When I began writing Between Two Worlds, I didn’t set out merely to tell a story. I was searching for meaning in something I had been witnessing for years—something not only literary, but deeply human and often painful.
Before I came to the United States, I was born and raised in Chile. I also lived in Spain for nearly a year, and I had the privilege of traveling throughout Latin America and Europe. In all those places, the value of speaking multiple languages was never questioned. People wanted to learn languages—English, French, German—because it was seen as an asset, a pathway to growth, opportunity, and cultural connection.
Raising bilingual and bicultural children in the United States is often misunderstood. What many see as a “problem” with English proficiency is, in fact, a natural part of growing up multilingual. Yet, pressure from schools, daycare, and society can turn language into a source of stress, shame, and cultural loss.