Worth Coming Back Twice

Steven: Hello, are you ready? I am recording the interview and conversation

Amparo: Yes, okay good.

Steven: First question is what did you think of the United States before you came here

Amparo: Well, my thoughts of the U.S is that it is a progressive country, where there are many opportunities for the immigrant and above all, in any situation, immigrants have an opportunity to have a better future.

Steven: Ok, the next question is why did you immigrate to the United States?

Amparo: I had a child. And the difficulties to study in this country [Colombia] were not there, I couldn’t study. So, I saw an opportunity and the door opened to travel and I did it. I didn’t think more, only to take my child ahead and I risked the decision.

Steven: So the situation in Colombia pushed you to go to the United States?

Amparo: Yes, it was a personal decision because my family is a lot and I wanted to study and I couldn’t study. There was no other way to go forward. It was my thinking as a young girl that I wanted to go forward and I have a child. I am young and I can move forward and I couldn’t study here. I am going to do something else and I thought of leaving.

Steven: How did you immigrate? What was the process?

Amparo: Well, the process is that an opportunity to travel with a family that were taking other people and gave me the chance. I traveled and I went through Mexico, passed the frontier, the rio bravo, and I got to the United States in Houston, Texas.

Steven: Did you have a plan or not?

Amparo: In my young mind and since a little girl I had that plan. The protection of God, I did not have a concrete plan but I did have faith. I got there and it was the blessing to find a job.

Steven: Were you scared?

Amparo: There was a lot of scares, I got sick, but I had a strong grip and I travelled good, it was a good trip. I got there really happy. I did not have anything certain but I was happy that I had the door opened and a blessing of travel, and that was more important in the moment for me.

Steven: More over the process? When did you pass the rio bravo and how was the situation? Can you describe the history? How did things happen?

Amparo: Yes, eh? When we arrived in Mexico, eh? I had a lot of fears because that was the beginning of the adventure and I didn’t know and didn’t know everything there in that place, uh, it turned out that we spent four days at the border because there was no means of transportation. Then, since we were already on the fifth day. A person who was in charge of crossing the border with us. I was no longer with people I knew, but with people I didn’t know. I had many fears because that was where I was thinking if I was going to pass or not, but I kept the faith that I was going to make it, when we went. From a town, a city called me mexicali, from there we left, they took us on foot by foot, and when we arrived to the mountain or to all those deserted places it was already night. So it was also very, very scary. We went through some tunnels where there was a lot of animals. There could be snakes. I didn’t see them because I went through with my eyes closed because I was so scared that I could feel the rats, I could feel many animals in those tunnels, in those tunnels that are like sewers that take you there. They take you there, to that other town, but it was not yet the river. Then we got to the river. And we passed on a raft of wooden buses and after passing there, we were received on the other side. Other unknown people also took us to a country house. And there we stayed for another two or three days. Then we went towards the road, another dark tunnel because it was dark at night. And we went under the highway that was already the United States. We went through that tunnel under the highway or another sewer. I think it was because, well that’s what I remember. And we came out onto the road where the police were passing. The police cars were constantly passing by. There were a lot of fears, a lot of fears waiting for them to stop passing by so that they could pick us up, all of it in the decisions I made. It was really with the desire to move forward because I already had a son for whom I had to. To see him through, but I passed and we arrived there. They took us to the airport. That was the first time in Mexico

Steven: The first time?

Amparo: Yes because I did it twice.

Steven: Later we talk about it. So you got to the United States alone in Houston?

Amparo: Yes I got there and I had an uncle and aunt and those were my collaborators

Steven: Where did they live?

Amparo: In Long Island

Steven: So, after you got there in Houston, what did you do next?

Amparo: Well, when I arrive at the Houston airport. Well, from there, the one who had a ticket to travel by plane went to the plane and the one who didn’t, went to the plane. Well, I had to take the bus. Ah, oh, it was a tremendous odyssey because from there to take the bus was, well, hard, but they guided us to someone and he took us there and from there with. It was. I think it was three days to Houston to New York

Steven: And the person who helped you was someone you knew or was someone?

Amparo: Relative who was an uncle mmm, but there was also another person who took us to. To the Houston transportation terminal by bus and we traveled to New York.

Steven: How was your first experience in the United States? What did you think of the country?

Amparo: My first experience was that I had a tremendous sickness because I fell to a flu and I was always delicate. It was because of the cold, the winter came. Later, I went to work with fears. Because being an immigrant, I was very scared. I only talked when I was asked questions and well, thank God, I had the capacity to do my job with no problem.

