Diversity

Family and friends back home have asked me: "So whats been your favorite part of being in New York?" My first answer is always about how diverse it is! I love seeing different kinds of people everyday! I see people with all different skin colors, different economic status, different clothes! It's great! I mean in Texas I feel like I grew up with friends from different ethnic backgrounds, which I'm so thankful for! I think there is so much to growing up learning about different cultures and even taking part in your own. Even though I'm half Filipino, I feel like I'm not very "in touch" with that side. I just feel like a normal American white girl...that has a touch a brown skin. I mean I know some things about the Philippines, I know how to cook a few dishes, but I know nothing about their traditions. Since I have been here there has been a communist china parade, Filipino parade and last week (one of the biggest parades) is the Puerto Rican parade! I really love experiencing all the different people/cultures here! I think it has been an eye opening experience for the students on project too. A lot of the campus track students I am working with are from North or South Carolina and are just surrounded by white students. So I think by going to the colleges and seeing the diversity is just cool for them.

Speaking of diversity....Here are the Filipinos on Project! This is Emily, Cinelle and Me! Emily and her husband Nate are the couple we share the apartment with. Emily's Dad is Filipino just like mine!! (and her and her Mom's middle name is Jean...just like mine!!) and Cinelle is working part time with the summer project. She just graduated from the fashion institute. She moved here from the Philippines 6 years ago! She has just gotten back from the Filipino Independence Day Parade in the picture and we were really excited to take a picture together!