Yo's Identity

In the book, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, by Julia Alvarez, the four sisters, Sandra, Carla, Yolanda, and Sofia were all affected by the immigration from the Dominican Republic to America. The themes, sexuality and culture, repeatedly appear in the book as they deal with problems in their lives. Yolanda’s experience with sexuality and the languages in both cultures led her towards a mental breakdown in her adulthood. As poetry is a huge factor in Yolanda’s life, her talent in poetry and her involvements in romantic relationships both impact each other in negative ways, resulting in the downfall of both.

As a child, Yolanda used poetry as a way to express herself. At a very young age, she and her mother often recited poems together. She began by writing poetry and became so involved and appreciated by her teachers that she was often asked to read her poetry in class or in poetry readings. It began in college, when she was set free from her over-protective parents that she was exposed to sex. In an English class of Americans, Yo was introduced to both her first love, Rudy Elmenhurst, and to a deeper analysis of the art of poetry. As they emerged into a closer relationship, Rudy taught Yo about love and poetry as one. Yo admitted, “It was the first pornographic poem I’d ever co-written; of course I didn’t know it was pornographic until Rudy explained to me all the word plays and double meanings” (93). In the beginning, Yo seems to admire Rudy’s ability with words and poetry, as well as his knowledge about sex. Her first knowledge about sex is from a classmate that is described as a bad boy, in the form of poetry. Rudy manipulates her love for poetry to get into a closer relationship. Poetry and romantic relationships becomes intertwined.

As their relationships continued, Yo sensed that their relationship was slowly decreasing less into poetry and more into lovemaking. Rudy exposed a whole new world of drugs, parties, and sex into her life. He began urging her to have sex with him. She continuously refused, afraid of becoming pregnant. He began more vulgar and impatient with her lack of knowledge and her refusal. Yo realized Rudy’s true intention during their last argument in college. He says to her heartlessly, “I thought you’d be hot-blooded, being Spanish and all, and that under all that Catholic bullshit, you’d be really free, instead of all hung up like these cotillion chicks from prep schools. But Jesus, you’re worse than a fucking Puritan” (99). As Yo was attracted to Rudy’s poetic words in the beginning of their relationship, she becomes less attracted when he uses foul languages towards her. He expresses selfishness, not even trying to understand Yo’s feelings. He barely makes an effort to comfort her appropriately. Rudy brings up her ethnicity and the stereotypes towards her race. Yo, as a foreigner in this country, feels that he cannot relate to her culture, her religious beliefs, and most importantly to her use of language. This realization filled her with self-doubts and insecurity.

In adulthood, Yo experiences a confusing marriage with her husband, John. Yo has become quite involved in language and she likes to rhyme. In a flirtatious setting, Yolanda introduces to John a game of rhyme; where what they say to each other have to rhyme with each other’s or their own names. Yo tells John that she wants to be sky, and then John points out that sky does not rhyme with Joe. Yo thinks silently, “’Yo rhymes with cielo in Spanish.’ Yo’s words fell into the dark, mute cavern of John’s mouth. Cielo, cielo, the word echoed. And Yo was running, like the mad, into the safety of her first tongue, where the proudly monolingual John could not catch her, even if he tried” (72). In the beginning of the relationship, nothing unpleasant has happened, but she feels a kind of misunderstanding between them. The poetic side of her comes in between their relationship. To John, the kiss is a sign of affection and love. But in this metaphor, Yo feels as if John is silencing her words. John’s mouth serves as a hollow hole; he does not understand Yo, especially her language split between Spanish and English because Yo emphasizes John as a “proud monolingual”, trying to catch her. As foreseen by Yo’s first sense of discomfort, their relationship did not bond as time passed.

