Thursday, October 28, 2010
When I Was Puerto Rican (151-213)
Summary: Upon moving to her new Santurce house, Negi has no idea that her mother is going to New York. Hector's accident has caused major health concerns and he must see the doctors in New York. While Mami is in New york with Hector, Negi is forced to live with her starnge Uncle and Aunt, along with their two opposite daughters
Thursday, October 14, 2010
When I Was Puerto Rican (106-151)
In the story thus far Negi is taking small steps into becoming a woman. Negi has taken the responsibility of taking care of her brothers and sisters while her mother works nearly all day. After the hurricane that demolished Macun passed, the efforts to clean-up began immediately. Negi's mother had to get a job to support the family in such a tough time. She got a job sewing at a factory, and she very much enjoyed the time and money that she received from her efforts. Negi now had to assume the role as "new-mother" of the family and take the place of her mother. This transition took away most of Negi's childhood splendors, forcing her to be strict and harsh with her siblings.
Negi also experienced some innocent games with a neighbor Tato. They would go behind the outhouse and show each other their private parts, and Negi learned new things about boys and their privates. Also Gloria told Negi of becoming a senorita and the things that would come along with such a great change. Mami's recent employment was becoming the new gossip of the town. She broke away from the house-wife role and was becoming independent. Unfortunately, the town frowned upon change and believed strongly in tradition and therefore they spread lies about Negi's Mami saying she was actually obtaining her money from sleeping with men.
Negi made a big mistake, when she assumed the role of annoyed kid rather than responsible sister, when she choose to look away as Hector got on the bike unsecured. Young Hector was seriously injured in the bike accident, therefore forcing his mother to temporarily quit her job and care for him. This caused a large amount of tension between Mami and Papi, and Mami had enough. She decided to move back to Santurce and live with a family friend, and Papi was nowhere to be found. Negi also has developed some troubles with socialization
2.Quote: " 'You're always so bossy,' Norma yelled. 'You think you're a grown-up or something.' I wanted to cry that no, I didn't think I was a grown, and it wasn't fair that they all got to ride on the bike and I didn't. I wanted to remind them that Mami didn't want us playing with Jenny, but it would be wrong to say it in front of her."(Santiago 127)
3.Reaction: Negi's mothers news employment required her to become the woman of the house and at the young age of nine this was torture. Growing up dirt poor with such a large family robbed Negi of her childhood and all of the fun that came along with it. She could no longer do simple fun things, she now had to watch over her younger siblings and make sure they were behaving properly. Nergi did not enjoy or want this major responsibility, and that shows in the above quote. Negi wants to drop all responsibilities and be reckless, but her responsibilities kick in and she must act as the party-pooper.
Negi also experienced some innocent games with a neighbor Tato. They would go behind the outhouse and show each other their private parts, and Negi learned new things about boys and their privates. Also Gloria told Negi of becoming a senorita and the things that would come along with such a great change. Mami's recent employment was becoming the new gossip of the town. She broke away from the house-wife role and was becoming independent. Unfortunately, the town frowned upon change and believed strongly in tradition and therefore they spread lies about Negi's Mami saying she was actually obtaining her money from sleeping with men.
Negi made a big mistake, when she assumed the role of annoyed kid rather than responsible sister, when she choose to look away as Hector got on the bike unsecured. Young Hector was seriously injured in the bike accident, therefore forcing his mother to temporarily quit her job and care for him. This caused a large amount of tension between Mami and Papi, and Mami had enough. She decided to move back to Santurce and live with a family friend, and Papi was nowhere to be found. Negi also has developed some troubles with socialization
2.Quote: " 'You're always so bossy,' Norma yelled. 'You think you're a grown-up or something.' I wanted to cry that no, I didn't think I was a grown, and it wasn't fair that they all got to ride on the bike and I didn't. I wanted to remind them that Mami didn't want us playing with Jenny, but it would be wrong to say it in front of her."(Santiago 127)
3.Reaction: Negi's mothers news employment required her to become the woman of the house and at the young age of nine this was torture. Growing up dirt poor with such a large family robbed Negi of her childhood and all of the fun that came along with it. She could no longer do simple fun things, she now had to watch over her younger siblings and make sure they were behaving properly. Nergi did not enjoy or want this major responsibility, and that shows in the above quote. Negi wants to drop all responsibilities and be reckless, but her responsibilities kick in and she must act as the party-pooper.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
When I Was Puerto Rican (53-106)
1. Summary
