Dreaming of America

Elena, 55 and divorced, grew up in La Paz, Bolivia. She never had children and lives alone in a rented apartment, but all her family are here in the US. She immigrated 18 years ago following her sister. “I was always dreaming of America. One day I am going to go. I would have dreams in which I would see the freeway with green and ivy, so when I came, I saw the green grass from in my dreams.” Elena made the following observations about other immigrant groups. “Asians are not waiters, or housekeepers, or restaurant workers. It’s only us. They are smart. They try to learn English to get a job as fast as they can.” She also drew these conclusions regarding the Latino model of immigration. “I like Chinese people because they’re hard-working people. When they come to this country, first they go to school. They learn English. They get a job, then get friends and family a job. Latinas are not that way.”