At the end of Yo’s relationship with John, she finds her psychiatrist, Dr. Paine, to help her. She could no longer understand John; she hears his words as “babble”. She has become allergic to certain personal words in her life. She cannot form her own language, and can only quote and misquote others. Her mother comforts her, “’Ay, Yolanda.’ Her mother pronounced her name in Spanish, her pure, mouth-filling, full blooded name, Yolanda. But then it was inevitable, like gravity, like night and day, little apple bites when God’s back is turned, her name fell, bastardized, breaking into a half dozen nicknames” (81). The biggest problem with their relationship is that Yo felt that her own identity was chipping away. In their relationship, John often teases her, giving her nicknames like Valentine and Violet. She was not able to find herself in the many nicknames. John reconstructed her identity with these nicknames, but her true identity involves her poetic self and Spanish heritage that John did not fully accept. Her inability to understand John in the end symbolized the breakdown of the connection with words.

Through Yo’s struggle with relationship and language, she eventually did not become a poet. Doubting her poetic language led her to mistrust herself. She lost touch between her loved ones and most importantly, herself and her poetic abilities. Ultimately, Yolanda’s Spanish heritage, her American culture, and the combination of both in her poetic language symbolize her identity.

Overview of Part 3: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

For me, part three of the book was extremely confusing. One of the most confusing parts was the part where the secret police keeps searching for Papi and the Garica family had to use various codes to stay safe. I did not understand why the secret police wanted Papi.What did they want from him?

As the story progresses backwards, I begin to understand the surroundings of the four girls and how some events impacted how they grew up. The most important event that impacted them was the migration from the Dominican Republic to America. The governments served different purposes in their lives that were both good and bad. The government in the Dominican Republic oppressed women by degrading their abilities and roles in society. If they had stayed on the Island, the sisters would never have thrived to who they are and fulfill their curiosity in the world. America gives them rights and they used it toward their parents, and experienced inappropriate things, like drugs. In America, they abandons their culture and is a bit ashamed of it. But throughout young adulthood, they realizes the beauty of their culture when they had lost it already.

I find that the childhood of the four sisters did not explain much about their adulhood actions, feelings, or dilemma. For example, it didn't explain the part where Yolanda was 'allergic' to words, or when Carla was in a state of hysteria, claiming she was evolving backwards into a monvey.

Ultimately, the ending of the book is weird. It ended abruptly with a random topic- a cat. The cat, in the story, had the least significance in her life and was least talked about, but it seemed to impact Yolanda greatly- from childhood to adulthood. The cat might represent something like childhood.

Christmas Part 2 :)

The history of Christmas is tied in with Christianity. I know alot of people who are not Christians and still celebrate Christmas. Originally, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birth. People read the bible at home and sing holy music, thanking God for the salvation of Jesus Christ to humanity. Nowadays, Christmas has changed alot in meaning, from Jesus Christ to a fat jolly white beard fellow in a red suit that rides raindeers in the sky? Some people say that Santa has replaced Jesus on Christmas. I believe in the birth of Jesus Christ and I also love the stories of Santa Claus.

Even though I am Christian, I do not really celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas. So how have Christams changed to resemble this instead? Why is modern Christmas spirit of "Santa Claus is coming to town" and "Jingle Bells"? However, I would not want this to change even though it is not the "correct" meaning of Christmas.

My hypothesis is that maybe Christmas released the imagination of many children. The joy of Chirstmas is unavoidable and people began to make up stories for the fun of it. Perhaps early in history when children built snowmen, among them a child's imagination charmed the snowman, creating Frosty the Snowman. And that's how it made history. Christmas is the perfect time for imagination to run wild and unleash all the fantasy you have in your head. Maybe our generation would contribute to the traditions on Christmas as well.

Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the holidays that I cannot live without is CHRISTMAS! Christmas is and had always been the best time of the year, and I am not talking about the presents under the Christmas tree, but the spirit and atmosphere. I wish everyday had Christmas spirit, but it would impossible in reality. I cannot wait for it to come. Karissa and I share the same feelings:

"There is so much waiting and anticipation for Christmas day to come. There's so much preperation and shopping that goes into this one day and before you know it, it's over. This is pretty much the only thing I don't like about this time of the year. I always feel sad when Christmas day is over, but i know it will eventually come again."

