Reflective Essay about Material Culture

Recently, I've learned a term that I previously didn't know: material culture. The description material culture of items that hold meaning, the link between cultural realm and social world. It's a fascinating term to explain the cultural importance and cultural-made material. Every individual's social position is shaped by their relationship to their objects of value, including my own. 

My necklace originated from Puebla, Mexico.  

It is the only piece of pure gold I have ever owned. Typically, within Latin culture, women are gifted gold to represent their purity and grace. Although, due to my repetition of misplacing things, I never kept jewelry near. This necklace had such an irreplaceable value, as it was my attachment to my family's motherland.  

I am Mexican-American, but it's an identity I found myself struggling with, especially in my adolescence. I often wondered how much did I actually know about the homeland of my parents? Or my own origins? These instances share similarities with George's taste of unfairness in Empty and Full. The novel states, "But he seems entirely aware of the constant unfairness and constraints in his life, an example being the impact of his parents" (Miller, 11).  This felt like the case within the unfairness I held upon my own family. They've been to Mexico and would describe their attached memories in detail. A pit in my stomach would fall due to the lack of connection I held. It was unfair as they carried it within their own identity, and I couldn't. 

Those stories became the reason I chose to go to Puebla, México. I wanted to see my family's homeland and experience the loving memories they described. To me, it was a way to help me explore and learn about my identity. After stepping off the plane, the sun began to show itself within the cloudy day—the warmth felt like a private welcome just for me.

My visit was memorable. I was at home and was able to explore my identity. When I met my grandparents—my grandfather gifted me a golden necklace with an engraving of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe ("Our Lady of Guadalupe"). After placing the chain within my hands, he stated, "Estás en casa" ("You are home"). 

This necklace of pure gold was the clarification I needed to signify that a part of me belonged here, in Mexico. Whenever I feel doubtful about my identity, this necklace reminds me of the relationship I share with my culture and my family members, who are thousands of miles away. 

Understandably, we keep things close throughout learning material culture, as they display our power, identity, memory, and culture. Items we cannot abandon. Since I've received my necklace, I've appreciated a few minor details related to my culture, like the pinata at every birthday, eating Rosca for el Dia de Los Reyes Magos, and the Latin music that rang on Sunday mornings. 

I've learned so much about my identity since my travels to Puebla, Mexico, but it's always a work-in-progress. However, I have emerged as a more secure Mexican-American woman with confidence within her identity. 

Whenever you step into my room, you will find the pure gold necklace on my nightstand right next to a photo of my family. This is the material item that defined my identity.