Guera

"Guera- Spanish for fair or light skinned"

As many of you know, I have been to Mexico multiple times to visit my mom's extended family. The majority of my family members in Mexico have similar complexion to mine- white. While I have noticed the typical socioeconomic classes of Mexican people who are lighter-skinned versus darker-skinned, I never really thought I stood out amongst people with light complexions!

My host mom, Graciela, is very light-skinned and often invites family and friends over. Rosio and I are always together, so granted, when people hear Rosio talk they know she has been speaking Spanish her whole life. The question they first ask her is, "Where is your family from?" Out of politeness, only one guest has ever asked me where my family is from. Most of the time I get asked "Why did you choose to come to Guanajuato?" or "Where did you learn Spanish?" While I am a halfsie, I like to think I know a little more about Mexican culture than the average U.S. citizen. And although I may not look it, I can certainly understand the conversations that go on around me.

Another example of this is a guest who stayed at Graciela's house Sunday night. The guest was very friendly and spoke to me in English, even though I gave several answers in Spanish (Yes, this gentleman asked the typical questions of Rosio and I). Then at the dinner table, the guest would say something in Spanish and say the same statement again in English. While I certainly appreciate the gesture the guest made for me to be more...included in the conversation, the translations finally stopped when I casually mentioned where my mom is from.

Monday was another instance that people made assumptions. I had talked to Rosio about going to a food stand, one I had remembered eating at on my last trip here. We had both ordered our gorditas and quesadillas when these two Americans from Florida stop to look at the food stand. The Americans, both vegetarian and therefore utterly disappointed with the meat-filled menu in Guanajuato, started chatting with Rose and I. Needless to say, the couple did not ask Rose where she learned Spanish. Rather, the couple asked Rose to tell them what was on the menu...and then they asked me if my Spanish has improved dramatically since I have been here.

Walking back to class from the delicious food stand, Rose couldn't help but laugh over my "reverse discrimination." I am not really sure if it's reverse descrimination, or just the fact that people really do assume too much. I believe we all assume, but that there are better ways to go about asking questions. Then again I am probably more aware of it because people regularly assume I am not multi-racial, and that I cannot possibly know enough about the Spanish language or Mexican culture.