 There are many factors that add to the joy on Christmas. There are the Christmas songs, that I cannot ever get sick of. Like Jingle Bells, Roudolph The Red Nose Raindeer, All I want For Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town...etc. The ringing of Christmas music and the bells automatically brings happiness in the air. I wonder if there is a chemical relationship in the brain connected with this, like when we smile the brain releases this chemial that makes us happy. It is an unexplainable relaxed happiness. I also love decorating the tree and the house. The dark green richness of the tree matches with multicolors of red, green, white, gold... and then the shimmering angel on top. There is also the food on Christmas that I cannot even begin to explain. Most of all, I enjoy being with my family and friends, just enjoying the warmth of the house and talking with relatives that I have not seen in a long time. This is the only time that I like the cold weather. The frosty mistyness of the air makes it Christmas. I wish the whole town would snow and that everyone would dress up in all their Christmas clothes and say Merry Christmas to one another with the music everywhere like in movies. That would be so cool.  Christmas comes and goes in a flash, but its about to come again!!

Part II of "How The Garcia Girls'Lost TheirAccents" - Overview

Gasions,In this part of the story, the girls' history is thoroughly explained so that we may be able to assume how the girls' came to be in the previous chapter. This part of the story mostly summarizes the struggle to adapt in America.

The Girls' and the parents adapted in different and similar ways. The Girls' try to fit in by dressing up and trying to forget their native tongue. However, at the same time, they long to go home. They want to be like everybody else and adapt to their culture. For example, Yoyo writes a speech that seems to be offensive to teachers in Papi's view, but in the heated argument Mami explains to Papi that this is America, not the Island. There is freedom of speech in this country, and Mami and Papi disapproves the daughters to use this as an excuse to disobey them, like the Girls' American friends. Mami struggles with inventions that Americanshave already invented. papi struggles to not be the head of the family, due to his little English and little money. They all struggle to fit in between the good and the bad of both countries that is impacting them everyday, from being important in the Island to a nobody in America. But Mami says, "I would rather be an independent nobody, than a high class houseslave."

I begin to see an understanding of both cultures develop in Sandi's view at the Fanning's dinner party. American stereotypes of being better is ceased when she realizes her own cultural dancers are extremely beauiful and talanted. At this moment, she recognizes her own beauty and ignore the harsh stereotypes. Mrs. Fannighs behavior presented a non-perfect side of Americans. Sandi is offended by Mrs. Fannings kiss towards her father and the disruptions she caused the dancers. Sandi sees Mrs. Fannings as one who ruined her culture which leads to Sandi's rude attitude towards her.

In the vignette, "A Regular Revolution", the Girls' have lost their Spanishculture and they have adapted to life in America. They in return have to be forced to visit the Island over the summer. The Spanish culture where womn is less important and superior to men impacted them, especially Fifi, over summer. Why do you think she was influenced so quickly when she had lived in American culture for so long?

Story

The Story I have written:

A bang of swords fall from above. Her face rises towards the sky, under the heat of the sun. Her skin burned; roasting her skin. She was barefoot, jotting along side the lighting bolt shaped crack that had split up her country. She was surrounded by the desert with the heat absorbing every last of her saliva. The chunky air entered her windpipe, collecting dust in her throat, making it hard to swallow. Every injury on her body lost their meaning at this time. She ran on, as if following a trail to the past.

To the past of cheering people, sitting under the umbrella all day selling fruits. Apples, oranges, round and healthy stacked one on top of another and a fair cheap price on the bottom. She used to juggle the fruits for entertainment. The peace was disturbed by the high pitch cry of horses, marching into the middle and tore up everything. There was not a spark of hope to the country. Its remains soon decomposed into the ground. Not one person was left.

Raindrops fell onto the boiling land, cleaning the surface of the desert. Permelice opened her eyes, her face colorless and wet. She re winded her mind to reality. Getting stiffly to her feet, she attempted recognize the scene. Bodies tossed among her were half decaying. The rain that fell on their faces to not bring back color to their face. She went around helping everybody with every way she could. Their limp bodies did not come back to life. A majority were becoming ashes.

It has been days after the conquer, why is she still alive? From then on, weapons followed her every footstep.

Response to Kristine's Garcia Girls Blog Post #1

In Kristine's Blog, she shares her view of Yolanda's innocence. She says:

"Yolanda is described in this vignette that she is very innocent and that she is
very devoted religiously. She has a sense of what is right and what is
wrong and no matter what, will not give into the demands of a boy she
loves if she doesn’t feel right. " 

This post made me think about the term "innocence" which we had discussed in English class today. Innocence is a confusing word itself. Innocence can be defined in many ways. In many books last year, I repeatedly see the loss of innocence as a major topic, from The House On Mango Street, to the The Color Purple, to The Mockingbird, to The Kite Runner, to Macbeth, and now I see it in How the Garcia Girls Loss Their Accents. These stories show me that loosing innocence is a part of life. Many people believe children are the most innocent, maybe because they do not know much of the evils of life. They are shield away from the dangers in life- well, most children are. In the Mockingbird, Scout and Jem are both innocent children that their fathers try to protect from unjust views of men against Blacks. Also, in all of most of these books, sex and rape is exposed to the children that which made them loose their innocence

Innocent may be not knowledgable of the evil face of mankind, not knowlegable of virginity, or have not committed any thing that is wrong. Many books seem to show that children are innocent and adults are not innocent. Children are not all innocent. In the Kite Runner, Amir is guilty of being selfish in his friendship to Amir. I think children are not innocent, they committ various harm. However, that is okay because they are in the process of learning what is right and wrong, which are also hard to define. We all learn from our mistakes and build from that.

However, when the many people in the books were raped, I think they may or may not regain their innocence back. They were forced to this aggressive activity. Therefore, their first impression of sex is this. But they may also regain their innocence if they think of sex a different way when they are grown.

The ability to regaining innocence depends on the way people think and can vary in different situations.

How the Garia Girls Lost their Accents: An Overview of Section One

In the reading of How The Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, by Julia Alvarez, my first impression is that it is boring, from reading the first few pages. There were plenty of confusion, especially in the first to second chapter. There, I had to force myself to read on. I had to keep in mind that the story is in backwards chronological order. The first vinette displayed a scene of Yolanda's arrival, intertwined with many memories, flashbacks, and emotions. This part was very confusing because nothing was explained and there seemed to be many unspoken dramas lingered in the characters' tone. Also, during this part, the author's tone shows how uncomfortable Yolanda was and I anticipated for an explanation for her awkward incounterments with people, especially when the two men who spoke Spanish were trying to help her find her way.

As the story progressed, some things began to clear up and this made the story much more interesting. In "The Kiss", the Garcia family was presented as an extremely close family with a deep past. The relationship between the daughters and Papi is unique. Papi contained a very baised view of keeping the family name golden; therefore, the daughters must marry men with extraordinary backgrounds, which I think is the basis of the conflict. Sophia and Papi seems to have an awkward relationship, and I wonder why.

Throughout the story, mother tells stories of the three girls; stories that made her proud. They also had a color coded system, which caught a bit of attention in the story. I think the author includes these little things in their life because it represents something that would help us identify the characters' personalities, especially Mother's because she was the one who set the system up. I especially did not understand the part where Sandra was thought to be crazy and is experiencing backwards evolution. Also, I don't get the reason why Yolanda left John. What does she mean that they spoke two different languages in literature?

I think the author wrote this book in chronological order because to help us see the difference in how the Garcia girls changed each time.