3/14 – Bankruptcy Letters was discussed about how Puerto Rico was in debt and the classic move for governments is to advantage of Puerto Ricans especially money. We answered the question whether or not if Puerto Rico will ever get out of debt. Some people agreed that it would not be possible for Puerto Rico to get out of debt due to the amount of money they owe, the government selfish manners and the law in place. Other half of people believed that it would be possible but within due time because of the process so far of who is getting rejected money and who will get money or the hope that the government will finally see Puerto Rico as a part of the USA.

My stance in this issue was that Puerto Rico wouldn’t get out of debt because of government issues, the lack of education and notice given to the creditors and lastly the amount of money owed. As stated in the text “When Mariluz received her own, she had only two days left until the deadline to send back her information. She was not alone. A lot of her co-workers also didn’t get a lot of advanced notice. None of them were very clear on how the process worked and were even less sure of how much the government owed them.” This evaluates the education aspect of the situation showing people had no time to go over files and paychecks they got to see how much they were owed along with showing people had no idea what was happening where they as a collective gathered up to see what money was owed and actions to take to claim said money.

2/28 – Levittown was a new city that brought the idea of a middle class an American one at that on Puerto Rico to be this alternative “American dream”. Everyone loved the town it looks exactly like the commercials and American living everyone had space and there was big community where parties and celebration were shared because they were close to each other. Although was so happy on the changes people forgot the struggles it took to get there and how to make such changes people needed to move out for other people to live the dream and go towards a more affordable place. Levittown was a good dream to have but many wanted to come to the United States of America but after all the rejections, the different cultures, different language and the struggle of living in a small space and huge rent that doesn’t match like many other people wanted to leave back to Puerto Rico, but some weren’t as lucky. This was a juggle Levittown and the USA because the economy was failing, and people were out of jobs and were debating whether to sell their houses in USA. Some had no choice and had to sell the house to keep money many people left Levittown and it turned empty over things like loss sense of community. One generation ago the community was high, and people always thought of their neighbors, and everyone would take care of each now people who didn’t live in that environment or the new gen can’t see a possibility where that was possible to care that much.

This episode for me was a bit relatable simply because of what I hear and from my own experience when it comes to being a Latina in USA. When people were speaking on the sense of belonging and the way people here think and talk to you is very different from if you were American born. The same is when you go back to your hometown it’s like a switch people think of you and your speaking of language and understanding as weird and gringa like which doesn’t help your transition anywhere you go. I think because the American dream and living is commercialized so many people don’t realize how bad things can be and are here in the states because yes there are a lot of opportunities maybe less crimes, but it is just like any other town with big obstacles in the way.

In your opinion was Levittown an “American” dream or a miniature version of USA living situations? Why?