Steven: Yes, more about this. When you got to Long Island, what jobs did you get?

Amparo: I was a machine operator. I entered the factory where they did shoes for the ballarinas and it went really well.

Steven: How did you find this job? Somebody offered it to you.

Amparo: The job was planned. My uncle who helped me get here. He helped with the language because in the United States, majority speaks English.

Steven: How did you live with a new language?

Amparo: Well, I knew a little bit because I finished High School. I knew a little bit and I like it, but also there were a lot of Hispanics in that factory. The majority of people are Hispanics, Italians, Puerto Ricans, and Central Americans. So, for me, the language aspect wasn’t that difficult, but when I had to talk or speak English, I understood.

Steven: Can you speak more about the condition of the job in the factory, who was it?

Amparo: It was really good and we were treated very well. I can not complain because I went to that job on my own accord. My uncle taught me how to work the machine that was called guarnecedora (trimmer), it was a strong machine that was mainly used by men. But he taught me and I rapidly learned how to use it. I earned more money from other jobs, to help my mother and my son who were in Colombia. I understood the machine really well and knew how to manipulate it, and it was a success. I give thanks to God I worked there because that factory, in reality, helped us and supported us.

Steven: So your experience was really good?

Amparo: Yes, very good, I think so.

Steven: With the money that you had, you planned to send it to Colombia for the family or what was your plan with the money?

Amparo: The money was for the debt because nothing is free in life. They lent my money to get here. So the first was the debt I had to pay and later to go forward my bills. I started paying rent from went I got here and bought my own aliments.

Steven: For how long did you stay working there until you went back to Colombia

Amparo: I was there for 3 years but I returned back to the United States and they accepted me like a new employee

Steven: And how was the process taking you child to the United States?

Amparo: Through the tunnel in Mexico

Steven: How was the experience different?

Amparo: It was more difficult because went I got to Colombia I wanted to immediately return to U.S because I wasn’t working here and I wasn’t able to pay my bills, nor my rent. So I decided to leave, migrant again and I did. I was scared because I was taking people to there, I got there part money and part stuff I had materialistically. I gave them as money to travel but also there was a condition that I had to take 10 people. I took them all and we all passed, and I took my son as well.

Steven: So you returned to United States, what happened in Colombia?

Amparo: It was about the rent and the opportunities, yes, and I didn’t want to leave my son. And then I had another son. So I did it again. I travelled. Above all it was a triumph, because even with the difficulties and the scares, because there were scares, it was not only my responsibility with my son, but of also other people who were on my count to pass them. I passed but it was much worse. Yes it was much worse because for the first time it was my responsibility. The first one I had no responsibility, just myself. But in this was, there was 10 people who trusted in that I knrw how to pass the frontier. So I took the risk too, but I had connection of people who knew how to pass with people. That was how it was. There was 4 women and 6 men.

Steven: How did you do it?

Amparo: By the river and all that. The connection was a process and from Pereira. I found a man who said was already taking people to the United States so I went to him and that I wanted to go. When I told him that he said well, and I told him I had already been there and with more people-

Steven: The Tv turned on, sorry.

Amparo: Yes, I got there and the man told me yes and I told him I passed through there and I knew how to. So he told me “you will be in charge of other people and the trip will be yours, and of your child. So I told him I would do it. So in part of my stuff, money and the people to there. I risked and I pass but it was very difficult in Mexico. They got a women and a man. Later I waited in the hotel and they knew the directions of the hotel and they got there, thank God. But in those 4 hours, 4 people were missing in the hotel. It was a terrible thing. 4 terrible hours because I said, what will I do, I couldn’t leave without them from the hotel. There was also an earthquake. The earthquake of that year was very strong, the buildings fell 5 minutes after leaving the hotel. It was called the Prince Del Hotel and that hotel fell straight after we life with everyone in Taxis to the earthquake. I had already bought tickets and my son looked at me and said “mom, this sir does not know how to drive” I told him that there was an earthquake. When we saw passed the bridge on the way to the airport was all the buildings in terrible conditions. That is why I said it was worse. It was really bad, apart from the experience that took 2 months to get to the United States, two months. My mom thought I was dead. My family tought that I was in the earthquake but it wasn’t like that, I had to stay indoors for multiple weeks in a house in Mexicali, in a Mexican familiy’s house because they were part of the connection. And in that house they provided us food, everything, but we stayed there for like 3 weeks. Later we passed, we went and pass the river, but some went ahead of me. 2 women as well. I didn’t know where they were but when we got to the other side, they appeared as well. At the edge of the river, when we went to pass it, I put my son in my legs, and in that wooden drat I told him to close his eyes and we passed it. Later came the camino on foot in the desert, that was also very hard. A lot of thirst, a lot of fear. Without knowing where we were ending up, we got to the frontier and we were in Houston practically. And from there to the airport, they guided us to the airport and there we paid for the flights. They didn’t know I had money, I didn’t take it out until the flight. I majority went to New York, some to Miami. The first flight were a woman and 2 men and the rest went towards New York. There they received us. We got there, and they received us in the airport in a van, they took use to a house and all the families were reunited. All the families of every single one. And they hugged me and gave thanks because we got to New York.

