My mom is the base of my being. She is why I am who I am today. She has raised me like a traditional Dominican mom, and has been my open source to anything and everything Dominican. The food she makes, the music she plays during the weekends, and the sayings she never gets tired of repeating are all apart of me and make me proud to be Dominican.
I'm proud to be Dominican because of the traditional cuisines. All these different meals leave my mouth watering, and even the sight is enough to know that's it going to be good. Meals like, mangu with salami, queso frito and eggs or a traditional sancocho, which is a type of stew that includes meat, vegetables, yuca and others, leaves you wanting more. Why? It's simple, the seasoning. Every meal has its own kind of seasoning that just helps it become one of a kind. You can tell a Dominican is proud of their culture because of all the love that goes into the food they make. Dominican food is special because... well, you should taste for yourself!
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The popular types of music genres in Dominican Republic are Bachata and Merengue, both of which are influenced by West African traditions.
All the different kinds of artists for both genres make music feel so alive when I listen to them. It’s music that makes you want to get up off your feet no matter where you’re from and move your hips. It’s music about love, hate, betrayal and basically anything you can think of. These artists put their heart and souls into what they write and sing, in other words, bachata and merengue help you feel what the artists feel. Both music genres have different ways of expressing the beat through your body. Bachata, for example, is two steps to the right and two steps to the left. And merengue is 8 beats, so you count 4 steps to the right and 4 steps to the left while dancing. Not only is the music an art, but so are the dance
moves. Another reason I am proud to be a Dominican is because of the typicals sayings. One my mom never fails to repeat is, " No naci para semilla" which translates to I wasn't born from a seed or I wasn't born to be a seed. When I hear this saying I automatically know I'm being called lazy. This saying is used to express how you should learn things while you're still here and take advantage from those who are more knowledged because they won't always be around. They will not wither and come back again the way plants do. There are many Dominican sayings and they always have some meaning behind them, but the one saying that will always stick with me is " I wasn't born to be a seed". This is because it pushes me to learn how to use all the sources I have while they're still here, learn from them and teach others in the future. To conclude, there are many reasons as to why my culture is special. But mostly, what makes being Dominican special is the food, the music and the sayings. I am proud of my ethnicity because how we speak is different but our music and food can be shared with the world, regardless of where you're from, and be loved.
Junot Diaz is Dominican American, and he came from a very poor family with five other siblings. Since they were not that wealthy, they lived in a simple way. Even though his mother was basically the bread winner of the family since his father could not keep a job, she still manages to send money back home every six months or so. When they got home from their vacation, they had found out that someone has broken into their house and stole most of his mother’s money. It was easy for them to be a target because they were recent immigrant, and in their neighborhood cars and apartment were always getting jacked. His mother was very upset; she blamed her children, because she thought it was their friends who had done such a thing. “We kids knew where
Merengue and bachata are among the most popular music genres of the Dominican Republic. Merengue emerged as a pan-Caribbean genre in the 19th century. Until the 20th century, merengue was embraced as a national symbol and has then widespread throughout Latin America. Dominican merengue reflects a fusion of African and European elements. The dance moves are African derived esthetic. While, the melodies and ballroom dances are due to European influences Dominican Republic once encounter (3).
The definition of insurgency according to JP1-02 is “The organized use of subversion and violence to seize, nullify, or challenge political control of a region. Insurgency can also refer to the group itself.” I chose to do my argumentative essay on the Dominican Republic Civil War, during the presidency of Rafael Trujillo. Which was considered the most heinous and boldness president in Dominican Republic’s history. I agree and support JP 1-02 definition of insurgency.
The Dominican Republic is different from many countries but specially the United States. Many people go on summer to the Dominican Republic but had they ever ask themselves what makes this small and beautiful island different from the most powerful country in the world (The United States).When I wake up in the Dominican Republic the year stations are all the same, hot, no change. The climate in the Dominican Republic is Semitropical. The language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Still the culture of the Dominican Republic is unique. The Dominican culture is awesome all types of colors and variety in base of people. People dance all the time. However every weekend is a celebration. I can go to the beach whenever I like to, I don’t have to wait until summer. But what does it makes it different from United States. In contrast when I wake up in the United States it can be cold one day and the next day hot. The climate in the United States varies due to the differences in latitude and a range of geography features. Basically United States has 4 types of weather, cold, not too cold, a little bit hot, too hot. The language in the United States is English. The culture of the United States is Western, but is influenced by African, Native Americans, Asian, Polynesian, and Latin American. United States has a mix culture because people come all over the world, to have better opportunities or just to change their way of life. The weekends in the United States are
As the Latino population in the United States continues to grow, U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, increasing attention is being turned toward understanding the risk and protective factors of immigrant Latino and U.S.-born Latino children and families. The demographic data relating to Latinos in the United States estimate that one of every two people added to the U.S population was Latino, in July 2009 Latino population was the fastest growing minority group U.S Census Bureau, 2010. Despite the increased risk of growing the immigrant families are in lower risk of Social Economic Status, having parents with less education and limited with language and knowledge about education. Immigrating to one place to another is often the most stressful event
The Dominican Republic or also known as La Republica Dominicana is a small island that is 18,816 square miles, located off the coast of Florida. The Dominicans of this land share their island with the Haitians. The island has a subtropical climate, mountains, rolling hills, and fertile river valleys. The economy is mainly dominated by sugar, which still earns much of the country's foreign exchange despite establishment of varied light industries and the development of nickel, mining and tourism. Coffee, cocoa, tobacco, and bananas are also a major export crop. But, despite their seemingly stable economy, and lush landscaping, a vast majority of the estimated 8,603,200 people that live there wish to migrate to the United States. This may be due to the fact that since the time the Dominican Republic was proclaimed in 1844 as a dictatorship, it has come under the attack of bad political leadership, and civil strife. In 1899 the country was bankrupted by civil strife after the murder of Ulises Heureaux, their dictator. Shortly after that the country came under U.S. control. Even under U.S. control the country still suffered from dictators with highly restrictive policies on leaving the island, and harsh economic conditions. These terrible economic conditions only worsened and caused a gigantic influx of immigrants from the Dominican Republic to the United States in the early 80's and even more in the 90's (Hale-Benson, p. 97). The people came in groves to the United States seeking more opportunities and a better life, but they soon learned that they would face many of the same cultural, racial and ethnic barriers that other ethnic immigrants have faced when seeking a new life in a new land. In this paper I w...
