Two Cultures, One Heart

“What are you?” This is the question of my life. I have been mistaken for Italian, Arab, Greek, and even Russian, but I am proud half American and half Hispanic. My light olive skin and clearly ethnic hair gives me an ambiguous racial appearance, which often confuses others and has been a source of ambiguity my entire life.

My mother moved to the United States from Honduras when she was a child, and met my father, who is white American when they were both graduate students at the University of Chicago. I was born in Chicago and grew up for 18 years in Charlottesville, VA, and have traveled to Honduras every summer since I was born. I have grown up in two worlds, but I have not always felt accepted by either culture.

My parents have always told me they wanted to raise my sister, Andrea, and I to be not only bilingual, but bicultural, but I have found this easier said than done. Although I am almost fluent in Spanish, I often forget words when I feel uncomfortable, or am speaking to somebody I haven’t met before. Because my Spanish language has been a source of anxiety for me my entire life, I have developed a deep awareness of the importance of language as a form of cultural communication.

Sometimes it seems I don’t fit into the white American culture either. As a child I always wondered why the girls around me at school had sleek obedient hair, while mine constantly poofed out in thick, defiant curls. In high school I would wage full out wars on my hair and each morning I would battle with it to tame my wild waves. After all, my hair usually emerged victorious and I ended up in tears and late for school.

When I was accepted to American University, in Washington D.C., I was told by a peer in front of the entire class, “You only got accepted to American because you are Hispanic.” This moment, very unpleasant, proved to be quite eye opening. I never thought she identified me as just “Hispanic.” I was the only not full white person in that class, but I had never felt uncomfortable because I never thought that anybody looked at me different. I learned that one’s self-perception does not always match up to how others perceive you.

Although I have experienced some growing pains, being mixed has also been a joy. I love to read Shakespeare, and my CD collection mostly contains R&B and Hip Hop artists. I would much rather watch a basketball game than a soccer game.

I am not Honduran but my connection to the country runs deep in me. My childhood memories are composed of elaborate birthday parties my grandmother would throw for me on hot summer days at the house in Honduras. They were complete with life-sized piñatas and marimba bands. My ties to Honduras have been solidified by rich memories, and I’ve learn to appreciate the sheer beauty of the country’s landscape and culture. As I get older and have more commitments in the U.S., I have realized that the less time I spend in Honduras, the more I appreciate it.

There are two sides to my life, and over time I have found myself in a unique position to relate to both. This has helped me to strengthen my skills and therefore become who I am. During my sophomore year in high school, a friend and I founded CARE (Creating Awareness Regarding Equity), a group dedicated to promoting diversity and educating the school community about different cultures.

In college, I followed my passion and narrowed my focus to the promotion of the Latino community. Currently, I am co-director of the Latino and American Student Organization (LASO), which is responsible for the cultural programming at American University during Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition, a Latino Youth Conference is hosted every year bringing about 200 high school students to campus. I am also an Hermana of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., a Latina sorority dedicated to community service and the empowerment of the Latina community. Also, I volunteer at the Higher Achievement Program (HAP) in Washington D.C., an after-school program dedicated to mentoring academically motivated but disadvantaged children.

My biracial identity has allowed me to empathize and relate to different cultures, and I believe this is why I have devoted a significant portion of my life to the promotion of intercultural relations and understanding. Now, as a senior, I’m glad to be involved in various areas. I have learned that your college experience is what you make of it, and I am proud that I have made an impact in both my school and community. 

While I sometimes feel ambiguous about my identity, I have learned to not let others define me, but listen to myself. I have felt excluded from both cultures, but I have also been embraced and enriched by both. I love American food, but you will never convince me that Hondurans don’t make the best re-fried beans in the world.

By Simone Echeverri-Gent