Fall, 2007
The theme of these stories was a comparison and contrast of the Pilgrims’ journey and their own journeys to this country.
NEW AMERICA
Karina Medina
I came to America on November 11 of 2001, I brought with me my children and some clothes. Before I came I was worried about the new country that I was going to see; everything that I knew was from letters because my husband was here before I came. So, I was so impatient to see him and to see California. And when the flight of 12 hours ended the first thing that I saw was the American flag, little bit later I saw my husband, so happy to see us.
Day by day I was learning different things about this country and, more interesting for me was to see different cultures.
My husband was the person who helped me a lot because he was here first; he taught me how to buy in the market, drive, and every new thing that I had to learn.
And the most important is-- It has beautiful weather, nice people, delicious food, nice neighbors. About the food, in my country everyone eats a lot of meat, so, I learned not to eat meat every day because now I change every day between chicken, pork and other new foods.
The similarities with the Pilgrims are I was looking for a new life like them. And I think, everyone who comes to another country feels the same as the Pilgrims because sometimes you can expect something but you don't know if it's going to happen.
MY TRIP TO AMERICA
Sandra Bem
I believe that each of us is a kind of pilgrim in a certain way. In general, when we leave our homeland we are searching for new opportunities, new possibilities, and dreams in order to get a better quality of life. However, sometimes we need to pay a price for that.
I have known a bunch of immigrants that lived a real inferno like the Pilgrims on their trip to America. They even put their lives at risk. After reading about the Pilgrims' journey and the adversities that they had to face, I realize that I can't complain about the trip that I had. So, it is completely insane to complain about the long eighteen hours flight and the American Airlines quality of food and its uncomfortable seats. Surely, the turbulence is something that always frights me when I have to travel by plane. But, nothing compares to the Pilgrims' struggle in reaching an unknown and unpredictable land. In contrast, I had visited Los Angeles three times (1991, 1992 and 1999) before living here and this city had caught my eye at the first sight. Actually, the city looked familiar to me.
It was spring time, and the sun as well as a couple of Argentinean friends gave to my family and me a welcome in a high style. Thus, I felt great and safe. They took care of us in our first needs. For example, they helped us in essential things like getting our social security and our Costco membership. Also, they bought and installed something very important, the dryer and washing machine, before we arrived as well as cleaning the house, putting flowers everywhere, and stuffing the refrigerator. Overall, they showed us a lot of shortcuts in order to get rid of red tape and inconvenient situations. Therefore, it is very interesting the similarity that exists between the providential help of Squanto and Samoset and our Argentinean couple of friends. They were both very supportive and showed us their profound sense of humanity.
Moreover, they knew enough about the new land and taught us the basic things to guarantee our survival in it.
In summary, although we did not have to overcome so many obstacles as the Pilgrims did, we have to celebrate with a time of Thanksgiving like them. We have to celebrate life. It is time to celebrate all the good things that we have been getting during all these years. It is time to say thanks for the good “harvest" that we have gotten in our lives. Thanks God!
NEW AMERICA
Karina Medina
I came to America on November 11 of 2001, I brought with me my children and some clothes. Before I came I was worried about the new country that I was going to see; everything that I knew was from letters because my husband was here before I came. So, I was so impatient to see him and to see California. And when the flight of 12 hours ended the first thing that I saw was the American flag, little bit later I saw my husband, so happy to see us.
Day by day I was learning different things about this country and, more interesting for me was to see different cultures.
My husband was the person who helped me a lot because he was here first; he taught me how to buy in the market, drive, and every new thing that I had to learn.
And the most important is-- It has beautiful weather, nice people, delicious food, nice neighbors. About the food, in my country everyone eats a lot of meat, so, I learned not to eat meat every day because now I change every day between chicken, pork and other new foods.
The similarities with the Pilgrims are I was looking for a new life like them. And I think, everyone who comes to another country feels the same as the Pilgrims because sometimes you can expect something but you don't know if it's going to happen.
MY TRIP TO AMERICA
Sandra Bem
I believe that each of us is a kind of pilgrim in a certain way. In general, when we leave our homeland we are searching for new opportunities, new possibilities, and dreams in order to get a better quality of life. However, sometimes we need to pay a price for that.
I have known a bunch of immigrants that lived a real inferno like the Pilgrims on their trip to America. They even put their lives at risk. After reading about the Pilgrims' journey and the adversities that they had to face, I realize that I can't complain about the trip that I had. So, it is completely insane to complain about the long eighteen hours flight and the American Airlines quality of food and its uncomfortable seats. Surely, the turbulence is something that always frights me when I have to travel by plane. But, nothing compares to the Pilgrims' struggle in reaching an unknown and unpredictable land. In contrast, I had visited Los Angeles three times (1991, 1992 and 1999) before living here and this city had caught my eye at the first sight. Actually, the city looked familiar to me.
It was spring time, and the sun as well as a couple of Argentinean friends gave to my family and me a welcome in a high style. Thus, I felt great and safe. They took care of us in our first needs. For example, they helped us in essential things like getting our social security and our Costco membership. Also, they bought and installed something very important, the dryer and washing machine, before we arrived as well as cleaning the house, putting flowers everywhere, and stuffing the refrigerator. Overall, they showed us a lot of shortcuts in order to get rid of red tape and inconvenient situations. Therefore, it is very interesting the similarity that exists between the providential help of Squanto and Samoset and our Argentinean couple of friends. They were both very supportive and showed us their profound sense of humanity.
Moreover, they knew enough about the new land and taught us the basic things to guarantee our survival in it.
In summary, although we did not have to overcome so many obstacles as the Pilgrims did, we have to celebrate with a time of Thanksgiving like them. We have to celebrate life. It is time to celebrate all the good things that we have been getting during all these years. It is time to say thanks for the good “harvest" that we have gotten in our lives. Thanks God!