By Jason McFarley, Truth Staff
Victoria Martinez is still getting used to the idea of what it means to be a good neighbor in northern Indiana. It generally entails being far more reserved than she ever had to be in her hometown in northern Mexico.
She doesn't turn up the volume as high anymore on the Latin and Tex-Mex music that her neighbors in Elkhart might find offensive or flamboyant.
Her family doesn't gather at parks like it did in Mexico for boisterous celebrations of birthdays, marriages and other occasions.
Martinez doesn't want to disturb the neighbors.
"There are different rules here," said Martinez, 33. "We could do many things in our home country that people don't understand in Elkhart. We want to celebrate our culture, but we also want to fit into our new communities."
Many Hispanic newcomers are trying to strike that balance in households across Elkhart County, where cultural differences are changing the landscape of many neighborhoods.
Elkhart resident Rick Mann hopes the change isn't for the worse.
Mann said Hispanic residents in his neighborhood have bristled at the community standards of their new homeland. His biggest complaint: Some large Hispanic families park on the grass in front of their homes or take up much of the on-street parking.
"It makes the neighborhood look overcrowded and messy," said Mann, who is white. "They may be perfectly nice people, but they should understand we don't park on our lawns here."
The city of Elkhart began cracking down on lawn parking last year in an effort to improve neighborhoods, though the move wasn't aimed at immigrants. Fines range from $100 to $2,500.
Camelia Corona, a Spanish translator who lives in Goshen, said that in many cases, Hispanic immigrants don't intend to violate the rules. They simply don't know them.
"Why aren't neighbors or the city educating the immigrants?" she said. "Sometimes it's as simple saying, 'Hey, your trash goes here' or 'your car should be parked there.'
"If we don't teach them, how will they know?" Corona said.
As Rafael Bueno sees it, his American neighbors could learn a few things about Hispanic culture.
It's a vibrant culture with what Bueno describes as an intense zest for life.
That passion plays out in everything from the bright colors that some Hispanics paint their homes to the special celebrations or religious observances that warrant traditional food, music and dancing, said Bueno, who lives in Goshen.
"Our culture celebrates many things," he said. "It's a big change to come to a place where the neighbors don't like the noise and the traditions we bring."
Mary Landis is making the best of the situation in her Elkhart neighborhood. The Hispanic family next door has invited her to several cookouts.
The food was a bit spicy and the music wasn't quite her taste, but she enjoyed getting to know her neighbors.
"It was a bit of a culture shock when they first moved in," said Landis, who is white. "But I'm learning. We have to try to appreciate one another."