The invasion of the Americanos is taking place. Negi and her mother, along with all of Macun's mothers and their children, attend the community meeting. At this community meeting Americans doctors and specialists discuss the importance of hygiene and healthy lifestyles including nutrition. The Americans are a part of the organization supporting Puerto Rico's poor-class. The school is also incorporated in the efforts being made by the Americans, by providing new food and vaccinations. These new things bring issues to Negi as well as her class mates, and raise some touchy problems with imperialists and Americanization. On the first days of school whith their new gadgets, and such Negi discusses politics with her friend Ignacio, and at the time not even adults were discussing politics outside of the home. This stirred up trouble when Esmeralda goes to school and continues to eat the government issued food. She complains about the powdered milk, and talks back to Dona Lola. Esmeralda knows what is expecting her at home if news gets to them, so she plays sick, and seemingly gets away with her misbehavior and disrespect toward an adult. A couple of weeks go by and she is sick from the powdered milk served to her but also from the nerves driving her unsane regarding her lying to her mother. Negi was then sent to live with her grandparents in Santurce for a week. Her grandparents hadn't seen her in years and as their time was running out they wished to spend time with her. At their home in Santurce, Negi enjoyed time sewing with her grandmother and sitting alongside her grandfather. She also experienced some time where she could think about things very thoroughly. She thought about her father and the way he would be missing on Sunday's, this led her to think about the arguement between her parents, and that ultimately led to her missing them. Negi also began to experience church and how strongly her grandparents felt about religion. Negi was becoming closer wirth her abuela and she would soon miss her time without her. The term jamona comes to play as the section ends, and it is used in a negative way toward older women. The term is udes to describe a woman who can not get married because of age or appearance, and Negi explaind that her mother and father's issues have led her mother into becoming a jamona.
2. Quote
" ' I've never gone hungry!' I screamed. 'My Mami and Papi can feed us without your disgusting gringo imperialistic food!' "(Santiago 82)
3.Reaction
This quote comes with deep meaning behind it, and does not only have to do with the issue of food. The real issu here is America's input and intrusion on Puerto Rico's culture. P.R has been on its own without much help from America, and it has created its own culture and social system. Negi is simply expressing the way almost the entir population feel, out loud. And although her methods were badly-timed and in the wrong and not to mention innappropriat moment, her words were 100% true and sincere.
The invasion of the Americanos is taking place. Negi and her mother, along with all of Macun's mothers and their children, attend the community meeting. At this community meeting Americans doctors and specialists discuss the importance of hygiene and healthy lifestyles including nutrition. The Americans are a part of the organization supporting Puerto Rico's poor-class. The school is also incorporated in the efforts being made by the Americans, by providing new food and vaccinations. These new things bring issues to Negi as well as her class mates, and raise some touchy problems with imperialists and Americanization. On the first days of school whith their new gadgets, and such Negi discusses politics with her friend Ignacio, and at the time not even adults were discussing politics outside of the home. This stirred up trouble when Esmeralda goes to school and continues to eat the government issued food. She complains about the powdered milk, and talks back to Dona Lola. Esmeralda knows what is expecting her at home if news gets to them, so she plays sick, and seemingly gets away with her misbehavior and disrespect toward an adult. A couple of weeks go by and she is sick from the powdered milk served to her but also from the nerves driving her unsane regarding her lying to her mother. Negi was then sent to live with her grandparents in Santurce for a week. Her grandparents hadn't seen her in years and as their time was running out they wished to spend time with her. At their home in Santurce, Negi enjoyed time sewing with her grandmother and sitting alongside her grandfather. She also experienced some time where she could think about things very thoroughly. She thought about her father and the way he would be missing on Sunday's, this led her to think about the arguement between her parents, and that ultimately led to her missing them. Negi also began to experience church and how strongly her grandparents felt about religion. Negi was becoming closer wirth her abuela and she would soon miss her time without her. The term jamona comes to play as the section ends, and it is used in a negative way toward older women. The term is udes to describe a woman who can not get married because of age or appearance, and Negi explaind that her mother and father's issues have led her mother into becoming a jamona.
2. Quote
" ' I've never gone hungry!' I screamed. 'My Mami and Papi can feed us without your disgusting gringo imperialistic food!' "(Santiago 82)
3.Reaction
This quote comes with deep meaning behind it, and does not only have to do with the issue of food. The real issu here is America's input and intrusion on Puerto Rico's culture. P.R has been on its own without much help from America, and it has created its own culture and social system. Negi is simply expressing the way almost the entir population feel, out loud. And although her methods were badly-timed and in the wrong and not to mention innappropriat moment, her words were 100% true and sincere.
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