Coming to California

Coming to California

                My father was the first one of our family members to come to California on Feb. 20, 1980. He was only 17 years old when he decided to cross over to the U.S. to begin a new life and live the American dream.  Someone that went back to Oaxaca, Mexico illuminated my father telling him that here there was a lot of job opportunities. His name was Antonio he told him he would help my dad cross and so my uncle Abel Herredia, and Ricardo Herredia decided to come as well. They arrive to T.J. in a bus once there they tried to cross around 4:30 am, but La Migra got them (immigration officers) since it was easy to cross in those times the same day they got deported back to T.J. they tried for the second time this time trough the serro (mountains). This time the helicopter tried to find them but they hide in some bushes and “se la pelaron” (they didn’t find them) but when they jumped the fence they got Ricardo and the other once got to crossover they got a ride to Encinitas were they found out that Antonio lied to them there was no jobs he didn’t have a job either. My dad lived in the serro for 3 years were he worked in a nursery, construction, and as a landscaper. Then in 1983 my father came to SD and worked for Robert Kota for 1 year then he got hired to work in Dave’s Flower Box in 1984 were he is still working. He got his residency on November 4, 1989.

                My mom and I were the second ones to come here to California it was a Sunday morning around 1 am. I was in my mom’s hands because I was just 8 months born. When we crossed the Coyote told my mom to make me suck on her breast so that I didn’t cry so she did. She was on her knees going trough a tunnel my moms was scared because I was still little and she had recovered from the cut they did in her stomach when I was born. Once here in California she changed me because I was full of shit then she rolled me in my blanket because it was cold then she got a ride to my Aunt’s house were we staid for a week because we were trying to look for my dad once they fond him we all got together and moved in with another uncle of mine.

                My sister was the last on of my family to come here. She was only 14 she arrived at T.J in a plane on June 11, 1999. My sister stayed in a hotel where she had 25 min. to learn how to respond in English just in case the border officer asked her anything since she got crossed by car. She lasted a year to get use to the American live and in once here my dad put papers so that my mom, sister and I got our residency. We waited 10 years to get it and finally in 2001 we became residents of the U.S.