Primary Source Experience
Immigrants have all had different experiences coming into America. Some were either forced to migrate, while others came of free will. Some were merely children when they first came to the United States, others were teenagers or adults. They have all had their share of hardships, some more than others, and have all left something behind in their country of origin in order to begin a new life in America. The following are recounted experiences two former immigrants have had before moving to America and after coming to America.
Some children were forced to come to America without understanding why they were leaving the life they knew behind; in this case, it was what Sandra Sorto had experienced fourteen years ago. Sandra was born in El Salvador but was raised in Andalucia, Spain (which she considers her home). “I didn’t understand the reason why I was moving. I had a whole life set in Spain. It was tough to leave behind. It was scary coming into the unknown. New school and I had to start all over” (S.Sorto, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). In Ms. Sotro’s case, her mother had given her up, to her father, when she was very young and then won over her custody when she migrated to America herself. She was very terrified coming to America.
Even as a child Sandra Sorto can still recall having to pass a series of health examinations before she could come to America. Doctors put Ms. Sorto through a series of blood tests that checked for HIV and other diseases, as well as injecting her with multiple vaccinations. Her father had taken her by boat to America. She came to a country without knowing much English and had a difficult time adjusting to life in the United States. “I remember going to school. My school didn’t have bilingual classes. It was tough to understand things and make friends. I cried a lot because I didn’t have any friends. My cousin taught me English. I then made friends. It took me two years to get used to New York because I wanted to go back home” (S.Sorto, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
Sandra Sorto lived with her mother in an apartment in Queens, New York. She had learned that the cousin that she grew up with was in fact her brother. He had gone through a similar experience as she had. Sandra's brother was forced to migrate to America as well, to live with their mother. After adjusting to life in the United States, Sandra says that she would like to go back to Spain, but only to visit.
Some children were forced to come to America without understanding why they were leaving the life they knew behind; in this case, it was what Sandra Sorto had experienced fourteen years ago. Sandra was born in El Salvador but was raised in Andalucia, Spain (which she considers her home). “I didn’t understand the reason why I was moving. I had a whole life set in Spain. It was tough to leave behind. It was scary coming into the unknown. New school and I had to start all over” (S.Sorto, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). In Ms. Sotro’s case, her mother had given her up, to her father, when she was very young and then won over her custody when she migrated to America herself. She was very terrified coming to America.
Even as a child Sandra Sorto can still recall having to pass a series of health examinations before she could come to America. Doctors put Ms. Sorto through a series of blood tests that checked for HIV and other diseases, as well as injecting her with multiple vaccinations. Her father had taken her by boat to America. She came to a country without knowing much English and had a difficult time adjusting to life in the United States. “I remember going to school. My school didn’t have bilingual classes. It was tough to understand things and make friends. I cried a lot because I didn’t have any friends. My cousin taught me English. I then made friends. It took me two years to get used to New York because I wanted to go back home” (S.Sorto, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
Sandra Sorto lived with her mother in an apartment in Queens, New York. She had learned that the cousin that she grew up with was in fact her brother. He had gone through a similar experience as she had. Sandra's brother was forced to migrate to America as well, to live with their mother. After adjusting to life in the United States, Sandra says that she would like to go back to Spain, but only to visit.
Teresa Rojas was twenty six when she had decided to immigrate. Teresa Rojas had a tough upbringing in San Vincente, El Salvador. She had three brothers and two sisters she grew up with. Her father had been murdered in the civil war in El Salvador, she was forced to support her family at an early age of thirteen, and she had been assaulted by her step father (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). She had described her childhood as being poor. Ms. Rojas had to get a job and go to school at the same time at the early age of thirteen.
"You either work or go to school. I had to support my family because my mother wasn't working. My mother was a stay at home mom and never held a job before. When I was sixteen, my mother wanted me to quit school so I could get a full time job to support the family. I ended up quitting school. When I was eighteen I moved out to the capital. I got a job and finished high school. I went to college; got a job at a bank and when I was twenty two I had my first child" (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
When asked about the process she went through to come to America, she said that she came to America illegally. “I came here illegally. I was smuggled from El Salvador passed the Mexican border. We were supplied with fake visas so we could take a plane to New York” (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). Ms. Rojas had said that the journey was a long one. She had to leave her two children behind. Ms. Rojas and the others that were being smuggled could not bring very much with them. She said that she lived on cookies for a few weeks. Now she despises cookies and can not stand to look at them.
