Informing You of Immigrant Impacts
Jeronimo
My name is Jeronimo, and I was born at my family’s ranch in Los Remedios, Michoacán, México, along with my 9 brothers and sisters. When my mom first got married, she lived with my dad and eldest brother, Salvador, under a rock in the forest. We grew up with no electricity or running water, and had to sleep on mats on the floor all in the same room. Growing up, I had to take care of many animals such as cows, donkeys, sheep, and horses. My siblings and I also had to assist our mother in planting and harvesting corn, wheat, and beans. My mom made money selling these animals, and selling bread made from the wheat we grew. Every weekend, my siblings and I had to go to town to sell the bread and animals. My childhood was hard not only because I had to walk 5 miles to and from school every day, or because I took baths once a week in the river, but because my dad was an alcoholic. My dad was the most loving man when he wasn’t drunk, but when he was he had abusive tendencies, specifically directed towards my mom.
The House I Grew Up In
I went to high school, and I had a best friend named Jesus who paid for my lunch every day. I also played baseball whenever I could, where my 7 brothers and I were one team. During high school, I had a weekend job to pay for my school where I had to cut stone and load it onto a trailer. After graduating I immediately wanted to go to America to find a job that paid more money (rock cutting only paid $75 per week). I tried to cross the border and failed. I, along with a group of others, hiked 5 days and 4 nights across the Arizona desert (there were so many snakes!). We were eventually caught by border patrol and sent back home. I then got a job in a restaurant in México, which is where I met my wife, Karen. We later got married, and I was able to come to the U.S. on a marriage visa. It was difficult learning a new language and a new country, but I was grateful for the opportunity to work and provide for my family. I still visit my home and my mother once a year, and I send money back to them monthly to take care of anything they need.