Patrick José’s recollection of a his transition from his home county of the Philippines to the United States described how as a child he bought into the American dream based on the movie “An American Tale”. He moved to California with great expectations of a new and easy life. Like the movie he had watched so many times as a child, he developed a false impression of how he would be received in his new country.
Throughout life we frequently anticipate that a major event in our life is going to be wonderful and great, but it can fall short of our expectations. Reality set in quickly for Jose during his first day in his new school. Although he had a good English vocabulary, his accent became the object of ridicule by his classmates. His customary lunch of rice and tilapia brought additional laughter from his fellow students. His dreams of what life would be like in America were shattered during that first day of school. The days that followed brought further humiliation to the point where he resented his own culture and withdrew from his own family.
Most of us can relate to an anticipated event turning sour, but when your entire identity is threatened one cannot help but empathize with Jose's plight. He effectively guides the reader through a multitude of emotions. We felt his anticipation, hesitations, humiliation and ultimate despair progress throughout the story.
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