My dad immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the year 1996, he was just 16 years old when he left his mom,dad, brothers and sisters, to begin a new life. My dad mentioned that the worst part for him was not only leaving Mexico, but most importantly leaving his mom behind. The reason that my dad decided to immigrate to the United States, was to have better employment opportunities to be able to provide for his family back in Mexico, as well as for his future family that he would start here in California. Crossing the border was the most toughest experience my dad had to go through, to obtain a better life. Before leaving, my grandma gave him this rosary for him to take along the way for a safe trip and something to remember her by ad to look up to. My dad has grown up in the Catholic religion because of my grandmother. Within the Catholic religion the rosary symbolizes, the Virgin Mary, faith, love, and protection. For my dad and my whole family this is a very meaningful object that we have embraced because the rosary also consist of twelve prayers. The rosary is a reminder to my dad to always keep striving, no matter how many difficult obstacles he may come across. When our family is going through tough situations, my dad likes to do the twelve prayers from the rosary. Having arrived to America, my dad experienced paternalism including hardships such as poverty, discrimination, and discouragement of job opportunities. He was stereotyped and received hate speeches for being Mexican, just because he was trying to improve himself. 


 

– MP

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