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.