Misrepresentation of Different Cultures by the Media free essay sample

The person I interviewed is Carlos Orellana. He is a Honduran who came to the United States crossing Mexico. Orellana came to the U. S. A in search of a better future for him and his family, without realizing how hard it was going to be; finding a path full of bitterness, sadness, desolation, despair and loneliness. How did you come to America? I came to America across all of Mexico. It was very difficult to cross Mexico not only because is big, but also because there are people who despise you, throw stones at you, and treat you bad just for being an immigrant. After crossing Mexico, we had to cross the Rio Grande. I felt lonely and sad to see the river growing stronger and that many compatriots dying by drowning. The river swept them away and we never saw them again. Crossing the river was very hard. But evading border immigration and walking in the desert for 6 days and 6 nights, with my feet cracked and casting blood, while wearing torn clothes. We will write a custom essay sample on Misrepresentation of Different Cultures by the Media or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I suffered from hunger, thirst, and fatigue, drinking dirty water occasionally from puddles, where only farm animals drink. Sleeping on thorns, stones and sticks in the bush, jumping fences and having to hide often from the cars crossing along the streets. Despite all this, when I was in the desert, I was kidnapped by a group of coyotes. I was held there for several days, until one day I escaped with four other men. I finally got to the United States where it has not been easy, because here you have to look down, where people treat you badly, worse than a dog. Well, now I know that you didn’t came to this country legally. Thats right; I have no papers, and being without legal documents has been very hard and bitter for me. So, where did you live when you first came here? When I came to this country, a truck driver brought me to New York from Texas. With the little money I had, I ate, but couldn’t afford a room or anything, so I used to sleep in the subway, for several days. Then one day I decided to come to New Jersey, where I found people who helped me. They are also undocumented people and promptly became my family, because I have no family in this country; Carlos told me. Are other people from your country living with you now? Yes, with me we are eleven Hondurans and there are also four Ecuadorians living with us. By the way, how did you find work? Well, I haven’t found a permanent job, because I’m illegal, but I work anywhere I can. Therefore, I stand here on Broad Avenue everyday, praying for someone to come and hire me to fix any problems in their houses, because I need money to send it to my family. Do you speak English? If not, are you able to do what you need to do without speaking English? A year ago did not speak any English, today I defend myself with little words, for example, when someone says something that they want me to do, I listen and try to learn the word. The similarities and differences between the person I interviewed and the persons, who arrived by Ellis Island, are many. For instance, Carlos, as the immigrants who cross Mexico and came for a better future, because there was nothing in their countries, only poverty that was consuming him little by little. They left behind, a lifetime, arriving with the little things that they could bring. They also have in common the language, none of them knew it, it was chaos, for the immigrants and for Carlos, and I can imagine how hard and uncomfortable that could have been. In addition, Carlos had nowhere to go or to sleep, since he didn’t have money, because nowadays, the economy is not good, so you need at least $5000 to pay a rent, while the immigrants at least had in their pockets $25, to pay two months of rent. But they had it because it was a requirement to enter in New York. Carlos didn’t have to pass through a physical or legal inspection, while the immigrants coming throughout Ellis Island did, and who ever didn’t overcome it, it was deported, making their entrance more difficult. And finally, for Carlos liberty meant crossing the Rio Bravo, while for immigrants were crossing the Stairs to Freedom, where it was determined their destinations. If they climbed down the left, they were going to New York, if they climbed down the middle, they had a 20% to be detained, and if they climbed down the right isle it would take them the railroad, to other destinations.