As a Latina growing up in New York City with parents from the Dominican Republic, I knew the difficulties of living in poverty. As a child, financial arguments were a common thing, budgets were strict and extra funds were low. However, when it came to education money was not a factor. Education was the solution to poverty, with a good education you’ll succeed and obtain a great job. I kept this mentality with me throughout my academic career. I completed my undergraduate studies in Rhetoric and Communications in hopes of starting a marketing career. That quickly changed when I started my first post-undergraduate job.
Music is essential to any culture. Its a vital part of being human and can significantly impact our lives. No matter where one is from, music is an escape that everyone seeks because they can relate to it. This social link keeps us tied to the world, even with different cultures and languages. Afro-Latinos have helped shape the music in America, many times with help from other cultures. Many types of music Hispanics have produced have impacted the United States. One of these types of music is named Bachata. Hispanics in the US have helped shape bachata, even though it originated in the Dominican Republic. With its profound lyrics many can relate to, its catchy rhythm and simple dance, bachata is as popular in the US as it is in Central America. In the 1980s and 1990s, the growing Dominican population in the United States became an important fan base for bachata. Dominican Yorks influence of traditional bachata with the artistic and cultural diversity of life in New York, making bachata one of the fastest growing music genres of the 21st century (Pacini Hernandez.)
Are you Puerto Rican or American? Hesitantly, I don't know what to say when people ask me this question because I feel that I have to choose between the two ethnicities. Since I was born in the U.S., I am considered American. But, if I say I am American, I am asked about my origins. Thus, controversy evolves around inhabitants of Puerto Rico because they are considered Americans since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States.
My mother is my hero because she has taught me to treat others with compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She taught me that those values were important in the best way, by living her own life according to them. She didn’t just tell me about values she felt were important, she lived by them. I have always admired my mother and felt so blessed to have her in my life. I know I am a better person for having her for a mother.
She could explain anything to me and I would understand straight away. She helped a lot for my education and always was there to help. My parents knew that she could teach me and show how hard it is these days and how hard I should work. That is why they always made sure I saw her enough but it never was for me.
There have been a vast number of lives that have touched mine. Many different people have shared a piece of their soul in my formation. However, it is my mother who is the most important and most influential person in my life. My mother raised me by herself since the day I was born. My father was abusive and she left to make a better life for the both of us. She has worked as many as four jobs at one time. My mother wants to make sure my brothers and I have a better life than she did. It hasn’t always been easy for her, taking care of us on her own, trying to pay bills and making sure we had everything we needed. My mom has always had us involved in sports at a very young age. We always were doing something or involved in something growing up. We went to summer school all through elementary school because she wanted us to get a head start. I remember when we were little she enrolled us I a manners and more class and I can recall when we would go out to eat people would compliment us on how well behaved we were.
My mother was not only worry and take care of me, she always by my side when I need her help. I felt sad, my mother always by my side to talk and to console. While I am glad, my mother is always been there to share and listen to me. When I failed to do something, my mother who was gave me advices. She has always supported me in all my choices. She tried to make me strong people with independent minds. I looks to her in hopes that someday I will be as happy, as strong and as well as
My mother is the strongest woman I know, no matter what the situation is she always has held her head high. My mother has instilled in me that no matter what the situation is a can get through whatever is thrown my way. This has helped me more in my adult life than it did in my childhood because as a child I did not fully understand certain things that I understand now.
...mportant person in my life and I know that she will be always there for me with help, her love, and her care. She’s a wonderful person, she admires the beauty of life, and as a result she is always in a good mood. Now, like my mother, I’m a positive thinker, and I am a creative person who believes life is what you create it to be. I also know if I have to make any big decisions in my life, I can always ask my mom for advice because she has the wisdom and experience. I also know that she will tell me the truth even if it is not something that I want to hear, but she will tell me with kindness and without any judgment. My mother is my role model because she does so much for me; she gives me everything she has just to make my life easier. I love my mother and I am so thankful that she is the way she is. My mother is always there for me and I would do anything for her.