Very nice piece! My main “gig” at the moment is actually giving one-on-one classes to Chinese kids in the wee hours of the morning (after school for them); I often notice very “enthusiastic” parents making sure they stay focused, sometimes when they’re practically falling asleep. I can’t even imagine what it was like to come to a new country not speaking the language at 12!!

I’m from Texas and went to public school, so was always around black and latino kids (though I don’t think I knew any Asians or Jewish people my entire time growing up!). Even so, there were clear racial divides, and I didn’t learn Spanish until I actually MOVED to Mexico.

At this point I’ve spent my entire adult life in Mexico, where I’m technically “a minority”, but it’s different, because I’m considered to be exceptional for no reason rather than inferior for no reason. It’s a strange feeling, and I’m trying hard for my kid (who is Mexican) to feel special like all kids should, but not “special” as in better than other people (I can tell she speaks English with me loudly in public, for example, to “show off” that she speaks English haha).

Great writing, and very interesting to read!