Guest Speakers at Spanish NHS

by Izzy Reynolds, Member of the Spanish Honors Society

The Spanish Honors Society was fortunate enough to have guest speakers, Polo and Juan Martinez from Grandma’s Market, speak with us about their lives in Mexico and in the United States. Both men are from Mexico who immigrated to the United States and now own a small business. They described their native country as “rich in culture”; they noted that the 32 states of Mexico all contain distinct characteristics. The diversity among art and architecture is breathtaking, making every state worth a visit. On the other hand, they pointed out that Cancun is not an ideal vacation spot for people who want to immerse themselves in the culture because Cancun is filled with “American food”. When asked if it was hard starting a restaurant in the United States, they admitted that it was difficult as immigrants to find work with the language barrier. Although they are able to speak English now, they believe it is important to fight for more cultural representation for the many native Spanish speaking people living in the United States. When asked what the weirdest thing they encountered after coming to the United States was, they discussed the difference in diet. They were not acclimated to the fast food culture, or the other cuisines eaten besides Mexican. For instance, in Mexico they ate bread and coffee daily, which is not the case in the United States. The members of SHS were engrossed in the knowledge both men had of Mexico and their experiences immigrating to the United States. In addition to the knowledge they shared, they brought bracelets, drinks, and churros from their market for all of the members to have. The Spanish Honors Society is eternally grateful for their appearance and encourages everyone who wants to try authentic Mexican cuisine to travel to Grandma’s market for a meal. 
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