I will cross oceans and climb mountains in search of a better future for my children
Main Participant
GiselleOccupation
IrrigationColorado County & Region
Lamar, SoutheastOriginal Language
EnglishTranscription
Show Transcription?Giselle is 28 years old, she has a three-year-old son, and is currently six months pregnant with a daughter. She is from Honduras, where she has a family and a husband. But she had to leave all of that behind in search of a better future for her children.
In Honduras there is a lot of crime, it was very difficult for Giselle to obtain a job, and if she were lucky to obtain one, it would not pay her nearly enough for the labor and hours that she would put in. With the income that she would make working these difficult jobs they would barely afford to put food on her plate, clothing on her back, and a roof over her head.
With a small child and another one on the way she had no time to sit around and wait for a miracle, so she set off to the United States. Luckily, she had some family members in Dallas, Texas that excepted her and her three-year-old son. Unfortunately, they did not treat them with respect and dignity; Giselle and her son were forced to sleep on the floor and had very limited food. She was not able to go to her immigration court due to her family not wanting to take her. Therefore, she lost a big chance to get help from the United States.
After suffering at the hands of family she decided to get up and leave to the only other people she knew in the United States and those were her two friends. Her friends live In Holly, Colorado and have no way of helping her but to give her shelter and food. Holly is approximately a 10-hour journey from Dallas, Texas. With no money, no help, and no personal belongings, she set out to travel with her son and her unborn daughter.
Her travels were not easy. She suffered greatly, she walked a long distance, hitchhiked with strangers, had no food or water, and unfortunately had to sleep outside of a 7/11 gas station in the cold month of March. After a two-day travel, she finally made it to her destination, the small town of Holly, Colorado.
That is where her and I met, April 2022; she was living in an old concentration camp. Where once lived the Japanese Americans. It is a small house, with dirt surrounding it, chipped paint, and squeaky doors. In search of help to stabilize her situation by finding help with immigration, lawyers, clothing, shelter, food, doctors’ appointments etc. She lives a very difficult life, and she has had to overcome a lot of obstacles, but never has she stopped smiling and being the kind person that she is. Since she is so far along in her pregnancy she cannot work, but as soon as she is able to, she will be joining fellow farmworkers with irrigation of crops. When I asked what makes her keep going, she said it’s her children. “Without my children I am nothing I will cross oceans and climb mountains in search of a better future for them” she said. She is a person full of joy with a lot of gratitude, after difficult times she still finds a way to smile. Thankfully her situation is getting better and in months to come she will be reunited with her husband to start a new and brighter future full of happiness and joy.
Translation Language (if available)
EspañolTranslation
Show Translation?En Honduras hay mucho crimen, fue muy difícil para Giselle conseguir un trabajo y, si tenía suerte de conseguirlo, no le pagarían lo suficiente por el trabajo y las horas que tendría que invertir. Con el ingreso que ella obtendría trabajando en estos trabajos difíciles apenas podría permitirse el lujo de tener comida en su plato, ropa en su espalda y un techo sobre su cabeza.
Con un niño pequeño y otro por venir, no tenía tiempo de sentarse a esperar un milagro, así que se embarcó hacia Estados Unidos. Por suerte, tenía familiares en Dallas, Texas, quienes la recibieron a ella y a su hijo de tres años. Por desgracia, no se les trató con dignidad y respeto; Giselle y su hijo se vieron obligados a dormir en el suelo con muy poca comida. No podía ir ante un tribunal de inmigración porque su familia no deseaba acogerla. Por lo que perdió una gran oportunidad de recibir ayuda de los Estados Unidos.
DESPUÉS de sufrir a manos de su familia, decidió irse con las únicas personas que conocía en Estados Unidos, sus dos amigas. Sus amigas vivían en Holly, Colorado, y no tenían otra manera posible de ayudarla que no fuera dándole techo y comida. Holly está como a unas 10 horas manejando desde Dallas, Texas. Sin dinero, ni ayuda, ni pertenencias personales, se dispuso a viajar con su hijo y su hija por nacer.
Su viaje no fue fácil. Sufrió enormemente, tuvo que caminar una larga distancia, pedir aventón a desconocidos, quedarse sin comida y agua y, por desgracia, tuvo que dormir fuera de una gasolinera 7/11 en un frío mes de marzo. Tras un viaje de dos días, finalmente llegó a su destino, al pequeño pueblo de Holly, Colorado.
Ahí fue donde ella y yo nos conocimos, en abril del 2022; ella vivía en un antiguo campo de concentración. Donde vivieron los japonés-americanos. Era una casa pequeña, con tierra por todas partes, pintura descascarada y puertas rechinantes. Buscaba ayuda para estabilizar su situación encontrando asistencia con inmigración, abogados, vestimenta, vivienda, comida, citas médicas, etc. Su vida ha sido muy difícil y ha tenido que superar muchos obstáculos, pero nunca ha dejado de sonreír ni de ser la persona amable que es. Como su embarazo está tan avanzado, no ha podido trabajar, pero tan pronto como pueda, se unirá a sus compañeras de granja para regar las cosechas. Cuando le pregunté qué la motiva a seguir adelante, me dijo que eran sus hijos. "Sin mis niños no soy nada, cruzaría océanos y escalaría montañas en busca de un mejor futuro para ellos", me dijo. Es una persona llena de alegría y muy agradecida, a pesar de los tiempos difíciles encuentra una manera de sonreír. Su situación afortunadamente está mejorando y en los próximos meses se reunirá con su marido para empezar un nuevo y más brillante futuro lleno de felicidad y gozo.
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I will cross oceans and climb mountains in search of a better future for my children