Personal Narrative: Costa Rice

Who is Scarlett Berenisse Mendoza Rodriguez? Is it an American girl? Is it a Mexican girl? Is it a teenager that always complains about her way of living when she has all that she needs because her mother works too hard, so that her siblings and her, can have everything necessary to survive? Yes, I am all of them. I am a Mexican-American minor trying to figure out what to do with her existence. A young lady that is repeatedly complaining about what she does not have while she does not notice what she already has.

When most people hear my full name , “Joann Botani," they automatically assume I'm Italian, but truth is I am actually Middle Eastern. From what I know my dad does have a little Italian in his blood but the name “Botani” actually comes from a city in Turkey. I come from an upper-middle class house hold and I have two younger siblings, a brother and a sister. Being the oldest has its challenges because there is so much expected from me whether it is school, work or social life. I tend to think my younger siblings have it easier because I am the one who pushes the boundaries with my parents and because of that my siblings usually get to do what ever the want because it is not as extreme as what I do. It has always been easy for my younger sister because she is the “princess” of the house but I am my dad’s favorite while my brother is a momma’s boy. My family is very competitive when it comes to school and grades, my little brother and I were always duking it out

My parents come from a small town in Michoacán, Mexico. Growing up, my first language was Spanish. There were situations where I would be embarrassed of my parents for not knowing how to speak English. People would give mean looks and give off a rude tone because of the fact they couldn't speak English. I was a shy person, so I didn't know how to defend my parents but those experiences shaped me into the person who is not embarrassed about having Mexican parents and helps them around with their English. I am a proud and lucky to be the daughter of Mexican parents. Aside from that, I had been an only child till I was eight years old. The day my sister was born, I knew she will be my best friend forever. She is now ten years old and looks up

My motherland was not like my peers in the United States, instead it was very different from my friends. I was born in China. My biological parents abandoned me in a box by a train station when I was only a couple of days old for an undisclosed reason. An adoption agency found the box, and then a few weeks later a foster family took me into their home and raised me as their child.

Those who know me personally, know that I wouldn’t be where I am right now without my parents. In order to give me the best opportunities, both my parents, born and raised in Vietnam, made many sacrifices, one of which included moving to the states. Larissa Martinez, McKinney Boyd High School’s 2016 Valedictorian, words, “while parents metaphorically move mountains for their children, you (her mom) literally moved countries for my sister and me,” have left a mark on me and although my story may not be to her extent, I can certainly say that my parents did the same.

One warm summer morning my sister, dad, and I were sitting and watching T.V. and my best friend’s dad called and invited us over for the weekend. He said

Both of my grandparents on each side would transport back and forth from Mexico to the United States to work. These low wage jobs in the agricultural fields supported families of 8 to 9, but unfortunately wore my grandparents out by the cruel sun and stiff job conditions. Eventually deciding to move to the United States, my grandparents brought their families and settled in Woodburn. At age 14, both of my parents came to the little town of Woodburn in Oregon and would attend Woodburn High. Speaking no english and coming into a completely altered society, they were overwhelmed by the significant changes.

Kammi Kolanko is my mother and hero. She is 37 years old and works at a school as a substitute teacher in the Norwin Elementary School. She also lives in a house on 1180 Pinewood Road Irwin PA 15642. She helps me with my homework and makes sure I have everything ready for school in the morning each day. She also makes sure I have a good packed lunch for every day in school. She is a person who is an amazingly good and fast cook. She wants us, her kids, to not become selfish. She also wants us to lead productive lives. She hopes we can be kind people when we grow up.

I grew up in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, living most of my life on the country side with my Mom. My father was not in the picture, as he abandoned the house when I was very young.

Growing up my parents both lived in the poor country of Vietnam. My mom lived in the

Each house-- painted a very vibrant, dazzling color, purple, orange, yellow, green, and pink. I had never seen houses like that in the United States the usual house colors are gray, white, tan, blue, very dull colors. The sight of these vivid houses was just a small glimpse of this beautiful country. As I nervously traveled without my family for the first time the lush terrain of Costa Rica dotted with colorful houses welcomed me.

My parents and I emigrated from Mexico when I was very young. I was born in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, Mexico. There my father, my mother and I lived in a shaggy one bedroom brick shack that lacked all the common utilities we take for granted here. There was no electricity nor was there plumbing inside the house. During the night time we had to light up oil lamps only when absolutely necessary and everything that required water usage was done outside. When my parents discovered my mother was expecting another child they finally decide that was not the life they wanted for their children. They left behind

I was born in Boston, but raised in Boston and New York. Growing up I was an only child, and my mother had family in all over Queens, New York. My mother is originally from Haiti. When she came to America, she didn’t have much family support. She stayed at my grandparents’ house in Brockton. She was looked down upon by my grandfather for having a child before being married. Instead, she would take a trip to New York every weekend, where her sister lived, to avoid the negativity. Growing

Being born in Jackson, TN life was different for me than those that grew up in the integrated societies in California or the yanks up north. My momma was always having me help around the house and cook, clean, and tend after my five younger siblings. My daddy ran a small farm that provided for our family. It wasn’t a lavish life by any means but we got by and had each other. Our family mainly grew corn on our farm but we had a couple of cows and chickens to keep the family fed throughout the year. Being the oldest child and a girl I mostly focused on helping momma around the house when I was at home, but my parents instilled a great faith in all of us children

Here in Oregon is where the three of us became a family; mom, Jelly a.k.a. Angelica (my sister) and me. Years went by as we assimilated to life here in Oregon. My mother worked hard to give us kids everything we desired and needed, all the while trying desperately not to be her mother. At the time we were all unaware of how alike my mother and grandmother could be.