What is the "American Dream"? Based on my knowledge, I'd say the American Dream is working up to a better life not only for you, but for your children too. My parents both came from Brazil when they were in their twenties, but they didn't come together. They met here in the great ol' US of A. As most immigrants, they came to pursue a better life. Brazil, being a third world country, didn't (and still doesn't) have all of the advantages the States have/had. They were both searching to get a better job, make more money, and give their child a better life that they never had. Sounds like the American Dream, right? Well sadly, that didn't happen.
My mom attended and graduated from college in Brazil and even worked for the government. Sadly, that didn't mean anything in the States. Her college degree meant as much as the dirt on the floor. It also didn't help that she didn't speak much English. Most places that she tried to work at required a basic knowledge of English that she didn't gain until later on. My mom was forced to work at Whole Foods in the back lifting heavy packages. Eventually, that caught up with her and she was injured. She got a check for the injury, but because of the injury, she was unable to find any other job. She was forced to become self-employed as a house cleaner. Everything went downhill from then.
My parents got divorced when I was five years old. My dad moved out and I cannot tell you where he went to live. For the net eleven years, my father was an absent figure in my life. He didn't pay child support, which forced my mom to work twice as hard. Until this day, my mom is still a house cleaner, but she also a nanny for a family. It is just the two of us and she makes barely enough to support us. She works very hard, but is not climbing up the economic ladder in the slightest. She did on the other hand, climb up the social ladder. She got her visa when I was very young, but recently became a citizen of the United States. Me, being born in the US and having both Brazilian parents, am a citizen of both the US and Brazil, thankfully.
My parents are the reason why I hate the idea of the American Dream, yet still follow it. Because they were in search of the "American Dream" they moved to a country where they were and still are looked down upon. There are many people in this country that think immigrants are burdens and should go back to where they came from. I feel as though the hatred for immigrants is tripled when it comes to immigrants from the south. I believe if my parents had stayed in Brazil, they would have been better off. All of my family in Brazil is successful and will be living the "Brazilian Dream". My father resides in Brazil again and he loves it. I am upset that my mom is stuck living here, working her butt off and making little money. But because my parents search for the American Dream didn't necessarily go right, I am hard working. I have to get good grades and do very well in school if I want to succeed and go to college. I have no college fund so doing poorly in school is out of the question. They are my motivation to do well in life. Although life for us is very difficult and has emotionally affected us in terrible ways, I don't think I would have it any other way. I am a more mature, respectable, and responsible person because of their life's effect on me.
Wow, Nayara, that is quite a story. It sounds as though you have had to work your way through a great deal during your life, and your mother has had to work extra hard on your behalf. I sense something else from your blog, however, that might constitute a silver lining: admiration. It really sounds like you admire the sacrifice that you mother has made, working hard to pay the bills, being resourceful and seeking out a different line of work after her injury, and becoming a United States Citizen. Because of her sacrifice, you are set up for success, should you choose to accept the challenge. By working hard to succeed in school and get into a good university, you are going to make your mother proud and happy that she made the difficult decision to live in the United States. And that is a clear example of the American Dream. Excellent Post.
ReplyDelete