After reading until chapter four, I think Sam is embarrassed about his family´s circumstance. He often tells about it in a very bad context. As an example: On page 40 he is telling about Alica's parents (both are graduates) and a few rows later he is writing that" if she(Alica) found out that none of us-my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents,nobody-had ever been to college, then she might not have wanted to spend any time with me" (p.40 l.21-24). And there is also the funny part with his friend rabid.