(1.) How Marquez explains the fact that she and her parents “haven't adopted English as our official family language" is by stating that while at home or in public areas she and her parents will speak spanish to each other. If I were standing next to the three of them and they were speaking in Spanish, I would definitely not see it as rude, because it is their heritage and America is a melting pot, everyone is entitled to their own individual rights and freedoms, preference of language being one of them.
(4.) Under what circumstances would Marquez stop speaking Spanish and use English was when and if someone she was with could only speak english, she would immediately revert to english and continue the conversation. If I were bilingual, I would certainly behave the same in a similar situation, just because it would be rude and unfair to the non-foreign language speaker if I kept speaking in the native dialect knowing that the person I was with would not be able to understand the conversation I was having.
What I believed made this piece of writing powerful was the voice Marquez used. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind and tell things exactly they way they were- she didn't sugar coat anything. She got straight to her points and said it not only with clarity and purpose but with pride as well.
What is so valuable about this type of genre is that it has to do with nationality and pride in ones heritage. The voice being spoken in this genre (Marquez's) speaks not just to speak- but to get the word out on misconceptions that Americans have made about foriegners simply because of a lack of understanding of them such as the whole "oh they're speaking in spanish so they must be talking down about Americans" kind of mindset. Marquez is not afraid to speak what is truly on her mind- a powerful quality.
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