Teresa Rojas had big hopes for what she would find in America and had sacrificed much for it. She wanted a new life for herself, she wanted to make money, and she also wanted to provide a good life for her children. She had many hardships await her when she came to New York. When she came to America she stayed at her half-brother's house. Ms. Rojas was filled with so many mixed emotions after making this long journey. "The weather was nice. I was happy to be with my half-brother again. I was scared. All I heard around me were people speaking a different language. I thought I made a mistake when I first came here. I was afraid of being deported" (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
"You either work or go to school. I had to support my family because my mother wasn't working. My mother was a stay at home mom and never held a job before. When I was sixteen, my mother wanted me to quit school so I could get a full time job to support the family. I ended up quitting school. When I was eighteen I moved out to the capital. I got a job and finished high school. I went to college; got a job at a bank and when I was twenty two I had my first child" (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
When asked about the process she went through to come to America, she said that she came to America illegally. “I came here illegally. I was smuggled from El Salvador passed the Mexican border. We were supplied with fake visas so we could take a plane to New York” (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). Ms. Rojas had said that the journey was a long one. She had to leave her two children behind. Ms. Rojas and the others that were being smuggled could not bring very much with them. She said that she lived on cookies for a few weeks. Now she despises cookies and can not stand to look at them.
Teresa Rojas had big hopes for what she would find in America and had sacrificed much for it. She wanted a new life for herself, she wanted to make money, and she also wanted to provide a good life for her children. She had many hardships await her when she came to New York. When she came to America she stayed at her half-brother's house. Ms. Rojas was filled with so many mixed emotions after making this long journey. "The weather was nice. I was happy to be with my half-brother again. I was scared. All I heard around me were people speaking a different language. I thought I made a mistake when I first came here. I was afraid of being deported" (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
Teresa Rojas thought life would be easier in America. She thought, "...getting a job would be easier, and I thought I would be making a lot of money. I only made four dollars an hour cleaning houses; thirteen hours a day for seven days. I would send half of my pay check to my mother every month" (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013). The realization that America was similar in some ways to El Salvador was sinking in. She said that on top of sending half of her check to her mother; she also had to pay rent for a room in her half-brother's house that was the size of a closet. It was difficult for her to hold a job because she did not know any English. She still believes that America is the land of opportunity. She managed to send for her two children to come live with her in America. She still hopes to provide them with a good life. Teresa Rojas is now a United States citizen. She has had an occupation in cleaning houses, upholstery and is currently a director in the food court at LaGuardia Airport (T.Rojas, Personal Communication, February 28, 2013).
Both Sandra Sorto and Teresa Rojas are related. Sandra Sorto is Theresa Rojas' daughter. Both of these women have gone through similar experiences when they migrated to America, as earlier immigrants had. Immigrants teach us why America is such a great country. Even today it is seen as the land of opportunity. It is a place where one can escape a dictatorship and have religious freedoms, social liberties and natural rights. Teresa Rojas was in search of these when she took the big risk she had made to come to this country. Sandra Sorto learned that her mother's vision for her has come true and her mother could not be more proud of her for taking advantage of what the United States has to offer her. Both of these women are now citizens of the United States of America and are living the American dream.
Both Sandra Sorto and Teresa Rojas are related. Sandra Sorto is Theresa Rojas' daughter. Both of these women have gone through similar experiences when they migrated to America, as earlier immigrants had. Immigrants teach us why America is such a great country. Even today it is seen as the land of opportunity. It is a place where one can escape a dictatorship and have religious freedoms, social liberties and natural rights. Teresa Rojas was in search of these when she took the big risk she had made to come to this country. Sandra Sorto learned that her mother's vision for her has come true and her mother could not be more proud of her for taking advantage of what the United States has to offer her. Both of these women are now citizens of the United States of America and are living the American dream.