Name: Kimberly Vasquez
Year: Junior
Major: Management
Race/Ethnicity: Peruvian
Tell me about yourself: I am a transfer student from Manchester Community College and this is my first semester at UConn. I am studying business management. I will be the first in my family to graduate from college with a bachelors degree. Both of my parents were born in Peru. However, I was born in the United States. I have been to Peru two times and plan to visit again soon.
What does your culture mean to you: My culture means a lot to me. When I was younger, I was ashamed of my culture. In school, everyone would talk about opening presents the next morning and having a big party for Christmas while my family would celebrate Christmas at midnight, and on Christmas Day we would reunite the family and pray. However, now that I am older I am realizing how important my culture is. I can say that my culture created the person I am today.
What is your favorite part of your culture: My favorite part of my culture would be the food. All the way from the candy, like Dona Pepa, to the dessert, like Salchipapas, or the main dishes like Lomo Saltado. Just thinking about the food is making my mouth water.
How do you celebrate your culture: I celebrate my culture by maintaining a strong sense of national identity. I speak Spanish to my parents, go to church, celebrate Peru’s Independence Day and embrace the food.
Do you think living in the U.S. has made a difference in how you celebrate and “live” your culture; if so, how: I believe living in the U.S. has made a difference in “living” my culture. Having gone to Peru made me realize the difference between it and the United States. In Peru, it is more family orientated and religious while in the U.S., it is not religious nor as family oriented as I was growing up. For example, in middle school, girls were trying to find themselves and behave much older than their actual age when in Peru, it is all about what can I do to help around the house.
How do you think your culture has impacted your experience living in the U.S.: My culture has impacted my experience living in the U.S. by trying to fit in the American culture. As I mentioned before, I was a bit ashamed to demonstrate other friends about my culture because I wanted to fit in. I was even bullied about my race. In America, it is all about trying to fit in and keep the American culture alive. Now that I am older, my culture has helped me evolve into the young woman I am today. I do certain things that are right for my culture by being close to my family, going to church to practice my faith, and embracing my culture to set an example for the young ones, like my niece and nephew.
Pictures were provided by Kimberly Vasquez