CULTURAL CORNER

Emily Sanchez -6th grade (Costa Rica and Dominican Republic).

Favorite Foods: Costa Rica: beef picadillo. Dominican Republic: Mofongo 

Fun fact about my heritage: Costa Rica does not have an army. Dominican Republic has white beautiful beaches.

Favorite phrase in Spanish?: Pura vida!  (hello, goodbye, all is well, everything is cool)

Ashley Garcia Carrero- 9th grade (Dominican Republic)

Favorite Foods: Frito, tostones con los tres golpes (cheese, egg, ham),  yaniqueques con chocolate.

Favorite phrase in Spanish: Mira muchacho (I don't have time for this nonsense).

What about your heritage makes you most proud?:  I am most proud of how everyone is so friendly and knows each other.  Dominicans are very laid back and fun to be around.

Sofia Avendano Martinez- 9th grade (El Salvador)

Favorite Foods: Pupusas, Tamales, Mariscada salvadoreña, Agua de horchata.

Favorite musical artists in Spanish: Pedro Infante, Armando Manzanero, Alvaro Torres.

What about your heritage makes you most proud?:  I am proud of how connected families are to each other and how everyone is very kind and respectful.  I love the bright colors of the buildings, the smells of freshly made pastries and of course, the pupusas!

Aymar Molina Lopez- 7th grade (Mexico)

Favorite Foods: Gorditas, pozole, sope

Favorite phrase in Spanish: No te compares con la otra gente (Don't compare yourself with others).

What about your heritage makes you most proud?:  I am most proud of the sacrifices my parents make so I can have a better life than them.

Mariam Elwazzan- 9th grade

Favorite Foods: I love enchiladas verdes con pollo--they are always delicious, especially when my mom makes them, and I also love Mexican candies, especially Mazapan. 

Favorite phrase in Spanish: El que es perico donde quiera es verde (Whoever is well-prepared shall do well wherever they go).  

What about your heritage makes you most proud?: I love how Mexico values family--it's like everyone knows each other! It's as if time never passes when you're in Mexico: the smell of fresh tortillas every corner, the colorful houses, the street vendors who are up early in the morning, selling their paletas, elotes, tamales, calling you to buy some, the bells of the cathedrals, reminding us of the time. 

Emily Perez Zambrano- senior

Favorite Foods: Enchiladas, sopes, aguachile.

Something unique about your culture:  We celebrate loved ones who have passed away by gathering in their place of rest, praying, singing, and eating. We also create an altar with pictures and their favorite foods to remember them. 

What about your heritage makes you most proud?: If I had to choose what part of my heritage makes me most proud, I'd say the diversity surrounding me. With music alone, genres range from Indigenous tunes to cumbia and rock. The traditional clothing ranges from all colors and styles like Charro (cowboy) suits and Shawls. There are also varieties of food that can be spicy, sweet, or salty. I also love how valuable family is in my culture. I love all the gatherings and family events that bring us together. 

Kristal Sanchez Rodriguez- 9th grade

Favorite Foods: I love enchiladas verdes con pollo--they are always delicious, especially when my mom makes them, and I also love Mexican candies, especially Mazapan. 

Favorite musical artists in Spanish: Luis Miguel, Maluma, Selena Quintanilla, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Amanda Miguel 

What about your heritage makes you most proud?  I am proud of our rich culture and diversity within, and no matter what life throws we always stand strong and proud for what we believe in. 

Ana Bolaños -10th grade (Nicaragua)

Favorite Foods: Vigoron, gallo pinto, buñeulos, quesillo, rosquillas, fritanga, repocheta.

Favorite musical artists in Spanish:  Bad Bunny, Don Omar, Ozuna, Plan B. 

What about your heritage makes you most proud?:  My accent in Spanish!  I love the natural beauty of Nicaragua: we are known for our volcanoes and lakes.

Luna Perez- 10th grade (Peru and Puerto Rico)

Favorite Food:  Ceviche.

Something unique about my culture: The indigenous cultures of Peru are Quechua and Ayamara who do not speak spanish but their own languages. 

Favorite musical artists in Spanish:  Selena Quintanilla, Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martin.

KarmenSonia Maldonado - 10th grade (Puerto Rico)

Favorite Foods: Empanadillas, tostones, and pernil.

Something unique about my culture: I think something pretty unique about Puerto Rican culture is the Carnaval de Vejigantes. It's a carnival that takes place in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, participants dress up in colorful costumes and wear monster-like masks. Some of them walk around on stilts, they walk the streets and chase people around with cow-bladder and hit people with them. It's all done in good fun, my dad got chased by some when he was younger! 

What about your heritage makes you most proud?: The food and distinguished dialect my people have when they speak Spanish. Puerto RIcans have no shame in our culture and I love that about us. 

Manuela Pacheco Vilorio, 9th grade (Venezuela)

Favorite Foods: Arepas, tequeños, cachitos 

Favorite musical artists in Spanish: Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, Anuel AA 

What about your heritage makes you most proud?: Our landscapes and our music makes me the most proud.