The reason I chose to write about Junot Diaz’s “Fiesta, 1980” journal entry is because I felt a deep connection with the characters and their experiences. Coming from a Hispanic background myself, I found that the story accurately depicted cultural aspects, emotions, and actions that closely mirrored my own.
Both Yunior’s mother and my own mother share many cultural characteristics. Similar to how Yunior’s mother gave him a blessing before leaving their apartment, my mother also traced the sign of the cross on me as a form of “la bendicion” for my safety. Just like Yunior’s mother, my mother also had concerns for my wellbeing. Another similarity is their belief in homemade remedies for curing ailments. My mother firmly believes that her concoctions work better than store-bought medicines. For example, she would prepare a foul drink made of warm milk and honey to treat chest congestion. As a child, I would agree that it worked to avoid drinking more of it. Another amusing remedy my mother used for migraine headaches was placing sliced potatoes on my forehead and wrapping them in a bandana. She believed it reduced inflammation and relieved the pain, and I still use this treatment as an adult. It seems that both Yunior’s Dominican mother and my Colombian mother were raised with holistic beliefs passed down to them by their families in their respective countries.
Upon reviewing my journal entry on this story, I discovered that I shared the same apprehensive feelings towards my father as Yunior. During my upbringing, it was essential for me to be cautious not to provoke his anger. There were instances when he would come home from work displaying signs of a foul mood. Unlike Yunior, I was aware of my father’s love for me, yet that didn’t prevent him from occasionally utilizing his sturdy brown leather belt to discipline me. Like Rafa and Yunior, I frequently found myself in conflict with my siblings.
The constant arguing between us became unbearable for my father, resulting in years of bitterness and anger. He imposed strict rules, punishing us severely if we disobeyed. During dinner, silence filled the air, with my father sitting at the head of the table, his eyes fixed downward. His belt lay beside his plate as a constant reminder. Even my mother dared not meet his gaze.
The author’s description of Yunior’s family’s behaviors in “Fiesta, 1980” resonates with my own family. We would also blast loud music during celebrations, just like the author describes. Additionally, there was always an abundance of food and drink for everyone. The adults would often drink excessively and become intoxicated, leaving us children unsupervised. I am confident that if any of us were ever deprived of food for an evening, my Tia Horia or Tia Kelly would find a way to secretly provide us with something to eat.
Both my journal entry and the story “Fiesta, 1980” shared a noticeable similarity. I had a strong sense of identification with the main character in the narrative, as it seemed that my family members could easily assume the roles of its characters. Discovering that I wasn’t alone in being a Hispanic child raised under stringent discipline brought me solace. The tale deeply resonated with me, recapturing memories of my personal hardships and obstacles.
