Interview With Milagros Research Paper

Interview with Milagros

Milagros (Mila) is from Lima, Chorrillos, Peru. She grew up in a middle-class family. Her father was a business man and her mother stayed home with the children. She has several brothers and sisters. She grew up with many of the comforts of home like she has in the United States, unlike the poor section just outside of town. Coming from the middle-class Milan was expected to go to school. Primary school was from 8:00 until 6:00. Mila also went on to college where she became a nurse.

Mila’s favorite tradition is Carnavales which takes place in February. Elaborate costumes are worn during the carnival. One of the fun things that they do is to throw water on someone. It is to be expected that when walking down a

Mila said that when she was growing up she thought that everyone was Catholic. She said that everyone in the neighborhood went to Mass on Thursday. Most of their family traditions and philosophies are centered around the Catholic faith. They do not celebrate Halloween in Peru. She said that Dia de los Difuntos (Day of the Deceased because it is more respectful) is a huge tradition with folk music and folk art.

The traditional roles of the family were that the father went to work and the mother stayed home to tend to the children. Being Catholic, they did not use any birth control other than chance and therefore families tended to be large. The father was the head of the family. Also, Mila said that it was not unusual and to be expected, that elders of the family would live with you. At Mila’s house her grandfather lived with them for as long as she remembers. (Her grandmother was deceased.) Family units are close.

Her favorite holiday is Christmas, because it is during the summer! This was a very interesting twist. Imagining Christmas being in the summer when you are out of school and the weather is hot is a whole different