Running head: ASSIGNMENT 6.

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Assignment 6.1 Signature Assignment

Yanett Munguia

Fresno Pacific University

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Assignment 6.1 Signature Assignment

My culture is from Mexico, there are so many small towns that are close and far but

interconnect within the same cultural boundaries. In the following I will discuss and compare the

life of Tan Lee who is of a diverse culture from Vietnam to my own culture.

Tan Le fled from Vietnam, over 30 years ago, as a young girl with her sister, mother and

grandmother in hopes to have a greater life for them. They were in a small boat disguised as a

fishing vessel, for five days and nights over the China Sea. Continuing to put the jigsaw puzzle

pieces together Tan discusses that her grandfather was a communist and wasted his life enduring

history. There culture consisted of arranged marriages.

During their time over seas, they feared becoming overturned by pirates, the women and

young girls being raped, or death. Tan shares that her mother took along with her a small bottle

of poison in case things went wrong, the young girls were to drink first then the grandmother and

mother would follow. The family was of Mong religion, the attended Buddhist temples. The

family spent three weeks in a refugee camp.

The family was poor. They all slept together in one bed. They had to purchase all items

already used, and very big so that it could last at least six years. Tan and her sister were both in

school. They were always moving forward and regardless of how tired they were they continue

moving forward. They could never say no or give up it was not an option.

Tan struggles with what values she will teach her children, she feels like she would easily

be defeated if she was with a man during the ship voyage. She fears that if she facilitates things

for her children that privilege, ease, entitlement, and bravery. She is not sure how to include

these values, but will keep seeing them through, providing guidance and reinforcing stability

every step of the way. Barriers were meant to be overstepped no boundaries will be strong
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enough to restrain you from pursuing greatness you must follow your heart and become what

you want to be. Those who love you will encourage you and be your supporters regardless of the

rocky journey.

My family was also an immigrant to the United States. My mother was sent away from

their small town of Cualcoman Michoacan in Mexico. She had dishonored her families name

because she was with child before getting married. My mom was sent over with a Coyote, a

person who was paid off per person to cross a group of people over to the United States.

The way my mom crossed over was that she and other people were placed in the bed of a

truck and then they laid a piece of wood over them to hide them. The man then drove across the

border to a specified area near the dessert and then they had to walk across the dessert for a day.

With limited supplies of water and food, no restrooms, they also had to swim across the river to

make it onto US land, my mother almost passed while trying to swim and thankfully someone

helped her otherwise non of us would have been here.

My family also has a religion it is not the same one. Religion is one of the top beliefs in

our culture. The cross is placed in the kitchen in front of the window. The cross represents that

we are believers in Christ that his presence is acknowledged, accepted and appreciated. My

family is catholic based we are to attend church weekly, pray, and complete our baptism, first

communion, confirmation. Marriage is one of the greatest sacraments to follow. You are not to

live with your significant other until married, and you must respect your vowels.

People are usually very respectful and greet you upon sight, they say good morning, good

afternoon, good evening, good night, how are you doing and other basic conversation starters or

just acknowledging your presence. You are to be respectful to your elders always otherwise you

are considered a rude child.

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Our culture is based off a few major factors family, food and religion being the top

priorities and essential foundations. Food is somewhat of a feast, it is comforting at all times to

had different Mexican dishes made. There are some dishes that are specific to a holiday

celebration and may only be cooked in that specific date.

I mentioned before that religion is a fundamental piece to my culture. The rosary is used

to pray. When a loved one passes away it is a tradition to pray a rosary for their soul to find

salvation for seven days every night. I find that these types of traditions are important to

maintain for future generations to continue.

My culture’s style of dressing combines the native European elements of choice in fiber

cotton to make clothing with agave, and bark, also use silk and wool. They also use natural

components to dye the fabric from plants, but later began to use aniline dyes obtained from

Europe. We wear rebozos, over our clothes, which can serve as a shawl, blouse or cape. A

poncho is also very similar in the Mexican culture, the serape is a combination of the poncho and

a shall.

I find the clothing of our culture beautiful. The men dress as charros, wear sombreros,

cowboy boots, tejanas and Mexican sandals. Most of the time woman wear a dress or a shirt that

is embroidered with flowers that are hand woven, and pair it with a colorful skirt. The outfit was

a combination of a shawl, skirt and blouse combined to flatter the woman’s feminine figure. I

wish it would be easier to purchase it her in the United States at a reasonable price.

Family is the best thing you can have within your culture. They are your rock you can

rely on them for guidance, for understanding, support, for literally anything. You have trust with

them, a bond that is unbreakable no one can take the fact that they are your family away. The

unity of a family is unstoppable and that is something that not everyone knows how to value.
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The Vietnamese and the cultures of others come to the United States in order to seek a

better life for the family and themselves. Taking the big step of leaving everything you are used

to behind is a big step to take. The families have to practice cultural preservation because when

they come to the states they have to adapt to the new culture. With in the Vietnamese culture

they are very flexible, creative, and adaptable. They are often sharing their thought in how there

is always something to learn from both cultures the American and their own (Hein, 2017).

The Vietnamese culture is also very traditional, they contribute their cultural foods to

America, are very family oriented and have values. As Mr. Liem explained, "Letting the people

and our children know about the Hung Kings and Vietnam's cultural traditions is a way to honor

our ancestors. It is also a way to teach our children about their origins and bring them up with a

sense of pride in their heritage" (Liem, 2011, 7).

As in all cultures it is difficult to maintain all the traditions of your own and of the state

you live in. The Vietnamese express their concern about preserving their culture. A major part

of the culture is influenced or guided based off of the ancestor, kings and heroes are referenced

in regards to religion. The Vietnamese culture focuses on including and sharing their own

culture with all other ethnic groups in the United States, in hopes that they become familiar with

the traditional customs or practices that are most essential ( Hein, 2016, 14). "Letting the people

and our children know about the Hung Kings and Vietnam's cultural traditions is a way to honor

our ancestors. It is also a way to teach our children about their origins and bring them up with a

sense of pride in their heritage" (Liem 2011, 7).

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Source Citation

Hien, Nguyen Thi. "Cultural adaptation, tradition, and identity of diasporic Vietnamese people: a

case study in Silicon Valley, California, USA." Asian Ethnology, vol. 75, no. 2, 2016,

p.441+. BiographyinContext, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A476730025/BIC1?u=cclc_r

eed&xid=5b6d1637. Accessed 1 May 2017.

Villegas, Paulina. "A 'New' Mexico, Embracing Its Cultural Roots." New York Times, 24 Aug. 2016,

p.A4(L). BiographyinContext, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A461419759/BIC1?u=cclc_reed&x

id=704bfdec. Accessed 7 May 2017.

X, T. (2011, December). Tan Le: My immigration story. [Video file]. Retrieved from:

https://www.ted.com/talks/tan_le_my_immigration_story?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medi

um=email&utm_campaign=tedspread