This week in class we have been focusing on identity. One question we were asked was “Who are you?” What a difficult question to answer! To even begin answering this question is to start by stating the labels that we either give ourselves (avowed) or that are given by society (ascribed). It was an interesting exercise to have to make a list of the labels we believe about ourselves. As the class shared one of our more prominent labels or roles, there were several that kept coming up. Obviously we are all students, all sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, and American. As Americans here we get judged a lot. Whenever we got anywhere we are always starred at. We are told not to wear shorts because it will make you a target for the people in Cuenca. Cuenca is very traditional so we always use or manners and try to be as respectful as we can to everyone so the U.S. looks good.
I said my identity is humor. I might have misunderstood what she meant by identity. I said my identity is humor because I can’t go through life without humor. People tend to be so serious all the time and they don’t look at the bright side of life. I like to think humor is my bright side. I like to find the humor in everything because it’s always easy to break down barriers between new people and can’t have humor without a smile on your face.
It’s nice living with my host family because my host mama is absolutely hilarious. The way she acts out things when she knows I can’t understand her is hysterical. I’m sure she wouldn’t identity herself as humorous but I would like to think that we share something in common.
