“Coming to America is a Dream in Itself”

Makenzi Barnhart  0:03  

Okay, so here we are on the 20th of November and I’m here to interview Alex. So Alex, my first question for you is just going to be where were you born?

Alex  0:20  

Yeah. So I was born in Lima, Peru.

Makenzi Barnhart  0:24  

Okay. Lima, Peru. Okay, so, when did you come to the U.S.? Like, what age were you? And what year was this taking place?

Alex  0:34  

Um, I believe, I came when I was three. So I do believe we came in the summer of 2000. Here to Virginia.

Makenzi Barnhart  0:46  

Um, so, when you came, did you, I would assume you came with your family? How? And what was the reasoning behind you immigrating here to the United States from Peru?

Alex  1:02  

So, let’s see here. So I do believe my parents immigrated here due to the work opportunities that were presented here, um, versus back home at that time. You know, in Peru, there was a lot of government corruptions, there was a really big loss of jobs. And it was, you know, my parents had to support me and my sister, so they decided that it was time for them to come here to, you know, hopefully give us better opportunities.

Makenzi Barnhart  1:41  

Makes a lot of sense. Um, so, when you came here with your family, you said you came here with siblings and your parents? Correct? 

Alex  1:50  

Correct. 

Makenzi Barnhart  1:51  

Okay, so would you say that you feel like your experience differed from theirs? And if so, why would you say this was? Or like, how would you say that this difference was seen?

Alex  2:05  

Oh, yeah, I definitely think there was differences among all four of us, because we were all in completely different stages of life. Like, you know, my parents immigrated here with the pressure and the stress of knowing they had to support my sister and I, and they had to provide for us, my sister came here when she was 13. So, you know, that age is already hard enough. And so for her, she had to adjust, you know, leaving our entire family. We had, she left her entire support system, our grandparents, our aunts, uncles, cousins, she had to transfer into an entire new, you know, school system, it was a huge cultural shock for her. I would say, I was, in a way, lucky enough that I came at such a young age that I did not experience as much of a shock. As you know, my parents said, there was a language barrier, where they were unable to find jobs, they had to you know, look for housing, you know, I didn’t have the same stress as my sister when she was trying to fit in to a new environment, you know, at the age of 13. You know, I came here when I was three. So, for me, I was, you know, my, my earliest memories that I can recall, are here in the States, you know, I spoke English first, it was my primary language. I went into the school system, you know, pre K, kindergarten. So, I feel like we all, when we all immigrated here, we were at such different places at our lives, different ages. So I definitely do think that everybody had a different experience with coming to the U.S.

Makenzi Barnhart  3:50

Absolutely. That makes complete sense. So what would you say, when you arrived, what were your general sentiments like? Do you have any memories that would stick out like, from right when you got here, or challenges that you remember facing or you remember your family facing?

Alex  4:08 

Let me think about this, because, you know, I really don’t recall much from such a young age. You know, I have snips and pieces of things. And then also like, what my family tells me. I think, one of the, I think it was more or less like I got older and I grew up and, you know, I started going to school that I realized there was a… I don’t know how to explain this. I think that one of the biggest, like barriers I realized was kind of language and trying to navigate it with, you know, my peers and then trying to help my parents navigate. Also coming and, like, you know, just speaking with others, trying to help them find a job and… and then I think for me, one of the biggest shocks was kind of watching other kids, you know, a lot of like, white American kids, how they interacted with their families, you know, kind of the values of, you know, for us, it’s very much like, you know, you put your family first, like, we are a very close knit, like you, you put everything aside for your family, and then I feel like, you know, the U.S. is such an individualistic state. So I think, for me, one of the biggest shocks is realizing how independent this culture is, versus the very, like, interconnected, very dependent culture that I grew up in. And then I know my parents tried to bring me up in that same culture here that like, almost like we never left Peru. So I think for me, it was definitely realizing how independent everybody is here. And then how, versus you know, in other other cultures, how, you know, family is such a such an important factor, and then we just rely on each other a lot more. So I think that for me, it’s something I realized more growing up, that was more of a shock to me.

