B4 Topic 4

As a second-generation living in the United States, Cisneros portrays an accurate description of the immigrant experience in my opinion. Yes, my parents came here for change my mother was a refugee from the Salvador Civil War in the 1980’s while my father sought after good work to sustain his family back home in Ecuador, they came for the American Dream. Cisneros writes of change for Cleofilas she left her home to get away from the obligated chores she had to do. A traditional home where the chores and housework fall on the female of the family, “the six good for nothing brothers”. A tradition that is a bit outdated yet its custom has not parted a lot of families. Cisneros writes of isolation in the English language that Cleofilas does not fully understand. This is a barrier that many of the second-generation kids understand their parents went through. The custom of having our kids walking around naked in all their babiness is something that is very natural in our homeland where when we come to a different place and we don’t fully understand the language it is hard to comprehend change. The nostalgia that Cisneros writes about is the one that we all experience when we leave our homes for an extended period of time. It is a sad story as she is abused and ignored by her husband, however, I think it really does speak of the immigration experience.

I sympathize with Cleofilas as she is abused and most likely cheated on by her husband in a new place where she does not know anyone. Her maltreatment reminds me of the many stories my relatives have shared on their experience as an immigrant. They knew very few people here in the United States they were here with really distant relatives or just friends with nothing in common but the desire for the American Dream. My mother had to endure the rude treatment of an aunt who she had never met until she could afford her own place. Her abuse and nostalgia ring a true part of the immigrant experience that many go through for a better life across the river.

Had I written a story about the immigrant experience I would have chosen to centralize my emotions towards the kids who immigrate with parents at a young age. Cleofilas is mentioned to be a mother but we don’t hear what the experience of the little boy Juan Pedirto is. There are many things to think about that will be difficult for her child. Cultures clash and sometimes there are aspects of each culture that are not tolerated by others. Learning how to adapt together as a family would show the struggles that they face in a new country and how they are able to overcome them. I could have also centered the relationship of her failing husband and how Cleofilas has to find herself, identify as a woman who is now across the river with no one with her but her child.