Comments on: Old and Chicano too boot

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 21:03:04 +0000

Hi Elenamary and all,
I’m new to this blog world. I had to comment here and apologize if possible for the heartless comment of the Colombian lady. Could have been my mother except she’s in CT. But really, sounds like she would have said it! I don’t know . . . it really is some weird culture thing. I was born and raised in CT but my family is Colombian. Lots of us back in CT. I miss being immersed in it. There is a lot of love. But I never understood why all the undercutting of people we were in the same boat with . . . poor and trying to survive in a world that cut you down already. I don’t know . . .but you struck a chord with this full blood Colombian flesh thats never been there. By the way I am in Ohio too and I’m glad to come across this site. I have been told recently that this state is pretty racist. I’ve come across it already in blatant ways. My skin is a give away for me. I’m of the tan to very tan kind – esp. in the summer.
Thank you for keeping us posted! Especially thank you for being kind to crusty old Colombian ladies – that could have been my mother! She would have noticed your kindness and never remembered how rude she was. It’s a quirky programming – I know, I’ve lived it.
Jenn

By: SERENO

SERENO — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 07:15:56 +0000

IT’S FUNNY TO HEAR OLDER FOLK TALK ABOUT WHY SPANISH SPOKEN IN THEIR PARTICULAR COUNTRY IS BETTER THAN THAT OF MOST SPANISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES, BUT WHAT I’VE REALIZED IS THAT THE MOST CRITIZISED SPANISH IS THAT OF MEXICO. YOU COULD SAY IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE IN ACCENT AND THE “CANTADO” THING, BUT I THINK IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT ANGLOS CALLED ANY SPANISH-SPEAKING PERSON A “MEXICAN”, WHICH FOR MANY BECAME A DEROGATORY TERM, MY PARENTS INCLUDED. THEN THERE’S THE FACT THAT IN SOME COUNTRIES, CERTAIN WORDS ARE CONSIDERED CURSE WORDS, WHILE IN OTHERS THEY’RE NOT, GIVING THE UNLEARNED IN TERRITORIAL GRAMATICAL AND LANGUAGE VARIATIONS THE FEELING THAT CERTAIN COUNTRIES ARE MORE VULGAR THAN OTHERS.
I COMMEND YOU FOR BEING A TRANSLATOR. IN A COUNTRY WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES OF SPANISH SPEAKERS, ALL WE CAN DO IS WISH YOU GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. I WOULDN’T TOUCH IT, THOUGH…..

By: xine

xine — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 21:58:06 +0000

when i got back from an extended stay in Guatemala, my Costa Rican family were horrified by my Spanish. They told me I spoke like a Mexican. Never mind my grammer and vocabulary and understanding and everything had taken a huge leap, to them, I had taken a huge step back.

By: Gustavo

Gustavo — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:14:50 +0000

All the spanish speaking countries always get into it over who speaks the language the best. My Spaniard friend always gives me hell because according to her, Mexicans speak spanish “cantando”. In the end the variation gives that particular country a certain uniqueness…que no?

By: oso

oso — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 02:57:40 +0000

When non-Mexican Latinos hear me speak Spanish it’s always the same thing:

“Que bueno que hablas castellano pero que lastima que hablas como un Mexicano.”

Of course I always respond, in the thickest Chilango accent possible:

“Orale pinche cabron, vete a la chingada.”

Not really. But I’d like to. Actually, these days my spanish is morel like, “Vos sos un boludo.”

From an outsider’s perspective, I think CJ says it well: Chicanos get criticized for not being American enough, for not being Mexican enough, and for not being Latin American enough.

By: agustin

agustin — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 01:58:25 +0000

i hate translating for white people, for people asking for social service, these people feel like they are giving the help out of their pockets. even when we got WIC and Medicaid, you got the feeling that they feel like they are doing you a favor.