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.