Artifact #1: Personal Cultural Project

Montserrat Navarro

College of Southern Nevada

EDU 280

Connie Christensen

October 30, 2020

 Who I am

My name is Montserrat Navarro, I am 22 years old and I am from Mexico. There

are so many interesting factors that complete my cultural background and make me

who I am today. I was born in a small town in Jalisco called Tepatitlan (picture to

the left). It’s very different from the United States. In my hometown, we buy

tortillas from a tortilla shop, we use pesos instead of dollars, and we speak spanish

of course. Growing up, my dad always said, “In the house you speak spanish, and outside, you

speak english.” That was his technique of teaching us both languages without

losing one or the other. What I love about my culture is all their types of food

from cosido soup, birria, and tongue tacos! We also tend to celebrate christmas

on the 24th and the 25th is just waking up for presents and eating leftovers.

From living in Mexico to Las Vegas, my lifestyle completely changed. I

have developed new hobbies such as selling on Poshmark and working out at

Redemption Gym. I went from a small town where everyone walks everywhere, there are barely

any fast food restaurants, and a town where luxury does not exist. Here in Vegas, people have the

newer iphones when in my town, Tepa, people still use old blackberries and

flip phones. In Vegas, I started going out into the city, going in limo rides,

clubs, and wearing brand name fashion. I am a mom now, I like to spend my

time organizing my home, spending time with my family and learning more

each day.

I was raised a Catholic by my parents. I went to Catholic school for a

few years and had my baptism and communion done. Overtime, I began

developing my own sense of spirituality. I love God. I also love manifesting, I believe in karma
and tapping into your conscience. In my hometown, the men are providers while the women are

nurturers. As I got older and was learning the ways of Las Vegas, the woman plays both roles

and vice versa. I was raised to be a lady: be seen, not heard, stay home, take care of the children

and cook and clean. Now, there are very popular songs that mention how women are more

boss-like than they are stay-at-home women. To me, I believe one should do what is best for

them and makes them happy. I work hard and take care of my family by cooking, cleaning and

also owning a business and my partner does the same for our family. Relationships in the United

States taught me it’s more of a partnership than it is a role you’re supposed to play.

I was blessed with the opportunity for

college. Education is so important to me and now

I’m on route to becoming a teacher. I have

developed very entrepreneurial and accounting

skills. I love writing in my journals and wearing

moonstone rings. I was president of the Future Leaders of America when I was a senior in class.

I was a top student in writing essays in elementary school, and started my own business at 20.

I’m happy with who I am, my culture, and how much better I become every day. Life is different

in the most beautiful way.

Pictures include: my team when I was president of Future Business leaders of America, my baby

girl born this year in June, me and my parents celebrating christmas and pictures of my

hometown in Mexico.