BACKGROUND
Sex: female
Ethnicity:
Hispanic
Born in: El
Salvador
Parents born in: El
Salvador
Due
to the fact that I was born in El Salvador, I see some
things differently than the majority of people in the U.S.
In my country, I spoke only Spanish. I learned a handful of
words in English which I never had an opportunity to use.
Because of my background, I see things differently. For
example, I know what is like to be poor, to work at a young
age, to be limited in the amount of food available, to
accept the limited amount of attention and love I was given,
to use money wisely, to save for what you want to buy, to
see immigrants with compassion and to not have a mother
close enough to turn to. When I arrived to the U.S.,
everything was new. I saw people of different races that I
had never seen before. Many foods were very different than
the foods I was accustomed to eat. Many experiences/things
were exciting to me because they were new. However, I soon
started to see the reality of being in a new country. This
happened when I first attended High school. I felt very
alienated from the mainstream because of my limited English
skills.
My prejudice
experience took place while I was in High school. It was a
prejudice building experience against me, against a Hispanic
with limited English skills. As a new comer in 1979, I was
enrolled in High school in the ninth grade. I was anxious,
excited, and motivated. I liked the English language and I
wanted to make friends. As soon as I started to attend
classes, I started to notice that my Hispanic friends and
myself were looked at with indifference by other students.
My friends and I were not made to feel a part of the
"student body". I remember feeling alienated. I never felt
invited to any of the school's activities. In fact, many
times I didn’t know what events were coming up. In the
three years that I was in High school and even today, I
don’t have good memories of my High school experience.
I can't say that it was fun and that I was a part of a
larger group. Unfortunately, the message was clear even as
my English proficiency increased. I think that a label was
placed on me as I entered, and it remained with me until I
left. I remember this experience clearly because it lasted
for three years, and to this day, it hurts a great
deal.
Due
to the fact that I was born in El Salvador, I see some
things differently than the majority of people in the U.S.
In my country, I spoke only Spanish. I learned a handful of
words in English which I never had an opportunity to use.
Because of my background, I see things differently. For
example, I know what is like to be poor, to work at a young
age, to be limited in the amount of food available, to
accept the limited amount of attention and love I was given,
to use money wisely, to save for what you want to buy, to
see immigrants with compassion and to not have a mother
close enough to turn to. When I arrived to the U.S.,
everything was new. I saw people of different races that I
had never seen before. Many foods were very different than
the foods I was accustomed to eat. Many experiences/things
were exciting to me because they were new. However, I soon
started to see the reality of being in a new country. This
happened when I first attended High school. I felt very
alienated from the mainstream because of my limited English
skills.