At my present job at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) I've had the opportunity to learn more about working in higher education.  I've participated in so many events.  Recently, Orientation for International Students took place at our university.  I had the opportunity to talk about the scholarship program I'm currently in charge of on campus.

It always amazes me the richness of cultures we have in this world, wow!  Although, I have to say that there is only one thing that bothers me, "the lack of interest on behalf of Mexican-Americans to learn a second language."  It's amazing how many Mexican-Americans, I know, do not even know how to speak Spanish and their last name is more Mexican than their color of skin.  It's as if it would be inferior for them to speak Spanish. On the contrary, is a clear demostration of higher education.  It amazes me how many of our International Students speak more than three languages (minimum three-maximum five).  At our office we offer Spanish classes to our students (for free) and guess who sign-up for those classes? OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!!!  Not our Mexican-American students who only know how to speak English but those who already speak three or four languages,  90-99% of our International Students speak minimum three languages. At one of my meetings with one of our Provost, he started speaking with one of the faculty members in a different language (not English) then, he looked at us an apologized for not speaking English.  He said, "English is my fourth language."  I was like, "what? wow!" 

There is another group who always impresses me, our fellow "Anglo" citizens who are bilingual.  It makes me admire them so much for taking the initiative of learning a second language.  I think it's awesome when a "gringo" or "Anglo" speaks Spanish (maybe that's why I like Paul so much, lol). How could it be possible that people in other continents and other ethnic groups know the value of being bilingual EXCEPT for our Mexican-American people?

All I want to say to my fellow Mexican-American friends is "learn to speak a second language!"  Be expose to other cultures and "ya sal del rancho y culturalizate!"

I am currently a Houston resident :)

....and I love it!

Now, I know why so many people from small cities migrate to bigger cities.  Well, because of the culture, job opportunities, entertainment, education, etc.  It's true that the bigger the more dangerous people face everyday but to be honest, we encounter danger in so many ways everywhere.  I work at the University of Houston, same university I am register to start this Fall working on my masters.  Not a single day goes by without something going on.  It's so cool!

But the best part about this place it's its people.  It is true that in order for people to succeed at school one must find happiness at the academically(resources, good programs, etc) and socially world (community, involvement, and cultural programming).

A couple of years ago, none of this had even crossed my mind.  A couple of years ago the idea of living in Houston seem foreign and unattracted BUT things happen for a reason...and I'am glad the window of opportunities openned to me.  I am now happy and content. I am now pursuing something I did not planned but it's working well.

Thank you God!  

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

Dream or reality?
Category: Writing and Poetry

 
Dream or reality?

Observation is based on our senses, which only give us the mere appearance of reality. You have to free yourself from the illusory cuffs of the senses. Intuition is our starting point. Imagination is our road that needs to be followed with reasoning. Only in this way, you, me, each one of us will be able to reach our destiny, free knowledge


(...)

We only get an impression of reality. A space without limits, without borders, with a different perspective from the one we learn in geometry. Where a straight line is not the shortest distance between two points but is, in fact, a folding space like a sheet of paper until the two points meet. Like a face seen from different angles that blend into a single moment."

 Einstein, Picasso, Agatha and Chaplin: How to explain the theory of relativity, cubism, travelling in time and unmask a murderer