Steven: Why New York?

Amparo: The majority had relatives there and it was a place where you can find a job easily. Finding a job was easily, more easy in New York, and at least I already had a job lined up

Steven: What was different this time?

Amparo: Containing a child in the United States was very different because my life changed a lot and my life was my children. And many times I even made the wrong decisions in my life for them. But I got ahead, always pushing to get them through with my mistakes, with my failures, but as a human being. It was very nice because you learn from all that and from all that you triumph and victory too. So, when Ronald Reagan came and offered immigration, residency to immigrants, I applied. And I myself applied to many that I knew already filled out the application and applied to many to play the role. And they all received residency. I know people from Central America that I knew could get residency. I collaborated with them and filled out the application, huh? They bought the Moni and ordered and I filled the package and sent it and we all did it. Resides. With Ronald Reagan’s recent plan he loved us because he gave us that chance to be legal in that country.

Steven: And what was the plan by Ronald Reagan? When did they come into place?

Amparo: In like 1986 was the decision of the president Ronald Reagan that he was going to give legal status to the immigrants and I had a son born here, So, I appliked and I told them I had a son here and gave proof I worked in the factory. They gave me a labor card and with all that, I was able to get my citizenship, my legal residency in the Country.

Steven: So how was the economic situation? When you got there the second time. Was it better because you already knew places and had a job?

Amparoa: Well, I think it was her in terms of economy, it was much better. Apart from the fact that I got the same job and it was going very well for me. So, for that reason, there were times when I had to pay some money and I saved little to pay the money. But I received help from one of an institution that helped immigrants and gave us food. And some a church. He also distributed food to us. And with that I also supported myself in many ways, but it was almost always for work, because I also cleaned houses on weekends. Offices well, I used to do this on the weekends too. That helped me a lot.

Steven: What jobs did you have?

Amparo: Well, my job is eh, the job that I had everything, let’s say every day. The newspaper was the, uh, the like flat machine operator. But on weekends I found houses to clean. People and I cleaned them. That was another job that this one had, but it was already on weekends or sometimes in the afternoons, when I left my job.

Steven: So you had double jobs?

Amparo: Yes, yes, I had many jobs or also worked hours. You’re mm. Yes, in the company, they put me to do something that wasn’t my job, but they needed to get jobs. Go ahead and I collaborated and they paid him overtime.

Steven: So, when you had the whole family there, the two children, and you thought you were going to stay there together for your whole life, or you thought you were going to go to Colombia again.

Amparo: Eh, in those moments, I always wanted to return to Colombia. It was always my desires, but in the difficulties of studying them, they were already making their future. And also there, because I had to stay, I had to continue helping and supporting them and continue. The desire was always to return here to my homeland, to my country.

Steven: Yes, uh, what was the culture like in the United States, this being something different, or what about the people? How was the experience? Going in the United States.

Amparo: My experience there in the United States was very nice because I also had the opportunity to meet many people of different nationalities and Americans and everything. And well, the truth is, I never had any difficulties with fact. I never felt rejected. Not belittled. I always had that contact with people very nice. And I think that I do. I don’t have to say that I was discriminated against. No, no, no, it did not happen to me. And the food, all that in New York was different or and enough people that I could cook. Yes, yes, no, and not in food. We shopped at a Hispanic store. Many things we needed, but not for me, it wasn’t a problem if you get very fat, but I did get very fat because the food tasted very good. In addition, there were also many houses here in those times and there, because it was easy to shop and everything seemed very cheap to us. So you bought and ate a lot and shared it with a lot of people, as immigrants were arriving, it was our turn to receive them, help them, as well as us.

Steven: Can you speak more about helping other immigrants?

