When I arrived from Puerto Rico to Berks County in 1989, I had no idea where I was going. I didn’t know anyone in the area. It was an adventure of a married couple with four children looking for stability.
When I started working as a social worker it was a pleasant surprise to find such diversity among Latinos in the city of Reading. As part of my job and my interest in getting to know the community, I gave myself completely to volunteer work. At one point I was a member of more than ten boards of directors.
They invited me to give speeches on cultural diversity and that gave me the opportunity to learn and educate the people about the differences between Latinos. For many people, the Latino culture is homogeneous. In Berks County at that time there was representation from twenty-one countries. Many found it difficult to understand that each of these countries had a different culture. Their foods, customs, typical dances and even in the language there are differences. It wasn’t easy getting the message across, but I loved giving those chats.
Also being able to share my history as a Puerto Rican with so many Latinos from other countries and knowing theirs was an enriching experience of spiritual growth. For me that diversity is one of the hidden treasures in that city called Reading. Whoever finds it as I did, enjoy it to the fullest.
Maria M. Garcia, BA, MBA
