Dual Citizenship
Twenty years ago, I obtained my Mexican dual citizenship. It was a formality for an otherwise deeply rooted sense of mis Mexican raíces.
Childhood summers were spent on the ranch with cousins on my father’s side and in the city with cousins on my mother’s side.
Learning how to ride horses, catching frogs, and shooting rifles at the ranch y también balnearios and bicycling through the colonias in the city defined summer happiness and fun with the primos.
The sounds of my abuelita making tortillas on her parilla; her delicious homemade cheese; culminating in tacos con her salsa de molcajete are savory experiences and memories.
Songs by Roberto Carlos, José José, Los Bukis y Los Panchos, and Mana are part of my musical memory along with music in English.
Posadas during Navidad en el pueblo are a sentimental memory as much as building a snowman in the south side of Chicago.
Serenatas with trios from the town square to an amiga’s jardín as well as junior and senior proms back in Chicago are also bellos recuerdos.
It’s been personally satisfying to create memories for my family, parents, primos, y tíos, on a home I built on 40 acres that was once owned by my great grandfather Lino Lira, decades ago.
Casting a vote in Mexico’s last presidential election was also important to me as a citizen of Mexico.
The Mexican Consulate in Chicago was very busy last Friday. It was electric given it was the eve of Independence Day.
So much pride being there with fellow paisanos from all parts of nuestra patria.
How about you? Have you formalized your dual citizenship that is otherwise deeply rooted in your sense of self y raíces?