Makenzi Barnhart  6:17  

Completely, I’m sure that was difficult to navigate. So how would you say you felt – I know, you were very young when you got here. But how would you say you felt when you arrived versus maybe how you feel now like that you’ve been here since – did you say it was 2000? 

Alex  6:35  

Yeah, it was about 2000.

Makenzi Barnhart  6:38  

Yeah. So how would you say you felt around the time that you arrived, you know, your earliest memories compared to how you feel being here now? 

Alex  6:49  

Hmm. 

Makenzi Barnhart  6:52  

And this could be like about the culture in general, or kind of like, how your life has turned out, what opportunities you’ve had, things of that nature.

Alex  7:04  

Let’s see, I would say, you know, I, when I first got here, it was… there was a lot of confusion. Because even, even though I came here at a young age, you know, I did not grow up with my extended family, like I was removed from that very quickly, almost overnight. So I think for me, there was a lot of confusion, like, there was confusion, you know, watching my parents struggle, there was confusion in watching my sister trying to figure out who she was, there was, you know, confusion as to why we were struggling, like financially or, like, why my parents weren’t able to get, you know, a good job. I think now, there’s still some confusion. But at the same time, I’m, I think, in regards to how I was feeling before, I’m just a lot more grateful. Because, you know, I was able to go to school here, I was able to, you know, I was able to come to a really good school system in the area that led me to, you know, set me up for success to go into college. I’m a first generation college student. So, you know, my parents didn’t have that. My sister, you know, struggled to get that because she had to really more focus on helping my parents that navigate themselves in this world. So I think for me, there’s still confusion in regards to more like my identity. But now I know that it’s more, I’m still really grateful for all the opportunities that were presented here, because I knew I would have never gotten them if my parents decided to stay in Peru.

Makenzi Barnhart  8:49  

Yeah. Makes sense. So, kind of going off of that. Would you say that you think that the American Dream is an achievable thing and why or why not? And when I say American Dream, basically what I’m asking is like this equality of opportunity that would be available to every American.

Alex  9:16  

So – do you – are you? Sorry, I just want to make sure I’m understanding the question. Are you saying, do you believe it – you’re asking me if I believe it’s attainable to everyone, like all Americans, like everybody who can immigrate here, or?

Makenzi Barnhart  9:28  

Yeah, just everybody who could immigrate or everybody who had already been born in America, just like any American citizen or like person who lives in America in general.

Alex  9:43  

I think that really depends on… I, you know, because the way the American Dream is defined is like, you know, equal opportunity. And I think that’s a really hard question because then you go into the topic of equality. And if everybody really is, you know, offered equal rights? And the answer is no, not everybody is offered those equal rights. So I think the American Dream is really up to where you are, where you stand in this world, and the privilege that you have. You know, I would say, you know, coming to America is a dream in itself, because you are automatically presented with so much opportunities then you were back, and you know, because I come from a third world country. So, you know, anybody from a third world, like country who comes here, we are automatically given more opportunities that that we were presented to before, but that does not mean that we have the same opportunities from someone that was born and raised here. I hope I’m making sense with that.

Makenzi Barnhart  11:10  

Yeah, that’s absolutely a great point. Sorry, I didn’t mean to cut you off. 

Alex  11:18  

No, no, because no, it’s fine. Because I don’t really know how to answer that, because I want to say that it’s possible that, you know, someone can immigrate here and make a better life for themselves, for their family, that they had, you know, because some people come here with no other choice, some people are fleeing countries from violence, or, you know, genocides, just and you are presented with more opportunities, but you know, I wouldn’t – I think if it comes down to equal opportunity, then I would have to say no.

Makenzi Barnhart  11:58  

I completely agree. Um, so, when you arrived, and also kind of, now just like looking at it over time, would you say that the culture here was welcoming or alienating, or like exclusionary? And whatever you would say that it was, would you say that you thought that that had changed over time?

Alex  12:25  

Let’s see. I think it definitely has changed more, because I have also grown, and I have developed, you know, my own opinions, and I’ve had more opportunity to witness, you know, the changes here, you know, with changes in our government as well. And, you know, the United States, it’s harder to define it just as one culture, because there’s so many different cultures, there’s so many people from different countries, different backgrounds living in this area, so it’s something that I’ve gotten used to, and I find it… I wouldn’t say it’s alienating, just because of the fact that there are so many different cultures that I feel like you find your own here.

