IΒ was thinking about it earlier and, yes, latine cultures are unique, diverse and all that. Heck, I live in Brazil, and I can guarantee you, each state has itβs own culture, customs, traditions, folklore and all that. We canβt even agree as a nation whatβs the word for cookie!
So like, of course you canβt expect every country to have the same culture and dishes and music and all that, when not even a single country have that.Β
But, by following other latines, and talking to people from the neighbor countries over my life, I learned that there are a few things that can be considered Universal Latine Experiences. Among them
πΊ The thing with rice and beans. Like, no country will ever have them the same way, of course. But itβsβ¦ Overall, so present. Some will lean more to the rice, some to the beans, but itβs there, wherever you go
πΊ Seeing posts from gringos on your dash complaining about winter where itβs summer where you live, and itβs so bad, your flip flops actually started melting when you went out to buy something cold to drink
(alternatively, seeing posts from gringos on your dash complaining about summer and giving out tips on how to control the heat when you are freezing on your couch and wrapped in three blankets)
πΊ Β The overall feeling of companionship? Like, I wonβt like, I know itβs not perfect. There is a huge problem with xenophobia (I would say Brazil is the worst on this matter, but then again, itβs easier for me to see it here since I live here), and there is some bloody history between some countries. But the companionship is still there, you know?? We call each other hermanos, we receive each other in out country with open arms, we share our cultureβ¦ I donβt know, there is some beauty to it. Or maybe this is all in my head because Iβm feeling specially gushy today
πΊ Going to your grandmotherβs house almost every sunday for lunch. Greeting your uncles and aunties, and asking blessings from your grandparents (even when you arenβt catholic anymore, but at this point, it is more a sign of respect and affection rather then religion) before going to play with your cousins in the backyard, while your parents play cards with their siblings or help your grandmother with the kitchen.Β
When you notice it, itβs already midnight, and they are still playing cards. Come on, pai, we need to go home, I have class tomorrow. Just one more round, flor. But your said that three rounds ago! Β
πΊ Having your natives being wiped out to near extinction my foreigner invasors, if not complete, and then having your fauna and flora destroyed, being forcefully brought to a distant land as slaves, and then when you finally say enough for both the invasors and slavery and call your land as yours, usa comes and fund a dictatorship in your country to which your people is still trying to recover fromΒ
πΊ Β Little statues of saints and the Virgem Maria and portraits of Jesus and crosses and candles all over your elderβs house. Old houses with old paint on the walls, an old radio playing music in the kitchen, a road of battered down bricks and dirt, and your great grandmother is there, smoking a cigarillo de paja on the steps that lead to her house, keeping an eye on you as you play with your cousins and the neighbor kids you met that day, but it already feels like an eternity
πΊ Β Reclaiming your own culture after years of cultural imperialism saying that itβs not a good culture. Falling in love again with something that you were coerced to fall out of love with as you grew up. Learning again how to love the local legends, when you were thought that they were no good, and that the ones from europe and usa are betters. Learning again how to love your traditional music, dances, cultureΒ when you were thought that those were no good, that the ones from europe and usa are better. Learning your history in dept, seeing how complex and rich it is, after years hearing that itβs boring, not as interesting as those from usa and europe. Justβ¦ Falling in love with your roots again, and getting excited every time you see something from your country making success out there, and then also getting excited when something from you neighbors make success out there and yes! We deserve this! We deserve to have our history told and shared and appreciated too!
πΊ Β These assholes, somehow
dededos
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