by Ryan Moran
The sand between my toes never felt so nice. Walking along the beach in the Dominican Republic, the water was clearer than even the sky above. As I headed back into town, I could hear music playing that brought my good mood even higher. All I could think about was heading home to see my beautiful family and sharing a meal with them. Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation in my left hand. As I looked down, I was brought back to reality. I was about to burn a hole right through my glove. I quickly turned off the torch to collect myself.
My job here in America is very different from what I had in San Jose in the Dominican Republic. Back home I owned my own company and gave all the orders. Now here, I am simply just another metallurgist working in a factory named Meadow Burke. The employer has become the employee. I know my company is in good hands back home under the supervision of my eldest son, but sometimes I still fantasize of life back home where it was easier for me to understand everything. I often have to ask my co-worker Audrey to help me translate what my boss is asking me to do because I don’t yet know enough English on my own.
It’s hard to believe that I’ve already been here in Hazleton for six years and still don’t understand everything I’m being asked to do. I recently began taking classes at the Hazleton Community Center to improve my English. For the most part I enjoy learning the language, but at times it can be frustrating. I’m definitely improving, but I would like my English to be perfect, just like everyone else. I just want to understand others and to be understood.
As I continued my welding, I started to think of my family. Two of my daughters are here in America with families of their own. They live in Florida. My wife was here five years before I was, which was very hard. I would come and visit once a year, but I always had to go back, until I finally gained admittance into America. We both planned on coming to America at the same time, but she was offered admittance before I was, and with her here I knew it was only a matter of time before I was allowed to come. The only thing she doesn’t like about being here in Hazleton is how cold it can be. She can only speak very little English, so that is another reason I’m motivated to learn, so I can interpret for her. My other daughter and my son are still back in San Jose. They have applied to come to America; but that process can take up to six years just to be accepted. I hope we get some good news soon.
Finally, I was done for the day. As I gathered by belongings to head home, I began to think if I made the right choice in coming to America. I had my own business back home and I was surrounded by the people I knew and loved. Now I’m in a country where I don’t know the language, I don’t really know anyone here, I’m doing a job that I could be contracting, and it’s unbearably cold here. All these thoughts were running through my head as I walked out of the factory.
As I got into my car, I had an incredible revelation. Meadow Burke gave me what I came to America for: a new beginning and a new opportunity. I came to America for a better life for my family and I, and hopefully the rest of them will join me soon. I knew when I left my home that it wouldn’t be easy being here, but now I had a renewed motivation for being in Hazleton and America.
My life back home in San Jose was good. I had my own company and a loving family, but that wasn’t enough. I wanted more for all of us because my family deserves the best. I took a gamble in coming to America in search for an even better life. As I get home, I enjoy the relief of seeing my loving wife and finally getting to sit down and relax for the evening. Part of me dreads going back to work tomorrow because I know I’ll have to continue the physically demanding work I’ve been doing for the past six years, but part of me is more motivated than ever. I know I’m on the right path and one day it’ll be all worth it for my family and I.
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