Makenzi Barnhart  13:30  

Um, and kind of also going off of that last question, would you say that you felt that your feelings surrounding what you felt the culture was – whether welcoming or exclusionary – had anything to do with the area that you lived in, like the city or the state or anything like that? 

Alex  13:53  

Um, I would say so because, you know, the area that we came to and that I grew up in was predominantly white. So I would say, in a way, it was very alienating, because, you know, I experienced racism growing up, I experienced, you know, a lot of jokes, you know, jabs at immigration. So I would say, you know, growing up in a predominantly white area did influence my outlook on kind of the approaches of culture here.

Makenzi Barnhart  14:34  

Of course. And also, did you feel that you lost part of your culture coming here or that you had to lose part of your culture to kind of assimilate with the culture in the United States? Or did you have, you know, people around you in your life outside of your family, of course, who kind of shared the culture that you had.

Alex  15:06  

I look back, and I do feel like I lost a part of my culture because, you know, growing up, all you want to do is fit in, and I obviously did not. You know, you can just point it out from the fact that, you know, my skin was darker than everybody else, or that, you know, my parents did not have the same jobs as everybody else, as everybody else’s parents. You know, there were no other, you know, Hispanics or Latinos, that I was able to surround myself with very much growing up. And it wasn’t until high school that I was able to experience more of that, because I grew up in a very white area, and then I went to a private school, which was also, you know, 97% white. And so I think, for me, I did feel like I lost part of myself, you know, I lost part of my family, I lost part of my, you know, the country I was born in, and I lost my culture, because I felt like, if I didn’t, I would never be accepted here. You know, I can say that my parents really did try to bring me and my sister up as much as they could as if we were still in Peru. But that’s impossible. Because, you know, we had no other family here, we did not have, you know, an extended Latinx community that we were able to go into. I still believe I lost that. But it was like, once I got older, I entered high school, I went off to college, that I felt like I got some of it back. Because you know, the older you get, the more you realize that you don’t have to be accepted into a different culture, you know, you don’t have to be accepted into a group of people so you feel like you belong. So I do feel like I lost that. But I also believe that I’ve been able to kind of get some of it back, as I’ve gotten older.

Makenzi Barnhart  17:12  

Yeah. Well, I’m glad to hear that you feel like you’ve gotten some of it back at least. So I guess at the time, when you got here, you were very young, but maybe when you were in school, like in your teenage years or so on? Did you… how did you feel that your life was, in terms of your family, and friends, and you know, your school life, and anything outside of that?

Alex  17:50  

I think when I was in high school, I kind of felt very… that’s when I started to feel more alienated, you know, to the rest of the community, because that’s kind of when I noticed the difference in status. That’s when I noticed, you know, my parents were struggling to keep up financially, um, you know, they were struggling to, you know, give me and my sister food on the table, that’s when I understood what it meant to be undocumented. You know, not being able to travel when, you know, you had your senior year, there was trips to, you know, Europe or, you know, South America. And that’s kind of when I feel like I got hit with that feeling of isolation and kind of realizing, like, this is where I am right now. And everybody is like, just way ahead of me, they’re on a completely different level. So I would say it was more around that time of high school when I started realizing, you know, that’s when I started feeling it was more of a me versus them situation.

Makenzi Barnhart  19:17  

So, did you want to talk a little bit more about kind of what was going on maybe with school, like, outside of feelings? Like what was your experience there? Kind of like, I know, you said, coming from Peru to here was kind of, you know, an advantage in itself, because the schooling system was very different. So did you want to like elaborate a little bit on that? 

