My daughter will be turning 15 this year. It is a hispanic tradition that the families make this a big event. I'm half cuban and half american. My mother is Cuban born (and has been a Citizen for many years) and my dad is American born. I was raised with American values and American traditions, but my MIL embraces her Cuban backround vehemently. Therefore we are going on a "Quincenera" cruise. It is similar to a debutante ball.
The ports of call are The Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.
I will miss my friends and being home, but I have have been to any of these places so I look forward to seeing them.
I think it's interesting that I will be visiting Mexico for a day. It's just funny how things work out sometimes.
I've seen the immigration discussions here on mylot for sometime and they have been on my mind. It actually took me several months before I posted a discussion on it. It just took me that long to be able to articulate my thoughts on the subject.
The night that I posed that discussion. I had seen a movie called Babel. Part of the story line was about an illegal immigrant and her hardships. That was what finally prompted me to post my discussion. I had been wanting to post something for a while, but that was the final push that I needed.
Anyway. It will be interesting to see all these new places and especially Mexico.
I'll let you know how things go when I get back.
I leave on Sunday, so I will probably be posting here and there for the next few days, but not as much as usually because I have a lot of packing to do.
Have a great week. Take care and Play nicely! lol
Things have gotten a little heated here and there on that other discussion, but I think overall it's been great for people to be able to state their opposing views. I just hope everyone can continue to respect eachother.
Take care!
[question posted by miamilady]
responses and comments:
Have a great time! Many of my children's friends have had that ceremony. My kids are all quite familar with it. I think it si a nice tradition. We should all embrace our heritage. [jillmalitz]
Have a great vacation. It sounds like a wonderful trip you are going on.. See you when you return :-) [derek_a]
Thats a wonderful thing, I hope you enjoy your cruise and bring home many wonderful memories, and hope you have really great weather too. [sumofalltears]
Have a nice trip and enjoy the Quinceanera, it's a nice tradition. Have fun and relax. [Juanamomof5]
Oooh a Quinceañera cruise! I remember my Quinces like it was yesterday man...I didn't want a cruise though, I had a massive party with the 15 couples and choreography and a banquet hall and the big, poofy pink dress. LOL. Sounds so cheesy now, but it was so much fun! I'm sure you guys will have a blast. I've only been to Mexico from those places you mentioned, it was a border city though (Tijuana) so it wasn't very pretty. It was pretty bad there actually, very slummish and I catched an eye infection. So try to avoid that place at all costs! Lol. And happy 15th for your daughter! [MelodyRhapsodical]
Well have a brilliant time. I love Mexico, and have spent brilliant times there - and also Costa Rica and Cuba too! Take care, and I will miss your great discussions. Hasta luego! Besitos, Rose xxx [rosie_123]
Wishing her a happy birthday-as a mum you have a duty to make the day as befitting as you possibly can! [academic2]
wow sweets that sounds like a fantastic experience! I do hope that you enjoy it and of course that your daughter does too! I would love to go on a cruise and visit so many places and I am sure you will find it as interesting as you hope! I haven't checked in on that other discussion for a while - I may go have a look now! Enjoy your trip and I look forward to seeing you on your return! xxx [mummymo]
wow a cruise what fun and I know you will enjoy it every min. you are gone I hope we can see some pics when ya get back. Sigh wish I could go with you and see all those places. Have fun good luck adn hurry back so we dont miss you to long! hugs [Lakota12]
Have fun and don't forget to send each of us a postcard. And if you forget to come back, we will understand...lol. [sigma77]
I hope you have a really nice time on your cruise miamilady. I would love to see those places one day :) I admire you for posting your discussion and sharing with us your views. I think others got out of hand and took things the wrong way and I know you never meant it to mean what they said, well that is how I read it. It's nice to see people passionate about things, I just think sometimes they go overboard which is why I normally stay out of discussions like that. Have a great time and don't forget to post some pictures so we can see what those places are like :):) [maddysmommy]
That sounds like it is going to be a wonderful trip. How nice for your daughter. I hope you all have a wonderful time. Share pictures with us when you return. I admire you for sharing your views, it is not always easy to do. I saw the movie Babel and can understand feeling stirred into action. May all the ports that you visit serve to help enhance your views (and your daughters since this is really all about her) and you return an even stronger person. Best wishes, my friend. Have a wonderful time. [makingpots]
Oh how nice things happend for you! I wish you a very well journey and travel come back safe and sound, andhope you will tell much when you come back it is really interesting to hear about new experiences. Take care and have a good vacantion [anirc750310]
Have a nice trip it sounds like fun. I have never been out of the United States. [Shaun72]
