MANA

Since I was in High school I have always had a passion for concerts. I would often attend all major events for my favorite artist. Such as, Alicia Keys, Sugar Ray, Ricky Martin, and Vicente Fernandez. I would always drag one of my brothers with me because he had a car and a little extra money. It never failed he, would always say yes. He would also help me find good seats for a reasonable price. I have lost count of the number of concerts I attend. The unfortunate part is that when I moved to San Jose State University I was unable to continue my hobby. Until recently, I have begun attending a number of concerts. It brought so much joy into my life I been a lot nicer and happier my friends say. Recently, I received two free tickets to the Luis Miguel concert, which was really nice. Luis Miguel is a Spanish artist who is knows for his sexy looks and soft voice. Last weekend, I was able to attend last minute the Justin Timberlake concert. I have to say that I was blown away by his performance. He did an extraordinary job! This upcoming weekend I will go see Mana, a rock en espanol band who has sold over a million records numerous times. I am so excited to see them except for one reason. I have to drive to Oakland during mad traffic because I was unable to get the day off. Being so that will be the low of my day and high will be MANA!

Summer

Over the summer I had the opportunity to travel to China. It was quite an eye opener to me. I realized that it is quite different when you are in the country as opposed to reading about it. I have been exposed to different sceneries which I had not imagined. My concept of the country was one where greenery and rich colors of reds and gold filled the architecture and towns of the country. Instead, I came across bland buildings and hardly, if any, green landscapes and waterfalls that would captivate anyone’s attention. Poverty is an understatement. It fills the streets, the surrounding businesses and it is quite visible as you walk through many places. Entire families live in single one bedroom apartments located in the most bizarre places such as, restaurants, bars, and markets. The villages are not purified with any sanitation, clean bathrooms are not common, and young children do not have proper clothing. There where only two things I enjoyed from my trip: the food and shopping. I enjoyed the food because I was able to taste the rich flavors and smell the wonderful aromas of garlic and ginger. I ate there typical fried rice, noodles, and drank their beer. The shopping was just an extra boost in my trip. Even though the weather was unbearable I managed to have a good time. I am not certain if I will return any time soon, but when I do I will be prepared.

Mexican Weddings

Mexican weddings


Celebrating weddings is a big part of any Mexican American family. My family tends to celebrate a wedding every six months. Weddings are a very traditional part of the Mexican culture. They are filled with food and good music. There are many traditions to a Mexican wedding. One of the many traditions is always the food. Some of the traditional plates that I enjoy eating at wedding and at other family events is carne asada and/or tacos. The traditional way to serve Carne Asada is with Mexican red rice and beans. There are a few other meats for tacos that I enjoy such as, pollo (chicken) and carnitas which is commonly know for fried pork. The best way to eat fresh tacos is when a “tacero” makes them. According to the Universal Spanish Dictionary it says that a person that sells or makes tacos is called a “tacero.” (Catarella, 505) He usually adds red or green salsa, chopped onions, and cilantro. By far, theses are always the best tacos.

Most Mexican weddings usually always have some type of music such as a,” Mariachi or a “Banda.” Most Mariachi groups offer a number of different genres of music, but mainly focusing on rancheras and ballads. According to Laura Sobrino “Mariachi goes beyond music, it is the sum of a cultural revolution expressed through a group of musicians, dressed in popular clothing (most recently charro suits) which encompasses the essence of Mexico and its people.” (http://www.sobrino.net/) On the other hand, a Banda, literally “band” in Spanish, generally refers to the large brass-heavy ensembles. This ensemble first appeared in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa in the early 20th century. Most contemporary Bandas usually feature a horn section but, often include keyboards and electric bass.(http://www.latinmusicology.com/what-is-banda) At most Mexican weddings a Mariachi plays at the religious ceremony in a church and the Banda plays at the wedding reception. Banda usually carries a faster beat to it and is known to entertain a large crowd. This October I will be part of another wedding. One of my many cousins is finally tying the not with his girlfriend. Most of my family is part of his wedding party. I know that with an abundance of food and plenty of family any wedding celebration is going to be exciting. My favorite part of a wedding is the music especially when it’s a good Banda.This upcoming wedding will be having both types of music I can not wait till October!