Personal Narrative: My Migration To Guatemala

It has been 11 years since we have arrived to Los Angeles, California. I can still remember the feeling of when my father had said to us that he we would be moving to a far place to try to find better jobs for my mother and him because with the two jobs my father had and the washing and ironing of other peoples clothes my mom did was not bringing enough money to support my sisters and me and did they wanted to provide a better life for my sisters and me. Mexico was such a poor country that my parents could not see themselves make enough money to support my sisters and me, let alone see us get a better education. So my parents decide to migrate to the United States with one of my mother’s brother. We arrived in Los Angeles, California on

Coming back to the U.S. for the second time in my life after nine years was perhaps one of the most challenging obstacles I have ever had to face. Not only did I have to accustom myself to the language but also to a newer, differentiated culture. Also, with that came some bullying and taunting that did not pull me down but instead opened my eyes to see what a strong and enduring person I could be. With help from my teachers and my supporting family as they helped buffer my experience and transition to a different world, I was able to overcome the typical immigrant challenge that thousands have to face.

In 1964, Guatemala was being run by a military junta, violence was a part of every day life, the economy was in shambles, and jobs were scare (Cuevas, 2011). It was in this setting that a young man, my future father-in-law, took a chance at a better life for he and his family. Enticed by rumors of prosperity in the United States, Alex and his brother Rene saved their money to journey to Chicago, leaving their families behind in a search for hope that was borne of desperation. Alex left his wife Ruth with 20 Guatemalan Quetzal, the equivalent of $20 dollars, and their three children, Vivien, 5, Ingrid, 3, and Marvin, a newborn baby. What experience lay in store for he and his family? How would they fare in an unknown country, without

to my family. It is hard for us to survive in a totally unfamiliar country and we

The classic saying, “There’s always someone who has it worse than you” (Shaggy- Keepin’ it Real), didn’t come true to me until I had first-hand experience. As a child, I grew up in the lower middle class. So I wasn’t rich nor super poor. My mother came to the United States from El Salvador in the 1980’s. She has never taken my brother and me to her home country.

After arriving in the United States, things weren’t as wonderful as we had planned for. Coming to such a unique place in the world was a blessing, but it brought many obstacles to me and my family. It was truly one of the greatest obstacles I had to face learning a new language and getting used to the American life. Getting placed into the ELL program made me feel like I had to work harder than everyone else just to get simple things done. I was made fun of due to the lack of my abilities in speaking English. This only pushed me to work harder and become the best that I can be in everything I do. One thing that stayed the same was the level of support my family members here in the U.S. were able to provide me with to help me get through the

Eighteen years ago my father and mother decided to leave everyone and everything they loved in Syria to immigrate to the United States. They were willing to give up everything in order to give my brothers and I a proper education. My father and mother knew nothing about the English language or culture and yet they were determined to give us a better life. My mother hasn’t had a chance to see her father, or mother in eighteen years because she wanted my brothers and I get a proper education in order to succeed in life. This great leap of faith my parents took is something that I will never take for granted.

I moved to the United States in 2003 to live with my mother who then resided in the country for five years. The thought of escaping the war in Monrovia was thrilling but I soon realized that my country’s war was not my only battle. After my arrival into America, I was faced with oncoming waves of challenges. The war had prevented me from attending school for two consecutive years. The knowledge I had was incomparable to that of my peers. My inability to speak English, along with the overwhelming burden of my native tongue made learning in a new American school difficult. I was a foreigner left to present my capabilities clearly through black lenses with no words spoken depicting that I came from a third-world country. I accepted these faults

Guatemala is located in Central America bordered by Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize. In Guatemala there are about 15 million people. It is broke into 22 departments, instead of states or counties. The majority of the people living in Guatemala live below the national poverty level, making about two dollars a day.

Moving to another country is something that for the majority of people it might be a challenge. The toll of cultural defiances, unfamiliar traditions, society, and language are the most important and consternating struggles that people faced. But changes occur every minute, every second, and everywhere. Changes bring doubt, fear, and even pain to most people. But changes are something that I always look forward to because they alter my perspectives on things. Changes remind me of unpleasant memories, but also about learning experiences. The question of why here and not there, was something that I answered 6 years ago.The answer lied in a series of actions and childhood memories. My life is separated into two geographic locations. The first

I have been praying for God to give me an opportunity to go on a mission trip this summer. Many opportunities have gone by but I did not feel God calling me to those places except for Africa but I talked to you guys and you said no, you would rather keep me alive lol. But anyways, about a week ago I was scrolling through Instagram and one of the summer mentors at First Baptist Woodstock, Natalie Priest, had posted a picture with a caption saying that her church Zion Hill Baptist Church is going on a mission trip this summer to Guatemala. When I first read this I thought to myself, oh my goodness that is so exciting!! Well, that entire night I could not stop thinking about this trip. So I started pouring myself out to God asking Him over and

Since traveling to Nicaragua, I find myself perplexed by the Nietzchean idea that language is the enemy of experience. It is difficult to explain in words an experience that is both awe-inspiring and awful, edifying and heartbreaking, beautiful and atrocious. If my time on the Bucknell Brigade was either entirely great or completely horrible, it would be easier to write about. But since the memory inhabits a confusing and ambiguous space between two intense opposites, my voice had withdrawn into silence.

Life in El Salvador is complicated. With one murder per hour, living in a country with the reputation of the most dangerous place in the world took a toll on my childhood. At an early age I, did not like to talk to people or be around them, because I did not trust them and felt uncomfortable. When I was in class and the teacher ask a question, I did not raise my hand even if I knew the answer because such shy behavior became my most noticeable characteristic. At the age of 13, I came to the United States to live with my mom. Besides my excluding behavior, now I needed to go to a new school and learn to speak a new language in order to be successful. It was difficult for me to change my personality and adapt to this new environment. I had nutrition

We walk out of the airport and stop, frozen in sheer amazement at the picturesque view of Bermuda. This sheer amazement occurs when one is so astonished at what his eyes lay upon that his body forgets all functions, as if each muscle and organ is in envy of what the eyes are rewarded with. (Definition) As if on cue, the aroma of peppers comes upon us as we look upon the clear, turquoise water waving back and forth in front of us between the immaculate palm trees swaying in the light breeze. We follow our taxi driver to his car and enter, only to hear music that would never be played in America. It sounds like an upbeat Caribbean or Jamaican tune, which clearly represents the mood of everyone who lives in Bermuda, and soon us as well. This drive to the resort is one of the most exquisite 15 minute journeys I will ever undergo, and I already know that this trip will be an unforgettable experience.

My biggest fear was the decision of whether to stay in Guatemala with my mother and sister, or move to the US with my father to seek better opportunities. One decision meant keeping the usual deposits from my father, while the other involved a cut in half of this child support. The harsh choice to leave my mother with a living spend of 500$ a month or stay in Guatemala and somehow convince my father to keep on sending 1000$. Both of these horrified me to no extent, but a decision had to be made. I did not have any other options, but only to decide between my mother’s warm and familiar wing, and my father’s cold and unfamiliar presence. Luckily, maturity sprouted out of my chest as a butterfly out of a cocoon, and I concluded that sacrifice