Through reading your book I learned a great deal about your family and the role you played in it and how strongly influenced you were by the environment of your Latino family. I found myself completely sympathizing with your conflict of speaking English versus Spanish, and the separation between you and your family that became evident, as you grew more accustom to the English language. .
Through most of your book you seem to center on how close and tightly knit your family was. You describe in numerous instances the "special feeling of closeness" that you shared with your family. You also mention the fact that you used to feel a "desperate, urgent, intense" feeling of wanting to be home. Spending time at home, speaking your "personal" language of Spanish, and being with your family seemed to give you a sense of comfort and a feeling of safety that was not felt outside your home. Yet I"m sorry to say I cannot truly believe the fact that you and your family were as close as you say you were merely because you spoke they same language. Families across the globe speak the same language and do not convey the "Brady bunch" image you seem to be showing in your book or could it be that you like so many other people tend to over exaggerate the good memories you had with your family when you all only spoke Spanish? .
At school and in public you describe hearing the cold, harsh sounds of the English language and wishing that your teachers would welcome you in Spanish, instead. You explain that, as a child, you regarded Spanish as your own personal language. You further go on to say that at the age of seven, you did not see yourself as an American citizen like the other children in your class, and this discouraged you from willingly learning English. I am happy to say I never once had this problem, however I can remember a time as young girl having a friend who would strain just to be able to learn at the level they rest of the class was at.