Alex  19:47  

Yeah, I had the opportunity like in regards to schooling, like I had the opportunity to, you know, go back home for two weeks, when I was in high school, I believe it was back in 2015. I had the opportunity to go back because I was able to get paroled. I’m a DACA recipient, so at that time, we were able to travel as long as we had parole, and I was able to travel because you know, there was a medical emergency in the family. So they let me go ahead and visit my family back home. And that’s when I met a lot of my cousins I met, I met most of my cousins for the first time and I met, you know, my aunts, my uncles, nieces, and nephews. And I noticed, like, it really hit me their standard of living. Even though here in the U.S., we were not, you know, we weren’t rich, we were struggling, but struggling here is very different than struggling in a third world country. You know, there’s no roofs, there’s no, you know, the walls are incomplete. There’s no running electricity, a lot of the times AC is a beautiful privilege over there that only the wealthy can afford, you know, water is restricted. Education wise, only people who had money are able to get through their kids through like more of a private education. They’re able to, you know, afford sending their kids to, I believe it’s, what’s it called? Like those tech careers? So it was, you know, even the high schools there, same thing. There’s no electricity, no running water, there’s no projectors, not all kids have access to or even there’s no organizations that help the students get notebooks, pens, pencils, like it’s a privilege. It’s such a crazy privilege, because, you know, here, yeah, we struggled. But you know, I was able to get my notebooks for school growing up. But everything over there is like three, four, or five times the price and a lot of families can’t afford that. So I knew, then in that moment that, you know, if my family, my parents had never decided to come to the U.S., I most likely would have not been able to have a good and stable education. I would have not been able to go into college, most likely. I would have not been able to, you know, get into a career I really wanted because there’s no way that we could have we could have afforded it. And even then, like you can tell, not even the education but even like the health systems over there, like going into a hospital over there was one of the craziest experiences I have ever had because the hospital was open, there was no walls, there was no real hallways, the windows were completely shattered, there was birds going in and out. So, I just think, I feel like in regards to that, that was one of the most prominent things I remember.

Makenzi Barnhart  23:26  

That’s a very interesting difference to hear about.

Alex  23:31  

I never thought I would see birds going in and out of patient rooms. But I did.

Makenzi Barnhart  23:35  

Yeah. I’m sure. Um, so you mentioned that you’re a DACA recipient?

Alex  23:42  

Yeah.

Makenzi Barnhart  23:44  

How did that policy help you? And did you receive help from any other programs?

Alex  23:53  

So, that policy, you know, I didn’t – how do I explain that – it definitely did help me because I’m the only one in my family who’s undocumented. You know, my parents are my sister is a U.S. citizen. My parents are, you know, they’re permanent residents. So it’s a mixed family in that status as well. So I am the only one that is still undocumented. DACA, it gave me a peace of mind. You know, I first got it when I believe I was 12, when it first came out. So I obviously still had no idea what was going on at that point. I didn’t realize what it was for really, until I was, you know, older and I was applying to schools. And that is the only program to answer your question that I’ve received assistance from. So, you know, it’s something that I have to renew every two years. I had to be in good presence with the government. And it’s an application that I have to send back every two years they review it, you know, thankfully, because of that I got a Social Security, I’m able to work in the U.S. legally, I have a work permit. It was equal to, you know, it helped me give me a peace of mind that at least for as long as I have this little card, this little ID, I’m safe to stay in the country that I grew up in.

Makenzi Barnhart  25:30  

Yeah. So, going off of kind of your, you mentioned that you attended college and everything, and you had trouble experiencing, you know, realizing that you had undocumented status. And were, like going to be covered by DACA. Kind of what did your college experience look like? In terms of just like, How were you treated by others? And how did you like feel things went for you?

Alex  26:04  

I think they definitely went better than you know, maybe other people who are, I believe it went good. It could have been a lot worse. You know, there are people who are in worse situations that me that are completely unprotected by any type of documentation here in the U.S. It was fine. You know, my experience was good. It wasn’t great. I had a lot of anxiety because of it. Especially when, not to get into politics, but when Trump came into the office and he was trying to take DACA away. That gives nobody, that did not give me a peace of mind at all.

Makenzi Barnhart  26:56  

Oh yeah, of course not.

