Hola, compadres!  Como esta usted? 

My name is Charles Diego Villareal; I am thirteen years old, and I live with mi familia in San Antonio, Texas.  I am in the eighth grade.

Most everyone I know calls me "Chuy".  "Chuy" is my nickname.

I am a cousin to Arturo Jiminez, who has written in journals before; this is my first whack at it.  I feel strange having to talk about myself, but this is for English, so I have to do it.  Teacher isn't going to grade it; she just wants to see what is going on in our lives.

I have mi mama y papa, mi abuela y abuelo, y mi hermanitos y hermanas.  I also have un gato, name of "Sydney".  I am the oldest kid in mi familia; mi hermanas y hermanitos are younger than me.

I like to do many things:  hang out at the Riverwalk with mi vatos, skateboard, play my video games, play my brand new electric guitar that I got for Christmas, sing, write songs, hang out with my girlfriend, Yolanda Maria, and bowl.  I also like to play baseball and b-ball.

I am Mexican, as you have probably figured out by now.  I certainly ain't Chinese!  LOL  I was born here in America, but mi parentes, they were born in Mexico; they came here so we could have a better life.  They came to Los Estados Unitos a month before I was born; so all of us kids were born here in America.

I love being Mexican:  the culture is so vibrant and alive, and it gives me a certain sense of macho-ism, especially since "all things Latino/Latina" are hot, thanks to the influx of Mexicans coming to America.  I love speaking Espanol, I love the foods, and the music:  ay yi yi, es musica es muy bueno!! :D

When I get older, I want to either be a singer of Mexican songs, or maybe a baseball player.  I'd also like to go to college so I can make something of myself in case my music or baseball career doesn't pan out.

Well, I gotta run:  class fixin' to end.  I will write in here again; until later, this is your new amigo, Chuy Villarreal, saying adios!  Hasta luego, muchachos!

~Chuy.  :)