Hung in Mrs. Ippel’s room, non English speaking students created a universal wall of different countries. Photo by: Noemi Almendarez

By: Noemi Almendarez

Around the world there are traditions for different celebrations and families. There are those  who come from varied cultures but are similar in numerous ways.  

Several students have different family traditions that are celebrated throughout the year. Sophomore Sujey Solis says, ”Sundays [my family and I] always eat dinner together.” She went on to say that eating dinner with her family was one of her only traditions.  Other students like sophomore Hannah Dowell do charity work as a family tradition. She said, “Well, every Christmas we look up a boy and a girl from an adopted home and we go out and buy a present for them and personally deliver it to them.”

Even though America has similar holidays, other countries may celebrate on different dates. Freshmen Wilfredo Asencio from Honduras said, “The dates are different because we [Hondurans] celebrate Christmas on the  24th and here they celebrate the 25th.” There are plenty of different celebrations during the holidays besides Christmas. Solis said,“We celebrate el dia del Niño, they celebrate it the 10th of September.” Just how America has Mother’s Day, Honduras has El Dia del niño. Solis said, ”Teachers bring food because they celebrate it at school. That day is special because every kid is waiting because they dress well for this day.” For other people, the only tradition is just to go over to visit another family member. Freshmen Aliyah Bertrand said, “We always go to my aunt’s house.”

Sujey Solis and Wilfredo Asencio both were excited, yet anxious to come to America. Photo by: Taylor Drake

Since students  celebrate holidays in different ways, their food is also different.  Solis’ families eats tacos, pastelitos,yuca con chicharron, and tajadas. These are things that we do not eat in the United States. Asencio said his family eats chicken, tamales, sandwiches, and rice with chicken. There are a variety of foods since we are all different and come from different countries. Our foods are different. Bertrand said, ”Corn Bread, Beef, Wild Rice, Water, Squash, Corn, and all the native American foods” are foods eaten on family holidays.

For some people it is hard to adapt to new things, especially a new country where they would have to start over. Asencio said,”I haven’t [changed] because I will celebrate the same dates like in Honduras. I’m fine with how they celebrate I can’t do anything about it to change it.” For celebrating Christmas Solis said, “I think that I would have to adapt to here because over in Honduras they do fireworks. Here they are not allowed. It’s more crazy than here, a lot more fun. It doesn’t affect me because change doesn’t hurt anybody.”

With students learning in the room, Mrs. Ippel  helps first level learners understand their individual lessons. Photo by: Noemi Almendarez