Amparo: Yes, I helped some people who also came from here. And they were there with me for a while, but they quickly got a job and they left too quickly, eh? I also had a time when I went to the United States for the second time, uh, I arrived with my son and the doors were closed to me in that sense, because that was the first day. I have been. A week without knowing who I still couldn’t work for without knowing what was going to happen to me. So, until he found a school to place him and he didn’t receive him at the school, he didn’t have an address. One yes, the direction. Then I saw myself in the street with the son. I was in the street with him without knowing where I was going. Locate. I mean, that night, I was going to spend it on the street, but it wasn’t like that. Thank God because a cousin came to greet me and held out his hand and took me to his apartment where I could start doing my things. I already put the address, I put my son to study and he helped me. He helped me a lot for about two or three months that I lived there. While I worked while I also took care of my son, everything went well for me. Yes, but yes, I found myself on the street not knowing where to go, because the person who received me could no longer have me at home. In fact, then I saw myself on the street and it was very sad. But God put the helper right there. He put the person to help me. He told me not to walk. Me,” I’m not very well but have an apartment, but I have two rooms and somebody rents one and if you want in the living room, but I’m not going to leave it like that. Walk with me and help me. And there I went forward.

Steven: And with the schools and all that, what was the process? Putting your son in school was easy?

Amparo: They received him very easily and I only had to bring the address and proof that I lived there. And my cousin helped me. He allowed me the role of the services, that of the electric company and all that. And I went, I took that paper and there that I paid. Then he started. He started to study at a nearby school and I started working. The was difficultly in the household. But I moved forward because from there I got a small apartment for myself.

Steven: What were the difficulties?

Amparo: The difficulties that I had, above all, were almost always housing because, uh, one with children is already different. And the truth is that it was difficult to get an apartment. They asked for many requirements, but my cousin helped me. He helped me a lot and I was able to find out where I lived and because of the job I had, which was good, the plays are with the s. The what with the proofs of the payment of the check. Ah, that with the ones that took my check. With that they saw that I won.

Steven: Good, so there was no problem? Did you have problems with the government or help?

Amparo: Nothing. I never had problems with that. Nor help as well, like I said, from the church, institution that helped immigrants, but nothing else. I didn’t really need to be there also.

Steven: And how did the church help, what were your experience?

Amparo: Well, they shared food in the morning for breakfast and I would sometimes go with my sons to eat there. Sometimes it was necessary and they also gave food to make at house, they gave milk, and it helped us a lot.

Steven: And in New York did you have community or how was it living there?

Amparo: Yes. Yes, that was a community. But there nobody knew anything, nothing. In other words, no one finds out because like everyone else, he left for work and arrived in the afternoon. It didn’t look like a lot of movement or anything. Yes, and also transportation was very difficult. Of course, it was difficult because I had to walk to work and sometimes in winter with the snowfall freezing to death.

But I had to get to work as it was. Because they would fire me, I would sometimes walk up to an hour to get to work and it was hard. Oh yeah. No, there was public services like buses. Ah, [there was] but that’s not where I was going. No, at that time there was no bus. The bus did not arrive, but I was closer walking than leaving the bus or in a trans. So I would walk because I knew my route, but yes, it was like an hour. I arrived with a frozen nose, but it wasn’t for long either because then I learned how to drive a car and I did get one and a license

Steven: After you got accustomed in the country how was the living, what did you work, and what more did you do when you kids were adults?

Amparo: , when they already brought to their lives, their decisions already as an adult. Well, I traveled to Colombia. I was here in Colombia and I was very sick. I got very sick. So the doctors said that I had to get out of the cold because the bones had an infection like a disqualified, like very weak bones. And I looked very bad in my life in bed for a while. I got here and I was very delicate and I asked the doctors to see me because I didn’t have a doctor there. So I came here and looked for doctors and everything and with natural medicines I healed myself, but I came here after that, and they stayed there studying. So more about the doctor, you didn’t have, you didn’t have a doctor in the United States? No, I did not have the opportunity to say that I was going to have a treatment there because one was very expensive. And the other thing was that he had to leave the country. It was what the doctors told me. It must come out because with the cold, you are not going to get any medicine to take effect because it is the cold that is bothering you. So I had nowhere to go there in the United States. I came to Colombia, that Colombia yes, for a while, for a while, a while. And then I already went to Miami where. Where uh, how did that decision to live in Miami come about? Well, I got a partner who is my partner at the moment, 25 years with him it went well for me because I want her retired. From the police. And I met him and we decided to travel to the United States again, uh, for the children because they were all there. So we decided to travel and we settled in Miami, where we had the opportunity to buy an apartment and get a mortgage. And he worked there for many years in painting and he also calls me a cosmetologist, I studied there in Miami, he tells me a degree in cosmetology and I graduated from it. I worked with it too. And well, at this time we already received the tension of the country with the jobs and everything. We are leaving. And here we are.