Alex  26:57  

It was extremely terrifying and it was stressful. And I just remembered thinking that, oh my god, if he takes this away, like if he really revokes this for the thousands and thousands of DACA recipients here in the U.S., I’m literally going to be sent to a country that I have no idea how to like, you know, work and function in. I think, for me, that definitely changed my outlook in life. I think I became a lot more paranoid. I was really nervous. And I think, kind of like I mentioned, it really messed with, kind of like my identity, because it’s one of those things where you were born somewhere else, but you grew up in one country, and that’s all you know. Like English, even in regards to language, English is my first language. I am not fluent in Spanish whatsoever, you know, as much as my mom like, tried to force it in me, but it was just interesting in going to college. I went to college in Lynchburg, Virginia, which is once again predominantly white, there’s a lot of racism in that small area. So for me, it really, it made me hesitant to, you know, share that I was born in a different country. I wasn’t proud of it. In that moment, I wasn’t proud of it. I was more scared of being born in a different country and being different. And having a different status from somebody, even though I grew up just like they did, even in Virginia, in this country. And. you know, it just was definitely an interesting experience. And I will leave it at that. But I know and I’m grateful that it went as it did, because I know it could have been a lot worse. And I know there are people who are completely unprotected, that have it a lot worse and their struggles are something that I will not understand because I at least have this privilege.

Makenzi Barnhart  27:00  

At the time that you were worried that DACA could be revoked, were you in college?

Alex  29:22  

Yeah, I was in college. Um, so I think it was 2016. Yeah, I started my freshman year in 2016. So I was in college when everything was going on. And you know, unfortunately, it really affected my mental health. It really affected my mental health and unfortunately that affected how well I was doing in school because I felt like I could have done so much better if I wasn’t so anxious and it was so stressful all the time. So, yeah, while everything was happening with, you know, the DACA program, I was, I believe I was in my sophomore year of college, but I was in college.

Makenzi Barnhart  30:07  

I’m sorry, I’m sure that was very difficult.

Alex  30:09  

It was an experience.

Makenzi Barnhart  30:12  

Yeah. Um, so I’m kind of talked a little bit about community throughout my questions in this interview, but kind of going off of that. I know, you said you grew up in predominantly white areas. But did you meet, like other immigrants when you arrived to the U.S.? And I’m not like necessarily speaking about like, right when you arrived. Because like, I know you were very young, but like growing up, did you like, kind of meet any other people who had immigrated here? And like, if so were those like, kind of close bonds that you got to develop? And if they were, did you find that their experiences related to or different from yours in ways?

Alex  30:59  

Um, yes. I thought they were the same, but also different. Because, well, you know, every immigration story, and every immigration process, every immigrant story is different. You know, luckily, I was able to really find other people who had a similar experience. You know, I was able to connect with kids who, maybe their parents immigrated, even though they were born here. And then as I got older, like I would say, late high school, I was able to really, I was able to find more people who themselves were undocumented. And they themselves came at a young age or even I was able to find more people who came in at a later age, like 13, 15. So, I think, in a way, it was the same because we all understood how hard it is. Like, we all went through the feeling of being isolated, the feeling of despair, most of us had gone through poverty. And so it was the same as we understood each other’s feelings. But, you know, all of our stories were different. You know, we had, you know, I have friends who immigrated here, because there was a civil war going on back in their country, others were escaping a genocide, you know, others are running from gangs. So, it’s just, every immigration story was different. But we did form really good friendships, really deep bonds, because we understood each other’s feelings, no matter what. 

Makenzi Barnhart  32:47  

Yeah. So, do you feel that, kind of including that as well, you know, like friends that you’ve made and having your family here, or having some of your family here, at least, do you feel that you’ve been able to build a community within the U.S.? And if the answer’s yes, who and/or what would you say, would be like within that community that you’ve built?

Alex  33:16  

Yeah, so let’s see. I do believe, you know, I have been able to find my own community because I feel like before, you know, when you’re younger, you really try to fit into a pre existing community, you try to fit into pre existing groups. And as you get older, you find your own way. You know, you find what you want, you understand your values, your morals. And so I believe, like, as I got older, I was able to build my own community, or at least my own support system. And that included people like my parents, because even though our experiences with immigration were different, even though we all came here at the same time, we were at different points of our lives. So we understood each other’s hardships, each other’s, you know, feeling of not being enough, of being, you know, in your own very corner, you know, my sister is included in my community, my best friends who had parents who, you know, immigrated here and the stories of, you know, why they immigrated here. So, I believe it’s like a mixture of family, really good friends that I have grown up with. And, you know, that I’ve met throughout the years and then, you know, my community now also includes, you know, my husband, and includes my coworkers who know my situation and understand and even if they haven’t gone through it themselves, they do their best to support and understand.

