LOST

Lost In Translation Although, I was born in Ecuador, I will never forget where I grew up and where I came from. My childhood was full of happiness and mischief in a small and poor neighborhood. During my infancy, my brothers and I were so close; I was surrounded of one sister and four brothers. During those days of adolescence; my mom and daddy told us that when we grew up, we should consider to put all their teaching and make a lot of effort to be and become every day a better person. My mom told one day, to be an adult is not so easy; you have to know and hold on all the values of what you have learned during your adolescence and develop during your daily life. Respect has been one of the most important values of my life, to maintain the honor of where you were raised. Although my brothers and I grew up with hardship and a lot of difficulties to support each other, My parents taught us that wherever you go and whatever you do with other people you must be very respectful. This is a simple key to demonstrate yourself and your background of how you have been educated. It is like a mirror; it reflects wherever you are. My home town is not as big as this city; we are composed of fifty families. We know each others is like only one family, I still remember when my parents used to go out to buy some groceries in the big city. Every time they met somebody in the way, they used to shake their hands and salute with total respect, no matter who you are or what age and social class they have. Those symbols of being what you are. It has been helpful in my every day life. Honesty is another important value. Everyone knows that, to be an honest person is very difficult especially if you are living in a capitalist country. Most people in this country don’t care very much about honesty; the priority is to care more about money. Living here, it is not compared where I grew up. I remember when I was six years old, my brother and I found 100 sucres (Ecuadorian money) on the way to school. We didn’t know what to do with this money, but rapidly we though in how to spend it; we thought buying some toys and snacks. During that conversation, between my brother and I, suddenly we realized that our parents told us to never use the money that belongs to somebody else or is not part of your work. Staying in this country, days before while I was waiting to take a blue line to go to my house, I saw one of the passengers to drop fifty dollar on the floor accidentally. My mind was filled out of doubts. If should I tell the guy or not, but fortunately memories of my adolescence showed up to be a right person and do what you got inside. Since that experience what I was put into a prove makes me feel more comfortable and secure about myself. Finally, one of the most important values I learned through my life is to be part of a family. Everyone knows that nothing brings a family together better than a traditional celebration or the special dinner with your whole family. During my life in Ecuador, every year we used to get together to celebrate Christmas Eve. This celebration was to make our favorite home cooked meal; This meal is the typically food of my town which is roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, rice and beans, everything accompanied of an special beverage which is called “Chicha”. This special beverage is made at home by dry corn, some barley and mixed with some alcohol. To drink this beverage is very pleasure because it has been a tradition for several generations. Remaining events like “this” some times makes me cry because it happened long time age, Although I am not living any more in my old town, the food and the traditions which identify me like one of the precious values what my parents though me. It fulls me of happiness and pleasure. Now, I am an adult, and I living far away of my town. Every time I go back to my memories, makes me laugh and cry. Living in United States is not easy, you are exposed to deal and test yourself, about what you have learned back in your background and at the same time how important is to keep it and hold on those values in your daily life. I remember when I was a teenager my mom and my father told us not to disappoint them and forget what you have learned. Every day is a quiz you must be able to confront the obstacles of your daily life. Those values what I learned make me feel comfortable and be secure about myself as a person. “Giving a simple answer.” I will never forget my background, and how it has changed my daily life now. Laughing and sharing things as well as being honest and respectful will be present all my life. Those memories I would like to teach and extend to the next generation which makes me feel proud of where I came from.