Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Savanah Garcia
October 9, 2020 | Women's Track & Field
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the people, their ancestors, cultures and powerful impact they've made in the U.S. Throughout this month, we will be highlighting Boston University student-athletes who are proud to identify as Hispanic and are thrilled to share their heritage and culture with the rest of Terrier Nation.
PREVIOUS SPOTLIGHTS:
JP Uribe (9/25)
B. Gargicevich-Almeida (9/30)
Diego de la Torre, (10/5)
Next up, meet Savanah Garcia, a senior on the women's track & field team from Los Osos, Calif., who specializes in the pole vault.
How do you identify?
I identify as Mexican-American. My family comes from Spain and Southern Mexico.
Tell us about your family and culture.
In my culture, family life is very important. Almost every holiday or major event we try to spend together, no matter how far away we live from each other. My family loves to cook and play any type of strategy game, primarily card games though.
Have you ever been to your country of origin?
Yes, my family was able to go to Mexico at least once every year growing up. Now we don't go as often, but when we have time, Mexico is usually the place we go.
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
To me, my heritage reminds me of who I am and what I value. My heritage reminds me of my family and how they will always be there for me. Whenever I need a helping hand or someone to talk to, there will be someone in my family. Also, my heritage reminds me to always work hard. My family didn't start off with a lot of material items, but they continued to work hard, and everyone has been able to achieve their own form of success.
Does your family have any traditions that are important to you?
My family always celebrates Christmas on the 24th and does pretty much nothing on the 25th. This one is super fun because my cousins and I would always try to stay up for Santa Claus. My family also plays rummikub at many family events.
What holidays do you and family celebrate and what do they mean?
Día de los Muertos is one of the holidays that my family celebrates and it's one that we value a lot. This is a holiday honoring the dead and celebrating the lives they lived.
How does your family celebrate Día de los Muertos?
We usually set up una ofrenda, which is a table with offerings to our ancestors, and on that we place old photos, flowers, candles, and sometimes food or water. When I was younger I would receive candy skulls, but now I usually just help with the cooking. We usually cook mole, enchiladas, and tortilla soup, and when we have more time on our hands, we will make tamales. We usually eat our dinner the night after Halloween, and just remember those who have passed in a happy way and hang out together.
What's something you want people to know about being Hispanic?
It's important to stand up for your family and your culture, including right now when so many people are being locked into cages.
How have you found community at BU?
I have found community with some of the people I have become friends with.
What's your favorite cultural dish?
It's kind of hard to choose one dish because I think they are all so delicious, but my top dishes are chile relleno, chicken mole, tamales, and tacos.
Do you have a favorite song, playlist or artist, and why?
My favorite song right now is probably Adiós Amor by Christian Nodal. When we first heard it, my cousins and I were visiting family in Mazatlán and we listened to it multiple times in a single day. I'll always listen to any playlist that has mariachi music in it.
Are there any restaurants that you go to around here that have some of your favorite cuisine?
Not really, there is no restaurant that tastes as good as food made back home. I have tried a couple of different restaurants and will continue to eat there, but I haven't found a place with some good Mexican food.
Who is somebody Hispanic that you look up to, and why?
Within my family I look up to my tia (aunt), since she has gone through so much in her life and is still one of the strongest women I have met. She will always stand her ground and defend her family, and sometimes can come off very blunt, but she always does it from a place of love. She shows me what I hope to be, loving and caring, but doesn't allow anyone to put me down.
Is there something about your specific Hispanic culture that you wish everybody did or celebrated universally?
One aspect of Mexican culture that I love is the balance of work and play. My family can spend all day cooking, cleaning, or building something, and at the end of the day we still gather together to hang out, eat, and enjoy each other's company. I do hope to carry this with me because it is important to have a good balance of the two.
PREVIOUS SPOTLIGHTS:
JP Uribe (9/25)
B. Gargicevich-Almeida (9/30)
Diego de la Torre, (10/5)
Next up, meet Savanah Garcia, a senior on the women's track & field team from Los Osos, Calif., who specializes in the pole vault.
How do you identify?
I identify as Mexican-American. My family comes from Spain and Southern Mexico.
Tell us about your family and culture.
In my culture, family life is very important. Almost every holiday or major event we try to spend together, no matter how far away we live from each other. My family loves to cook and play any type of strategy game, primarily card games though.
Have you ever been to your country of origin?
Yes, my family was able to go to Mexico at least once every year growing up. Now we don't go as often, but when we have time, Mexico is usually the place we go.
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
To me, my heritage reminds me of who I am and what I value. My heritage reminds me of my family and how they will always be there for me. Whenever I need a helping hand or someone to talk to, there will be someone in my family. Also, my heritage reminds me to always work hard. My family didn't start off with a lot of material items, but they continued to work hard, and everyone has been able to achieve their own form of success.
Does your family have any traditions that are important to you?
My family always celebrates Christmas on the 24th and does pretty much nothing on the 25th. This one is super fun because my cousins and I would always try to stay up for Santa Claus. My family also plays rummikub at many family events.
What holidays do you and family celebrate and what do they mean?
Día de los Muertos is one of the holidays that my family celebrates and it's one that we value a lot. This is a holiday honoring the dead and celebrating the lives they lived.
How does your family celebrate Día de los Muertos?
We usually set up una ofrenda, which is a table with offerings to our ancestors, and on that we place old photos, flowers, candles, and sometimes food or water. When I was younger I would receive candy skulls, but now I usually just help with the cooking. We usually cook mole, enchiladas, and tortilla soup, and when we have more time on our hands, we will make tamales. We usually eat our dinner the night after Halloween, and just remember those who have passed in a happy way and hang out together.
What's something you want people to know about being Hispanic?
It's important to stand up for your family and your culture, including right now when so many people are being locked into cages.
How have you found community at BU?
I have found community with some of the people I have become friends with.
What's your favorite cultural dish?
It's kind of hard to choose one dish because I think they are all so delicious, but my top dishes are chile relleno, chicken mole, tamales, and tacos.
Do you have a favorite song, playlist or artist, and why?
My favorite song right now is probably Adiós Amor by Christian Nodal. When we first heard it, my cousins and I were visiting family in Mazatlán and we listened to it multiple times in a single day. I'll always listen to any playlist that has mariachi music in it.
Are there any restaurants that you go to around here that have some of your favorite cuisine?
Not really, there is no restaurant that tastes as good as food made back home. I have tried a couple of different restaurants and will continue to eat there, but I haven't found a place with some good Mexican food.
Who is somebody Hispanic that you look up to, and why?
Within my family I look up to my tia (aunt), since she has gone through so much in her life and is still one of the strongest women I have met. She will always stand her ground and defend her family, and sometimes can come off very blunt, but she always does it from a place of love. She shows me what I hope to be, loving and caring, but doesn't allow anyone to put me down.
Is there something about your specific Hispanic culture that you wish everybody did or celebrated universally?
One aspect of Mexican culture that I love is the balance of work and play. My family can spend all day cooking, cleaning, or building something, and at the end of the day we still gather together to hang out, eat, and enjoy each other's company. I do hope to carry this with me because it is important to have a good balance of the two.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Women's Track & FieldTerrier Twelve #9: Men's Track & Field and Cross Country
Wednesday, July 16
BU Terriers Unleashed - Season 6 - Episode 5
Thursday, June 05
BU Athletics: 2024-25 Highlights
Monday, May 19
BU Terriers Unleashed - Season 6 - Episode 4
Saturday, April 26
