Two Nations, One Screen

Hey there!

    This week, I'm diving into movies. My family are big movie watchers—it’s something we’ve always done together, with a bowl of popcorn. My dad and brother are especially huge movie buffs, while my mom and I love our shows more, but we’re always up for a good drama or romance. We've also watched a fair share of Mexican and Irish movies over the years.

    For the Spanish-language films, we usually watch them in Spanish with English subtitles. These are often movies my dad grew up with, or famous ones adapted from great books. Mexican cinema is vibrant and full of colorful storytelling, often weaving in indigenous cultural heritage. The tone of the movies is typically emotionally intense and dramatic. A few of my favorites are Under the Same Moon, Instructions Not Included, Nacho Libre, and Miss Bala. These films pull you in completely—sometimes I walk away crying, laughing, or just reflecting on the deep messages they leave behind.                               

    Irish films, in some ways, are similar to Spanish ones, but with some key differences. For one, Irish movies are typically in English, since it’s the primary language in Ireland. Irish cinema tends to be more understated and naturalistic, with a slower pace. Many films focus on mythology and Irish folklore, which is central to the culture, and are often set in small rural communities or the countryside. The tones are usually a mix of humor and tragedy, with a balance of wit and dark comedy—light and dark together. A few of my favorite Irish films are The Secret of Roan Inish, Waking Ned Devine, Intermission, and Dancing at Lughnasa. I love folklore and mythology, so Irish films really resonate with me. Plus, they make me feel closer to that side of my family.

Sports of Pride

 Hi There, 

    This week, I’m diving into the world of sports! Like many countries, both Ireland and Mexico have a deep passion for their sports and teams. Sports have been a part of my life since I was little. My dad started teaching me soccer as soon as I could walk, and it quickly became my favorite sport. Though it’s been a few years since I last played competitively, I still love watching matches and kicking the ball around for fun from time to time. Soccer defines Mexico, while Gaelic football and rugby reign supreme in Ireland.

     In Ireland, Gaelic football and rugby are the two biggest and most popular sports. Gaelic football, though similar to American football, is played with a round ball and combines elements of rugby and soccer. Teams score by kicking or hand-passing the ball over the opposing team’s crossbar, and each team has 15 players. Rugby also played with 15 players per side, uses an oval ball similar to American football. However, the ball can only be passed laterally or backward, never forward. The only way to advance it forward is by kicking or carrying it. Tackling is permitted but must be below the shoulders. In rugby, teams score by reaching the opposing team’s end zone, much like a touchdown in American football. It’s no surprise that rugby holds the title of Ireland's most popular sport.                                                

 Now, onto my beloved sport—soccer. Introduced to Mexico in the late 19th century, soccer quickly became the nation’s most popular sport. Fans are incredibly passionate, often going to great lengths to support their teams, whether by attending games or following their favorite players. For many young players, professional soccer stars are role models and icons. Each soccer team fields 11 players, and the game is played using only the feet, with the aim of scoring by kicking the ball into the opposing team’s net. Soccer's universal appeal makes it special to me—it connects people across the world in a shared love for the game.

    I’ve always admired how my parents support each other's favorite sports. My mom proudly wears my dad’s favorite soccer team jersey, while my dad doesn’t hesitate to don a jersey for my mom’s favorite rugby team. They’ve passed this passion down to me and my brother, having us watch games together and even getting us jerseys to match theirs. At the end of the day, sports have an incredible way of bringing people together, whether on the field or off.

Music and Dance of Two Rythms

Hey There! 

In this week's blog, I will be talking about the differences in music taste between Irish music and Spanish music. I think one of the coolest and most unique things about a culture is its type of music, as some cultures have similar music styles while others have ones that are completely different.

