Immigrant


Habibis! kif halak? How are you this fine day? I have been quite busy and I have also been enjoying the company of my family. I have also been contemplating life quite a bit.I have a few weeks left before the semester begins and I have to return back to San Franny.I am staying in a town where strawberries are the main export. This is my hometown, in Central California. Usually, Mexican immigrants pick the strawberries and work from 6 AM until sunset (usually 5pm).

Most get paid per box of strawberries that they pick, and only $1.25. A few are paid by hour.These immigrants are my family (both in a literal and non literal way of course). But this year I have noticed something, that there is a shortage of workers! I have heard from the people around town that there are hardly any workers and this causes the working people to work even more and our U.S.A produce to be more expensive (due to overtime needed to be paid and so on). My grandpa now works until 8:30pm!! I am a bit outraged as he is an elderly man but insists on working.
One of my Uncles. Strawberry fields 1990.

 You see, years ago...when I was a child, Mexican immigrants would come for the strawberry season (or another vegetable season of their choice) and work during it and then leave when it was over back to their native Mexico. Because our Mexico-U.S. border is now so militarized that it is a lot tougher to get to the U.S., so many people go to Mexico but don't come back. I think militarizing the border is a bit excessive ( I mean come on people, Mexicans won't bomb the border, we are peaceful!). I'm not saying this just because I am of Hispanic decent but also because I am a U.S. citizen who believes that money should be spent towards a better cause, such as building schools, libraries, hospitals, and so on.I spawn from immigrants and wouldn't have it any other way. Let's take a realistic look here, with all our prejudices aside. The world wouldn't go round without immigration, not just in this country but everywhere, correct? I love being a U.S. citizen, I love my country and I think being a melting pot is beautiful. We have Arabs mixing with Mexicans, Asians with Whites, whites with blacks,  and everything. I love it Habibi! "Ana ahob kull al nas fi hada aLam!" "Yo quiero a toda la gente en este mundo!" I love you all! Always stay sane and humble.

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