Memories of my Country
by Desiree F .
Traditions are very important for people because they represent who they are . They ’ re part of their lives and represent their identity and culture . When people move to another country , they pack all their life in one suitcase , including their important stuff , memorable moments , and personal history .
I ’ m from Venezuela . I never thought that I would be an immigrant and that I would miss my traditions , the food , some places , my family , and some holidays , especially Christmas , but what is Christmas for Venezuelan people ? It is the most important celebration of the year . People feel happy , spend time with family and friends , make traditional food , listen to music like gaitas or villancicos all day , paint their houses , buy new things for home , and exchange gifts . This is definitely the best time to forget all worries and difficult situations people are facing .
For me , Christmas is amazing because it ’ s a flashback of what I experienced when I was a child . For example , I always remember my grandmother . She loved that season and enjoyed spending time with her grandsons , making Hallaca and Pernil ( traditional food for this holiday ) to share with family and neighborhood , decorating the Christmas tree , and putting out the manger . And of course on Christmas Eve and New Year ’ s Eve , we decorated the dining table with typical food , fruits , desserts and various types of beverages .
Also , those days were delightful because in my country , there are many traditions . My grandmother taught us things such as taking the baby Jesus in your hands and giving a kiss on Christmas Eve to celebrate his birth and being grateful for all the good things you experience . On New Year ’ s Eve , when the church bells ring , we eat 12 grapes and make a wish for each month of the year . The funniest tradition I remember is when we throw lentil grains out the window to ask for luck and prosperity .
When I think about my country , I also remember some places like Los Roques , an archipelago off the coast of Venezuela with beautiful beaches , crystalline water , and coral reefs . Another place is Mérida , a tourist city in the Andes with a fascinating park , lagoon , square , and wonderful architecture . Those places are very significant for me because I remember beautiful times with my family there .
Also , I miss the food from my country , such as Arepas Andinas , Cachapas , Queso Clineja , Golfeados , Pan Dulce , different fruits like guayabas , ciruelas , guanabanas , and of course , our Venezuelan chocolate . These foods represent part of my childhood and bring back pleasant memories . Just thinking about them makes me feel the scent of my country .
There are many things about Venezuela that I keep close to my heart because they are part of my identity . Although this is my first year in the USA and it is incredible how many things have changed , these memories are still present in me . It ’ s a place , it ’ s a flavor , it ’ s a tradition that lives in my heart and my mind . I ’ m still discovering things that make me feel at home .
In summary , I can say that the journey of an immigrant is to adapt to a new life and discover wonderful things . I am happy to be here and meet new people , new cultures , and traditions that I am sure will be part of me without forgetting my roots . I ’ m grateful to Carlos Rosario School for accompanying me on this journey away from my homeland and allowing me to meet people from different cultures .
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