¿Has querido alguna vez aprender inglés y que nadie sepa que no eres Americano? ¡Ahora puedes! Lo primero es aprender inglés. Así que, sigue estos pasos y conviértete en un auténtico gringo.

1. Escucha música en inglés para escuchar nuevo vocabulario.
2. Aprende a decir “y’all” como un buen Tejano.
3. Ignora las risas de tus amigos o compañeros cuando hablas.

a. Siempre habrá personas que se rían de tu acento pero no te desanimes.

      4. Describe tu rutina para aprender nuevas palabras.

                 a. Describe la pequeña casa donde vives, el vecindario inseguro donde tienes que vivir porque el salario de tu familia solo alcanza para eso.

      5. Recuerda que eres “Danielle” a donde quiera que vayas porque tu nombre es difícil de pronunciar.

      6. Intenta practicar tu nuevo vocabulario y pronunciación con otros lo más posible.

                 a. Sé consciente de que no siempre te entenderán y tal vez sea frustrating.

      7. Ignore the looks people give you cuando hablas con tu familia en español.

      8. Remember the day que cruzaste la frontera.

                 a. The deafening noise of all the people around la oficina de la migra, talking at the same time as the autobuses y camiones around us moved with their loud motores.

                 b. The emotionless face of the officer who questioned my parents cuando fue nuestro turno

                 c. The worry that plagued my mother’s heart as the officer looked through our pasaportes and we got approved to leave.

                 d. The droning noise of my mom’s constant and hushed oraciones as we walked out of the oficina towards the autobus again.

      9. Remember the homesickness you felt as the bus drove farther and farther away from home.

                 a. Remember the hurried goodbyes you said to your family before leaving.

                 b. Remember the teary faces you saw in the rearview mirror.

      10. Think of how there will never be a place to call ‘home’ anymore because no matter where you go, you will never be safe.

                 a. Never forget the cozy neighborhood in downtown Monterrey that saw you grow up.

                 b. Never forget the kids you played with every afternoon.

11. Remember how it hurt when, as an 11-year-old, you were told that your very existence was illegal.

                 a. Told that you would never amount to anything because you would never be allowed to go to college or get a job.

                 b. Told that even if you got accepted into college you would never be successful no matter how hard you try.

                 c. Go to college every day and hear those words echoing in your head as you try to pay attention in class.

1. Duerme every night and piensa what will become of you.
2. Never sueñes con your future because all of it could be gone en un instante.
3. Think of how tired your dad looks every day as he comes home from working a laborious job even as he reaches his 50s because he cannot retire.
4. Don’t blame yourself for any of it.
5. Don’t blame yourself for not understanding people.
6. It’s not your fault, it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault.
7. It’s not your fault when you don’t understand what the cashier is saying.
8. It’s not your fault when you have to ask them to repeat themselves.
9. It’s not your fault when people look at you like you’re from another planet.
10. It’s not your fault when someone tells you to go back to your country.
11. It’s not your fault you want to exist.
12. It’s never your fault for wanting a better life.
13. Repeat these things in your head over and over.
14. Maybe one day they’ll stick, and no one will be able to make you feel bad.
15. And maybe, just maybe, one day you will love your colors in this white world.

Daniela Tovar Gomez

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