In 1986, alone and at the age of 26, my mother immigrated to the United States from Guatemala. In 2016, almost 30 years after arriving in the US my mother, siblings, nephew and I took a trip to Guatemala, the motherland. 

This picture is a picture of us in Antigua, Guatemala. My mother worked in a factory that manufactured hospital equipment, she worked in many maintenance companies, among many other jobs. In Guatemala her family owned a small local bar in which my mother helped with. 

Here in the US my mother is alone. All of her family and extended family is in Guatemala. Till this day my mom struggles to speak English. She has overcome many obstacles to be where she is. 

Although she has lived in the US for more than 30 years and her children and grandchildren were all born in the US, she has never failed to remind us of our Latin roots. She made sure that we spoke Spanish fluently and that we embraced our culture- including indulging in Guatemalan food, music and dance. 

– Kimberly Ortiz

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant