When I Was Puerto Rican

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Esmeralda Santiago experienced life in a variety of ways. Through her book she shares a number of these experiences, many that played an important role in shaping her as an individual. She shows her experiences from the earliest part of her youth through her life as young adult. Of the many experiences Santiago shares, I think here experiences she lives through while living in El Mangle, as well as in Sabana Grande were two specific periods in her life that helped shape her individuality.

Living in the barrio of El Mangle, according to Negi, was an awful place to live. She seemed to develop her opinion the moment she was greeted by the horrible stench in the air. Her experiences with the school in El Mangle, I thought, in some ways became valuable tools she’d eventually use in crisis situations. One experience Negi describes during an embarrassing moment showed that there was probably an even earlier interest in performing arts than Negi had originally anticipated. As Negi attempted to solve the math problem center stage, with a bloodthirsty audience looking on, her performing skills had already began to develop. She had no idea that she would be asked to replay a similar role in the future.

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Her mother’s bargaining tips along with her proven hard work would assure that Negi was placed in her proper grade. “You never pay the first price they tell you”, her mother said to her (223). A person who isn’t able to understand or appreciate a love of the performing arts would say this young senorita is just dealing with some issues. In El Mangle she studied extra hard to keep atop her subjects in class; at the new school Negi was adamant with letting them know of her abilities.

Negi made it very clear how much she disliked her teacher in El Mangle “I couldn’t stand Sra. There’s not doubt that Negi’s mother did know she possessed a dramatic side to her. I believe that her stay in Sabana Grande was preparation for her life and career in the United States. This is possibly where Negi learned to pantomime, unknowingly. Negi could have genuinely felt some unhappiness. Negi’s mother could have also seen her daughter as a well acclaimed actress, but was reluctant to acknowledge it. “For me, the person I was becoming when we left was erased, and another one was created” (209). Often time writers will have a particular scene written in their movies where they use a similar process. The incident where her teacher embarrassed her and termed her as an “ignorant jibara” seemed to hit a very sensitive spot with Negi (139). Little does she know, but this art of removing the soul from her body, which Negi does, allows her to amaze a panel of judges at her audition to the Performing Arts high school.

Approximate Word count = 1043
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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