Growing up in a home with a Venezuelan parent, I've always been exposed to Latin culture and have had a strong affinity for it. I'm immensely proud of my Latin heritage and the customs I've been exposed to as a result. Latin culture makes up a significant part of my life, as its delectable cuisine (I can practically smell my grandma's succulent empanadas, tequenos and arepas as I write this), the intrinsic love of partying and celebrating (my grandfather and uncle belting out "Sombra En los Medanos" during family festivities comes to mind), and people who are inherently prideful and passionate of their lineage (my grandmother refuses to wear anything red to this day due to her utter abhorrence of former dictator Hugo Chavez, who caused the political and social decline of the country, due to the color's association with him and communism) culminates in a beautiful synthesis of languages and identities that defines much of who I am.
A large aspect of Latin culture consists of telenovelas, the dramatized soap operas that are made and viewed throughout Latin America. Telenovelas are powerful television series characterized by a spectacle of emotions, primarily love. I have fond memories as a child of my grandparents watching telenovelas in my living room when they came from their home in Venezuela to visit. Even though I was always exposed to Spanish and Latin culture, I had never seen telenovelas until they came to visit. My Abuelita's favorite was a show called Cristal, which featured a woman who owned a successful fashion brand embarking on a quest to find the daughter she abandoned years prior. She unknowingly hires her daughter, who is pursuing a modeling career, which leads to a dramatic series of events as the estranged mother and daughter look to reconnect. Admittedly, I used to believe that these shows were too dramatic and nonsensical for me to watch and enjoy. However, once my sophomore-year Spanish class began to watch a telenovela series (I dearly wish I remembered the name of it), I immediately understood the appeal. While they can certainly be considered outlandish, they are captivating and addicting, as the continual plot twists and cliffhangers draw viewers in for more.
When I began looking at options for my FYOS, I sought a class that had a meaningful connection and appeal to me. After some classes focusing on sports, a lifelong passion of mine, were already full, I searched harder for topics I could relate to and had significant interest in. I stumbled upon this telenovela course and became very excited. It provided an opportunity for me to watch these vastly entertaining television series that I thoroughly enjoyed during high school while keeping me in touch with my Latin roots. I also figured it provided a subject for me to discuss with my grandparents to keep us connected, which has been successful as we've already discussed the class and the various telenovelas that we were introduced to. Through just 3 class sessions, I am very excited about this course and eagerly await the rest of the semester.
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