A Mayan Life #4

How is Lwin like the boy in "A Bilingual Childhood"?

Many instances throughout the book, Gaspar inserts quotes from different characters in the book. These quotes are from older versions of the characters as they look back on the situations that the book describes. For example, Gaspar writes, "'For me,' Lwin said, 'school and family were two worlds, two life styles and two self-concepts.' " This statement by Lwin brings to mind the passage we read in class, "A Bilingual Childhood;" Lwin is going through the near exact same thing as the child in that story did. Lwin goes to a school where they speak a language that he doesn't know, Spanish. His parnts wanted him to get an education, for they just lost alot of land becasue they signed a contract that outlined things they cuold not read. At school, all the kids think Lwin is strange because he never speaks, the teachers think he is stupid because he never understands what is going on because of the language barrier, and everyone makes derogatory comments to Lwin because of his heritage. Lwin's family life is very different from his school life; at home, he abides by Mayan customs and speaks freely and confidently, but at school, he is ashamed of his Mayan ancestry and rarely speaks. Lwin is Still having trouble with learning the Spanish language, but he is picking up simple words very quickly. Much like in "Bilingual Childhood," Lwin is becoming a different boy, one who is educated and influenced by Spanish, rather than Mayan, society. I suspect that soon, Lwin will begin to break the close bonds he has with his family, and, like the boy in "Bilingual Childhood," become a more permanent member of Spanish society, doing things that other Mayans would never do, like go on to college and get a good paying job.