Immigrant dreams

In 2014, Latinos became the largest population group in California. With this initial, we periodically offer Sun readers a variety of perspectives from member of this new “majority.”

First of all let me thank you for taking your valuable time to read what I sincerely hope will be of interest, to give you a slight idea of the experience of a Hispanic in this adventure known as  “The Other Side”, “El Norte” or – from an earlier era  – “The American Dream.”

I’ll start by describing the typical leave-taking from the homeland  –  full of tears,  at receiving the blessing of my parents;  full of dreams, and promises to those left behind;  and charged with the commitment of taking this difficult step to work for a better life –  for the immigrant himself, and for his family. In my excitement to tell the adventure ahead, I must not fail to mention the big risks involved –  risk of injuries, of experiences that leave psychological consequences, and even of one’s life.  

One important factor is Luck – which at times I am completely out of sorts with, and which varies for most of us.  Maybe it smiles on you and everything goes perfectly, or maybe it forgets about you and, best case scenario, you don’t make it across the “line.”  I don’t know what it costs now, but when I did it, the contract was $1300 for “getting the goat across alive”, including the ‘ride’ to L.A.

At last the “Tijuanzo” — crossing the border without documents —  is over,

here we are on this side  — “Wow”! The United States! The Great World Power!”

 A couple of days pass, and I still can’t believe it.  It’s just like we saw in “Rocky” or “Fast and Furious” and all the others.

So, ten days pass, I’ve seen relatives I hadn’t seen for not just years but decades; we’ve had the traditional “barbacoa,” and I’m no longer the novelty, the big event of the month or the year.  Time to start the hectic daily life of the immigrant. First of all there’s a challenge as difficult as it is important, the language. I had studied it in middle school and I was one of the best.  But here I am, in the world capital of the hamburger, in the land of Mickey Mouse, with real live Anglos, and no subtitles at the bottom of the screen. That’s when I realize that my accomplishments in English are about worthless. Here it’s spoken fluidly, rapidly.  I know I absolutely need to master it.  And I remember that the first thing they told me in those family reunions was, if I really wanted to make it in this demanding country, the key to success is English.  Anglos will feel more confidence if they can talk with you in their language, they said.   I can say that I have experienced first-hand that when your English is poor,  people avoid you.  

Unfortunately most of us  – because we’re intimidated, because our cultures are so different, or just human nature –  keep company with people who speak our language.  This is a really common mistake among us Hispanics.  When I work with Anglos, I consider it the best natural English class there is. You can learn how to use a word or a phrase at just the right moment.  And I’ve met people – I thank God for putting them in my path – that not only don’t despair at how I speak, but actually correct my English in a very respectful way, helping me repeat to pronounce better.

As to the culture, obviously we encounter customs, laws and ways that are completely different than what we’re used to.  We can see how these things, even apparently insignificant, begin to change how we live by an almost 180 degree turn.  For example, my parents always insisted that we children address adults with the polite word for “you”, “usted”;  but here the children all use “tú” with everyone, even their teachers.  I’m not saying that in this land of the dollar it’s better or worse, just different.   And it’s something that we immigrants have to work on as we join our lives to the rhythm of subsistence of the capitalist life in this great nation.

In the fourteen years I’ve been living here I’ve seen that it really is a sanctuary for immigrants. It keeps its nickname for a powerful reason  – it honestly is a place of opportunity.   People here are on the whole generous.  Since we immigrants chose this as the place to realize our dreams, we need to work hard and persevere.  Anyone who does that will be compensated.   With its relatively strong economy, this country is characterized by rewarding more the person who gives more of himself.  So the chief objective of every immigrant is, or should be, to take advantage of all the tools here, building up credit, academic and vocational education, etc., to achieve your dream.  And although it is also true that it is a little more difficult for immigrants, opportunities do exist for everyone. I’m telling you, I’ve have experienced them myself and I have proof.

That’s why I believe the United States of North America and its policies can be the catapult to achieve a decent life – hopefully the goal of all human beings.  And we can do it without unseating anyone or taking a place that doesn’t belong to us.  We Hispanics should show that we are people who can be a support, instead of a people who need to be supported to survive.   This is what your servant Alejandro Águilar says from the bottom of his heart.