I'll start with Spanish music since it's more familiar to many people. Spanish music has a variety of genres, including Spanish rock, cumbia, wepa, reggaeton, bachata, corridos, and mariachi. I grew up around a lot of Spanish rock, cumbia, and bachata music—it's what my dad would play while working on his computer. It wasn’t until later that I discovered my love for reggaeton. I’d say it’s my go-to genre because of its upbeat rhythm, and it’s typically played at parties. My least favorite genres would have to be mariachi and corridos. I didn’t grow up around them, and I find them loud and noisy. Honestly, there are only a few songs from those genres that I enjoy. A lot of Spanish music is catered to dancing and is full of rhythm. That’s what I love about Spanish music—the rhythm and variety. There’s something for everyone’s taste.

Another aspect of Spanish music, like most cultural music, is that there are traditional dances associated with it. As I’ve mentioned before, my dad is from Oaxaca, Mexico, and his hometown has many traditional dances. One of these is a dance called Flor de Piña, or the pineapple dance. In this dance, young girls wear colorful traditional dresses, braid their hair with colorful ribbons, and dance to a specific song while holding a pineapple above their heads. My dad wanted me to embrace my culture from a young age, so he taught my friends and me the dance. He even wanted me to perform it at my elementary school talent show. I remember how proud he was seeing me up on stage, wearing the traditional garment and dancing to his hometown’s traditional music. I felt honored to show off my heritage. 

Irish music, on the other hand, is a bit different—it’s hard to describe. It has a more folk-like sound, almost spiritual in a way. The instruments used include the harp, accordion, bagpipes, flutes, and fiddles. The music is very upbeat, and even the sad songs sound cheery. It took me a while to get used to Irish music because of how different it is, and I’ve found it typically takes others a while to get used to it as well. Irish music traditionally has two main types of dances: Irish dancing and tap dancing. I’m proud to say that I know how to do both, though I’m better at Irish dancing. I took Irish dance classes for five years, where I learned to do the Irish jig and other dances.

I love that I know how to perform both traditional dances from my parents’ origins, and I can’t wait to teach my own children in the future, passing down these traditions to them!

Holidays Spent in my Household

 

Hey There!

Last week, we talked about food, and this week, I want to dive into how my family and I would spend the holidays. Both my mom and dad come from Catholic backgrounds, so they raised us Catholic as well. This made celebrating major holidays like Christmas and Easter easy. But the two holidays that truly stood out in our family were New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day.

As a child, I always looked forward to New Year's Eve because we would spend it with my dad's side of the family. My mom usually worked late since she was a server at a high-end steakhouse. So, my dad would take my brother and me to my aunt's family party. It was always a blast—I’d get to see my cousins, and we always had the best Mexican food. We’d spend the evening playing ping-pong in the basement or running around playing hide-and-seek. An hour before the countdown, we’d play games together as a family, like musical chairs and minute-to-win-it challenges. Then, about five minutes before midnight, my aunt would hand out poppers, hats, crowns, and silly string. We’d do the big countdown, then celebrate with hugs and laughter. I always looked forward to this time, being surrounded by my dad’s family and culture. It made me feel at home.

On the other hand, St. Patrick’s Day was my mom’s big holiday—and it has since become my favorite, too. The day would start with Irish music blasting through the house and my mom cooking up a traditional Irish breakfast. There’d be soda bread, black and white pudding, Irish sausages, and Irish bacon. Irish breakfast is my all-time favorite meal, and she’d always serve it with Irish tea. After breakfast, we’d head to the Irish American Heritage Center, where they held a huge celebration, complete with a rugby match, Irish dancing, and even an Irish Mass. My parents would take us to Mass, and afterward, we’d watch the rugby game while snacking on my favorite Irish chips—Taytos! I especially loved seeing the Irish dancers perform because, at the time, I had just started taking lessons myself.

Now, St. Patrick’s Day has become a tradition that I continue with my roommates. It’s my way of sharing that part of my heritage with them, and they absolutely love it! New Year's Eve on the other hand has changed for me, instead, I spend it with my friends from back home and make new memories with them! 

See you guys next week!

The Taste of Two Worlds

Welcome Back! 

