El mes de la Herencia Hispana comenzar  oficialmente el pr¢ximo mi‚rcoles, 15 de septiembre. Para celebrar nuestra herencia, el Comit‚ de Herencia Latina en Iowa State University, ha planificado una pl‚tora de eventos cuyo prop¢sito es involucrar a la poblaci¢n universitaria en eventos culturales, tanto como instruirles a cerca de las diferentes culturas latinoamericanas.

El viernes, 10 de septiembre, nuestra universidad experimentar  la apertura de una festividad que irradiar  la alegr¡a y el calor latino que existen en ISU al igual que dar n cominezo a los eventos planificados por el comit‚. Comenzar  con un desfile de banderas desde el Campanile que culminar  en el Great Hall del Memorial Union donde estar n esper ndonos Inkari, un grupo de m£sica andina, junto al Dr. Jerry Garc¡a qui‚n ser  el orador de dicho evento.

Este a¤o, el tema principal del Mes de Herencia Latina en ISU es “Uniting Nossas Ra¡ces”—Uniendo Nuestras Ra¡ces, representando en su t¡tulo la uni¢n que queremos alcanzar al usar los tres idiomas reconocidos entre los latinos; ingl‚s ya que nos encontramos en los Estados Unidos, portugu‚s en honor a nuestros hermanos brasile¤os y espa¤ol, el idioma m s hablado en Latinoam‚rica. La importancia de unir las ra¡ces de nuestra comunidad es s¡mbolo de solidaridad ya que “unificados seremos m s y poderosos … dividirse en bandos nos puede quebrantar” como dice una de mis canciones favoritas. As¡ tendremos la oportunidad de aprender las similitudes tanto como las diferencias que existen entre las 20 culturas que el Comit‚ de Herencia Latina ha denominado como culturas latinoamericanas, al igual que experimentar regocijo mientras demonstramos nuestras culturas a la comunidad local.

As I wrote this column in Spanish, I realized once again how my thoughts always shift between English and Spanish.

As part of the Latino community at Iowa State, sharing the different aspects of Latino culture excite me. Learning more than one language can sometimes be brain-twisting, but it is rewarding because you can communicate with more people and expand your world vision.

Here is the translation of the column:

Next Wednesday, Sept. 15, is the official start of the National Hispanic Heritage Month. In order to celebrate our heritage, the Latino Heritage Month Committee at Iowa State University has planned many events, and its sole purpose is to involve the local community in cultural events, as well as to teach them about the different Latin American cultures.

On Friday, Sept. 10, our campus will experience the opening festivities that will demonstrate the Latino warmth that exists at ISU.

It starts at the Campanile with a parade of flags that will culminate at the Great Hall of the Memorial Union where Inkari, an Andean music group, and the keynote speaker, Dr. Jerry Garcia, await.

This year, the main theme for Latino Heritage Month at ISU is “Uniting Nossas Ra¡ces” — Uniting Our Roots, representing with its title the unity we strive for by using the three recognized languages within the Latin American community: English, since we currently live in the United States; Portuguese, honoring the Brazilian community; and Spanish, which is the language spoken in most Latin American countries.

The importance of uniting the roots of the Latino community demonstrates solidarity. By learning the similarities and differences within the 20 cultures that the Latino Heritage Month Committee has designated as Latino cultures, we will be able to broaden our perspective of the world around us.

Latinos are the largest growing ethnic group in the United States and have influenced this country economically, socially and politically.

Once you learn Spanish, if you’re interested, you will be able to communicate with a segment of the population in the Americas as well as in Europe. Here is a head start — enroll in a Spanish class next semester and re-read the first part of this page.