Spanglish

To Dean of Admissions,

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 influential person taught me

the most important word I've learned.

Aloha, which I...

To the Dean of Admissions,

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.

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.

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...

to Los Angeles...

48/% Hispanic.

...look at the Detroit Pistons.

And your mother's saying, "Get up!"

But, no, what of it?

You can't see them. Why?

'Cause you're being killed...

you'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 favourite cousin,

Monica, gave us shelter.

For the next six years...

neither of us ventured outside

our new community.

Mum 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. We're here for

the interview with Mrs. Clasky?

Oh, great. You made it.

Come on in. The front door's open

and we're out back. Okay?

And call me Deborah.

Holding out had helped though.

She was no longer intimidated.

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?

No. Don't worry, I'm not mad.

I've been looking for decoration to put up

on the glass so people wouldn't walk into it.

Instead of taking what was in stock,

which was awful, I special ordered...

but I'll design something myself,

which I should've done...

What does that matter

when your nose is bleeding?

- Shut up, Deborah.

- Now you got it, Mum.

- There's no ice pack, Bern!

- So get anything frozen.

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.

I'm hosting a fundraiser

for the school tonight.

It's just a mess. Come sit right here.

Here you go.

Yeah, just... That's great.

Just toss it.

She's my cousin.

She's been here for a while and

she understands some, but doesn't really...

speak English, but, anyway...

She lives in the apartment I manage and...

- So who am I interviewing?

- Her.

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...

- and my mother, Evelyn Wright.

- Evelyn.

- Do you want to come in out of the sun?

- No, we're fine.

You need some sunscreen? I got a 70 here.

She loves the sun.

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?

Okay, let's just talk.

I have two children. My husband is

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?

It's okay. I can talk about it. I just...

I ran a commercial design company

until four months ago...

when it was downsized to zip.

- Now I'm a full-time mum. Gulp!

- Double gulp.

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

at the same time.

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?

Flor.

- Floor?

- No, Flor.

Floor.

Flor.

- It means "flower," right?

- Flower, yes.

- Floor! What I walk on, right?

- Flor.

- Flor.

- Flor!

Is there some school of the ear

I'm flunking out off right now?

What'd she say?

She says if you curl your tongue,

then let it be loose, you'll get it...

and that it's really hard for Americans...

and that it's great you try so hard.

Because most people wouldn't bother.

She gets me.

Flor.

Dense, but stubborn, right?

Now, see what you just did for me?

That is just what the kids need.

Patience and encouragement.

All right, money.

- Goodbye. Look forward to seeing you.

- Love you.

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?

$1,000.

She's kidding!

$650!

Welcome to the family.

Come on. I want to show you around.

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?

- Gracias.

- You're welcome.

Here you go.

Enjoy.

- Gracias.

- You're welcome.

Whoa, expensive.

Excuse me.

Those men would like to buy you a drink.

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 sake?"

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.

Hey! Will you try this?

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