Makenzi Barnhart  34:57  

Yeah. So, I know that you mentioned that you feel you’ve had some opportunities here that you don’t think you would have had had you stayed in Peru. So kind of in terms of that, are there any achievements that you feel like you want to kind of mention that make you feel proud of being here in the U.S., personal or career related because you feel like they wouldn’t have been afforded to you within Peru?

Alex  35:27  

Oh, yeah, I feel like I’ve had so many achievements working here, like just living here. You know, I’ve been able to, I graduated high school with top honors, because I was able to focus. I was able, you know, I was able to go back home. I had a roof over my head, I had walls, I had food, I had running water, I had electricity. I, you know, I had peace of mind. I, you know, went to college, I went into my undergraduate with pretty much everything paid for I, you know, I was able to graduate with multiple, what is it? Like the honor rolls? I was on the Dean’s list. I was able to work in, you know, laboratories. I was able to, you know, with COVID happening, I was able to work for the for the local county, I went into the health department, I was part of the COVID relief. I was able to get my certifications for mental health, things for, you know, medical assistant. I’ve been able to do so much. And, you know, now I’m able to help, right now, what I’m doing is, I’m helping people who are going through infertility treatments. So I feel like I’ve just had so many accomplishments here in the U.S., and I feel like my life, what I would have done, where I would be at this point… it would be just completely different than if I was, you know, if I was still in Peru.

Makenzi Barnhart  37:06  

That’s really awesome to hear. So, kind of, I have sort of asked this before, but I’m not sure if I like said it exactly how I’m gonna say it now. But how would you compare your life in the United States when you first arrived here to now? Because I know you’ve been here for about, I guess it would be like 21 years now. So kind of just like, over time, what kind of changes have you seen within your life living here? And that could be like anything.

Alex  37:44  

Yeah, um, I would say, in general, it’s definitely gotten more stable. Because, you know, in the beginning, my parents, you know, they had their visa, but they weren’t citizens, they weren’t U.S. residents. So they weren’t able to get, you know, any good jobs, it was hard for them to get any type of housing, because most of the time, you need to show like your Social Security, and good proof of income. You know, we went from, you know, the four of us sharing a bedroom to sharing, you know, living in an apartment, to renting multiple townhomes to my parents, you know, going from job to job, they were able to establish their own company, and then they were able to buy their own home. You know, for us, for me, I went school to school, because my parents did move around sometimes, to you know, being in one school system. And, you know, being able to go to school, for me, that was stability. You know, growing up in a minority household, a lot of the time, stability comes from education. So, you know, my parents pushed me to just focus solely on school and for that I’m really grateful. So I feel like for my family, you know, stability is one of the biggest accomplishments and growths that I’ve seen since we first come here. You know, on my parents’ end, seeing them, you know, being insecure financially, emotionally, to, you know, being able to establish their own company, buying their own home, you know, sending both of their daughters off to college. You know, me I was able to, even though it was really hard, and I was through a difficult time, I was able to complete it. I was able to get a job, you know, I was able to, you know, get married, I was able to you know, get my own place. I feel like stability has been the biggest change but also the biggest blessing from when we first entered the U.S. to now.

Makenzi Barnhart  39:54  

Yeah. Definitely. And I know you’ve kind of also touched on this a little bit, but I’m sure you don’t have like too many memories of being in your country of birth. But how would you compare your life here to either how your life was there? Or like how your family’s lives were there? Or just how you think your life would have turned out? If you had stayed there?

Alex  40:22  

Hmm. I think, you know, because I really don’t have any recollection of my life back home. I just know that it was, even though we may have been missing, you know, my parents may have been missing opportunities for work, I do know, in a way it was full in other ways, because we had our whole family there. You know, unfortunately, you know, we came here so I did not grow up with, you know, what it meant to be surrounded by family all the time. And it’s hard to say, you know, where I would have been, you know, at this point in my life, if I would have stayed there, grown up there, because I really don’t know, because I don’t know, how life works day to day over there. I really don’t. I do know, it would have been different. I think, in a way, in regards to career and education, it would have been worse, because I don’t know, I really don’t know where I would have been. I definitely don’t think I would have, I would have everything that I do now. I know I wouldn’t have the opportunity here, the opportunity there that I have here, and I have had here, and I will continue to have here. So all I know is my life would be completely different if I would have grown up over there instead of here.

