Living Between Two Worlds

by Valeria Barajas

Photo by Magdiel Diaz on Pexels.com

Hello again!

Today I want to start with the topic of life on the border. For me, living between Tijuana and San Diego border has been a unique and very enriching experience. I spend Monday through Friday in San Diego, where I studied, and every Friday after school I return to Tijuana to spend the weekend with my family and friends. Experiencing different cultures and enjoying the opportunities offered by both places has taught me a lot about who I am and how I relate to the world. In this blog, I want to share what it's really like to live between two cities, two countries, and two ways of seeing life, from the everyday to what makes each community special.

Crossing the border has become normal for me. I can wake up on a Saturday morning, have breakfast in Tijuana, cross into San Diego to buy something, and still come back for a good night out. I've always said that living between two worlds means enjoying the best of both worlds. I love Tijuana's bustling streets, its food, its humor, and its energy. While in San Diego, I enjoy the safety, opportunities, and freedom to move around on my own. I take the trolley and buses everywhere, something I could never do in Tijuana because my parents won't let me walk alone.

Photo by Thom Gonzalez on Pexels.com

The border is full of communities experiencing similar situations: students who cross to school every day, workers who cross daily, and families who live separated between Tijuana and San Diego. Living on the border is a whole new world, with thousands of stories, routines, and goals, but all part of the border culture.

Photo by Moisés Fonseca on Pexels.com

I've lived on the border my whole life and have always been interested in how traditions, foods, and even language intermingle between Tijuana and San Diego. Growing up, I believed that in Tijuana we adopted American traditions, but when I moved to the United States, I realized that both American and Mexican holidays are celebrated, from Thanksgiving to the Day of the Dead. This blend of cultures is also reflected in the food. We have hamburgers in TJ and there are taco shops in SD, but it's not until you try some tacos from SD that you realize you haven't appreciated enough the delicious and unparalleled tacos from Tijuana. Spanglish, another important element in the blend of cultures, the mixing de la "cura" tijuanense with English expressions has become super normal on the border.

However, living on the border also has its challenges and realities. On days when I crossed to go to school, I would arrive in line at 6:30 in the morning, and I never knew exactly how long it would take to cross. It could be only five minutes, but other times I could spend almost three hours in line. Furthermore, the differences between the two cities are clear. Public education in Tijuana isn't the best, while in San Diego there are many educational opportunities and resources. Transportation also makes a big difference: getting around in San Diego is very easy, free for students, and much safer than in Tijuana. On the other hand, life in Tijuana can be a bit dangerous, and walking alone on the street isn't the best option. This reflects how the border not only unites cultures but also reflects realities to which we, as part of the border community, adapt.

Yes, life on the border isn't comfortable for many, but it has many positive aspects that open the mind to new perspectives and new experiences. As someone raised in Tijuana, the people around me were always raised there. Personally, when I began my life on the border, I began to meet people from other parts of the world. I had a Thai friend, a Ukrainian girl in my history class, and a Filipino boy in my English class. I know that for those who have lived and studied in the United States their entire lives, this may seem normal, but for me, growing up in Tijuana, it was something totally new. During these years, you also learn about different identities and realize that here in San Diego, everyone is in their own world, and it's rare for someone to criticize your appearance or judge you for who you are. On the other hand, in Tijuana, physical appearance often plays a more important role in daily life. Both places have beautiful cultures: Tijuana is all about partying, socializing, music, and noise, while in San Diego you can enjoy the tranquility, like spending the night listening to the waves on Coronado Beach. Living between these two worlds allows me to enjoy the best of both worlds and learn to appreciate what each offers.

Photo by Hunter Productions on Pexels.com

As you may have read, I love this life between Mexico and the United States. It has taught me to appreciate the best of both worlds: the energy, food, and closeness of family in Tijuana, along with the present and future opportunities of San Diego. In upcoming posts, I will delve deeper into each of these aspects, from traditions and food to communities and the challenges of the border. This topic is important to me because both communities are part of my identity, and I see myself belonging to both in the future. My family and my culture will always tie me to Tijuana, while the opportunities and experiences I have gained in San Diego are part of my journey.