THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608230404
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RANDY VAZQUEZ, HIGH SCHOOL WRITER
LENGTH: 69 lines
MANY LATINOS in Hampton Roads may relate to coming off the plane and stepping onto American soil for the first time, as Jovan Calderon did three years ago.
``It was weird because it was new. It was a different environment and a different language,'' said Jovan, 19, who now lives in Virginia Beach.
``Everything was quiet when I got off the plane compared to Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, it's much faster, but here everybody is much more relaxed.''
Many Hispanic South Hampton Roads residents have moved here from all over the United States and South America, and find moving from their Hispanic culture difficult.
Many move here and take English classes, like the English as a Second Language program offered through some local school districts, to learn the language and adjust. But learning a new language is difficult. When many start the program, they can't even ask, ``How are you doing?,'' or say, ``Catch you later.''
Their native language becomes, almost, a handicap.
``It was hard at first because of the language barriers,'' said Giovanni Bonilla, a 15-year-old Puerto Rican who lives in Virginia Beach. His family moved to the area when he was a child.
``But with the help of teachers and the ESL (English as a Second Language) program, I progressed,'' he said. ``After the first couple of years in elementary school, I adapted fine.''
One of the first things Jovan noticed were the differences in the schools. At his old school in Puerto Rico, for example, students were able to hang out and go off campus during lunch. Some even choose to go home and eat. English was not really used except in English class and students had to wear school uniforms. Both the American and Hispanic holidays were observed.
``Some places, like the schools in Mexico, are not economically great, but the teaching is just as good, if not better,'' said 40-year-old Jesus Gonzalez, a Mexican-American who moved to the area two years ago because of his job in the Navy.
For some, there was no problem adjusting.
Ada Harden, a native of Columbia, visited the States twice before moving here permanently about three years ago.
``For me it was not that difficult because I was already fluent in English,'' Harden said.
But as younger Latinos are born in America, or move here and begin to assimilate, many of them no longer speak their native language and older Latinos are left to keep the traditions of their people alive.
One cultural celebration often observed in the United States is Cinco de Mayo which means ``fifth of May'' in Spanish. Many Mexicans celebrate the day each year, the date in 1862 when the Mexican army defeated the French in a battle at the city of Puebla, Mexico. Another celebration is El Dia Del Muerte, which means ``the day of the dead.'' On this day, people parade around the streets, dressed as skeletons, and carry candles and crosses to bless the dead with flowers and different perfumes.
There aren't many basic differences between Spanish-speaking countries or areas and the United States: Both cultures have parents who care about their kids. Teen-agers in both environments like to hang out. Both the Americans and Latinos have festivals, celebrations and holidays to observe. One of the only differences is the language spoken. MEMO: Randy Vazquez wrote this story as a participant in The
Virginian-Pilot's Summer Minority Journalism Workshop. ILLUSTRATION: VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot
From left, Giovanni Bonilla, 15, and Jovan Calderon, 20, at a weekly
church service and support group for people from Spanish-speaking
countries. by CNB