El Norte Struggles

The Struggles of Traveling to "el Norte" California, the world's most beautiful haven for all of us migrants, who have come from different backgrounds, seeking hope and new opportunities. During the early 1980s, my family's journey would begin in Michoacán, Mexico. As described by my Father (Luis), " The magnificent lands are exempt from any flaws". In the small town of Acuitzeramo (where he grew up), beauty is enriched in the landscape; however, my grandfather knew he needed to take his family to "El Norte" (U.S.). Since the family became burdened with poverty as tortillas were even too expensive to eat for breakfast, it needed to be immediately. In spite of the fact that my father loved his mother country, he and his family would leave to find better opportunities which would change their futures' and mine as well. The date was February 27, 1979, my Grandfather who was legal as well as my Grandmother and Uncle (my father's other siblings stayed in Mexico for the

Thanks to my Grandfather who took us here and my father who worked hard his whole life to provide for his family, I do not have to work in the fields, get a job at a young age, or worry about my family or our welfare. And through the struggles, my family maintained our Mexican heritage. They did this by regularly speaking Spanish, cooking traditional Mexican dishes, remaining very religious, and celebrating holidays like Día de Los Muertos. Overall, learning about my father's struggles in California exposed me to the reality people today face from other countries. Hearing his story filled my heart with sympathy for my father. It's sad to see him go through PTSD with reoccurring flashbacks of his family abandoning him and going through problems we as a family would have to fight through together. Coming to California is not a easy for anyone, but it's a struggle worth