Walking along Park Street, one sees many Puerto Rican flags on the storefronts and hears salsa music playing in the background of people talking Spanish. Names of stores and restaurants include: "Comerio," "Aqui me Quedo," "Aibonito," "Mr. Musica," etc... The Hartford Public Library has a sign that reads "La Biblioteca Publica de Hartford" and on the sides of buildings, you have billboards that are in Spanish or a mural showing the flags of different countries, including Puerto Rico, and the word AIDS written on the side of it. This is the outside, what many people see as little Puerto Rico, an attempt to maintain the language and culture of Puerto Rico. But do the people that live and work in this area feel that this is little Puerto Rico? The only way to find out is to ask the people that work and live in this community and that is what we did. We interviewed four random people and asked them what they thought. The questions we asked them, included: their place of birth; if the Park Street area or any other area in Connecticut reminded them or resembled Puerto Rico; if they felt English was important for the progression of Puerto Ricans in the United States; if not knowing English was ever an obstacle for them and if so, how and why; and whether or not they feel that an effort should be made to increase bilingual services in areas such as hospitals, courts, post offices, etc....

        Questioning random people, who ranged in age, we received a variety of answers. Out of the four people we interviewed, two were born in Puerto Rico and the other two in the United States. This we felt was necessary to ask because it would effect the way in which they answered the questions. People born in Puerto Rico would have stronger feelings for the questions raised because they are more likely to have learned Spanish and have more trouble learning English and adapting to the ways of the United States. This is opposed to those who weren’t born in Puerto Rico who are more likely to have learned English as well as Spanish. Francisco Acevado, who migrated to the United States in 1959, only spoke Spanish and said it was unnecessary for him to learn English because his kids did everything and took care of everything for him. He has managed to live in the United States for almost forty years and has not had to learn how to speak English. This could be because he was a cook and did not really have to interact with people, or because now he sells "Helados de Coco y PiÁa" and only really needs to understand the words one dollar or two dollar. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he says that the only part of Connecticut that reminds him of Puerto Rico is the wooded areas because it reminds him of the green area and hills of Puerto Rico. He feels no need to learn English and does not see it as important for the progression of the Puerto Rican people or as an obstacle because it has never stopped him. However, he does believe that an increase in bilingual services should be made and that there is a lot of discrimination in these public service areas. This is due to the fact that one night he went to the hospital, sick with diabetes, and the doctors could not understand him because they did not speak Spanish, so they did not help him and he left.

        The owner of the restaurant "Aibonito," was also born in Puerto Rico and named the restaurant after the town he lived in. He came to the United States at an early age and therefore found the obstacle of not knowing Spanish more difficult than not knowing English. This, however, did not stop him from feeling that English is important for the progression of Puerto Ricans in the United States. He said it is important to know English to get jobs, improve skills and bring up the kids. But at the same time he says that it is hard to learn Spanish because there is no one to teach it. Like Acevado, he feels that the wooded areas of Connecticut are the only places that remind him of Puerto Rico and when asked if all public services should increase bilingual services, he said "yes - EVERYWHERE."

Liz Perez-Balesky, the librarian at the Hartford Public library on Park Street, was born in the United States and had some strong feelings about the language situation. She felt that English is definitely important for the progression of Puerto Ricans in the United States. English is the main language of the United States and if you do not know it, then you will be unable to communicate with people. Therefore, not knowing English is definitely an obstacle, although she never experienced it as an obstacle. "Not knowing English lessens means of communication, and lessens the chances of getting jobs and getting into schools." Her answer to the question about increasing bilingual public services was answered by a single statement, "of course, this is America."

        The last person interviewed was Epifanio Garcia. A young man born in the United States, who occasionally returns to Puerto Rico. He feels that nothing resembles or reminds him of Puerto Rico, not even Park Street. He believes that English is important for the progression of Puerto Ricans because right now, Puerto Ricans are struggling to survive and one of the major problems lies within language barriers. This he perceives as a major obstacle to getting jobs and getting educated. His belief is that if more people knew Spanish, there would be less problems.

                    As you can see, by the appearance of Park Street and the way the people answer the questions, language is very important to the people of the community although everyone has different experiences. Nothing can really replace Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico and Hartford are two different entities.  Though Puerto Ricans bring the language with them to the United States, most feel that bilingualism is important and needs to be recognized.