My story is similar to many stories you hear everyday. The story of an immigrant! I am an immigrant! And far from feeling ashamed, I feel proud to the fact that like many, for my own personal reasons, decided to leave a familiar place and crossed borders to the unknown, to explore, unsure of what was awaiting me. But isn't that the nature of all living beings? Isn't moving from one place to another, exploring new lands in the human DNA? Let's go into some facts. Scientific studies have come to the conclusion that "a genetic signature from Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and other islands in the Pacific Ocean appears in the DNA of some Native American populations living in the Amazon rainforest" (Christian Monitor July 2015). Now, you might ask, how was this possible if not by having members of one group moving to the other side? That is immigration for you! So, why has the subject matter become a taboo, a burden? Immigration is a fact! A beautiful fact. It is a natural act. It’s like breathing for human beings.
Like I said at the beginning, I decided to migrate to the US for personal reasons. I wanted to see the world. I moved to Oregon, initially to go and attend a four year school. But first, I had to learn the language. I do speak with a "Latino" accent. It is funny how people react to it. I am usually asked "Hmm I hear an accent, where is that from?" I am an "American". I write it in quotation marks because I am double "American". I migrated from a South American country and now live in a country that is called "America". Is America a country? But, that is a different subject for another time. How do I feel in Portland? I love Portland. This is what I call home. I have wonderful friends and family here. My friends are from all over the planet. I am an immigrant but I am not a foreigner. I belonged here and wherever I make myself at home. I have traveled around the world and have always found good, friendly people, but also bitter and resentful individuals. The memories that I decide to keep are the good ones. This is it for now.
Magaly works with MFS-CASH Oregon: “Become a volunteer. Give back to your community.”