Our Stories Adv Class

April 26, 2016

Dear Class,

Thank you for telling your stories. I have truly enjoyed teaching and getting to know all of you. I hope you will continue to study English, work towards your goals, and share your stories. Eve, McCarey

How I ended up living in the United States of America.

Herbert

I have lived here in the USA for two years. Before I traveled to this country, many things happened. All started thirty years ago in El Salvador. My family and I were living in a small town to the east of the country. We were not a rich family, but we were together and happy. However, in that time the El Salvador’s civil war started. I don’t have many memories of my childhood, but I remember being in our house yard playing with my brother. Suddenly, we heard a strong noise that we had never listened to before. It was a military aircraft dropping bombs on a mountain in front of our house. We ran into the house as fast as we could. We were crying and very scared. The civil war started getting worse. Therefore, many families left their homes to move to a safe place to the west of the country. We were one of those families.

We moved to a small city 30 miles away from the capital. Once there, my father bought a place to build our new house. Our economic situation was not good enough. So, my father decided to travel to this country to give our family a better life. My mother, my brother and I were living alone in a city without any relative close to us. After living for many years in the USA, my father got his Green Card. Immediately, he decided to send the petition for us to the National Visa Center nine years ago. My mother got her Green Card six years ago. My brother could not apply to the visa because he traveled as an illegal to this country seventeen years ago. According to the National Visa Center, I had to wait three years more than my mother to get my Green Card because I was a single son older than twenty-one years old.

Finally, I got my Green Card two years ago, and I traveled to this country. I was happy to meet with my parents here. Also, I felt sad because I left my girlfriend Saira in El Salvador. One month after I arrived in this country I got my green card in the mailbox. I was happy because I was able to travel to El Salvador again. Then, I traveled to El Salvador to get married to Saira. When I came back to this country, I sent immediately the petition for my wife to the National Visa Center. We had to wait two years for Saira’s Green Card. I was traveling to El Salvador two or three times yearly. Fortunately, Saira got her Green Card two month ago, and now we are together again.

These are some things that happened before I traveled to this country. Actually, I am not planning to return to El Salvador soon. This is because my country is suffering a similar situation as when we left our city. I hope to live in this country the rest of my life with my wife and our future family.

My uncle swam for freedom

Agnes

My father and his twin brother, Gabor Csepregi were born in 1950 in Budapest, Hungary. In 1956 there was a Revolution in my country against the communist regime. The communist leaders were asking Russian help to beat the revolution, and Russia sent a lot of soldiers with tanks, and they started to bomb Budapest. My grandfather was a very brave man. He was walking on the street with the twins, and show them the tanks and the soldiers, while everybody else were hiding in cellars. My grandfather was also the one who got some bread to a lot of families.

So after the Russian has beaten down the Revolution, the people were forced again to live in communism. The twins were 18 years old, when my father decided to desert and emigrate to Canada. Both of them were very good swimmers, they were playing at that time in a famous Hungarian water polo club. They never told their plans to anybody. When they were at a camp in Yugoslavia (now it is Croatia) close to the Italian border, they decided to swim across the Adriatic sea (actually it was a bay). But at the last moment, my father changed his mind, and he decided to stay, and insted of my father my uncle Gabor swam alone to Italy.

Gabor swam about 5 kilometers during the night. He swam in breaststroke, because that way he did not splash, since he had to hide from the patrol boats. After 4 hours of swimming he arrived to Trieste, to Italy. He went to a refugee camp and he stayed there for 6 months. Nobody knew at home in Hungary anything about him, if he is alive, or not, captured or not? He left his family and his girlfriend behind. After 6 months of living as a refugee in Italy he went to Canada, Quebec city. When somebody ask him about the dangerous swimming: ’’I never thought about the sharks. I have to tell you, I was a bit foolish....”

At first he learned to speak French and than English. His first job was a dishwasher in a restaurant. He went to a University and studied philosophy and theology. He played at the Canada water polo team (participated on two Olympics –Munich, and Montreal), and than he became the coach of the national team. Now he is the president of Saint-Boniface College in Winnipeg, Canada, and married 7 years ago the same girl he left behind when fleeing. And how did it happen? In 1998 they met at a high scool reunion (they were classmates), but both were still married. At their 40th reunion in 2008 they learned that this time, each was free. They married in May, 2009 in Budapest.

