My Friend Marge
Learning the Mexican life41 total reviews
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Wonderful, upbeat story. Nice to hear in this day of "the wall" with protests and anger. If it were up to children, the world would be a friendly place. Too bad we can't elect kids to run things. :)
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Wonderful, upbeat story. Nice to hear in this day of "the wall" with protests and anger. If it were up to children, the world would be a friendly place. Too bad we can't elect kids to run things. :)
Comment Written 17-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thank you. I agree children get along regardless of race. I love the Mexican race and their culture yet today. Some of my best friends are still Mexican.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
This is a lovely story of the meeting of two different families and cultures and the friendship that resulted, and lasted. Nicely written and it's lovely to know you have recently had contact again with Marge. Good luck in the contest, I enjoyed reading this.
cheers,
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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This is a lovely story of the meeting of two different families and cultures and the friendship that resulted, and lasted. Nicely written and it's lovely to know you have recently had contact again with Marge. Good luck in the contest, I enjoyed reading this.
cheers,
Comment Written 17-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thank you for reading and commenting. Marge was, and still is, a very good friend.
Comment from Beckelet
I like how this piece shows how you came to appreciate the Mexican culture. I like the way Marge introduces herself--I can picture that meeting.
I was a bit confused because at the beginning it seems that the Mexican families only stay three weeks out of the summer, but later it seems that Marge's family stayed the whole summer. Also, it would be good to know how many years they kept coming back. Five? Ten?
When you're covering such a large topic in few words, it's hard to get the reader fully involved. One way to do that is to go into a specific event in more detail. For instance, instead of saying that your siblings and hers "roasted hot dogs and marshmallows almost every night," you could pick one of those nights and recreate it with sights, sounds, and smells. It might be interesting to write this piece with a focus on one or two specific events, going into more detail than you have.
The joke of the Guzman family calling you the blue-eyed Mexican was a nice touch. That shows how they accepted you. Nice job. Good luck with the contest!
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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I like how this piece shows how you came to appreciate the Mexican culture. I like the way Marge introduces herself--I can picture that meeting.
I was a bit confused because at the beginning it seems that the Mexican families only stay three weeks out of the summer, but later it seems that Marge's family stayed the whole summer. Also, it would be good to know how many years they kept coming back. Five? Ten?
When you're covering such a large topic in few words, it's hard to get the reader fully involved. One way to do that is to go into a specific event in more detail. For instance, instead of saying that your siblings and hers "roasted hot dogs and marshmallows almost every night," you could pick one of those nights and recreate it with sights, sounds, and smells. It might be interesting to write this piece with a focus on one or two specific events, going into more detail than you have.
The joke of the Guzman family calling you the blue-eyed Mexican was a nice touch. That shows how they accepted you. Nice job. Good luck with the contest!
Comment Written 17-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thanks for reading and commenting. It is hard to get all a writer wants in around 700 words. They kept coming every summer for eleven years. Mr and Mrs Guzman were getting older so he gave up the working on his vacations. By that time all of us kids were pretty much grown up and through high school. We all began to marry and go our separate ways.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This is a delightful tale and I so enjoyed it. I live part of my life in Spain and I have lots of spanish friends at my gym who speak very little English, but they accept me and hug me when we meet. Your experience taught you to accept people from different walks of life and it's a big life lesson, especially when there is a lot of prejudice in the world, your story brought me great joy and deserves a six from me, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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This is a delightful tale and I so enjoyed it. I live part of my life in Spain and I have lots of spanish friends at my gym who speak very little English, but they accept me and hug me when we meet. Your experience taught you to accept people from different walks of life and it's a big life lesson, especially when there is a lot of prejudice in the world, your story brought me great joy and deserves a six from me, love Dolly x
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thank you for reading and the six stars. I love the Mexican culture and their beautiful language. I have a lot of Mexican friends for neighbors and we get along great.
Comment from JDRBAR
As long as adults don't interfere, children could easily erase racism in this world. In your case, the adults were helpful, but that's not always the case. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was wonderfully written.
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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As long as adults don't interfere, children could easily erase racism in this world. In your case, the adults were helpful, but that's not always the case. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was wonderfully written.
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thanks for reading and commenting. My dad admired the Mexicans for themselves and their work ethics. Mexican laborers are not afraid of manual work like a lot of the young folks raised in this country.
Comment from Mabaker
I wouldn't say a snob so much as life. You had a crop that needed gathering and the Mexican labourers needed work. Over here in Australia, it's grapes, oranges and cherries plus sundry other annual crops. Lots of foreign labour here. Great story.
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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I wouldn't say a snob so much as life. You had a crop that needed gathering and the Mexican labourers needed work. Over here in Australia, it's grapes, oranges and cherries plus sundry other annual crops. Lots of foreign labour here. Great story.
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thanks for reading and commenting. Your Australia sounds like an interesting country. Tell me about it some day if you have the time.
Comment from lyenochka
Wonderful story! This fits the contest perfectly. I think Mexican culture is so warm and friendly. It's wonderful that you had that experience that opened a whole new world to you!
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Wonderful story! This fits the contest perfectly. I think Mexican culture is so warm and friendly. It's wonderful that you had that experience that opened a whole new world to you!
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 17-May-2017
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Thank you for reading and commenting. The Mexicans are a fun-loving people. The fiesta was filled with dancing, singing, and other fun things.
Comment from robyn corum
Dear Mystery Writer,
This is a very cool story from your childhood and about your friendship with someone from a different culture. I enjoyed reading it and learning about Marge. I imagine y'all are having some marvelous conversations now! *smile* Thanks and good luck in the voting!
reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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Dear Mystery Writer,
This is a very cool story from your childhood and about your friendship with someone from a different culture. I enjoyed reading it and learning about Marge. I imagine y'all are having some marvelous conversations now! *smile* Thanks and good luck in the voting!
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. It was good to find Marge again.
Comment from His Grayness
What a delightful and uplifting story of two cultures coming together with no pre-conditions or fences of bias to overcome. I enjoyed this very much and thank the author for a lovely story. I cannot offer anything to suggest that would make this work any better. HIS GRAYNESS: Vance
reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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What a delightful and uplifting story of two cultures coming together with no pre-conditions or fences of bias to overcome. I enjoyed this very much and thank the author for a lovely story. I cannot offer anything to suggest that would make this work any better. HIS GRAYNESS: Vance
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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Thank you, my friend. A good review from you means a lot to me. I have some trouble with grammar and have been trying to do better.
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You are doing great so just keep up the fine work! HIS GRAYNESS; Vance
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You are doing great so keep up the good work! Vance
Comment from jusylee72
A great story of the beauty that comes with understanding people as people. I loved your transition, which was never true prejudice but ignorance of what it meant to be a Mexican in the United States. I truly love the culture and the spirit of all people. We just have to get to know them first as people and they have to get to know us the same way. Very beautiful message in your story.
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reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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A great story of the beauty that comes with understanding people as people. I loved your transition, which was never true prejudice but ignorance of what it meant to be a Mexican in the United States. I truly love the culture and the spirit of all people. We just have to get to know them first as people and they have to get to know us the same way. Very beautiful message in your story.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 16-May-2017
reply by the author on 16-May-2017
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Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. It's true. I never felt any prejudice towards the Mexican, just indifference, until Marge came along. I have a lot of Mexican friends now, one even rents a house from us.
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I can tell that you were never prejudice. I think you are a lovely person.
