Abner: An I Learn America Story

May 31 2019

Abner: An I Learn America Story

By Abner | From : Guatemala | School : School of Business & Tourism (LA)

My story start in Cuatepeque, Guatemala. I was born in September, 1999. what I remember of my story is that I went to school at age six and also my cousins and we were always together. We also went out to play soccer after school everyday. The whole family moved and now I almost have no communication with them. It was hard for me to move because where we so were close and nothing was the same after that. I was in a new environment and the weather was different, even the people had a very bad character by comparison.

I stayed at home taking care of my little brother and my parents were at work. They always arrived very late at home. When my brother got older I went back to school again and met new friends. I also got into the soccer team at school and we went to different schools to play and we always won and the teachers were happy because nobody could beat us. During that time my father passed away and mom was very depressed because we were a lot, and she was sick and pregnant. After that experience i had many things on my mind and I said to myself, I better go to work.

The Journey

One day I called my cousin who is here and told her that I wanted to go to the United States because life is very hard here in Guatemala and she told me that yes. When I was leaving the house i was very sad and depressed.

During the journey i was very depressed because I missed my mom and my brothers a lot, but I had to be strong for them. Along the journey i was with other random people. When we passed the border of Mexico and we entered the desert and suddenly we ran into some drug dealers and we were forced to give them money. Luckily, the drug dealers didn’t do anything hurtful to us, and they let us pass. Shortly after, we got lost in the desert with our companion. After that we were turned in to the border patrol who took me to a detention center. After a night there, they sent us to a shelter in Arizona. I spent a few months there and then they allowed me into the United States.

Living in America

Now I am in Los Angeleswith mi cousin. When I arrive in Los Angeles I feel very nervous, and strange. Every day it was difficult because I had no connection with my cousin and little by little I met people I did not know. Over time one of the places I like most is Hollywood which I first visited after three weeks here.

I went to find a school and then they gave me options and I chose the school of business and tourism. when I arrived at school I was very nervous because I had stopped studying for 3 years. I was scared because I did not think I knew anything but I went ahead and I did well in some classes. There are times I do not want to continue studying because I want to work more because I need money.

I miss my little brother a lot, I would like to go back to the past to be with him again. I send him money every 15 days for his expenses back home.

Playing soccer has always been my passion and I will continue playing. I will be someone important in this and am sure it will play an important role in my life. I also enjoy all things related to business. I would like to continue to study business so that one day I can be my own boss.

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