Steven: How was your experience in total? Immigrating to the U.S.

Amparo: The experience in total was a blessing above all. Difficulties that there were, let’s say so, tears sometimes even impotence of not being able to do things the way I wanted them or of taking my children out the way I wanted and longed for, no, I did not reach that reach, that achievement, eh, under my own means, but they got ahead because they also felt a company in me, a support. And well, very happy because in the United States, I achieved many victories that I also enjoy today and I thank God for that country, because I love it, I love it equally. I do not allow them to speak ill of the United States. I never live very grateful for that country where they gave me so much support. And I was able to get ahead and my children too. And with great pride in my heart, you must know that I have my family there, that they have all been blessed, eh? They have moved forward and have a family as beautiful as God has given me. Many blessings. Emotions.

Steven: If you were to immigrate again, what would you do different? What would you change?

Amparo: I believe that I would change many ideals that I had to pray lightly out of despair. Of the as I tell you, of the helplessness of not being able to do what I wanted the achievements. And I would also change a lot of fear that I had because I had children who were growing up and I was very afraid that they would go to a life that I didn’t, I wouldn’t accept it like drug addiction or bad things, but no, it wasn’t like that . It was not so. Thanks god. I thank God and the opportunity that this president, may God have him in glory in eternity, has given us the opportunity to obtain the documents, because that helped us move forward. I believe that first of all God and the will in that man with a big heart who gave us that opportunity so that immigrants could have what others who already had their legal status. We could have ourselves too. That’s all because there it is locked up like the whole story. Mm, not the difficulties, but looking at the successes, the triumphs and the victories that we were able to achieve in that beautiful country, starting with my family, who I love with all my heart.

Steven: I think this is great, there is the interview. Good, I think I just finished. Yes, I believe so and sufficient.

Amparo: Ok, yes, I need to translate it into English. How? But you are a champion. Yes Yes. That granny bothered his parents. Do not teach my children English because they are going to learn it in the Spanish school. I with you and now I spoke with mai. With him with the cousin, the pri. Who is ma mai with Edison’s son, Brian’s brother. To the children of ah, yes, yes, yes. I spoke with may who is already a sergeant. And for me, that is a pride. Go, don’t speak how to speak good Spanish. Yes, I’m going thank God. I would tell them and I reminded them, daddy, that I would tell them Spanish, Spanish, Spanish and those ideas, but the best ones, because you are going to get ahead, pa. Maybe I’m not going to get to see that, hopefully. But that’s going to be, look at Sabela, look at Sofía as they speak Spanish. Yes. So, for me, that is a joy and, well, you have to pray. It’s for Samuel, because Samuel is like the most entangled one and that Oliver can also speak Spanish to him so that the child can get ahead. Yes. Yes, daddy, you already stopped all that. Those in your hands. My love. You are a great name of God. You were the most beautiful promise he has made to me. Thanks. The greatest joy of my soul and the secret that I carry inside me that took it to me too. Yes, I mean, I love you, I love you very much, daddy. I want me too. It’s sweet to see you, daddy. I take you here with my heart and in my prayers so that everything goes well for you and that nothing frustrates your career. your ideals As long as you always have God present in your heart that nobody hears from you, don’t be scared because I was frustrated in that. I wanted to be a dentist and, seeing that I had nowhere to hold on, I left because I wanted to become a dentist, it was my desire since I was a child. So, well, I already owe him that restlessness. My love after I have God here and. Let no one frustrate your desires or your desires. You have to go through times, through experiences to live always meditating on this. Does not suit me. He sets it aside if you understand me, but because everything is lawful, but not everything is convenient. Gulo here and here, because you will always see someone who is looking from above. Yes, the good and the bad. That’s all, all our daily living is that, okay, my love, always carry that advice in your heart and never imitate anyone. teach him. My three children do not imitate anyone. Be original before your ideas. Others copy it. Yes. Okay, okay, I love you, son. Ah, I love you, grandmother. Ah, it’s that I love you. Love you. I love you my love. I love you very much. I miss you. No, I love me too. Love. Here is a grandmother who will adore you forever until eternity. Bye. Bye. Not now.