My Culture
04.28.08 (10:08 pm) [edit]Mexican Culture is a very spiritual and ornate culture. It is full of literature, paintings, architecture, religion, cuisine and unity. I grew up hearing stories of all kind, remedies for anything that ails you and old family traditions. I know we live in America but that does not stop my Mexican culture. It lives through me and my children.
For instance, La Llorona, she has several stories that are passed down for generations. She is unknown but some claim she cries for her lover and others claim she cries for her children that she murdered. She tends to roam the streets at night searching. My grandmother (who still lives in Mexico) feared that she La Llorona would take one of us from our bed. What ever the story is, La Llorana is real in my culture.
My favorite hero is Cuauhtémoc. He was the last king of the Aztec Indians. The Spaniards (Cortés men) killed him for the gold and riches that Moctezuma (Montezuma) had allegedly hid. They burned his feet as an interrogation method and yet he said nothing. When he was asked if it hurt, Cuauhtémoc only answered “¿Estoy yo por ventura en un lecho de rosas?” (Am I lying in a bed of roses?) Mexican, mexcla in Spanish means mixture, so it is a mixture of Indians and Spanish.
I was taught Spanish before I learned English in school. It was hard for my Dad to let me be an American. Once he let go, his wanting of us to have a better life than he did in Mexico was realized. He was not educated but I would ask him about books, painters, authors and he had heard of some. It was my pleasure to educate him on his literature, painters and authors in detail. I would let him read the books after me and I would show him pictures of paintings and of authors. Legends he could tell me in more detail than my professor could. He could tell me about the politics and the wars in detail because his father told him and he lived it. My parents showed us how to dance and we listened to classic Rancheras, Pop Latino and Tejano music.
Some history is the last royalty of Mexico, whom were not even Hispanics. Maxmiliano was the archduke of Austria and Carlota Amalia was the princess of Belgium. Since neither one of them was a descended of the thrown and they were offered an opportunity of a life time to be king and queen of a country. It ended in tragedy, with Maxmiliano being made an example to any European wanting to take over Mexico.
There is so much more painters, authors, events that makes me proud of my culture.
Recommended Books and Plays:
Los de Abajo by Mariano Azuela
Pensativa By Jesús Goytortúa
La Corona de Sombra by Rodolfo Usigli
El general Rueda by Nellie Campobello
Cartucho by Nellie Campobello
La Adelita is a Mexican folk song
Web Evaluations:
1. Name of Web Site:
Reading Rockets & nbsp; &n bsp; &nb sp; &nbs p;
Web Site Address:
www.readingrockets.org
Copyright date and/or last update:
Copyright 2008
Author/organization credentials:
Reading rockets is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Reading Rockets is a registered trademark of WETA.
Web site design and ease of navigation (this should be substantial discussion).
This website has a catchy title with a catchy slogan. The graphics are not overbearing and the fond is readable. It has several heading that linked to other informative pages. It also, had several informative articles; it featured books and authors and had blogs. In addition, it had news updates and incentives for viewers to keep coming back. It gave you the opportunity to sign up for newsletters and link you to new resources. Reading Rockets gave contact information and biography information. It is well organized and categorized with the given information.
Your response and recommendation for use (note intended audience) (this should also be substantial discussion).
I thoroughly enjoyed viewing and searching through this website. It is intended for teachers and possibly for parents. I liked the flow and the design. I would absolutely recommend this website.
2. Name of Web Site:
James Ransome illustrator
Web Site Address:
www.jamesransome.com
Copyright date and/or last update:
None that I could see, possibly Winter 2007
Author/organization credentials:
James Ransom, author/illustrator
Web site design and ease of navigation (this should be substantial discussion).
The website design was clean and artistic. It had several links with good information. It was simple to navigate back and forth to every page all the information given was concise and not lengthy
Your response and recommendation for use (note intended audience) (this should also be substantial discussion).
I loved how it flowed. This site was set up with creativity. I liked that you were able to purchase his works. I recommend this website.
3. Name of Web Site:
J.K. Rowling
Web Site Address:
www.jkrowling.com/eng
Copyright date and/or last update:
All rights reserved JK Rowling. Did not see a date
Author/organization credentials:
Site by Lightmaker-creating award-winning interactive experiences the world over since 1997.
Web site design and ease of navigation (this should be substantial discussion).
This site is, at first, somewhat difficult to navigate. It was cleverly set up with its appearance and navigation. Once you got the navigation it was full of information. It had links to many useful pages. This site is not child friendly, especially, when you click on a link, how do you get back home? Well, you click on the brush or glasses, etc.
Your response and recommendation for use (note intended audience) (this should also be substantial discussion).
This website is intended for the tweens and over. Once you figure the navigation it is an awesome site. The music background was great. It was interactive and draws you in. I absolutely recommend this site.
4. Name of Web Site:
Tomísimo
Web Site Address:
www.tomisimo.org
Copyright date and/or last update:
2003-2007 Tomísimo
Author/organization credentials:
Go Daddy.Com- founded in 1997
Web site design and ease of navigation (this should be substantial discussion).
This website has easy to read links. It has a dictionary for English and Spanish learners. It gives you an opportunity to participate in Blogs and Forums. It also, has a Spanish verb conjugator. In addition, it informs about Latin related topics, such as, immigration.
Your response and recommendation for use (note intended audience) (this should also be substantial discussion).
I recommend this website. There are more than 63,823 search entries. The articles are interesting and the verb conjugation is useful. Learning Spanish is difficult as well for the Spanish speakers whom live in America, it is difficult for them to put it on paper. It is nice to have a resource to compare with.
5. Name of Web Site:
Texas Education Agency
Web Site Address:
www.tea.state.tx.us
Copyright date and/or last update:
Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2002
Author/organization credentials:
TEA
Web site design and ease of navigation (this should be substantial discussion).
This website is highly informative. It is a great resource site for educators. This website is completely professional and concise. It is easy to navigate. The links are easily located and the font is readable. This site gives updates and the links have other links to better inform.
Your response and recommendation for use (note intended audience) (this should also be substantial discussion).
Of course, it is a highly recommended website. This website helps interns to tenured educators. It helps with lesson plans, taks, and other updates. There is so much information, which can sometime overwhelm you, which you will not miss out.