My story till 26 years old

Ning

My memory had started when I was 4 years old. I was playing with 4 neighbor friends. Our family lived in a tiny single house with one bedroom, one living room and a little single yard. I was sent to the kindergarten every day when my parents were busy working. I had joined a singing performance when our kindergarten celebrated the Children’s Day, and won a big prize.Then we moved to a bigger apartment. I started my preschool and met more friends. The school taught me a lot of things made me have a lot of fun.Then we moved again, even a bigger apartment than before which is just at the same row of my primary school. I lived a very happy life with my parents and my big family until April 25 1999.

I practiced FaLun DaFa with my parents since June 1995,when I was 6 years old.Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) is an advanced system for improving mind and body, with roots in thousands of years of Chinese culture. The practice’s most visible aspect is its meditation and four general exercises-highly effective ways to improve health and energy levels. Falun Dafa practitioners also study spiritual teachings. At the core of these teachings are the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.

For the past 16 years, China’s ruling Communist Party has violently suppressed tens of millions of people simply for practicing Falun Gong. The regime has abducted, tortured, and killed an untold number of innocent people who were striving to be healthier, kinder, and wiser through this traditional meditation practice.

We went to Beijing to tell the truth to the government on July 20 1999. The government did not listen to us. We were sent back to our hometown. Then my mom and dad were arrested at the same time. I was alone at home when I was 10 years old. My parents were arrested several times with several months per time in the following years. They took away my parents’ jobs. We had no income, at the most of time we even don’t have the money to pay my tuition. My mom started to work on several kinds of hard jobs. It caused her health getting worse. She always wanted me to live a happy life. Shes good at cooking, she’s smart, she is a amazing mom I had in my whole life.

August 12 2014 I came to USA, because of my mom’s best support on me. I had heard the news of her passing after 23 days that she passed. Because my dad didn’t wants me to worry a lot in case I lost my job here. I even haven’t got my last chance to see my mom.

Be a good person is not fault, doing wrong deed will payback. Enjoy the happy time with your family. Move forward always be optimistic. The way is just starting in front of my foot.

My Mom’s Story

Kenia

Forty five years ago, a young girl named Cora, moved to San Salvador, for a better life for her and for her unborn child. She didn't know anyone there, but she thought that anywhere would be better than staying in Tecoluca, her childhood. Cora had just finished her 9th grade in the catholic school when she got pregnant from Edgardo, the rich boy of the country. Cora's dream had been to finish high school and going to law school, but her dream became a nightmare. Cora was worried and excited to move. She didn't know people there, she was 17 years old and she was really scared at first. Leaving her childhood was the hardest part to move. She missed her friends and family and Edgardo too. They use to be her life. Cora start to work in Cerro Verde hotel as a waitresses, and very soon she likes a lot her new life. And specially Ricardo the main manager, a 30 years old man, with a accountant degree. He was very nice with her and very supportive. Cora used to work 12 hours daily because she needs to earn money for the baby. One day Ricardo lets her know his interest on her, and one month before baby's born they were to leave together in a new residential area outside of the city. Cora thought she was the more privileged women in the world. She become a housewife and finished high school and lived her magical life for 5 years, until one day somebody knocked the door, and Cora went to see who was it. One wealthy looking woman as a 50 years old was asking for Ricardo. The woman showed Cora her wedding certificate and some pictures of her 2 daughters, Ricardo's daughters. Cora felt that her world was made small and just closed the door refusing to believe the women’s words. Next day without explanation Ricardo left Cora and Rosita, the 5 years old child who raised as his own. And he quit the job as manager in the hotel. Cora come backs to work at the hotel as assistant chef and started to study part time in the law school. 15 years later Cora get a lawyer degree, and bring her family from Tecoluca. She established her own firm in San Vicente, and met Raul a associated. They get married and had 3 children and a beautiful home. Cora still live in El Salvador, works in her firm and raised her 3 daughters, 1 son and 4 grandchildren.

