FCTG Celebrates Hispanic Employees

Born far away, now in the USA 

I was born in Ecuador, AKA the Center of the World. I moved to the United States when I was a few months old, but I grew up in a very multicultural family – my father is half Italian, half Czechoslovakian, and my mom is Spanish. It was difficult growing up in the US sometimes, the Hispanic population made up only 1% of my neighborhood, and I dealt with some ignorance from neighbors.

English was not my first language, and when people heard me and my family speaking Spanish, they immediately assumed I was Mexican. This shows that sometimes non-Hispanics in the USA don’t understand how many different countries Hispanic & Latino Americans descend from. It’s interesting to me how easy it is for people to just lump all Spanish speakers into one category. We owe it to ourselves to learn more about the many cultures that make up our community. Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time for that, since so many resources are front and center. 

Keeping heritage close to heart 

Despite any discrimination I’ve faced, my family has always prioritized honoring our culture and where we come from. It’s so important to us to cherish our roots - it defines who we are and who we may become. Honestly, I feel so blessed to be born different. 

I also can’t talk about my Hispanic heritage without talking about food. Ecuador is known for seafood, and I was lucky to grow up in Connecticut, where seafood is easily accessible. Ceviche and shrimp-based dishes are some of my favorites. I love our traditional cheese empanadas, which are as big as your head, and our regional sopa de locro, or potato soup. 

Ecuador, AKA your next vacation destination 

It’s really important to me to educate others about my birthplace. Many people don’t know a lot about Ecuador, and it is such a beautiful country with a rich history. 

• Quito is our capital city, and it’s the first UNESCO Cultural Heritage City. It was also the first country in the world to give rights to the environment.
• The Equator runs right through the country! 
• If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Swing at the Edge of the World. 
• Ecuador is more biodiverse per square kilometer than any other nation in the world. 
• A lot of people don’t know that the Galapagos Islands are a part of Ecuador! This is where Charles Darwin crafted his Theory of Evolution. 
• We have two major Indigenous tribes that trace their roots back to the Incan Empire: Cayapas and Amazonians. 

This is only the start of the things I love about Ecuador; I would highly encourage people to visit and learn more about my fascinating homeland. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures in this blog!