Arriving in Michigan

On Jan. 24, 1998, a day before my birthday, my family hopped on a plane. Destination: Michigan, U.S.A. When we arrived, the weather fit my mood. I was cold, bored and friendless.

All my possessions had gone back to Ecuador in a huge container. We planned to visit my aunt and uncle and then go back to Ecuador. We were only here on a tourist visa.

Our plans changed. My dad got a job with Ford. We got an apartment in a nice neighborhood, and after awhile bought our first car. My sis and I enrolled in school. We were all very exited. America had many good things, but we still weren't permanently here.

My dad applied for our green card, a legal document that allows foreign people to stay in America permanently. It was a long, unnerving process. We extended our visa to three years, but if we didn't get a green card, we'd have to leave the country. I remember going to different places, getting my fingerprints taken and signing lots of papers.

I could tell my parents were nervous. The green card could make or break our lives. We didn't want to go back to Ecuador. The government and economy over there was a living hell.

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