Monday, October 1, 2012

The Two Glendas

One of my all time favorite paintings is Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas. It isn’t until now that I truly ponder on the significance of this painting.  In my heart, I knew that Kahlo was illustrating having one’s identity being split in two. You see one Frida wearing typical Mexican clothing and the other Frida wearing traditional Spanish clothing.


Now that I am preparing to readjust back into American life, I am really understanding the emotions behind this painting. For the last year, I have been playing the teacher role and wearing outfits that made me feel and look the part. I often caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and thought to myself, “who is that?”

I joke around with friends back home and say that, in the last year, I have been living the life of a 50-year-old Thai woman. She doesn’t laugh whole-heartedly, she  follows hierarchical structures (of age and socio-economic status), and only shares appropriate stories of herself. I find myself missing wearing short skirts, shorts, v-neck shirts,  and many pieces of clothing or accessories that would not be deemed socially acceptable for a 50-year-old Thai woman (or middle-class 20 year old). Side note: From my observations, lower income women have a lot more freedom in their wardrobe, mannerisms, and social life in general. Unlike, my middle-class (same aged) friends who hide their boyfriends, wear long sleeve shirts in 100 degree weather, and never contradict their elders.

After many years of playing the role of a Guatemalan-American ambassador, outcast, brave adventurer, and pioneer-- I wonder why this addition to my identity archive is causing me so much uneasiness. As a Latina, my identity has always felt naturally divided; There was always a choice to be made with my identity. Choice has never been a burden to me, but more of a natural birthright. Now, I am forced to pack my life into two suitcases and decide what I want to toss or take with me, while also determining what traits of my most recent role I want to get rid of or retain.

My identity has been put to question for the entirety of this year, but it isn’t until now that I am truly facing the significance of living in a country with a culture a lot different from mine. I am no longer a recent college graduate or that young woman looking to set out into the world in the search for adventure and the significance of her existence. Now I am a woman who is trying to leave a footprint in this world and trying to figure out the best way to do so. 

I know that I want to laugh in public with gusto and without reservations. I know that I want to wear whatever my heart desires without fearing that it is going to determine my moral and or social stance.  Los Angeles, CA will provide me with a lot of liberties, including reverting back to being a mid-twenties woman looking to live loudly.

I am looking forward to the day when things are settled and traits from my Teacher Glenda role have dissipated or materialized. A part of me wants to switch off my emotions and mind until I settled back in America with a good idea of what the next few years will look like, but I know in my heart that these experiences are what shape a strong and independent character.

Lots of love,
The Two Glendas


Photo collage of The Two Glendas

The backdrop picture in my good-bye party. "Glendas," even this acknowledged the two of us trying to co-exist. Also "Glendas" is a nickname used by many of my friends who know of the story of my birthday cake type-O.





4 comments:

  1. Why are you so brilliant?? ;). Your blog is a page-turner!!!

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  2. I swear you and I are twins separated by Americorps programs lol. It sounds terrible, but I'm so glad that I am no longer a teacher. I felt so suffocated. It is like being a nun in your early 20's. I lost my identity and it was miserable. I got fat and lost my sense of fashion. I didn't recognize myself any longer. It has taken almost 3 months to settle back into living in LA county, but I am finally able to say that I feel like I'm becoming myself again. You will find the true you again soon. It is all a work in progress, just make it back to the States first. I can't wait to meet up with you next week!

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  3. I guess we all, in our own way have two of ourselves that are different from the other. Myself of example, from 17 to 21 felt as if I were a 60 year old. For me, the people around me made me feel older than I really was. Now that I'm liberated from the dark lord, I feel lighter and younger.

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  4. This is such a great blog covering your experiences and I would love to chat with you more about it since I am now in the process of applying to Thailand too. Please send me an e-mail if you have a chance to chat. Thanks so much! slynncheung@gmail.com

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