Makenzi Barnhart  41:56  

Yeah, absolutely. So I’m not sure like, how much of a sense of connectedness you do have to the culture of your home country. But aside from your family, is there anything within the U.S. that would kind of remind you of Peru? And, like, if so, what would that be? And does it kind of bring you comfort having these things?

Alex  42:25  

It does, um, there are a few things. There’s small things like finding a real authentic Peruvian restaurant, you know, in a random nook of DC or in Fairfax. There’s, you know, we were able to discover, you know, church groups that were mainly Peruvian, you know, they did the same kind of like holidays, and the same practices as we do. So, I would say that there are little little bits and pieces that I was able to find here that has kept me connected to my home country. And, you know, for those little things, I am grateful. And even, you know, there’s certain things that we still do here, like my mom forces, you know, forced us to do growing up, her home cooked meals. It’s the little things that really do help you stay connected, even if you are, you know, thousands and thousands of miles apart.

Makenzi Barnhart  43:34  

Yeah. So I know you, like don’t have too much recollection, but I do know, you also mentioned that you visited once. Have you like ever visited outside of that one time or?

Alex  43:51  

Unfortunately, no, I haven’t been able to. You know, with DACA, I’m not, you know, DACA recipients, we aren’t able to travel. You know, at some point there was parole with that, but that was taken away. So unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to go back. That was the only time I think we went after like 16 years. And that was like five years ago now. I’m hoping that one day I’ll be able to go and I’ll be able to see sights in Peru like Machu Picchu and Cusco, like our very native lands, and stay longer than just two weeks to really get to know where my family is from and where I was born.

Makenzi Barnhart  44:35  

Yeah, of course. Um, so I don’t know if you do since you might not like recognize the country so much but your family who had spent more time there do you think like it may be harder on them? Do they miss Peru?

Alex  44:53  

Oh, yes, definitely. They really do. You know, my mom, she did not grow up in a small family. She had like 13 brothers and sisters. And you know, she was used to having her siblings in and out of the house, you know, she left her mom back home. And when she left back in 2000, her mom (my grandmother) was already very old. And she was, you know, in poor health. You know, she was used to growing up with her cousins, her, nieces, her nephews, like there being parties at the house every week, celebrating birthdays together. With a family that big, you pretty much had a birthday, like every other week, you know, big holidays. Even my dad, you know, my dad left his mom and dad back home. And he was lucky enough that at that time, when my grandmother on his side’s health started going downhill that he was a permanent resident, so he could travel back and forth. But, you know, he left his sister back there, his nephews, his uncles that he grew up with, you know, my sister, she came here when she was 13. So, she was used to that as well. She was used to the family, she knows our aunts and uncles, she knew my grandparents. I grew up knowing my grandparents by you know, random calls over the phone. I did not spend any physical time with them until 16 years later. And, you know, yes, family is family, but it’s hard for you to really have a bond with someone when you barely know them. So I know for them, it’s a lot harder. I know for my mom, like, she’s sad. She gets sad whenever a family member passes away that’s a sibling and she’s not there. So I know it’s a lot harder for them than it is for me.

Makenzi Barnhart  46:55  

Yeah. I know, this is also something that we’ve kind of touched on a little bit throughout the interview, but does the U.S. kind of feel like it’s home to you? And if your answer would be yes. Would you say that that, like took time? And how much time would you say that it had taken to actually feel that the U.S. was home?

