Narritive Essay

Untraditional Tradition

I could hear the murmur in the backround my aunt. my mother, and their friends the dress, the venue who would they invite? Would it be in Texas or Washington? My eyes widened as I hear them speak I knew what this would lead to but I was not ready to be 15! In the hispanic culture, when you turn 15 it marks the transition between childhood to becoming an adult and to mark this transition a party is held known as a Quinceanera to celebrate. Often Quinceaneras cost a good amount of money seeing as your entire family and extended family attends there is a venue, a dress, food, and more. When I heard the murmur my family had begun my head began spinning. All I thought was about the planning the stress all the guests and i turned around and said “I don't want a party!” My mother was not surprised because she knows my preferences, but my relatives were in disbelief. I knew exactly what i wanted to do and it was something that honoured just what a Quinceanera celebrated except i'm maybe a less traditional way that might be more enjoyable.

I pondered on what i could possibly do for my 15th birthday, something that would celebrate my new found independence and honor my childhood and the transition from childhood to becoming an adult. I wanted something that symbolized my parents accepting and acknowledging the fact i was growing up. As i thought and laid in my cousins yellow rope hammock different ideas filled my head i wondered if i would maybe throw a party, just a different type of party.Would or if i could throw a small gathering with my childhood friends where we could visit my old tree house in my home town. As i went deeper in thought i realised that i was missing the point i wanted something memorable that would capture everything i was looking for in celebrating tradition. I closed my eyes and as the breeze grew into more of a wind i closed my eyes and drifted to sleep and then it hit me Hawaii! It was perfect, one of my closest childhood friends invited me a few years back it was perfect.

The next thing I know i was tossing and turning at a houston hotel nervously anticipating my flight to Hawaii! I knew this was a very determining day for me it was my first time flying alone. It felt like butterflies were having a party in my stomach I reorganized my luggage about five times, I memorized the flight numbers,I thought of every possible thing that could go wrong and i devised a plan. I remember my father accompanied me through the airport he lectured me about the airport and how it worked i nodded my head thinking bout how i already knew what he was telling me i was excited to walk down the airport by myself i could almost taste the independence. Once i began to board the plane reality set in, i saw families and couples a few lonely businessman but i felt alone i was only dependent on myself it was a strange feeling. I didn't have to worry about my brother bugging me or my father giving me lectures but i couldn’t depend on my dad to plan everything i couldn’t lean on my moms shoulder and my brother and i wouldn’t be able to play practical jokes. When the plane departed i realised i was even more so nervous i had to switch planes at LAX! One of the biggest airports in Los Angeles. Seeing as i'm not very good at following directions and maps my head began to spin, luckily my gate was close by. I sat down I looked suit and tie seemed to be the attire of choice which i thought was odd i had seen people in casual attire moments before, i knew something was wrong. I got up to look at the monitor it wasnt the number of the flight I had spent time memorizing, my gate had been changed and i didn't have much time. I knew it could either go two ways i could freakout which would lessen the chances of my arrival to Hawaii or I could take a deep breath and define who i wanted to be and where i wanted to go. I ran in search of my freedom. Upon opening my eyes I looked out the window to the the white clouds at the exuberant sky and i realised this newly found independence is had been looking for.

As i stepped out of the plane in the tube that looks like a foil worm connecting the flight to the airport the sweet air hit me it was so refreshing as i took a deep breath i can't believe i had made it threw it was just the beginning of my journey. From being greeted with a beautiful Lei (a traditional Hawaiian necklace or garland of flowers that is given to someone upon their arrival or departure), to waking up at 5 to hike and see the sunset, I got a new look on life and the possibilities that were out there for me. I got to see an unfiltered view of another area different than my own without the view of my parents influencing me which was really different for me because as i have grown up with parental influence being a strong factor, it made me realise what my decisions and thoughts were about the world and how i was and wanted to grow up to be. In particular i remember walking along the boulevard my best friend Zoe was at rowing practice so it was really a moment for me to reflect i walked along the boulevard looking at different people some were running there were people biking reading and i had the freedom to decide what i wanted to do.

Apart from my time alone i got to spend many moments with my best friend Zoe it was like revisiting my childhood we talked about our childhood in Washington State and our experience with growing up while moving to a new place it was really a bonding experience we laughed over old baby pictures and we even planned to meet up again in Washington as we remembered our memories.During my trip in Hawaii i also found that i experienced something i wasn't used to it was helplessness. As my friends who were accustomed to the island swam vigorously through the water looking for a small island ahead i knew it was a lot further than i had expected and i wasn't sure how much longer i could go as the tide began to rise and the sky began to darken. I felt a sharp pain in my arm i tried to keep a strong mindset i knew i would make it back before the tide rose to much as i swam i noticed blue on my arm it looked like small strands then as paused to look at my arm i knew what my friend had called a manowar had stung me i began to freak out thinking i was gonna die what if i was allergic first of all i had to get this thing off and i didn't even wanna touch it. It was a very helpless experience being in the middle of the ocean i wanted my mom to check my arm i wanted my brother to laugh with me and my father to get me out but i felt like i was the only person swimming.I didn't know what was swimming beneath me but i humbled myself and realised that i had to rely on myself and my strength to get through because it was all i had. The being so small within the ocean made me feel like my attitude about the world ending because of my mere everyday problems was so insignificant when i looked at the great force that i was in, it really helped me begin to understand the world beyond my own the problems beyond myself.

My untraditional tradition of celebrating my coming of age was significantly impacting the remembrance of my childhood and understanding that i did have the strenght to think and act on my own acount was very important for me. I realised the type of lifestyle i wanted to live and how i wanted to achieve it. I gained a experience in independence and understanding that it was ok to be alone. I learned a lot on my trip more than i expected going in but it enabled me to accept that i was getting older and that it was ok to be alone I could make it on my own.