What effect does the use of Spanish in “When I was Puerto Rican” play in relation to the author’s purpose?

“Te preguntó el Mr. Barone, you know, lo que querías hacer when you grow up?” I asked. “Sí, pero, I didn’t know. ¿Y tú?” “Yo tampoco. He said, que I like to help people. Pero, you know, a mí no me gusta mucho la gente.” When she heard me say I didn’t like people much, Yolanda looked at me from the corner of her eye, waiting to become the exception.



It shows how hard it is to make friends in America


The mix of Spanish and English foreshadows the author’s inner struggle with her identity


It shows that people are more comfortable when they can speak their own language


The author didn’t know English well and couldn’t translate the conversation