Disclaimer: This is just a cute little rambling of mine. No advice to be given, just me and the random thought that has taken root in my mind recently. It may go as quickly as it came but I wanted to give it a space. A space where it can live and perhaps grow. A place, I can come back to it whenever I see fit. Meh, or not, who knows? ::Kanye Shrug::
Will my children have the richness available to them that I had? I don't think so, my parents came here from their respective islands. They came to this country enshrouded in their culture. They brought sancocho and pepperpot; Merengue and Soca; yuca and breadfruit; Mangoes and Soursop; They brought with them wooden spoons for hitting and chanceltas for throwing at you. They brought with them my childhood. All the things I laugh about now with my friends who have immigrant parents as well.
Growing up, my mother only spoke to me in Spanish and father only spoke to me in English. I don't remember a time when i didn't understand them. My brain had to learn two languages simotaneously so I could communicate with my family. My English is better than my Spanish but "yo me puedo defender" (I can defend myself) I wouldn't give a dissertation in Spanish but I can read a novel and understand it :) Anyway, I feel like all my friends grew up like that. We know two languages because we needed to. We watched telenovelas with our moms and aunts, Sabado Gigante was a thing! You know Don Francisco, even if you don't know him
It's made me think, what will my children come away with from their parents? The world is a much smaller place so their father could literally be from anywhere. English will be their first language, that's just a given but will they need to learn a second? i'd like to yell at my future kids in Spanish because it's pretty funny and also very to the point. Don't believe me? Ask one of your Spanish friends what was the worst thing their mom/dad ever said to them. It's probably something really horrible. We're just really extra. My mom will talk to them in Spanish but they will most likely reply in English and she will understand them. So they won't feel the need to learn the language as I did.
I don't know any of the recipes for any of my dad's "feel good" meals. Meals that feed my tummy and my soul. When he goes, they will go with him. Not because I haven't asked, he's just greedy and won't teach me. So when he goes, I don't think I'll ever have oxtails again. I mean maybe, but not likely. Are we watered down versions of our parents but fully concentrated versions of ourselves? What is my culture? Is it technology and mumble rap? Throwbacks are now Biggie Smalls and Backstreet Boys. In the next ten years, who knows what life will be like but would I be taking my kids to the West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway? Will my kids know about wukkin up and bachata? I don't know. Guess I won't know until I pop a kid out but I hope my kids find me as interesting as I find my parents. But I guess that just comes with age on both sides.
xoSquared