Connecting with their roots

Two teachers travel from Mexico to Pinellas to reacquaint Mexican children with the traditions of their homeland.

By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 17, 2002

CLEARWATER -- Natalia Reyes spent the first four years of her life in Mexico. After that, she remembers the plodding ride north and lots of confusion, especially at restaurants when her mother, who spoke only Spanish, stepped off the bus to buy food.

Six years later, the Tarpon Springs fifth-grader recalls little more of her homeland than a fading jumble of tall buildings, snarled traffic and crowded streets.

She has a vague recollection of the scenery, but no specific images.

Asked to recall her hometown last week, she fell silent.

"It was very pretty," she said, smiling, before eventually giving up. "Not really much else."

This summer, Natalia's parents hope to instill a stronger bond with Mexico in Natalia and her older sister, Marianna, 12.

"I want them to learn more about our culture so they don't forget where we are coming from," said Leonor Reyes, now a manager at Sweet Tomatoes who has learned to speak English during more than seven years in the United States. "I'm proud that we are Mexican, and I want them to be proud of our culture."

The Reyes children are among the burgeoning population of Mexican youths growing up here whose parents worry they lack ties to their heritage. Last week, they joined about 20 other children enrolled in a six-week day program at the YWCA.

Taught by two teachers who came from Mexico as part of a cultural exchange, the program's goal is to reach the group that chatters excitedly in English, wearing Starter T-shirts and carrying backpacks emblazoned with Barbie and Powerpuff Girls.

Sometimes it's not easy, explained Alfonso Lopez, 45, a private school principal who came here for the summer from Hidalgo, a state in Mexico: "Here, students pass a lot of time watching TV or playing video games."

His main objective is to expose the children to Mexican culture, using videos to teach traditional music and dance as a way to foster respect.

On Wednesday, he stood at the front of the classroom pointing at a large map of Mexico.

"Norte, sur, este, oeste," he said: the directions north, south, east and west in Spanish, as the children repeated.

The YWCA offered classroom space for the summer program, which costs parents $15 per week. Organizers say they have a lean budget and hope for donations of art supplies or even food from local restaurants.

The Mexican government financed the teachers' trip here, and the Mexican Council of Tampa Bay arranged to host and feed them.

The children helped decorate the classrooms with handmade signs that say "Mexico" on one side and "U.S.A." on the other. A blackboard proclaims the lyrics to a traditional Mexican song.

Wednesday afternoon, the children gathered on the floor at Lopez's feet as he showed off handmade dresses and a woven belt he brought from Mexico.

Mrs. Reyes said she hopes the experience will have a lasting effect on her children.

"They don't like to speak Spanish too much," she said. "They don't remember about our traditions."

-- Staff writer Jennifer Farrell can be reached at 445-4160 or farrell@sptimes.com.

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