As a small child, I never understood why parents could leave everything behind, their families, their native soil, and their hometown to live in foreign country with no ones support.
Back in Mexico my dad and mom were living the life. My dad had a little tianguis where he would sell fruits and vegetables, while my mom was caring for her new born child, me. They were financially stable, my dad enjoyed his job and they always had family to support them, everything was going well for them. It wasn’t until Mexico’s economic crisis in 1994 that my parents even thought about crossing the border to the US. My dad, for about half a year, stayed in Mexico, in hopes of finding financial stability but things don’t always work out in your favor. He finally decided to leave to the US but it was one of the hardest and most frightening decisions he had to make.
The hardest part about leaving his native land was not crossing the border but rather assimilating to a new culture. Everything was completely new to him, he had no family, and had no support from others. At the age of 22 he had to manage finding a job, a place to sleep, and cooking for himself. He started feeling lonely so he began to use alcohol as a way to fill in that emptiness. One beer became Two, then Three and so on until he would buy 24 packs and finish it within that day. He had his wake up call when, unfortunately, my grandma passed away from cancer. It was a very heart breaking moment for him because all he wanted was to make his mother proud and remove her from poverty. They have always struggled growing up and he didn’t want to see her struggle anymore. My dad decided it was time for my mom to join him in the US. He couldn't do it alone anymore. He needed support. Unfortunately, my dad had enough money for one of us and they decided to leave me behind with my grandma.
I was about two years old when they left me behind, in Mexico. My dad always told me stories about how I would always cry to my grandma because I wanted to be with them. When ever they would call home I would always be excited to hear them talk to me and I would try to have a conversation with them, even though my vocabulary wasn’t that great. After the call ended, I would be filled with sadness and cry again. It was a hard times for both my parents and I , but after a year my mom came back home to give birth to my brother. My dad was finally financially stable and after a year and a half be brought us over to the US. Our family was finally reunited and everything was going well for him again. He had a decent job, his wife by his side, his two blessings my brother and I, and another one was on his way. All his struggles and sacrifices paid off.
At this point of my life I understand why my dad left his hometown. I am very grateful that my dad made these sacrifices because without him I wouldn't be here today.
Back in Mexico my dad and mom were living the life. My dad had a little tianguis where he would sell fruits and vegetables, while my mom was caring for her new born child, me. They were financially stable, my dad enjoyed his job and they always had family to support them, everything was going well for them. It wasn’t until Mexico’s economic crisis in 1994 that my parents even thought about crossing the border to the US. My dad, for about half a year, stayed in Mexico, in hopes of finding financial stability but things don’t always work out in your favor. He finally decided to leave to the US but it was one of the hardest and most frightening decisions he had to make.
The hardest part about leaving his native land was not crossing the border but rather assimilating to a new culture. Everything was completely new to him, he had no family, and had no support from others. At the age of 22 he had to manage finding a job, a place to sleep, and cooking for himself. He started feeling lonely so he began to use alcohol as a way to fill in that emptiness. One beer became Two, then Three and so on until he would buy 24 packs and finish it within that day. He had his wake up call when, unfortunately, my grandma passed away from cancer. It was a very heart breaking moment for him because all he wanted was to make his mother proud and remove her from poverty. They have always struggled growing up and he didn’t want to see her struggle anymore. My dad decided it was time for my mom to join him in the US. He couldn't do it alone anymore. He needed support. Unfortunately, my dad had enough money for one of us and they decided to leave me behind with my grandma.
I was about two years old when they left me behind, in Mexico. My dad always told me stories about how I would always cry to my grandma because I wanted to be with them. When ever they would call home I would always be excited to hear them talk to me and I would try to have a conversation with them, even though my vocabulary wasn’t that great. After the call ended, I would be filled with sadness and cry again. It was a hard times for both my parents and I , but after a year my mom came back home to give birth to my brother. My dad was finally financially stable and after a year and a half be brought us over to the US. Our family was finally reunited and everything was going well for him again. He had a decent job, his wife by his side, his two blessings my brother and I, and another one was on his way. All his struggles and sacrifices paid off.
At this point of my life I understand why my dad left his hometown. I am very grateful that my dad made these sacrifices because without him I wouldn't be here today.
RSS Feed