It was New Years, 2016 we had barely arrived in Mexicali Baja, California. It was a 9 hour trip, we had left at 12:00pm just in time to arrive at the party. We were all exhausted from the trip. We were all squished in with barely any space to move some of our feets were numb.
This isn’t the first time we had came to Mexicali, this was going to be the sixth time going but the difference this year was that it was going to be New Years, which we have never done before. We were all excited about spending New Years reunited with our uncle, my mom hasn't seen her brother in year. That was the happiest I've seen her in a while
It was almost 55 degrees; everyone was shivering. But once the party started everyone completely forgot about the cold.
Music started playing loud, everyone started to dance and singing to the Bachata and Corridos which are types of Mexican music. It started to get dusty from all the people dancing kicking the dirt around.
It may sound like just an ordinary New Years, but what was special about it, was that in this neighborhood everyone goes around to each other's houses with the doors open for entry to anyone, like if they were family. It was nice to see how much trust my aunt had in her neighbors to simply just walk in and join us with no awkwardness.
***
When I heard the news of my uncles deportation I was devastated, he was the heart of the family, he was always calling up every one and inviting them over for a party. Not only would we call them up but he would even plan out an buy all the foods. There was a point where he would even go for them if they didn't have ride.
2014 was a hard year on the whole family. The family seemed dark ever since he was gone, nobody gets together every one just does their own thing. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like we have any family here. When ever we invite them over they just ignore our invitations and do there own thing and not even consider to invite us.
When I asked my uncle about his reaction when he saw us arrive he said, “ los años no han sido lo mismo de que me deportaron, no me a sentido completo con mi familia pero esta vez fue un mejor comienzo del año espero que regresen pronto.” [English translation- these years haven't been the same since my deportation, but this time it was the best start to a new year, I hope they can come visit me again soon.”]
***
Even though the family was feeling off for 2 years when we all got to mexico its like if all the family problems were left in San Jose. When we all got there everyone was getting along and talking and dancing with each other.
This day was a day i will never forget simply because it was a time that I actually felt like we were a family and something that we haven't felt for a long time. Even tho my uncle was not with us for a couple years he never changed the way he was with the family.
This isn’t the first time we had came to Mexicali, this was going to be the sixth time going but the difference this year was that it was going to be New Years, which we have never done before. We were all excited about spending New Years reunited with our uncle, my mom hasn't seen her brother in year. That was the happiest I've seen her in a while
It was almost 55 degrees; everyone was shivering. But once the party started everyone completely forgot about the cold.
Music started playing loud, everyone started to dance and singing to the Bachata and Corridos which are types of Mexican music. It started to get dusty from all the people dancing kicking the dirt around.
It may sound like just an ordinary New Years, but what was special about it, was that in this neighborhood everyone goes around to each other's houses with the doors open for entry to anyone, like if they were family. It was nice to see how much trust my aunt had in her neighbors to simply just walk in and join us with no awkwardness.
***
When I heard the news of my uncles deportation I was devastated, he was the heart of the family, he was always calling up every one and inviting them over for a party. Not only would we call them up but he would even plan out an buy all the foods. There was a point where he would even go for them if they didn't have ride.
2014 was a hard year on the whole family. The family seemed dark ever since he was gone, nobody gets together every one just does their own thing. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like we have any family here. When ever we invite them over they just ignore our invitations and do there own thing and not even consider to invite us.
When I asked my uncle about his reaction when he saw us arrive he said, “ los años no han sido lo mismo de que me deportaron, no me a sentido completo con mi familia pero esta vez fue un mejor comienzo del año espero que regresen pronto.” [English translation- these years haven't been the same since my deportation, but this time it was the best start to a new year, I hope they can come visit me again soon.”]
***
Even though the family was feeling off for 2 years when we all got to mexico its like if all the family problems were left in San Jose. When we all got there everyone was getting along and talking and dancing with each other.
This day was a day i will never forget simply because it was a time that I actually felt like we were a family and something that we haven't felt for a long time. Even tho my uncle was not with us for a couple years he never changed the way he was with the family.