The Language Chronicles: El Choro Lingüístico 💬

In high school, I once thought I'd just follow my dad's path and become a janitor. But a chat with Mme. Stahl shifted my perspective. She casually asked about my college plans, surprising me. Her disbelief at my lack of college aspirations shocked me even more. A recommendation letter she penned on my behalf changed everything. At 18, it snagged me my first scholarship and forced me to reconsider my life goals. Back then, I didn't know that as an undocumented student in the USA, I could receive support. I felt ashamed of my reality. Mme. Stahl, my French teacher, consistently inquired about my college plans. Encouraged by her, I applied for a scholarship she introduced to the class the next day, unaware of my legal status. Though I earned a full scholarship for any NC college, my undocumented status led me to a community college. In her letter, Mme. Stahl highlighted my passion for French, my willingness to assist classmates, and my weekend and vacation work for my family,

Yesterday at the #FAUBAI Conference 2019 in Belém, Brazil, UDEM (Universidad de Monterrey) gave a presentation on the programs they have for refugees. Under their umbrella, they have programs for the typical refugee from Syria (from the perspective of American eyes although the presenter is was M) among others, and it was interesting to hear that even our brothers from Syria with war-torn countries have concerns about the crime rate in Mexico when deciding to come live here (I'm writing as if I was in Mexico now).  When the presenter started talking about those of Mexican descent who were taken to the USA as children, and then how they were supported through a scholarship called ReconoceR, I couldn't help to feel weird as we (returnees and deportees)  were being discussed as the subject of study in a presentation at an International Education Conference. I don't even know if I'm trying to make a point here, but I felt:  1. A huge disconnect being now an International Ed

I shared my story with a senator (about the DREAM ACT) over his website, which I want to share with everyone on my Facebook account: I lived for 10 years in the USA, from the age of 12 to 22. Then I moved to Mexico (I left by my own will) knowing that I was not going to be able to come back soon. Still, I took the chance and finished my major in Mexico because I couldn't in the USA (even with a scholarship). I then won another scholarship (while in Mexico) to do my MA in Applied Linguistics at Georgia State University. While I was doing my major, I applied for and got a VISA to visit my relatives who still live in the USA, undocumented. I do not wish this last part to be shared publicly (on TV or radio, I meant in the original message), as I fear that my relatives will be deported. I have a brother who could have benefited from the DREAM Act, but he is being deported as we speak. He is now in Atlanta and will be deported in a couple of weeks, even though he arrived to the USA when

Ok. I'm beginning to blog again, after about two months of inactivity. Last time I blogged, I was in Tampico, teaching English at a high school and at a university. I was actually teaching for the language center under the Law School at the college I graduated from. My blogs will be in either Spanish or English. I'm thinking of writing one in English and then one in Spanish and continue like that. I enjoy writing in both languages, but because not all my readers know both languages, I want them to enjoy at least every other blog. --------------------- Spanish: Mis blogs serán ya sea en español o en inglés. Estoy pensando en escribir uno en inglés y otro en español y seguir así. Me gusta escribir en ambos idiomas pero porque no todos mis lectores saben ambos idiomas quiero que disfruten por lo menos uno que otro blog. ---------------------- So, a little more than two months have passed, and I am now at Georgia State University doing my Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics

Published originally on January 8th, 2010 Hit by the acute economic crisis during Carlos Salinas de Gortari in Mexico and with the added pressure of a false accusation at his job, which those who know Mexico might sadly know that they often happen, my Dad was lured by “the American Dream.” My uncle knew that my Dad had a family of four to feed back home, so his reaction was of course to help him come to the USA. Three years passed when my Dad realized that he had to go back to Mexico only to bring us to the USA. My older brother was 14, I was 12, and my younger brothers were 7 and 6 respectively. My sister was born here . I went to middle school and high school, from which I graduated with honors. Deep down, I was convinced I was going to work in something I did not like for the rest of my life, as my father was. However, my dad had always instilled in us that we needed to get an education. He and my Mom would always set themselves as examples of people who unfortunately could not get