All my schools in El Salvador were so tiny in comparison to American schools. I had never been to a learning institution that big ever. This allowed me to have the headspace to think a bit ahead. It is a terrifying situation for a young woman.Ī few months in, I was able to secure a better job at a large school district. All I knew was the volcanoes, tropical jungle, and the Latin American history, culture, and cuisine of my homeland. I did not know idiomatic expressions or pop culture. For example, when asked to go grab “clam chowder or ravioli,'' I had no idea what that meant. All of this made me feel unwelcome and small. I clearly remember pranks by co-workers, their put downs such as “go back to your country,” and other discriminatory behavior. I remember people’s looks because I did not understand enough English or could not express myself. Once in the U.S., I began working at a grocery store in North Sacramento. My parents worked extremely hard but there were few opportunities around. Those were uncertain times, and when you are so young it really stays with you. My early years in El Salvador encompassed a life of limitations and an ongoing brutal civil war, which meant poverty, insecurity, scarcity, and political unrest. I had not been exposed to other languages or cultures. Back in those days, the internet was not what it is today. I emigrated from El Salvador and arrived in California fresh out of high school in 2003. "ARC served as a buffer to the shock of being a newcomer on so many levels."Ĭlarissa Laguardia Alumni / 2012 / Liberal Arts / American River College
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