Читать книгу Counseling and Psychotherapy - Группа авторов - Страница 16

Clarita’s first true exposure to other cultures came after she left home to attend a university in the U.S. mainland. She had received scholarship offers from three universities, and although her parents wanted her to stay at home and attend the local university, she decided to attend a university located away from Puerto Rico. Her decision caused conflict within her family, and she reported that it placed a good deal of strain on her relationships with both parents. Her sister supported her actions, but her brothers felt that she was abandoning the family.

Clarita was very successful at the university, and it was there that she met and later married the first person she had dated outside of her religion and culture. Mark was a European American engineering student and seemed to have no specific religious affiliation. It was not until their graduation that Clarita introduced Mark to her family and at the same time announced their plans to be married.

Clarita’s family, with the exception of her sister, was very opposed to the marriage and made their opposition known to both Clarita and Mark. And they also faced opposition from his parents. To avoid further confrontations, Clarita and Mark eloped and were married by a justice of the peace in Florida.

After their marriage, they settled in Puerto Rico, secured jobs, and began to build a life together, even though Mark wanted to live near his family in southern Georgia and had a hard time fitting in. It was not until after their first child was born that they tried to improve relationships with both families. By the time their second child was born, Clarita’s family members were much more involved with their children; they were less close to Mark’s family because of the distance, but they still called his parents monthly.

The second child put a strain on the marriage, and within 2 years, Clarita and Mark separated and later divorced. Mark left Puerto Rico and has had no contact with Clarita or his children. Shortly thereafter, the devastation left by the hurricane uprooted Clarita from her home and family. Mark’s parents do continue to have contact with their grandchildren.