So for all 2 of you regulars here (Hi Mom and Dad), you may be wondering, what's with the new name? For a while I was thinking about my blog, and how it needed a running theme. So many boring blogs have no theme, just someone talking about what they had for breakfast and how much they hate their job. I thought I should incorporate into this blog more about my culture and how it affects my life. For those who don't know me, I am what the U.S Census Bureau would call "Hispanic".
Up until I was 5 years old I did not even know I was "different". Thanks to my entry into the public school system, I then realized I was not the same as my blonde haired, blue-eyed school mates. It wasn't until I was called a "dirty mexican" by a vengeful kid,angry because I would not let him cheat off of my spelling test, that the ugly world of racism and bigotry entered my world.
Now don't get all hot and bothered about all of this, I didn't and for the most part, I haven't had too many problems as a "Mexican" in a predominantly white rural area, sure I get called a name every know and then, but I've never been beaten up or thrown in jail, or had a rough life because of who I am. And at the same time, I've never seen myself as "Mexican", maybe it's because I grew up with this notion of Mexico as being a place I only saw on tv, in telenovela, or lyrics in a song by Vicente Fernandez. Maybe it's because I grew up watching things like Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, and listening to The Ramones, Pink Floyd, and U2, no cultural bounderies here.
It wasn't until I got older that I started noticing people noticing me for my background. Being asked what part of Mexico I came from and where the best Mexican restaurants where in town. Looks of disbelief appear when I explained I had never been to Mexico, and I am not a big fan of Mexican food, so I wouldn't know.
So I began to think of myself, my identity as a sandwich of sorts, with parts of my Mexican background and the other parts containg my "american" culture. So hence the name, Tortilla Sandwich.
CJ at 6/21/2004
Comments:
Good theme....good name. You may find yourself as the speaking voice of thousands who feel just the way as you do.
And speaking about themes it is good you came to this conclusion. In marketing it is called a niche or specialty which means you are focusing on a certain part of a market. This makes you stand out or identifies you from the crowd.
I look forward to reading.
Thanks! I know I am not the only one out there who thinks the way I do, I do hope others who have gone through what I have in life will come here and feel as though they've met a long lost cousin...or something like that.
BTW, have you ever had a tortilla sandwich? They are pretty good, in my house growing up, we may have run out of bread from time to time, but we always had tortillas!
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