Once Upon A Quinceanera Final Post

Quote 1- "These celebrations serve to draw us together, keep us going," Norma asserts. "Really a ritual is transformative for the whole community, not just for the individual going through it." Page 235~ Paragraph 2

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?" I think this quote has a lot to do specifically with this question because it is stating how quinces aren't just parties but celebrations for friends and family to come together even during hard times and still be able to have fun and remember the good times.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because if you may have a party for just anyone to come to then you get to meet new people and get closer to your surroundings. Then if you have say just a family party you all get to share your personal stories and we'll all listen and be respectful because we're not just just celebrating, say someones birthday but all of us together having fun.

Question 1- What does "ritual" mean?

Quote 2- "asking for their wisdom and their stories, their benediction to cherish and preserve and now pass on." Page 269~ Paragraph 3

Significance- I chose this quote because it was important because it is the last thing in the book. It tells you that the book is over and what the authors last words were. I think this is important because in this quote, the author is talking directly to the reader and asking and hoping that we learned something from reading this book and that we would cherish, preserve, and pass on our new knowledge.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because whenever you learn something new, the person who taught it to you wishes you will share it with many others and hopes not just you benefits from their knowledge. They want you to be wise with what they have provided you and they want you to and hope you remember it forever.

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 5

Quote 1- "So I had turned into a girl who would call the police on her parents, ay Dios santos! What a monster they had raised!" Paragraph 3~ Page 193

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?" I think this has to do with it because it is showing how the girl is acting because of something so little and that she would call the cops on her own parents. I also think since ay Dios santos, she is talking about God and it shows how she feels.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because as a kid there's many times you get mad at your parents. Also if your a different ethnicity you may use that type of culture to say something about the situation or handle it differently because of that. This connects to the real world.

Question 1- If she knows she's a "monster" then why do you think she "called the police"?

Quote 2- "Women's Way" Title~ Page 217

Significance- I think this quote best related to the question, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?" I think this quote has to do to with this question because it is saying how the woman is kind of taking charge, or that they're using her way. I think this has to do with their life in the Dominican Republic because the women usually stay home and do all the things around the house so it reminds me of women from their culture.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this because even though it's just a title and two very short words, it means a lot and says a lot about their culture and different ways. Here in America the men still usually do most of the family money and things and the wife takes care of things around the house but there are way more women that have jobs here and can be much freeer.

Question 2- What kind of "way" do you think they mwan when they says "women's way"?

Once Upon A Quinceanera Post 4

Quote 1- "Quinces like this are definitely "in" among upper-class Dominican girls." Paragraph 2~ Page 160

Significance- I think this quote has to do with the question, "How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America?" I think this because it is talking about how Dominican girls have quinces. Also how people notice that it's specifically Dominican girls and that mostly every one has quinces.

Personal Connection- I connect to this quote because people I know that are Hispanic in some way are having a quince. Also places you go you notice either people talking about it or sometimes people say help me raise money, and you see people having sales for example maybe saying, "Oh come get your Quinceanera dresses here."

Question 1- Why do you think it's "in" for the upper class more?

Quote 2- "The quince dream belongs to the mothers." Paagraph 3~ Page 175

Significance- I think this quote relates to the question, "What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?" I think this relates to the quote because it is showing how big of deal a quince is for the whole family. I think it's a big deal for the mother because they get to throw their daughter a party meaning she's basically a woman.

Personal Connection- I personally connect to this becaus I think all mother's are attached to their daughters and don't want them to grow up. I also think that the mom would want their kid to have the best of the best.

Question 2- Why do you think the mother plays such an important role in a quince?