Salt Lake City, Utah
Glamorous
One of my friends, after reading my blog, asked me to tell how my life in the US really is.
Because according to him it appears to be nothing but “glamorous” and fun.
“What do you know about sacrifice” He said, “All you do is living an easy life…”
So, before I start ‘confessing’ about my life in the US. It’s important to clarify that…
A) Nobody should look at me as a role model. (Apparently some people wants to come to the US because they see it’s easy and fun here)
B) It’s also important to know that having ‘fun’ depends more on personality than the situation.
I like to have fun, and it doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing.
The truth is that living in the US requires a lot of patience, hard work, faith, prayers, being humble, focusing on your goals and willingness to do what ever it takes to reach your goals.
Here go a few hard (harsh) things I had to go through while living my ‘glamorous life’ (Seriously, if you only knew.)
Planning: I didn’t have- I don’t have- many ‘resources’ to be able to plan more than a day at a time.
And if I do plan ahead, it never goes how it’s supposed to. Of course it is important to always have a plan A, B, C…
In my case I always plan until plan V, W, and sometimes I have a plan X and Z.
For example, one day I would be teaching Spanish in West High in Utah, or doing research for a Law Firm in Alabama, and the next day I would be working in the Beach of Miami or building a giant playground in Oregon.
(chek my tong!)
Sometimes I don’t even know what is going to happen to me the next week (Like now, June 2008, I have NO idea where I am going to be or what will happen to me by August 2008 )
Studying: I don’t think it’s necessary to mention that learning a foreign language is not an easy task at all.
In fact, it is really hard and frustrating. The simplest things become complicated.
You read and read, memorize, and put hours and hours into it… and still you just don’t get it.
Speaking: The language will always be a barrier no matter how well I peak it, and I learned that lesson my first week in this country.
When I just arrived to the US, I didn’t know how to get food, so I didn’t eat for 3 days straight. (It sounds stupid doesn’t it?)
Starving: I shouldn’t say this because then I would have a ton of people trying to feed me. (Especially my “moms”)
I, as many others college students, survive eating 1-dollar-hamburgers or “Ramen Noodles”.
Working: If being a ‘College Student’ is already hard, being an ‘International Student’ is even harder.
International Students have strict rules that make it hard or impossible to be able to work.
Basically, the rules tell us that we can’t work for anyone but the school we attend for no more than 20 hours a week.
Despite my resume or my multi-language skills, at the beginning it was really hard to find a job.
Especially, one that pays well.
I worked cleaning bathrooms and offices, I was part of the security team of BYU Sports, I cleaned floors and Windows.
Some summers I would clean gardens and mow the lawn.
I had some jobs in which I had to move heavy iron tubes, paint entire rooms, clean public bathrooms, and even collect trash!
Sleeping: After paying for school, books, and rent (And berely for food) I had to do some ‘magic’ to be able to carry on.
For a while, I used to sleep in the floor of my friends room paying a minimum rent fee. (It’s not good for your back!)
A couple times I had to ask people if I could stay with them until I can afford rent.
Feeling Pity: One other thing that is hard to deal with is ‘pity’.
It’s when everyone feels sorry for you.
Sometimes it’s not necessary to tell them your story… the fact that you are from South America is enough.
Wake up! I am not telling you all this stuff so you will feel sorry for me; Ifeel I am very blessed…
I am telling you this so you understand that this is also the real world. (The sun does NOT shine brighter here)
Yes, it is hard to be here alone… duh, it’s hard to be alone anywhere.
But the hardest thing is not to be alone in a foreign country, it’s not to feel humiliated, frustrated, or even under paid or “under- the sun”, neither the starvation, or not-having a place to sleep.
NO, the hardest thing… what hurts the most… is…
(Last time I saw my mom, Dad on the Buenos Aires Airport: November 2003)
Missing: That your brothers got married and had kids, that your mom got sick, that your sister cried, that your dogs got really old and blind, that your cat died, that things keep happening and you are not there.
This is a sacrifice I am willing to do, but a sacrifice none the less and you should never forget that.
So there you have it.
This is, ladies and gentleman, my glamorous life in the US.
(All the pictures besides this las one are from when I got the chance to built a huge playground)
The Associated Press is reporting that Argentine senators passed a bill yesterday which now allows obesity and other eating disorders to be treated as diseases covered by public and private health care programs. This will help to fight obesity, bulimia and anorexia in the country.