My Personal Story

Luc

I was born in a polygamous family. My father had two wives and my mother was the second. My mother has five children and I am the third. The rivalry between the two women were our daily lives and this rivalry naturally affected children. My father had not quite enough money but had many children. Every mom had to fend as best she can to feed her children. Mom was selling charcoal at home to take care of us . At the age of seven I started selling peanuts on the head to prepare my next return to school re-entry. I had to travel several feet kilometers to sell peanuts. My brothers and sisters each had a commercial for educational and material needs. . We could hope nothing of our father.

After several years of pain and misery, my mother was repudiated by my father and came to settle with my grandfather. In my grandfather's life was still very difficult; my mother could get a room and we children slept in the lounge. We were the object of mockery of brothers and sisters of my mother. My great mother cared very well for us and I continued to do my small business for my tuition. The only my mother was proud of the fact that I was very smart in school. I got my bachelor's degree and my license in these difficult conditions.

Today my mother is 65 and I am committed to build her own house.

My Neighbor’s Story- Aster

In my country one rich woman her name was Bizunesh. She was my neighbor. She didn’t have kids, but her sister had may kids. Her sister gaver Bizunesh a baby girl, named Zed. Bizunesh was happy and took the baby to raise her. One day Bizunesh got sick. She went to a hospital in another state.

When Bizunesh was there she found a newborn baby boy in the bathroom. Someone left him there. She took the baby to the hospital administration. She told them this baby was in the bathroom and she didn’t have a kid, so she wanted to adopt the baby. They gave Bizunesh the baby.

When Bizunesh was back home she told everybody that this was her own baby boy. They were happy and believed her too. He grew fastly and finished high school. He went to university.

He became a wonderful and handsome person. Bizunesh loved him more than anything. One day she told her sister’s daughter, Zed, the secret of how she had adopted the boy. Also she told Zed to keep the secret. Zed promised to Bizunesh she won’t tell anyone.

Bizunesh gave her adopted son the house and a big hotel also. Zed was so angry because Bizunesh didn’t give her nothing. After that, Zed told the adopted son he is not really the son. When she told him he could not belive it. He cried. He got crazy. He told her he doesn’t care for things or money. Just he only want Bizunesh to be his real mother.

After that the boy gave for Zed the hotel. Zed felt ashamed. Zed apologized to him and asked him for forgiveness. He told her don’t worry, ’’Past is Past. I look at you only as my best older sister. We grew together.”

My friend’s story- Jose

One day when I was a teenager my friend and I went to school together. We were planning to go somewhere after leaving school.

There were many ways to have fun in my town, even a river close to my house, so we decided to have fun in the river. It was a farm around there too, that have many coconut trees and many different kinds of fruit.

At that time we were thirsty and hungry so we decided to climb the coconut treee, but we were afraid because that tree was too high, and nobody wanted to climb that tree. Finally my friend was filled with courage and started to climb the tree. Unfortunately something happened when my friend was in the middle of the tree he started feeling somthing like burning in his stomach was bleeding. Also his arms started to shake and he didn’t know what to do, how to get off the tree. He could not slide becuase there were razor blades in the tree and he had to jump. He was bleeding everywhere. We started to walk home and to his mom. He began to heal. At that moment I was so worried for him, but some days after everything turns normally and started laughing about that fun but same time traumatic adventure.

My friend lives in United States now, in the state of Nebraska. Occassionally we have contact by phone and one day I asked him about that story and he says of course I remember that, and you know why I remember that day? Because I still have the scars. All the time I look in the mirror the first thing I see is the scars. He is a good person and I wish many blessings for him and his family.

My Story- Adnan

I was born and grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After I graduated high school I started managing a small business until 2014. My mother and father passed away a long time ago. I have nine siblings. I am the middle child of ten.

My wife came to the United States with her parents thirteen years ago.

I met my wife back home in Ehtiopia. We lived in the same neighborhood. We dated for one year before she left to this country. We kept our promise for a long time. We used to see each other every year or two, but we call, email, text each other several times a day and seven years later we decided to live together. Finally, I got married to my wife six years ago and we have a wonderful two-year-old son.

I came to the United States two years ago through my wife and reunited with my wife and son to live here in the United States.

The most difficult differences for me between USA and Ethiopia is the language. Sometimes it’s hard to express what I want to say.

