do not take offense at all and I wish I can get there. But I question why do terms like these exist in this modern world? Of course this is not only taking place in Brazil, there must be terms in other countries in identifying ‘the other’, but why? Why do we need as a human society group those other than their own?

I have completed Unit 1 and have received my feedback for my submission. Imposter Syndrome is real, it is a real thing. I sometimes think, can I do this? Am I in over my head? I am in a cohort of incredible women, it is 10 of us. Each one of them have interesting backgrounds and stories, when they provide insight in the course I am in awe. I feel fortunate to be in a class with them, and that I have two years with the same women. As I saw each one of their submissions, they all did a fabulous job. However sometimes I feel that I may not be enough to succeed in this course. I guess feedback is hard to receive on my end. It is a muscle that needs to be worked, and understand that it is only to help me rather than to break me. I know in my submission I could have done better, and that I am capable to do better but at the same time, I question myself… but can I? One of the points of feedback is “so much more could have been done to explore the nexus of complexity/connectivity/context as well as the systems thinking competency. For instance, scholarly references could complicate your enquiry and support deeper reflection and insight”, which is very true. I feel that I lacked delving deeper into the context of what I was presenting. I feel that there is guard inside me to explore more, and expand outside my comfort zone. On the other hand, as the last comment I received “Well done, Lauryn. You’re off to a good start”, I think that I need to trust in my process with this MA course, and that the team chose me as a student because I do have something to offer. Let’s see how everything unfolds.

I grew up in two households as my parents were separated most my life, therefore I was moving from house to house on a weekly basis. I lived in at least five different cities until I was in high school, therefore that consisted of changing schools and making new friends. I went to three different Junior High Schools within two years, wow! Therefore I have become accustomed to moving. As I am in my mid 30s, I have lived in five countries–United States, Taiwan, Brazil, England and Italy. And within the states, I grew up in Los Angeles which is home, but I have lived in New York City and Berkeley. With all that being said, moving is second nature to me. I think I find being too comfortable in a setting is uncomfortable, change is what keeps me on my toes and constantly creating new beginnings. But then I wonder, will I stop one day? I think the longest I have lived in the same city was five years in New York City, however I did change within different neighborhoods on a yearly basis, and I did leave to Brazil for a few months. Hmm… I did live in the same house for fours years once, it was my mother’s home when I was around ten years old. Other than that, as I reflect on it now and 35 years into my life, it was made up of moving. I guess that has made me okay with being alone, and finding time alone is needed to recharge. And those homes I do live in I try to find a sanctuary in each one of them. Now that I have lived internationally and done so alone, I guess moving overseas is like someone moving to a different town in the same state. It has become some sense of normal, and it is with curiosity that drives me. To see myself as I evolve from one place to another, and see how I have lived differently in each one is interesting. It is like each chapter is its only story, therefore there are multiple stories in one story.

At this moment, the city of Los Angeles is burning with at least four fires in different locations, occurring for two day now. On the western coast of Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades has taken a hit with much of the town destroyed, and as the fire spreads to Topanga and Malibu, residents are preparing themselves to evacuate. This is a pretty wealthy community, such as celebrities and successful entrepreneurs reside there but also carry middle class families that have homes from generations back. On instagram I am watching my friends posting that they have lost their homes, to my favorite neighborhood restaurant has been burned down. This is truly sad, and hits home as this is my hometown carrying those closest to me. However my family are safe as they life a bit further from where the fires are taken place. But not only the residents and business owners have been infected, I think about all the jobs lost! Those that do not have the financial means to live in such a town and commute from low-income communities, now do not have a job to show up to as its has been destroyed by the fires. Plus animal life that has been killed, those from homes and farms to wildlife. This “natural” tragedy has full-circle not only affected those with money but those that have little or without. At a near time of government transition, I question: what comes next? How is the government going to help? My heart goes out to everyone back home.

“Praia” the portuguese word for beach. If you were live in on the coastline of Brazil, going to the beach is like a necessity to survive. I am from California, and near the beach. Yes we Californians love the beach, the home of surf culture. Those that do water sports at least, you can find them diving into the ocean at least once a day for an hour before or after work. During the week the Californian beach can have sprinkles of people on the sand throughout the day, however in Brazil… different story! The beach is literally like a “necessity to survive”. This photo I am showing you is a weekday, not even a holiday and the crowd of people on the sand at a beach in Rio de Janeiro. You question “what do these people do to survive financially?”. I mean, literally! It is quite comical as well, because the culture of this vibrant country is to live, Brazilians work to live rather than live to work. They enjoy life. On this sands of Rio you find women and men walking up and down the sands, selling grilled cheese (literally cheese being grilled in front of you), drinks while yelling “match-eee, match” which is a Brazilian form of ice-tea, to bikinis hung around the top of a large umbrella, to electronics and more. You are entertained the entire time, silence and tranquility will not be found on the beach, only colors of energy, sounds and movement of being alive.