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Luis Gustavo Padilla Montes, a University of Guadalajara professor and top administrator, said that L.A.’s “biculturalism and multiculturalism” makes it an attractive partner for forging additional links with Guadalajara’s institutions.

“All my life until that moment I thought my bilingualism or biculturalism was a bit of a chip on my shoulders,” said Song.

Yet, here was someone who looked like her, uncompromising in her biculturalism and appearance.

She did not shy away from the intricacies of biculturalism; instead, she discussed the challenges with tender sincerity: “I feel very proud to be Mexican. I didn’t have the opportunity to learn Spanish when I was a girl, but … it’s never too late to get in touch with your roots,” she said in an interview in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1994.

I don’t necessarily think I came into it trying to represent biculturalism.