Gabriella Innella was born in a big town in northeastern Brazil. As a child she studied English but never imagined having to speak it fluently. She was a daughter of three. Her journey to America all started around her mid-20’s. Her former fiance died from brain cancer and she lost her job. It was emotionally difficult for my mom around that time. Luckily, she had friends here in the US. They suggested coming to the US for a few months to take her mind off things and to learn more English. By the end of her six months, she decided to stay in Boston Massachusetts. Making that decision of permanently moving to the US was hard for her. But, she did it for her future. Having to learn English was hard for her. But with her, “left arm,” in her hand, she did it all. This dictionary helped her to communicate to all those around her. She did everything with that dictionary in her bulky black purse. Without it in her purse every day, she didn’t know what to do. “It was like my bible here in the US,” she described. This dictionary showed her that she could accomplish anything she put time and effort in. Her dictionary is important to me because it taught me the value of perseverance through her learning English in the US as a working immigrant, thriving for a better life. 

– Clara

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant