Spanglish

To Dean of Admission, Princeton University.

The most influential person in my life...

Is Mother Teresa, whose example helped me overcome the arrogance

which threatened after my 1, 600 SAT score and National Merit Scholarship.

My most influential person taught me the most important word I've learned.

Aloha, which I...

To the Dean of Admission, Princeton University.

From Cristina Moreno.

Most influential person, my mother. No contest.

I think I have been pointing toward this essay

ever since the day, 12 years ago in Mexico, when my father left.

Such was my mother's need to protect me, that she would not let me see her cry.

Momento.

The trick was, get over it as quickly and privately as possible.

Such was my need to protect her, that I never let on that I could hear her.

Oh!

My mother kept us in Mexico as long as possible

to root me in all things Latin.

Finally, she sensed our last opportunity for change.

We would leave for America.

"One tear.

"Just one.

"So, make it a good one," she said.

She would be my Mexico.

Because this admissions essay is open record,

let me just say that our transportation into the United States

was economy class.

In order to raise me properly,

my mother needed as much of the security of her own culture as possible.

So, we rolled through Texas...

Just 34% Hispanic...

Adiós, Texas.

To Los Angeles,

48% Hispanic.

Look at the Detroit Pistons.

And your mother's saying, "Get up. Get up, honey. Get up." But, no, what of it?

You can't see them. Why? 'Cause they're being killed,

they're being strangled by the psychotic Raider fans.

What do you have in Oakland? You got a bunch of psychotic...

A few minutes adrift in an alien environment,

then we turned a corner, and we were right back home.

My mother's favorite cousin, Monica, gave us shelter.

For the next six years,

neither of us ventured outside our new community.

Mom worked two jobs, paying a total of $450 a week.

Each of us doing everything we could to make things work.

We were safe and happy.

If only I could have stayed six.

But I was blossoming.

And during my very first dance,

in the time it took a boy's hand to go from my back to my bottom,

it was evident that she would have to leave her night job

to keep a watchful eye on me.

Within days, she was on her way to a job interview.

She needed $450 from one job.

And that meant, after all her time in America,

finally entering a foreign land.

Hello?

Yeah, hi. Uh, we're here for the interview with Mrs. Clasky?

Oh, great. Great. You made it.

Come on in. The front door's open and we're out back. Okay?

- Oh, and call me Deborah. - Okay.

Holding out had helped, though.

She was no longer intimidated.

Uh-huh.

Working for Anglos now posed no problems. It would just be a job.

White America beckoned.

She stepped across the cultural divide.

- Gee whiz in heaven, are you okay? - Oh, no, no. Don't worry, I'm not mad.

I've been looking for decoration to put up on the glass,

so people would stop walking into it.

Instead of taking what they had in stock, which was awful, I special ordered and I...

You know what? I'm just gonna design something myself,

which is what I should've done in the first place...

And what does that matter when your nose is bleeding?

- Oh, gosh, shut up, Deborah. - Now you got it, Mom.

- There's no ice pack, Bern. - So, get anything frozen.

Pressure, pressure. Just pressure.

Take this.

Is it strange that I just gave you money? I just felt really badly.

It's okay.

Chum, knock it off!

I'm sorry about the way the place looks.

You know, I'm hosting a fundraiser for the school tonight.

It's just a mess. A couple hours away. Just come sit right here.

Here you go. Okay.

Yeah, just... That's great.

Yeah, just toss it.

Well, um, she's my cousin.

She has been here for a while and she understands some,

but doesn't really speak English, but, well, anyway...

Um, she lives in the apartment I manage and...

- So, who am I interviewing? - Oh, her.

You're gorgeous.

You're gorgeous.

She didn't mean it as a compliment. It's more of an accusation.

- Mother. - Go ahead.

- I'm sorry. This is my daughter, Bernie... - Hi.

- And my mother, Evelyn Wright. - Evelyn.

Do you guys want to come in out of the sun? You wanna?

No, no, we're fine.

You need some sunscreen? I got a 70 here.

She loves the sun.

Oh, look, we're wearing the same sweater. That's good booga-booga.

You want some lemonade, maybe?

Lemonade, please? Would you like to take some? Both of you?

No, thanks.

Okay, let's just talk.

Well, I have two children, and my husband is a chef,

a top chef, like that makes me something.

- Anyway, he works nights, so... - Do you work?

Yes. No. Not right now. Why? How do you know to ask that?

Well, it's okay. I can talk about it. I just...

I helped run a commercial design company up until four months ago

when it was downsized to zip.

- And now, I'm a full-time mom. Gulp. - Double gulp.

Anyway, I have two children. My son Georgie is nine, Bernie you know,

and I like the house to be like me, you know...

I'm very loose and meticulous, you know, at the same time.

But it's all about first names and closeness here.

Let her know, absolutely. But I do care about the place.

I'm so sorry, I'm not leaving you time to translate.

What's your name?

Llamo. It's one of my five Spanish words.

- Flor Moreno. - Floor?

- Mmm. Flor. - Floor?

No, Flor.

- Floor. - Flor.

- It means "flower," right? - Yes, flower, yes.

- Floor. What I walk on, right? - Flor.

- Flor. - Flor.

Is there some school of the ear

that I'm flunking out of right now?

What'd she say?

She says if you curl your tongue and then let it be loose,

that you'll get it and that it's really hard for Americans

and that it's great that you try so hard, because most people wouldn't bother.

She gets me.

Qué?

Flor.

Perfecto!

Yay!

Dense, but stubborn, right?

Oh, now, see what you just did for me? That is just what kids need.

Patience and encouragement.

All right, money.

- Goodbye. Look forward to seeing you. - Love you.

So, the job is six days a week. Seven, eight, 12 hours, it depends.

All the housekeeping, driving the kids. How much a week do you want?

- Whatever you say. - No.

No. This is a very important question

because if you ask for too little, it means you don't value yourself.

You ask for too much, it means you're taking advantage. So?

One thousand dollars.

She's kidding.

$650.

Welcome to the family.

Come on. I want to show you around.

Yeah, yeah. Come on, come on, come on.

I had never known that my mother had been chronically worried about money

until the first glimpse of her as financially unburdened.

Can we have a table for two, please?

- We're celebrating. - Okay, right this way.

Is this good?

Okay.

- Sí. Gracias. - You're welcome.

Here you go. Here you go. Enjoy.

- Gracias. - You're welcome.

Whoa. Expensive.

Excuse me?

Uh, those men would like to buy you a drink.

Qué?

Those...

Thank you.

- No, gracias. - Okay.

Sorry.

This is so embarrassing.

My mother said to tell them, "Who do you think you are?"

"Can't you see I'm with my daughter, for God's sakes?"

Good.

She said, "Who do you think you are?"

She's with her daughter, for God's sake. Her young daughter.

Passing on the left.

Left.

Morning, Flor. See you up there. Left.

Left!

Ola?

Ola?

Oh. Hey!

Ola!

Hey. Oh. Will you try this?

Um...

- Oh! Mmm... - Isn't that good?

Okay, think seriously about getting up.

You don't have to get up yet, but are you thinking seriously about it?

- Yes. - Okay.

Oh!

- My God! This is amazing. - Ow!

A simple "it's good" will do.

I mean... Oh, that...