Question

On a bus trip to London from Oxford University where I was earning some graduate credits one summer, a young man, obviously fresh from a pub, spotted me and as if struck by inspiration went down on his knees in the aisle. With both hands over his heart he broke into an Irish tenor’s rendition of “Maria” from West Side Story. My politely amused fellow passengers gave his lovely voice the round of gentle applause it deserved. Though I was not quite as amused, I managed my version of an English smile: no show of teeth, no extreme contortions of the facial muscles—I was at this time of my life practicing reserve and cool. Oh, that British control, how I coveted it. But Maria had followed me to London, reminding me of a prime fact of my life: you can leave the Island, master the English language, and travel as far as you can, but if you are a Latina, especially one like me who so obviously belongs to Rita Moreno’ gene pool, the Island travels with you.

Converse: Respond to the words from text

Answer 1

It seems that the author, a Latina, experienced an unexpected and somewhat uncomfortable situation on a bus trip from Oxford University to London. They were approached by a young man who had been drinking, and he proceeded to sing "Maria" from West Side Story to them in a rather theatrical manner. The author's fellow passengers were polite and applauded the man's singing, but the author did not find the situation quite as amusing. They describe attempting to maintain a reserved and cool demeanor, but also reflect on the fact that their Latina identity is always with them, no matter where they go or how they try to present themselves. This experience seems to have made the author acutely aware of their cultural identity and how it can affect their interactions with others, even in unexpected and seemingly unrelated situations.