Comparing to my home country Ethiopia and USA is completeely different. For example the culture, the food, the technology.... What I missed the most about my home country is my family and friends

My Small Story- MAR

My childhood was wonderful. I lived in Peru with my parents and siblings. My parents were lovely but very strict too. Wile I studeied at the school I got good average, I didn’t get my first option but for my parents it was. When I finished the high school I decided to continue my education to get my accounting degree at the university. At this timeI worked in the morning only until 5 pm because my classes started at 6 pm to 10 pm. I arrived at home about 12 am.

Always I tried to work in different companies, the reason was loooking for new work expereinces that were making me climb faster in my professional life. In this way I found every time better job opportunities. One of them was when I worked at ’’Consortium of Companies.” It was copound for five enterprises (Custom broker agency, sawmill, custom deposit agency, and shipping agency) and my function was accounting. While I worked in this company I discovered my passion for international trade, so I decided to study at the university to get my second degree in this career.

After some years, I achieved my diplomas of my two degrees. For my surprise just in that time the Department of Treasury of Peru Customs Service organized a public competition to 20 professional vacancies. Then I decided to apply and after I passed different exams I got the vacancy.

My first two years the customs services sent met to the customs school where I studied in the morning and the afternoon I worked with them at the International Trade Department.

I was living my best dream. This job gave me the possibility to study a master’s degree in marking and administration which helped me to promote quickly. Here I was in charge of three departments like Tariff nomenclature, customes valuation, and narcotics.

While I have worked to the customs service I had the opportunity to work, study, adn give training in different countries with titles like, The Department of Treasurey United States Customs Service, Engalnd Service HM Customs &Escise, French Customs Service, Others.

During the nineties, Peru and the United States agreed to implement more programs to fight against drug trafficking. It’s because my country is considered the number one producer of cocaine, and U.S. is the largest consumer of narcotics. One of this program was the formation of a special narcotics team, who would be trained for the U.S. custom’s service. Both governments will exchange information, knowledge, experience, etc.

It was a wonderful time in my life. I had the job that I had dreamed. This job gave me an excellent professional and economic position, and the opportunity to travel for different countries where my department sent me to study or receive training. AT htat time I could buy my house, my cars, lands, paid servants, etc.

After some years, my country had elections to choose a new president. For my bad luck this government period was very corrupt, and my group started to become an obstacle. Some corrupt groups of government gave protection to the drug trafficking. In exchange they receive big briberies. Then, they started to put us dangerous traps like put cocaine in our house. Five innocent members of our team were sent to prison. It was terrible because they were innocent.

I couldn’t be safe. I received permanently threats against my families from drug traffickers. Sometimes I found in my car the picture of my daughter and phrases written. It asked me, ’’Do you know where is your daughter?” or ’’Did you say goodbye to your daughter today?” She was only one years old.

I felt that my life was collapsing. I had struggled a lot to get here, and now I had to decide between the safety of my daughter, or to continue my professional life in this country. Then I had not that much thought, because my daughter, was, is, and alwayse will be the most important in my life.

My decision was based to keep the safety of my daughter, so I had to get away from my country. Then I decided to emigrate to the U.S.A.

In a month I sold my house and all my goods. At the same time, I quit my job. It was very hard. I felt depressed....

The story will continue....

My Story- Alex

My story is about my family, when we were together and for strong reason had to be separated. All started when my sister was almost to enroll to high school and we need more $$ to pay high school. My father was unemployed and my mom decided to go to U.S.A. My father and siser, and also I, were sad about the decision to travel to U.S.A. My mom arrived to U.S.A. and worked a lot to help us to study. 8 years later my mom brought us to U.S.A. leaving my father alone for 2 years when he decided to come to the U.S.A. It was difficult for us because on the travel he died. That was difficult for us and our family. It was the most hard situation in our life. Now we are here with my mom and brother, looking always forward and working hard to live better every day.

My Story- Michael

A long time ago, my friend asked me to go with him to the mechanic shop so he can pick up his car because he had a small accident in his car. When we went there the car wasn’t finished. My friend was angry becasue it was a third time appointment and he said, ’’You waste my time” and he said, ’’Please call the police.” So the mechanic called the police. I listened to the phone call and I heard him saying, ’’I have a problem with 2 people and they look like Middle Eastern face.” I asked him, ’’Why you said that to the police?” He said, ’’The policeman was asking for a description,” so I said to him, ’’description means short, or tall, white or black, what they are wearing, like that.”

