Encountering Displacement

On thoughts, notes, and good times helping to staff Encuentro 2013: 

• "I like how at LaFe, the clapping starts at the beginning of the song and lasts till the end." -Laurel during worship
• Listening to how meals are served in a Latino household, with mom always serving and getting everyone seconds, sometimes never sitting down until everyone else has finished
• Seeing John 4 from a Latina lens and the themes of protection and loyalty 
• Putting up streamers for a dance party in more colors than I would ever buy, courtesy of Natalia's Fiesta vision: "I want colors. Lots of colors."
• Reunion with my Latino brothers and sisters from the intern trek (they also happen to be fellow bloggers). Catch-up with Karl, many hugs with Sol
• Ordering pizza with Natalie and Yolis...cuddling with Yolis.
• Mentally noting that while both Latino and Asian cultures have strong ties to family, the attitude towards it is very different. At LaFe, I heard threads of going to college being tied with abandoning your family, thinking you are better than everyone else, or becoming too American--definitely not something you hear in Asian-American families. 
• Realizing I have been pronouncing LaFe wrong the whole time (more of a "feh", not "fay")
• Eavesdropping on a well-presented seminar on Catholics and Protestants
• Getting caught in the middle of Payaso de Rodeo and frantically trying to escape the dancing masses. I searched youtube and discovered this video to give you an idea of what it was like, except multiply the number of people by five and keep it in the same area. 
• Also giving Leslie a really good laugh when I tried to make my butt move fast enough for a particular dance. It didn't work.  
• Watching readings and pieces based on Jesus' life in the gospel of Luke: the risk Mary took by going with God's plan, all the honor and pride in Zechariah's position, the frustration Jesus must have faced when everyone in Nazareth kept their old expectations of him
• Hearing pieces of attitudes and perceptions Latinos both have and face, some which are familiar to my experience as an Asian American, others which are completely foreign (can you figure out which is which?): reaching college only to be told, "You don't belong," or, "You got lucky"; being raised to be tough and not show emotion; facing guilt of assimilation; honor and respect your family first; or being given a rough life to begin with (like you got dealt poorly or whatever that English phrase about cards is)
• The Latino culture is a Yes! culture: yes to receiving and taking, as well as yes to giving and sacrificing
• Contemplating: as I/further generations/we continue to assimilate and "make it", what responsibility do I have towards my fellow Asian-Americans? How is God calling us to continue paving the way, going back to walk alongside others who have to fight the stereotypes, racism, and systemic issues and don't have the privilege to ignore it? As one who falls under the model minority, how do I use my voice to speak up for those whose voices aren't yet heard?