I am American

I+am+American

AS_LR

My name is Aubrey-Maria Absalon Sicat and I am an American.

I was born in America but my parents were both born in the Philippines, though they both migrated to America when they were very young. In my home, we are practicing Catholics which means we observe Christmas and Easter, and we go through baptism, communion, and confirmation to demonstrate our faith to the Lord.

In my home, we have a sort of blended culture in that we are definitely American but we also still hold on to our Filipino traditions. We eat a lot of Filipino foods such as sinigang, adobo, pansit, and fried fish. But my favorite would be the desserts halo-halo and suman. My parents both speak Tagalog though my Father speaks it far more frequently. I, myself, can not speak the language fluently but I can follow conversations when I’m in my Father’s home.

My hobbies include running track, snowboarding, reading and writing a lot, baking and coloring. My fondest memories from childhood would have to be the neighborhood I grew up in. I lived in Gooseander court and it was a great place to be a kid. There were a bunch of other kids and we would spend our days playing kickball, racing our bikes and scooters or swimming in the pool.

My future plans definitely include travel, I think that visiting other countries and getting to know other cultures is something that helps us to grow as people. As to the question of something that troubles me about my country currently, I would have to say that the overabundance of technology frightens me a bit. When I see a group of friends out for dinner and every one of them is staring at their phones, I begin to wonder what we are losing as a society. I think life is meant to be lived firsthand not through a small electronic screen in our hands.

One of the things I think is most amazing about my country is that it really is a land of opportunity. When my grandparents first came to America they lived in a one bedroom apartment that housed six people. My Grandfather became a doctor and my Grandmother became a delivery nurse. If it wasn’t for their hard-work and the opportunities available to people in our country, I would not have the life I do today.

My one piece of advice to my fellow Americans is “Don’t let the world change your smile, let your smile change the world.”

My name is Aubrey-Maria Absalon Sicat and I am an American.