Ciao!: Celebrate coming by going

Celebrate coming by going

12.13.2004

Twenty years ago, I showed up a 9-year-old in Michigan for my first winter Christmas. My brothers & I ran around in our first snow, oblivious to the winter chill. We learned how to sled, skate, and make snowmen. We didn't realize this was the first of many such holidays, that we were about to stay in the US permanently.

W/ the economy collapsing around a politically uncertain Bolivia, my parents made the difficult choice of moving the family to Michigan. It was a sudden decision, not especially planned out. Sam & I would stay w/ our grandparents, while Mom & Dad went back w/ 4-year-old Andy to sell our house & possessions. They came back a few months later. My cocker spaniel, Tony, never came to America.

It wasn't easy. But we made the best of it. Dad struggled to learn English, but we never lacked for food. And w/ incredible hard work & sacrifice, my parents bought a house in the city, and a decade later moved to the suburbs. The American dream.

For a long time (too long, perhaps) I carried a grudge for being uprooted & moved so suddenly to a new country. What would my life be like had I stayed in Santa Cruz, Bolivia? Very different, I'm sure of that. But, as time went by, I came to accept my parents' choice. They did it for their kids' benefit. And, in the end, I think they were right.

So. This holiday marks my twentieth anniversary of "coming to America". Ironically, I'll be spending it in Italy, w/ my cousin Kathira (another member of the Bolivian diaspora). One of the perks of being "American" is the ability to travel freely wherever I wanna go — so I guess I'll be celebrating by taking full advantage of my US passport.

But I wanna give a public "thank you" to my parents, who put aside an entire lifetime of dreams for the sake of their four children. Mom, Dad, it was worth it. Merry Christmas.

Posted by Miguel at 09:57 AM

Comments

Bravo.

Posted by: Stephanie at December 13, 2004 08:20 AM

Well your experiences being older were far different from mine since I came here at thirteen months. I wonder if my thoughts on being adopted, moving, and having my name changed would have been that much different. I also do wonder every now and then how my life would have been different in South Korea.

Congrats! BTW, did your citizenship papers say "Welcome to the greatest country in the world!"? Mine did since I became a citizen during the Reagan years.

Posted by: Kara at December 13, 2004 12:55 PM

Actually, I was born a citizen, since my mom was born in Saginaw, Michigan (she's a gringa). Not sure what my dad's citizenship papers say, though. But, on that, at least, Reagan was right: This is the greatest country on God's green earth. Yippee!

Posted by: Miguel at December 13, 2004 01:55 PM

I have a feeling you'll be making great contributions (your teaching is already a noble contribution) to both Bolivia and the United States in the future. We're lucky to have you. Peace.

--scott

Posted by: j.scott barnard at December 14, 2004 11:18 AM

not sure if this will show up since you left already... I did not see this post until now. for some reason some of your blogs i think don't show up on my mac... anyway...

I agree. I to was overly hard on mom and dad for changing our lives and coming to america. but without that trip i doubt i would have been able to experiences I have... thanks mom and dad!

Posted by: sam at December 26, 2004 10:11 PM