Canyon Vista prides itself on its celebration of diversity, as many different cultures are represented by our student body. Students and their families have lineage that comes from all around the world. But right next door to Texas is the beautiful country of my heritage. Mexico is not just the home to over 120 million people but it is the birthplace of a warm culture that has made its mark on Texas.

Mexico is all about two things: family and food! When you have family, you never feel lost. In Mexico, it is known that your family is always there for you. One of the recent holidays in Mexico is the Day of the Dead. During this time the people of Mexico celebrate the death of their loved ones. The people of Mexico don’t fear death, they embrace it. They know that their time will come and they know that they can’t stop it. In Mexico, they say, that it is not why or how they die, all they want is to be with their family and watch their loved ones from above.

Mexican culture prides itself on its food. Tamales with rice and beans is a popular dish in Mexico. This meal is often eaten when family is over for dinner, and even breakfast. Tamales are usually made with meat mixed with a filling wrapped in a special dough called tamale.

A famous food that Mexicans also make is horascatas or wedding cookies. Horascatas are made with cinnamon and sugar with batter made from scratch. Another popular food in Mexico is chips. But not like the chips that you see in our school’s cafeteria, the chips in Mexico look like packing peanuts. They feel like rubber, but taste like salsa. These rubber chips are mainly prepared for special occasions like birthday parties and family reunions.

One thing that I noticed on my last trip that was unusual is, I felt down every street I would walk, there would be a dentist office and multiple advertisements for dentistry. Mexico’s border is constantly visited by many people from America, to get their teeth done. Mexico has a lot of dentists because dental work is cheaper in Mexico.

Piedras Negras is a city close to Mexico’s border on the Rio Grande River. My family is from Piedras Negras and my grandmother lives there. She is also a Mexican citizen who is hardworking, caring, and has great pride in her country. We visit her multiple times a year. Even though my parents and I were born and raised in Texas, being in Mexico unlocks keys to my identity that can’t be found elsewhere.