The Day I Left My Country
By Deybis Alvarez
In January 2000, I left El Salva- pray to God. He is The Only One who
can make this possible.” She agreed.
dor behind to come to the United
It took me 22 days to journey to
States. I was 22 years old, and I had
never been separated from my mom. It my final destination, which was Long Island, New York. I arrived at Hempstead,
was so hard for me to leave my home,
New York. I came to live with one of my
my family, and my friends, but I had a
dream that God would let me get to the older brothers.
There has not even
United States. If God
would make this possi- “I did not know if I been one day that I go to
ble, I said, “I am going
would return to bed, or I wake up, when I
not think about my mom.
to work hard to help
my country, if I docannot imagine my life
I
my mother to get a
would die on my without her. She is my reabetter life.”
I remember that way to the United son for living.
Every day I prayed to
day I tried to be
States…”
God. My prayer was, “God,
strong. When the
time to leave came, I hugged and kissed please let me see my mom again.” God
made everything possible. I left my
my mom, and I had a lot of things in
mind that I wanted to say to her. I had country on January 10, 2000, and I
a lump in my throat, and I could not say came back on January 25, 2002. God ananything to her. Words would not come swered my prayers. Whatever is imposout. I had different feelings because I sible for us, is possible for Him. God has
did not know what was going to happen. been with me all the time. He is the
most important thing in each one of my
I did not know if I would return to my
country, if I would die on my way to the dreams, and he has made t he difference. By myself I would never make any
United States, or if I would arrive
of my dreams come true. I do not know
safely to this country. Nobody knows
what your dreams are, but I know somewhat is going to happen on the way to
one who can make them come true.
the U.S. When people decide to leave
their native countries, there are many
things that could happen. The last thing Teacher: Mr. Price
mother said to me was, “Son, I want you Level 7 Evening
to go only for two years, and then come Fall 2009
back.” I replied to her, “Mother, please,
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