Alex  47:25  

Um, I think for all of us, it was different stages, like for my family, I think they all realized it in different, you know, different points of their lives. You know, for me, it was like almost immediate because I grew up here, like, you know, my earliest memories are going to school here, like, you know, my neighbors. And, you know, for me, this has always been home. And I don’t know anything else but the U.S. I think for my sister, it took more time. I don’t know when she realized this was home. I believe it wasn’t until maybe she was in her 20s that she was just like, okay, like, this is where I am, you know, this is where she met her husband. This is where she got married. This is where, you know, my parents are, where I am. And this is where she wants to, you know, raise her kids. For my parents, that’s also something that’s hard to say. Because they came here, they must have come here when they were like in their 30s. So, for me, I’m still unsure whether they still really feel like this is home. I feel like especially my mom, I feel like half of her home is here because this is where me and my sister are but then her second half of her home is still in Peru because that’s where her sisters and her brothers are.

Makenzi Barnhart  48:55  

Of course. Yeah. So it’s kind of like a dual lived experience for her.

Alex  49:02  

Yes, I do believe like my mom was the one who probably took it the hardest because she was very, very close to her family. And I think for her it really was more, it was a really big shock for her to feel that loneliness because you’re used to growing up surrounded by noise, by your sisters, by your brothers, by your parents, by your cousins, like everybody just coming over to your home and celebrating and just, you know, having fun to moving to a completely different country where it’s just you know, your husband and your two kids. Yeah, so I feel like out of everybody in my home I do believe it’s my mom who probably took this change the hardest.

Makenzi Barnhart  49:55  

Yeah. This question is kind of like the biggest one I have to ask, but if you were able to know what your lived experiences in the U.S. would have been ahead of time, would you still come here present day? And like, same type of thing for your family? Do you think? And also just do you think you or like anyone else within your family has any regrets about coming to the United States?

Alex  50:25  

Um, I think for me, I would have still came. I think for my sister, she would have probably still came. I think, my mom, if she knew what this country had in store for us, when we first came in, I believe that she would have probably stayed, because it’s easier to go through a struggle when you have your whole support system. But it’s depressing to go through a struggle when it’s just you. So I believe, you know, if my mom would have known the struggles we would have faced. the racism we would have faced, the backlash, the rude comments, the property, you know, in their case, they did have a lack of, you know, job options. Not what they were expecting, you know, I do believe she probably would have stayed. But, you know, for me, I would have still came because I don’t think I would have had what I do right now if I would have stayed back in Peru.

Makenzi Barnhart  51:35  

Yeah. So just to kind of wrap up the interview, I just kind of want to leave it up to you, if there’s anything else that you feel like you want to mention about your experience that kind of wasn’t asked. So if you have anything that you want to say there, you can just go ahead. 

Alex  51:55  

Okay. I’m trying to think, um, I think, you know, one of the biggest things I’ve learned, being a person of my status, being someone who has grown up in the United States their entire life, you know, and has been taught, what the U.S. can bring to you, the whole concept of freedom and, you know, this outrageous amount of opportunities. Someone who has, you know, someone who has grown up not being viewed as an American, even though I have lived in America my entire life, I have grown used to the, you know, to the standard of living here. I think for me, one of the hardest parts is when I see somebody treat, like, you know, I’ve been treated this way before, I’ve been told straight up that, you know, I don’t deserve to be here like, you know, I have been stealing jobs and stealing other, you know, students’ education. I think one of the biggest things I have learned is just you, you really just cannot judge someone’s situation, you have no idea why somebody immigrated here you have no idea what they may have gone through, to support their family and to being here and to being able to provide a better life. And it’s just, you know, I’m very grateful for everything that I’ve been able to acquire in the U.S. and I feel like it’s just one of the biggest things I’ve been able to learn being someone of my status is that you just can’t judge somebody from where they’re from, or where they were born.

Makenzi Barnhart  53:56  

Yeah. That’s absolutely a great point to make. So if there’s like nothing else, I guess we’re all good.

Alex  54:08  

Yeah, do you have any other questions for me?

Makenzi Barnhart  54:12  

Um, I want to say yes, but like, there’s not something I can think of right off the top of my head. But it was great hearing your experience. 

Alex  54:26  

Yeah. Of course, of course. It was really nice talking to you about all of them.

Makenzi Barnhart  54:31  

It was nice talking to you too. Thank you so much for helping me out with this.

Alex  54:36  

Of course, of course. It’s not a problem. If you need anything, you know, just please reach out to me.