Faces of America: Being Cuban-American

While watching "Faces of America" I learned many new things: I never had thought about going back in my family tree and seeing what possible connections I could have with family members of the past. Through this video though, it opened my eyes to the many possibilities that I could have with family members who were either famous, or did something special. I thought it was really cool how many of the people who were interviewed and were of a different ethnicity and had family members who were a part of something or did something special, that they weren't even aware of it.

I think that being "a nation of immigrants" means to have different people, from different places, of different cultures all together in one nation. I don't think that America would be who it is today if it wasn't for the various different sorts of people and races there are. Having people from different cultures, adds something new and different. You get to learn something new from whatever culture or race it may be, you can learn about traditions, different kinds of food, and much more. I think having a nation of immigrants is very important because when you have somebody come from another country who didn't have much, the United States is full of opportunities and they are eager to work.

My mom and dad and most of my family was born in Cuba, except for some of my cousins who were born here in the United States like me. My mom came when she was only a couple months old so she doesn't remember much, but my dad came when he was nine years old so he remembers Cuba very vividly; my mom came in the year of 1962 and my dad in 1967. Both of their families fled to the US because of communism in Cuba which is still going on today, but not as strong. I feel very aware of my ancestors because although I was born in Florida and not Cuba, I've heard everything it took for my mom and my dad's family to make it here in the United States. I know that my grandfather had to work various jobs when they first arrived here just to make a living for my mom's family, and with speaking very little English it was not easy. I know that it was no different for my dad's family except for that my mom had three brothers, and my dad was an only child. But not only do I feel connected from hearing stories and about what it took to be successful here, but it also comes out a lot on how my mom and dad have raised my brothers and me. Since they didn't get anything easy when they first arrived here and had to work for everything they had it has been the same for us. They have taught us good work ethic, but I find it valuable because I know in the long run it will help me through college and even further. I fully enjoy being Cuban-American and love the culture of Latin Americans especially when we are together with all of our cousins, uncles, aunts, and the rest of our family. I am proud to be called a Cuban-American