    Now that you know the two parts that makeup who I am, I thought I would share how my cultures were incorporated into my upbringing. What better way to start than by talking about something everyone loves, food. My parents always made sure we had a balanced diet, cooking dishes from their respective cultures each week. This not only helped diversify our palates but also created lasting traditions for our family. While Irish and Mexican food are quite different, they do share some similarities, especially when it comes to soups and stews.

    One of my favorite meals from my mom is her Irish stew. On cold winter days, I would come home from school and eagerly look forward to the hearty Irish stew waiting for me. It’s made with beef, beef broth, Irish stout beer, potatoes, onions, carrots, parsnips, and parsley, and she always served it with slices of warm baguette. I could eat it for days, and sometimes I’d even take it to school for lunch the next day.

    Another dish I loved just as much, especially after a long soccer practice, was my dad's red pozole. Pozole is a traditional Mexican dish that comes in red, green, or white variations, but my favorite has always been the red version. My dad makes his pozole with shredded chicken, white hominy, assorted chiles, radishes, lime, and cotija cheese. He served it with tostadas and beans—perfect for filling me up after a long day.

    Even though my mom is Irish, she can sometimes make Mexican dishes better than my dad! They’ve both taught me how to prepare the foods I grew up with and now I cook these meals myself while at college. Whether it’s stews, soups, tacos, or an Irish breakfast, making these dishes brings me a sense of comfort and connection to home. I'm so happy to share them with my friends and continue the traditions as I continue into my adulthood.

The Irish In Me

 

    

Heyy!!

In my previous post, I shared about my Hispanic roots, and now I’m excited to dive into my Irish heritage. My mom is from a small town called Connemara, just outside of Galway City, and all of our family still lives there to this day. Growing up, I thought it was the coolest thing to be Irish. It was the side of my heritage I highlighted the most during my childhood, and my mom made sure I embraced the culture every day.

I remember my mom trying to teach me a few Gaelic words here and there, although it's definitely a tough language to learn. I used to hear her speaking Gaelic on the phone with my grandmother or her sisters, and it always fascinated me. It sounded so unique, like a secret code, yet it was also comforting to hear.

Every Saturday morning had its own routine in our house. My mom would wake up early and make breakfast, and on special occasions, she'd make a full Irish breakfast. I'd wake up to the sound of the Irish radio station playing in the kitchen, blasting Irish music or the news. It's one of my favorite memories, waking up to that lively music. Sometimes, she'd even have me call into the station to answer Irish trivia questions, which I thought was the coolest thing ever!

Another key part of my Irish upbringing was Irish dance classes. My mom enrolled me in second grade, and I stuck with it for five years. I performed in showcases and parades, and it’s still one of my favorite fun facts to share with people. While many take ballet, hip-hop, or tap, Irish dance was my thing.

I love my Irish side just as much as my Hispanic side, and I’m so grateful to have grown up with a beautiful mix of both cultures.

Embracing My Latina Side

Welcome Back! 

In this post, I’m diving into my Hispanic side. As I mentioned before, my dad is from Mexico—but not just anywhere in Mexico. He’s from Oaxaca, a place that, as a kid, I struggled to pronounce. Over time, though, I got the hang of it.

Growing up, I didn’t have many Hispanic friends. It wasn’t until high school that I met others who shared a similar background. But even then, I still felt like I didn’t quite fit in. At first, I thought it might be because they were fluent in Spanish, while I was more at an intermediate level. Sometimes, I couldn’t fully follow their conversations, and that left me feeling a bit out of place.

But I think the real reason I felt disconnected was that no one else seemed to come from where my dad is from. When people asked me where in Mexico I was from, my response would often be met with a confused look and a, “Where’s that?” Most of the people I knew were from more familiar places like Durango, Jalisco, and Michoacán. 

As I grew older, I realized that it’s okay to come from a place that isn’t as common—it makes me even more unique! I’ve learned to value and appreciate Oaxaca, and I’m proud to say that’s where I’m from. I couldn’t be more grateful for the beautiful, rich culture Oaxaca offers and the tremendous love and support I receive from my family there. Most of my dad’s family still lives in Oaxaca, and I proudly call it my second home!