Loyalty and Hairdressers

Chufo, a fellow Latino Librarian colleague of mine that works at DPL’s central library gave me this great analogy about Latino Loyalties. Given that library professionals are primarily Anglo women we needed an analogy to explain how loyal our Hispanic culture can be to their beloved librarians, even those who are not bilingual and bicultural.

Think of your hairdresser for a moment. How loyal would you say you are to this person? How much do you trust them with your hair? How long did it take you to find this person? How often have they moved and how far did you follow them to their new location, even if it was now inconveniently across town? Does it matter how much in advance you have to make an appointment? Do you switch hairdressers just because the price goes up or do you stay and pay the new rates?

The loyalty that most women feel for their hairdressers is very similar to the relationship that Spanish speaking patrons build with librarians who they can speak to, understand them culturally and who help them with their life’s needs.

Chufo and I began swapping stories of patrons who have followed us not only from one branch to another, but from one library system to another. I have a particular patron who happens to also be from my mothers home state of Veracruz. I met him around 2004 in the Glendale Branch of the Arapahoe Library District. He then followed me to Aurora Public Library from Mission Viejo branch, to Tallyn’s Reach branch and finally to Central branch. Then I got laid off and hired at the Belmar Branch at Jefferson County Public Library and he showed up there. He even came to visit me at the Wheat Ridge branch when I did a short 3 month stint at that branch.

So he’s been my loyal patron over 8 years following me through 3 library systems, 6 branches all the while helping him and his family, his friends, people he works with, fellow poets, and even girlfriends. I’ve helped him learn computer skills, create a resume, find work, publish poetry, perform programs at libraries, and even spent time celebrating a birthday or two.

 I’ve even had one patron from as far away as Fort Collins follow me to my new jobs in Denver metro area. And Chufo has experienced many of the same types of patron loyalties serving his Latino community members.

I’ve taught in many a workshop that if you are doing outreach right, the individual becomes the institution. Loyal patrons won’t say, “Go to the library for help” they will instead say, “Go see Larry, he’ll help you. You can find him at the ____ library….”         

At this point you know you have earned the communities trust and loyalty.

GOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!!!

Watching the Olympics this year and creating blog entries got me thinking about those who are bicultural or immigrants to a new country. There is not always an easy answer to the dilemma of roots, culture, love of country and loyalty.

Leo Manzano won the Silver medal for the USA in the 1500-meters final. He celebrated by carrying both the USA and Mexico flags. While there has been some disapproval for his choice of celebration, I TOTALLY understand and support his pride and love for two  countries and his choice of celebrating.

I was on the edge of my seat watching Mexico play Brazil for the Gold medal in the men’s soccer final. I cheered for Mexico the whole time, but days before, I cheered like crazy for the USA women who were playing Japan for the women’s Gold in soccer. Had the USA played Mexico in either of those finals, I would have rooted for Mexico. Yet, if Mexico swam against Missy Franklin of the USA in any swimming event, I would have rooted for Missy. Why? Franklin is from Aurora and has my local Colorado loyalty.

I have a very close friend who was born in California, but raised in Mexico. She lived her entire life in Mexico and returned to the USA as an adult. She eventually met and married a man from Colorado. They had their HUGE 3 day wedding in Mexico.

I’ve had conversations with her husband, when inevitably; the USA plays Mexico in world cup soccer games. I asked him, “Who do you root for when USA plays Mexico?” He told me that in any sport when USA plays Mexico, he pulls for the USA, ALWAYS! But, if anyone else is playing against Mexico, he roots for his newly adopted second home, Mexico. His wife, born in the USA, raised in Mexico, always roots for Mexico.

He asked me who I was pulling for in the current USA vs Mexico soccer game we were watching. I told him Mexico. He seemed a bit surprised by this, because he sees me more as a US citizen, which I am. By my heart more often than not is with Mexico in sports.

Being bicultural is a unique thing, very difficult to explain. You have to live it to know it and truly understand it. I can no more deny one part of myself and  embrace the other 100% than you could deny using your left arm and left leg just because you are born right handed. They are BOTH a part of you and the left and right sides work together to make you who you are.

I was born in the USA, making me a legal USA citizen. But I was raised and have lived, and worked extensively in both cultures, Mexico and USA. I have strong ties to my Mexican mother, my family from Veracruz, my Mexican culture, Mexican food, and Spanish language. I prefer black beans and tamales wrapped in banana husks because that’s the cuisine in Southern Mexico. I have the outdoors in my blood because my Michigan relatives were lumberjacks, hunters and trappers. It is all a part of who I am, all mixed up with divided loyalties given any situation.

In Mexico, like the rest of the world, we are CRAZY for soccer!!! There are two types of Mexicans, those who are Chivas fans, and those who are America fans, both multiple champions of the national title in Mexico. Americans have never completely warmed to Soccer, nor seem to realize or care that it is the world sport, probably in part because it is perceived as boring and low scoring sport. But it is precisely the low scoring that makes it so emotional and exciting!

My family are all Chivas fans, and the first time I watched a game with my cousins around the age of 8, Chivas scored a goal. I was shocked at how my two cousins celebrated. They ran around the house for 10 minutes screaming and celebrating the goal in every imaginable shape and form. Fist pumping, running, sliding, jumping, flag waving, hugging, kicking a soccer ball, kissing their Chivas toys, kissing the rosary, making the sign of the cross, slapping player posters, promising good behavior if they win, you name it.

I thought they’d lost their minds.

As I grew older I came to appreciate and love soccer and all the emotion tied to it. Every shot that misses is gut wrenching disaster. Every shot your goalie blocks is a miracle. Every shot that hits the goal post a heart attack.

So who do I want to win a soccer game between the USA and Mexico? The choice is a no brainer: MEXICO!

An entire COUNTRY will do more celebrating during one GOAL made by Mexico than the handful of Americans if they won the World Cup championship. And I promise you, if Mexico is ever in the finals for the World Cup, I swear to the virgin Mary (let me pause to make the sign of the cross) I will be in Mexico City watching. If we win, you find me circling the “la Angel de la Independencia” statue in downtown Mexico with a million other paisanos freaking out just like my cousins did the first time I witnessed a Chivas goal with them.

So what can you do with this information in a library setting?

There will always be a place in their heart for their country of origin.

No matter which immigrant population you work with, there will always be a connection to the country they left. Provide library materials in their language, cultural connecting programing, bilingual staff, celebrate their countries festivities, milestones, achievements, and yes, sporting events.

Everybody immigrant loves soccer and follows the World Cup

Do you know which country is hosting the next World Cup? I do and so does every new and old immigrant: BRASIL! 

Why not capture the passion by offering family friendly World Cup Soccer program with televising the soccer games in the library, foosball tables and other soccer type games and giveaways. But be prepared for some wild celebrating if their team wins.