My parents grew up in Mexico and moved to the U.S. when my siblings and I started school. They fundamentally believed that although they did not have much to give us in terms of material things, they could give us one of the best investments out there: an education – both academic and cultural. While they made a conscious decision to move to the U.S. for our sake, and made significant sacrifices to make that happen, they were not willing to sacrifice our cultural heritage. Instead, my parents made it a point to raise us in one country, but with the traditions and customs of another.
In our household, there were two strictly enforced rules: (1) clean, legible homework must be completed before dinner and (2) Spanish must be spoken when speaking to either of my parents, when family was visiting, or when we were on the other side of the border.
Over time, these two rules became difficult to comply with because they conflicted. The more I excelled in school, the more my dominant language became English and not Spanish. As a result, “en Español” became a common and frustrating phrase I would hear from my parents.It got to a point that I would frequently prefer not to tell a story than to have to tell it in Spanish.
What I did not know then that I am now forever grateful for, is that those house rules are the reasons for my success in my legal profession.
From an academic perspective, my parents may not have known what it was like to go through the U.S. school system, but they knew that hard work always paid off. They taught me the discipline I needed to get my work done and the importance of doing it well. By endlessly repeating “en Español,” my parents not only ensured that I remained fluent in Spanish, but unbeknownst to them, they also provided me with the innate tools to be an effective compliance attorney advising clients globally.
Growing up, I always felt comfortable in my hometown. Most people around me looked like me and it was not uncommon to cross the border into another country. In doing so, I grew up interacting with people working and living in a country different from mine and yet, feeling as though I belonged. As a legal professional at a large law firm reflecting back on my childhood, I realize that as a result of my heritage and my experiences growing up, I am able to naturally adapt in international environments.
I am a compliance lawyer advising clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act globally, but primarily across Latin America. Because of my upbringing, I gain my clients’ trust by effectively working hand-in-hand with their businesses worldwide. A large part of my ability to closely collaborate with clients has to do with my cultural adaptability. It makes me approachable and easy for their employees to connect with, regardless of their type of work. This also helps me thoroughly understand the business and in turn, effectively communicate between my U.S.-based clients and their related international entities.
My parents’ constant “en Español” resonates over and over every day of my life, and I admire their dedication to holding on to that essential attribute of our heritage. For me personally, those two words represent the education I was fortunate enough to receive. It is why I dedicate time to organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Avance in Houston. I believe in teaching youth by example, but also teaching parents about educational opportunities that this country offers so that they in turn can teach their kids.
Adelaida Vasquez focuses her practice on international compliance matters and is a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig in Houston.