Maria Andres: Immigrant Stories

The United States of America, a country created with the hands of immigrants. Immigrants have been in our history since the very beginning, no matter what people have said. My family friend Maria has been in the U.S. since she was seven. Hoping for the American dream, this country has promised various immigrants. Maria was born in Mexico in the state Michoacan. The pueblo that she lived in was in Sitacuaro. When Maria was young, her mom left to the United States to search for a better future. Soon after, she came back and took Maria and her brother to have a better opportunity for herself and for her kids. Maria, not knowing nothing about her pueblo, was terrified and disappointed that she had to leave her grandma, who she was very fond of. Before crossing the border, her mother gave her a gold necklace with a little angel on it and told her that this angel will protect her throughout her journey. Once Maria was in America, she had never felt so uncomfortable and scared as she was that day. The environment was completely different. There were huge buildings, large paved roads, and other things that she had never seen before. Living in Mexico was completely different than it is here in the U.S. The city was so huge. While in Mexico, the town was small where everyone knew everyone. Here, Maria came and knew no one. But luckily, her mom would take her places that were bilingual and had various Spanish-speaking people to talk to. Her mom also put her in a bilingual school, which was Maria's first time seeing people of other ethnicity than her own. It was a change for her. But though she struggled to get comfortable with all the changes in her society, she grew to love her area and the people around her. One thing that has kept her connected to Mexico is the food. California being such a diverse state has helped Maria keep to her roots. She drives up to Fruitvale and eats tacos, enchiladas, or some raspados. Her mom luckily also makes her her favorite Mexican food, which is some enchiladas, and makes Maria extremely happy, knowing that her roots are still here with her and her family. With the chaos in the society that has been currently happening, many immigrants are fearing for their life here in the States. Maria having her family here, she fears that one day something might happen. Even though she lives in California, a very liberal state, with laws that protect immigrants to an extent, you never know what can happen nowadays. Luckily, Maria took the opportunity to apply and receive DACA, and attends college to pursue a great career and help her family in the future, as her family has helped her before. Though she's covered with DACA, there will always be that fear of something happening. As she explains the hardship of today's society, Maria tells me how grateful she is about being here in the U.S. There are a lot of more opportunities to grow higher and live better here in the U.S. than back in Mexico. She does miss her hometown and her grandma the most, but her life here is now. Maria wants people to know that immigrants aren't here to take people's jobs and to cause chaos in this country, but is here to pursue a better future.