Is Spanish the new English?

So, I was with my bestfriend who is Colombian, one day at her uncle's house. I didn't know how to speak spanish as well as I do now, but my bestfriend spoke spanish so fast and so very well, that there were times I wouldn't clearly understand what she had to say. Her family, as well, spoke spanish very fast and very different than my family. As her uncle began to speak to me, I would answer some questions and then nodd my head as if I were agreeing with everything he said. Finally, he noticed that I was nodding too much and asked me where I was from. I told him that I was Cuban, but he wouldn't believe me. He asked me if I was born and raised there, and I told him no. My parents were born and raised in Cuba. He and the family insisted that I was a "gringa". A "gringa" is an all American white person to Hispanics. Of course I obviousley was the only "gringa" there, so I felt out of place. I'm not a "gringa", I'm actually very cuban, but of course Cubans are so different than Colombians that I stand out in the crowd. I never told my bestfriend, but it really hurt my feelings. I felt kind of discriminated. So, to get my point accross, is it now a requirement to speak spanish in Miami? On the radio the other day, I was listening to an issue that a woman had with a cashier in a fast food drive-in. The cashier did not speak good english, and the customer did not speak spanish. In the end, the customer was rediculed on how she lives in Miami and does not know spanish.

Identity

To me, identity means alot of things. It is who you are. It is where you came from, how you became to be, the choices you've made and experiences you've been through. My personality, I would say, is nice. But my identity isn't just nice. I'm also a very picky person. Sometimes I have a short temper and blow things out of porportion. I am Cuban American, born in Miami and raised in Simi Valley, California. My parents are both Cuban and I have an older sister. If you see both my sister and I, we are completely different. My sister came out like my mom (personality wise) and I came out like my dad (personality and physically). Therefore, some aspects of identity you are born with. Over the years my personality, attitude and character have changed alot. I think that without an identity, people would just be lost and confused.

Hectic semester!

For the past semesters that I have spent in Miami Dade College, I've never seen such busy parking lots! The moment I enter through the west side of the campus, cars are already parked along the grass. Even the furthest parking lots get filled up quick. Plus, the moment you find a person walking towards the parking lot to leave, there's already at least one or two cars chasing them. This morning I had some luck! I spent about 25 minutes driving around each parking lot of Miami Dade College. Then finally, I saw that a car was leaving it's parking spot. It was the most perfect parking spot, closest to school. As I already had my turning blinker on, I start opening to make my turn into the open space. Before I knew it, some little white car managed to slip through and steel my parking space! As usual, I got very late to my 9:50 am class. I think the college sould consider making more parking lots, another parking garage, or some sort of valet parking for students and professors. If there is that many students and professors attending the college, there should definately be available parking.