How a Young Girl Survived a Brutal Journey To the U.S. to Find Her Mother | The New Yorker

The New Yorker

15 Nov 201909:58

Summary

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Q & A

What was the speaker's main focus when they were 12 years old?
-The speaker's main focus at the age of 12 was survival. They were primarily concerned with staying alive and not wanting to die.
How did the speaker describe their childhood village in Guatemala?
-The speaker described their childhood village as 'the clouds,' named for the constant cold and rainy weather. The village was located in San Martin, Guatemala.
What role did the speaker's father play in their life?
-The speaker's father was extremely violent and used to threaten their mother with death. The speaker witnessed their mother being beaten unconscious on multiple occasions.
Why did the speaker's mother leave the family, and what did she tell the speaker before leaving?
-The speaker's mother left to seek a better life, driven by the violence in their home. She told the speaker to be strong, to take care of their siblings, and that she did not know when she would return.
How did the speaker's life change after their mother returned from the United States?
-When the speaker's mother returned, she decided to bring the family with her to the United States. The family sold everything they had, including the speaker's shoes and a dress, and left with nothing.
What happened during the speaker's journey to cross the border?
-The speaker faced many hardships, including being abandoned by a man who was supposed to help them cross, enduring extreme cold, lack of food, and nearly dying from exhaustion. They were later deported after being caught by Border Patrol in Ciudad Juarez.
How did the speaker end up being kidnapped?
-After being deported, the speaker encountered a person who appeared kind and offered to help, but this person took them to a house where they were held captive, molested, and used to cross the border multiple times.
What did the speaker experience while being trafficked?
-While being trafficked, the speaker was moved back and forth between the United States and Mexico, transported in trucks with no air, and was often extremely cold and deprived of food, water, and proper care.
What was the turning point in the speaker's journey when they reached safety?
-The turning point occurred when the speaker, weakened and lost, knocked on a random door in Brownsville, Texas. A kind woman answered, gave them food, clothes, and shoes, and helped them contact their mother.
How did the speaker's reunion with their mother take place?
-The speaker was eventually reunited with their mother in Houston. The speaker was overjoyed and emotional, having spent years wondering if they would ever see their mother again.