Question

name: __________ date: ________ section: __________ family is one of the most enduring topics of literature and cultural studies. the universal relationships among family members provide a basis for common experiences, emotions and perceptions. analyzing ones relationships with others also requires an author and reader to examine aspects of ones personality that may have been shaped through the influence of other people. when i was puerto rican can be viewed as a story of many lives really - the lives of esmeralda and her family. her experiences seem to amplify her mothers struggles, and esmeraldas interpretations of experiences are the result of her mothers life of loss and longing and her fathers frequent absences. in addition, as one would expect, her awareness of culture was shaped by what she learned from her parents and the relationships she witnessed at home. journal: santiagos experience & my experience **directions: on the following page, write a journal entry answering the following prompt. your response must be at least one paragraph. prompt: what experience of santiagos do you relate to or want to know more about and why?

Explanation:

The prompt asks for a personal - related experience or an area of interest in Santiago's experiences. To answer, one should reflect on the details of Santiago's life in the context provided (such as family - related or cultural - shaping experiences in the given text about When I Was Puerto Rican), and explain the connection or curiosity based on personal life or interests.

Answer:

One experience of Santiago's that I relate to is her awareness of culture being shaped by her parents. In my own life, my parents' values, traditions, and stories have deeply influenced my understanding of my cultural heritage. Just as Santiago's perception was formed by what she witnessed at home, my family's practices, like the annual celebration of our ethnic festivals and the passing - down of family recipes, have given me a strong sense of identity. I would also like to know more about how Santiago dealt with the long - term absence of her father, as I have not had a similar experience in my family, and I'm curious about the emotional and psychological impact it had on her development and relationships.