Well, I will miss hearing from you, but I know that you will have a lot of interesting stories upon your return and I look forward to reading all of them. I too have seen some discussions on immigrants. I didn't post on any of them, because I did not feel that I had anything of value to say. I also did read any of them, because I just don't want to hear what anyone else has to say about it either. I just say, live and let live. Every one in this world wants to be happy and everyone wants to be free. [Rozie37]
There are certain topics that I can't read about either. I hear ya. I'll try to come home with some interesting discussions! ;-) [miamilady]
Oh my goodness...that sounds absolutely wonderful....so the Quincenera is like a coming out party for the girl, no? You're going to have to tell us all about it when you get back, have a great, fantastic time and bon voyage! :) [pyewacket]
Yes, it's like a coming out party or ball. I never had one myself, so this is new territory for me. I'll describe it for y'all when I get back! [miamilady]
Have a wonderful time on your trip. Sounds like you are going to have lots of fun. I've been on several cruises. I always have a great time. They are the ultimate vacations in my opinion. I've not been to Mexico yet. I would like to go there very soon. [rdougl]
I agree. They are the best vacations. Everything is taken care of. Cleaning. Food. You don't have to think about anything except having fun. Thanks for wishing me well! [miamilady]
Oh wow, lucky you. It's my biggest dream to go on a cruise. I really envy you. I don't think I'll ever have the money to go on one. I want to go on an Alaskian cruise. But the places your going to would be fun too. You don't say how long your going for. I haven't been to Mexico either, but almost everyone in my family has. They go in January, when it's bitterly cold here in Canada. My brother has friends that work and live there so he goes a lot. He's going again for the month of August. You will be missed here in mylot by your friends. Plese post some pictures when you get back. Looking forward to see them. Have a lot of fun. [helenfillion]
It's a 7-day cruise. I will try to post some pictures when I get back. I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise one day too. I'm not sure if that will happen for me either. One can always hope! [miamilady]
I know you'll have a great time on your cruise!! I recently got back from one that made stops in Mexico and it was great! [mkirby624]
Have a wonderful trip. Gee that sounds like fun. That was a good discussion you posted. I can understand your thinking too. My MIL was Japanese and lived and gave birth to her 2 children in the U.S. She had tried to pass the citizenship test but couldn't, even though she was a very bright lady. She had actually been a school teacher in Japan. I have heard this is a very hard test. I would like to see more emphasis placed on the person's character than their ability to memorize words and historical facts. I really don't think I could pass that test either although I was born and raised in the U.S. [lucy02]
bon voyage then miamilady ! take care.. ^^ [unuzzz]
You may not get this until after you are back...but hope you have a wonderful time. Will look forward to sharing in more discussions upon your return. Happy landings! [Perspectives]
I'm still here :-) I leave on Sunday. I may have gotten a little ahead of myself with this discussion. lol It's nice to see everyone wishing me a nice trip though. [miamilady]
miamilady have a great vacation!!!! Money actually takes to find out how send a message to me but before that you must send an invatation to become my friend please do say. [moneytalks07]
I haven't watched that movie Babel, but anyway I wish you safe and happy cruise. I have never been on a cruise myself, everytime we save money something else happened. Like we saved money for the wedding, then my father died so some money went to the funeral. Then we saved money again for belated honeymoon but we bought a house instead. Then we try to save again, then I started the small business LOL so we keep saving for honeymoon not knowing if we ever get there :) so back to your trip, please do post some pictures on your profile so we can see the fun [LittleMel]
I hope that you have a wonderful time on the cruise and your vacation. It sounds really nice and am sure everyone will have a great time. I am leaving for my vacation this morning as I am going to North Carolina. We will definitely look forward to hearing about your trip when you return. [kgwat70]
Have fun!!! It's so great and wish I cam do so. And say happy birthday to your lovely daughter~~ please show us some photos after this fantastic trip! [yanagi164]
Well, that sounds really good and I wish I was going along with you guys. But, have fun anyways. [Lydia1901]
Have fun on your cruise! I wish I could take a cruise....but instead, I'll be dutifully working away here in WI.....sob! [halina23]
Rather than bon voyage I'll just say Welcome Back, albeit a few days early. Hope you had a nice time. [ORyansBelt2012]
hi miamilady thats a lovely tradition and I hope you and your family had a super time together seeing all these places and enjoying the cruise. Looking forward to reading about your experiences on that cruise. [book1962]
I hope you have a safe and happy trip and that your daughter enjoys this special celebration. Since you are also half American, will your daughter be getting the fancy sweet 16 party next year too? [fantasmfeline]
Probably not too fancy. We'll have to decide what to do when the time comes. I don't think we can afford to do something big for that too. [miamilady]
Yes, immigrant Americans love to hold onto the traditions from counties they escape from, paid for by the economy of the new country threy take from and that they are destroying. Quinceanera is a well known hispanic tradition. I wish legal processes for immigration was another one. But party down! [crazyhorse]
Oh humoring mother in law. Gotcha. [crazyhorse]
How did you like it? My ex went on a cruise once and he absolutely loved it. [gradyslady]