TriHealth Bridge

September 25, 2020

I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My parents were both born in small towns in New Mexico and their heritage can be traced back to settlers from Mexico with Native American mixed in. Growing up in New Mexico, I did not realize how unique our culture and food was. What we just called “Mexican Food” is actually “New Mexican Food” and is characterized by a strain of chile pepper that is named after the state. If you were to visit Albuquerque this month, you would smell roasting chile everywhere, as there is a trailer on every corner selling bushels of it each year during harvest season. While my parents were bilingual and some of my grandparents spoke only Spanish, my parents went to school during an era where speaking English was “good” and speaking Spanish was “bad”.   
 
My sister and I were not raised bilingual, which is a shame. We also did not grow up with much of the Hispanic culture and traditions, again, because the families were expected to assimilate. I think our family is representative of a lot of Hispanic American families at that time and the dampening of culture has had a negative impact. As I have studied the Spanish language and the Mexican culture, it has been wonderful to learn about some of my own characteristics that are representative of my heritage—not in a stereotypical way, but in a way that has fostered a sense of belonging in my heart. That belonging and connection to our ancestry is what drives us to think and act in different ways, and this brings broader perspectives and richer viewpoints.  
 
 
 

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Comments:

Thanks for sharing your story.
Posted by: Michele Benson on October 07, 2020
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Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Sandra Friedrich on October 05, 2020
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Great to hear your story!
Posted by: Heather Brasfield-Gorrigan on October 01, 2020
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Thanks for sharing Lynda and bravely sharing how the pressure to "assimilate" can have lasting effects on cultural erosion. Love love love Hatch chiles!!
Posted by: David Cook on September 30, 2020
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Great sharing, Lynda, thanks. The recipes sound yummy - can't wait to try them!
Posted by: Team Member on September 30, 2020
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This was a great piece. I was station in Beeville Tx while in the Navy and got to know some of your culture and real Mexican food. Thank you and always remember your heritage and be proud.
Posted by: Lucius Ramsey on September 30, 2020
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Thank you for sharing Lynda! Your insights regarding the damping of culture were especially meaningful to me.
Posted by: Cathy French on September 30, 2020
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This is great! Thanks for sharing. So neat to learn more about Hispanic American culture and read your thoughts and have a glimpse of your experience. I lived in West Texas for a few years and loved to visit Albuquerque. I can smell the chile roasting.
Posted by: Jennifer Weaver on September 30, 2020
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Thank you for your honest and transparent message!
Posted by: Ginger Madden on September 30, 2020
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Happy Hispanic Heritage month Lynda! Thanks for sharing your story.
Posted by: Denise Ross on September 30, 2020
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Great article!
Posted by: Karen Morris on September 29, 2020
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