Border cities: A common mindset

[Melissa Judith Espejo]

Living in a border city has its own cultural implications. Now imagine living in both border cities. I am not talking about being a resident in both cities, but doing your daily activities in both of them. In my case, I am talking about Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, and El Paso, Texas in the U.S. The contrast of these two cities are notorious, so are their similarities. The contrast is primarily the economic development from both countries, and their similarities are the cultural mindset people from these cities have in common. The proximity to Mexico is a major factor for El Paso to become practically the home town of many Mexican-american people. People from both sides of the Rio Grande River cross everyday, all day long, it is incredible to see the bridges that connect both cities at their full capacity almost all the time. The exchange between these two border cities is humongous, and so are their cultural implications. Mexicans being americanized, Mexican-americans celebrating mexican costumes, etc. We have a culture of our own I think. We have embrassed both cultures and made a mixture of both. We celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. We celebrate Thanksgiving and Dia de Reyes. We celebrate 4th July and 5 de Mayo. Isn't that curious? We may think this is not curious at all, because it has become part of what we are now, part of our identities. But seen from a different perspective it is in fact curious, how these two cultures that are so different from each other merged? We also have adopted words from both languages, English and Spanish and use them as a part of our everyday language. I know people from central or south Mexico that don't understand how we adapted the American culture to the Mexican culture, and people from other parts of the U.S. not close to the border think the same about Americans who adapted the Mexican culture to their culture. Fortunately, the number of people who understand this phenomenon is growing parallel to the growth of the phenomenon itself and consequently, it is becoming more accepted among others.

[Alejandra Luna]

I have to say inevitably this is true. Both cultures mergered together to form....a unique thing..neither american nor mexican. Maybe spanglish should become an official language because it is a growing phenomenon. I always felt like I never quite fit anywhere. To Americans I am Mexican but to my Mexican realitives who live in central Mexico I am too "gringa". What am I then? Over the years I have learned to accept myself. I am of both Mexican and American, living in a unique mixed city. The advantages are that I do get to learn both cultrues, styles, etc. I am happy this way. :)

[Marisol Guzman]

I love this!! I must admit that I am one of those "Pochas" who has adapted to both cultures. lol! Although some might say I am not American enough or I am not Mexican enough, I am still extremely proud to know and live among two cultures! I honestly believe that Spanglish should become an official language because that is another incrediable phenomenon created within this growing phenomenon :)