Differences

Many had aspired to set foot on the land of the free. Immigrants who have crossed the border of America had made a huge contribution in the growing population of the country. It is not brand new information that people all over the world had always chased for the American dream. These people had sacrificed their family, job, education, language, and their entire life at their native land hoping to start a better life in America. A life where everyone has an opportunity to receive a proper education, a career without having to undergo any obstacles, place of living, and a happy healthy family. Dad goes to work, mom takes care of the kid and the kid goes to school. Simple. But all that glitters is not gold.

Majority of the kitchen workers from the dishwashers to the guy who makes the pizza dough and the guy who grills the perfect doneness of a pork chop is Hispanic. These people can barely speak English and sometimes wordlessly work their entire shift. But, compliments to their work ethics, they show up for work, don’t need their hands held with constant praises, work as efficient as a machine. However, language barrier and culture differences in the kitchen can’t be avoided. The reason is obvious and this sometimes delays the work.

In this hospitality business, we have to depend on other people in order for us to succeed. I cannot stress it enough how important to understand and accept the differences of every individual. I too had found myself in a scenario where people will look down on you because you’re different. Ignorance of other culture may cause several conflicts and dilemmas and eventually may destroy our connection to the real world. Prejudice and racism among other is severe and inhumane. Unfortunately, it still exists on the community that we belong in. We are judged by the clothes we wear, the money we earn, the color of our skin, the language that we speak and the native place of our birth. It is all up to us to contribute on changing the mindset of the majority about the understanding and acceptance of a working diverse community.

Yelena Del Mundo