A Friday feature on VL, Word en la Calle lets everyday Latinos voice their thoughts and opinions on topics of interest to the community.

Name: Iván Vargas-Gatica

Age: 32

Coupled?: Yes

Location: San Francisco, CA

Profession: Graphic Designer

Roots: Chilean

Languages: Spanish, English, French

What does it mean to you to be Latino?
That’s a concept I was confronted with only upon moving to the USA, because, back in Chile, we’d think more in terms of color, or nationality, but we were all chilean, blond chileans, dark chileans, etc. I still don’t like linking the idea of being latino with specific physical characteristics, since my experience tells me differently. It’s more about a culture, an attitude that is product of the experience as members of a huge community of different countries that share certain aspects of their history and their background.

What or who are you most proud of?
Not to be egocentric or anything, but I’m proud to have made a life for myself in the U.S. Specially coming from a culture that doesn’t particularly promote independence from the immediate family. On the contrary, promotes an attachment that is usually very strong and prevalent throughout one’s life. I wasn’t ready to be on my own, but figured out that I could do it. On the same token, I’m proud of my family for allowing me to do so by letting go.

Who have been or are your role models?
My parents, and many of the values they taught me.

What’s your biggest wish /desire:
To be the next American Idol (just kidding). To figure out a way to work independently again, and be able to continue to explore the world to learn about other cultures, and hopefully share the experience with a family of my own.

Person you would most love to meet:
Not one in particular, but most likely it’d be some kind of artist or creative person.

Favorite brand name: Apple

Favorite musical style: All over the board.

What is the best and worst thing about your home country?
Best: It’s a beautiful place with very warm and friendly people. Worst: It’s still a somewhat classist, racist, sexist culture and people don’t seem to notice or bother. And there’s not a whole lot of concern for the environment (at least not as much as there is for the financial gains in exchange… hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it?)

What is the best thing and the worst thing about the U.S.?
Best things are that one can really work hard and many times it pays off when you do, and that there’s tremendous diversity of people from all around the world in this country and I think that’s an asset to the culture. Worst thing is the current government and its backwards, conservative ways.

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