The funny thing is the mechanic man was Middle Eastern, and he is the owner too. He is from Iraq.

I had a conversation with the mechanic before the police came. He said to me, ’’Only I have a problem with Middle Eastern people like you, and we shouldn’t have any problems because we are Middle Eastern, and we are Muslims too, and he had another man working with him who was American man and he asked him, ’’Why I have usually problems with Middle Eastern people?” And he said, I don’t know, I have no idea.”

The policeman arrived, and he started talking to the mechanic. I was waiting until they got finished, so I can talk to the officer to explain me and my friend.

The officer came to talking to me and my friend too. My friend doesn’t speak English, so translated what he said, but in the beginning I said to the officer, ’’I and my friend siad to the mechanic please call the police to come here, so thank you officer for coming.”

The office wasn’t friendly with us and when he was talking to me, he said, ’’The mechanic didn’t find the part for the car, so he can’t fix it.” I said, ’’but he give my friend 3 appointment and he wasn’t honest with the time, so he waste his time,” and I tried to explain.” The officer said, ’’It doesn’t matter. It’s not the mechanic’s problem. You have to take your friend’s car to another mecahnic, and you have to leave the shop right now.” I said, ’’Ok, thank you. Before I leave the mechanic shop I said to the officer, ’’I have to talk to the mechanic to return my friend’s money. The officer said ok and he went outside the mechanic’s shop waiting for me and my friend to leave the mechanic’s shop.

I went to the mechanic man and we talked about how we will return the money to my friend. I said, ’’First, nice to meet you, but before I leave your shop I would like to say (If I want to make a big problem with you, it’s so easy, but I don’t like to do that to you.” He asked me, ’’How you make a problem with me and the officer outside?” I said, ’’First, you said you have a problem with Middle Eastern and you said we shouldn’t make a problem because we are Muslim.” I said to him, ’’I’m Christian Middle Eastern, and you should serve this work for all people whatever they believe is not your business, and when you talk to the people try not to say I only have a problem with Middle Eastern people like you.” I said to him, ’’That means discrimination against, and that’s a big problem for you, ’’ and I said also ’’because I’m a Middle Eastern, I’m not going to make a problem with you because you are Middle Eastern too, and thank you so mcuh, nice to meet you again, have a great day,” and then I left his place.

My Story-Carine

I was born in France but I grew up in Ivory Coast where I made all my studies. At the end of high school, I had a boyfriend. We stayed together seven years. We had a son but we separated after his birth.

After that, I went to live with my parents. I had a job. I was a teacher. My parents were the most happy because they hadn’t had a boy. So, my son became theirs.

Seven years later, I met my husband. He worked in the same company as my mother. We had three children: two girls and one boy.

Since 2002, we traveled a lot for my husband’s work. We moved to USA nine months ago. My husband was transferred to Burundi in February. So, I am here in USA with my two children.

At the end of the school year, I will go back to Ivory Coast with my youngest son.

Now, my family is in different parts of the world. My first son lives in France where he works. My two daughters study in Canada. My husband lives in Burundi and my son and me will come back to Ivory Coast.

But I hope that the political situation will change to Burundi to go with my husband. If not, I will be patient and after three or four years, we will be together again. Perhaps here in USA or in other country.

My Story-Gustavo

This story, it's my story. Everything began the 2014. I was in the University and my life was awful. I was studying something that I didn't like it and I had troubles in my personal life. Two injuries put me away from the gym for several months and my life was really out of control. In June, my father tell us about this travel and the next year in July 2015 will be the time to come to the United States. After one year, we put everything from our old house in boxes and I moved to Los Andes city because I traveled one week after my family. I traveled alone and that was an incredible experience for me and during this ten months I have been in different cities like Baltimore, Washington DC, Miami, Orlando, New York City, Dallas and Philadelphia, and I made a lot of new friends. In June I will return to my home country Chile, but I have almost two more months to end this great experience, so my family and I decided that we will make a final travel to Toronto, Canada this next month. I learned a lot of things here and when the time comes to an end, I will be happy because after this travel I will be another person and I will arrive to Chile to study what I want and probably in the future I will return definitely because this is just the beginning.