While living in the Philippines, I met a girl who became my best friend. Her name was Regina and she was Mexican. Due to us being so close, Regina invited me to her Quinceañera. She told me that a Quinceañera was a celebration of a girl entering womanhood. On the night of her Quinceañera, I was amazed at what I witnessed. There were a variety of Mexican cuisines and the house was decorated ballroom style. All of the guests had to dress up and Regina looked like a beautiful princess. It was an amazing time and I’m glad I experienced it.
In the beginning, I thought it was weird. I had an ethnocentric view, meaning I was viewing the world from my own culture and perspective . I believed a girl did not turn into a woman until she was 18 years old because that is how I was taught in my African-American culture. In my culture, a girl becomes a woman when she is able to take care of herself. In other words, she has her own place, her own car, and is able to survive without the help of her parents. This usually does not occur before age 18. Therefore, I grew up thinking that, until age 18, you were still considered a girl and not a woman. However, I learned to accept that all cultures vary when it comes to the moment a girl becomes a woman. Regina taught me something I never knew and I am glad she did.