Honoring Hispanic Heritage: Stefi Barbian

From Sunday, September 15 to October 15, our nation celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The observation was started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson as Hispanic Heritage Week and expanded under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The September 15 start day is especially notable as it marks the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Toward the end of the 30-day celebration, October 12 is Columbus Day or Día de la Raza or Indigenous Peoples Day, a controversial date to some.

The theme for 2024’s National Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together”, and in honor of the month, we asked All Souls Fellowship congregants of descent from four different Hispanic countries their thoughts on the holiday, their heritage, and commemorating their culture in their respective lives.

Interview with Stefi Barbian

Stefi and her family.

Please tell us which country you or your family descend from.

“Ecuador.”

When did you or your family come to the United States and why?

“I moved to the United States with my mom when I was 8 years old. My mom and my dad got divorced when I was very little. When I was six, my mom met an American while vacationing in Colombia. They fell in love and two years later, he proposed. My mom and I moved to the States and they got married.”

Living in Decatur, what reminds you of that country?

“Things that remind me of home include food, music, dancing, certain sports, and being around other Spanish-speaking people. Specifically, eating at restaurants like Las Brasas (Peruvian food) and Arepa Mia (Venezuelan food), going to Atlanta United soccer games, and listening/singing/dancing to salsa, merengue, and bachata with my family and friends reminds me of home.”

Food is so essential to all of us and our experiences and upbringing. Do you have a favorite dish or local restaurant that you can share?

“I haven't found any Ecuadorian restaurants in Atlanta, but there are several restaurants in Decatur that remind me of home. I absolutely love Las Brasas. This is going to sound silly, but the white rice at Las Brasas tastes just like my grandma's rice. I also love their ceviche, which also reminds me of home. My favorite Ecuadorian dish is "Encocado", which is a dish from the coast of Ecuador, is seafood cooked in a creamy coconut sauce and is served with white rice, lentils, and fried plantains. There is also a lot of fruit and vegetables in Ecuador that are difficult to find here. For example, I once found one of my favorite fruits, a fruit called chirimoya, in a market on Buford Highway, it was such a lovely surprise. 

Language is also vital to our experiences. How important is it to you for your children to be bilingual?

“It is very important and something we are actively working on. I am so grateful that my husband, John, has worked really hard to become proficient at speaking Spanish and it is a wonderful blessing that he can communicate with my family members. As far as our kids, Jack is 11 and Matias is 8, teaching them Spanish has been difficult. After living in the US for 30 years, English is my primary language. I also have a very demanding job and when I get home, it's hard for me to only speak in Spanish but I am trying to do this more because it is very important to me that they learn the language.”

With the theme for this year being ‘Shaping the Future’, how would you like to see your heritage honored into the future?

“I really appreciate Hispanic Heritage Month because it allows us to learn about different Latin American communities. I think the best way to honor the rich heritage of Latin Americans living in the US is by learning about their cultures. It is also important to recognize that Latin American people are very diverse and their culture is influenced by Indigenous, African and European people and traditions. Family, music, food, and dancing are very important in Latin American culture. So, I think finding ways to learn about these rich cultures through their music and food is the perfect way to honor their heritage.”

Anything else you’d like to share (books, Bible verses, music, art recommendations)?

“Ecuador is a small, but beautiful country in South America. The capital of Ecuador, Quito, sits in a valley in the Andes mountains and is surrounded by beautiful volcanoes. Quito is at a very high elevation, around 9,000 feet above sea level! Ecuador is home to the Galapagos Islands and part of the Amazon rainforest. It is known for beautiful roses thanks to the volcanic soil and delicious chocolate. My favorite artist from Ecuador is Oswaldo Guayasamin, he was a famous sculptor and painter. My favorite Latin American music includes Maná (Mexican rock band), Carlos Vives (Colombian singer), Marc Anthony (Puerto Rican singer), and the great, Celia Cruz (Cuban singer).”