I like to think of culture as a mix. We are all affected by our experiences, our families, our communities, our homeland etc. We spend our lives learning from the people around us and the situations that come our way; by doing this, through time and experience we mold who we are. In this way, everyone´s identity and culture is unique because we all encounter different events and people.
My culture was affected by a significant change in my life. When I was sixteen-years old I moved from Bogota, Colombia to Whitby, Canada. My lifestyle changed dramatically and I know that the person I am now would not exist had I stayed in Colombia. For one, I have adopted the English language almost as my primary language; eight years ago I barely knew how to speak it. My circle of friends has changed completely and my family gatherings are not as large as they were when I lived in Colombia; I belong to a big family, we used to get together for birthdays and holidays and it was always a big party. Now I do not have many family members who live close to me but my dad´s sisters and their immediate families live in Toronto. We always get together in special occasions and it almost feels like back home.
Living in Canada has changed the way I live in many other ways. I have even changed physically, well, we all change physically as we grow up but I think that I changed more than most people. When I went back home after five years of living in Canada, my grandmother and my best friend did not recognize me. It was interesting to realize how much moving had changed me.
But I still keep many Spanish traits. For example, some Spanish people seem to be more relaxed when it comes to being punctual and for a long time I was always late to places I had to go to. It was a challenge to acquire better management skills that would better suit the Canadian society. Now I am working on my organizations skills. I still enjoy Spanish music very much, but I like listening to the songs and bands that were famous when I was younger. The new stuff does not appeal to me as much, I guess because it does not have the melancholic feeing attached to it. But I also take pleasure in listening to music that would be more characteristic of North American societies (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Bob Marley etc.).
In general I enjoy living in Canada and I love the fact that I have a Colombian background. I think that because I experienced a different lifestyle during my childhood and adolescence, I have a different outlook on life than most people around me. I think that I am lucky to live in Canada, I like feeling safe and to be able to have hope for the future. I know how it feels to live in a place where there is a lot of violence and pessimism, which is why I feel lucky to have a home like Canada; I would not change not for the world.
Living in Canada has changed the way I live in many other ways. I have even changed physically, well, we all change physically as we grow up but I think that I changed more than most people. When I went back home after five years of living in Canada, my grandmother and my best friend did not recognize me. It was interesting to realize how much moving had changed me.
But I still keep many Spanish traits. For example, some Spanish people seem to be more relaxed when it comes to being punctual and for a long time I was always late to places I had to go to. It was a challenge to acquire better management skills that would better suit the Canadian society. Now I am working on my organizations skills. I still enjoy Spanish music very much, but I like listening to the songs and bands that were famous when I was younger. The new stuff does not appeal to me as much, I guess because it does not have the melancholic feeing attached to it. But I also take pleasure in listening to music that would be more characteristic of North American societies (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Bob Marley etc.).
In general I enjoy living in Canada and I love the fact that I have a Colombian background. I think that because I experienced a different lifestyle during my childhood and adolescence, I have a different outlook on life than most people around me. I think that I am lucky to live in Canada, I like feeling safe and to be able to have hope for the future. I know how it feels to live in a place where there is a lot of violence and pessimism, which is why I feel lucky to have a home like Canada; I would not change not for the world.
hey. your place sounds alot like mine. we always have people going through the house. although i was blessed to have my own room. but its like the community functions around us. i defiently realized how lucky i am as well, canada is home. especially family, i never knew how much they meant to me.stay strong, dont let the food get the best of you.fight the power!
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