My America: Reyna Grande on Writing and Belonging Across Borders

Summary

The speaker shares their personal journey of navigating cultural identity between Mexico and the United States. Writing serves as a refuge, allowing them to explore experiences without the judgment they face in daily life. They feel like an outsider in both countries: in Mexico, they are seen as too Americanized, and in the U.S., they grapple with their immigrant status. The speaker also reflects on the challenges of raising middle-class American children while holding onto their cultural roots, revealing the complexities of identity and belonging in a bicultural experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Writing serves as a safe space for exploring dual identities related to Mexico and the U.S.
• 🌍 The speaker feels a sense of belonging in their writing that is often absent in their daily life.
• 🤔 Navigating cultural identity is complex, with the speaker experiencing exclusion in both countries.
• 🇲🇽 In Mexico, the speaker is seen as too American, often criticized for their Spanish skills.
• 🗣️ Language plays a crucial role in identity; the speaker uses Spanglish and feels judged for it.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker grapples with parenting challenges as an immigrant raising middle-class American children.
• 🚶‍♀️ The speaker's lifestyle contrasts sharply with their relatives in Mexico, highlighting cultural differences.
• 💬 The speaker observes a gender disparity in Mexico, noting that their cousins often seek permission from their husbands.
• 🏡 The speaker feels like an outsider even at home, struggling to relate to their children's experiences.
• 🔄 Cultural critique is part of the speaker's narrative, especially concerning traditional values in their hometown.

Q & A

How does the speaker feel about their writing?

The speaker feels most at home when writing, as it allows them to explore their experiences in both Mexico and the U.S. without facing judgment.

What cultural challenges does the speaker face in Mexico?

In Mexico, the speaker is treated as an outsider and is criticized for being 'too Americanized,' particularly regarding their Spanish language skills.

What specific criticism does the speaker receive about their Spanish?

The speaker's Spanish is described as broken, using wrong verbs, false cognates, or Spanglish, which draws criticism from others.

How do traditional gender roles affect the speaker's experience in Mexico?

The speaker contrasts their independent lifestyle with that of their female cousins in Mexico, who are expected to seek permission from their husbands for decisions.

What is the speaker's view on their hometown culture in Mexico?

The speaker critiques their hometown's culture for being unprogressive and reflective of outdated norms, particularly regarding gender roles.

How does the speaker navigate parenting in the U.S.?

As an immigrant parent, the speaker struggles to understand their children's experiences, which are vastly different from their own childhood in Mexico.

What feelings of belonging does the speaker experience?

The speaker often feels a lack of belonging, feeling like a foreigner both in Mexico and in the U.S., despite having lived in the latter for over 34 years.

What role does writing play in the speaker's identity?

Writing serves as an outlet for the speaker to express and reconcile their complex identity and cultural experiences without external judgment.

In what ways does the speaker feel excluded in everyday life?

The speaker feels excluded in daily life due to constant reminders of their perceived foreignness and the cultural differences between themselves and those around them.

What is the significance of the speaker's experience with their children?

The speaker's experience with their children highlights the generational and cultural divides that can exist within immigrant families, further complicating their sense of belonging.