The Icing on the Cake
Last Modified: 12/02/2019
An immigrant talks about the sacrifices and triumphs in a new country.
- 1What kinds of jobs did you have since first arriving in the country?
- 2We were gardeners and we were cleaning offices.
- 3You remember that?
- 4We had the night shift cleaning.
- 5That's why you know we had to take you, you and your brother.
- 6I didn't have a babysitter.
- 7I have memories of running into everyone's office and eating candy from their candy dishes.
- 8I remember being with my brother in our pajamas with the little plastic feet.
- 9And I also remember you would always buy us a Cup-O-Noodle from the vending machine...
- 10Right.
- 11...like a snack and then put us to bed on people's office couches.
- 12And then you'd carry us to the car when you guys were done cleaning the offices.
- 13I remember that.
- 14Did they ever know, did your bosses ever know that you took your kids?
- 15No, I don't think so.
- 16Is there anything that you've never told me but want to tell me now?
- 17When we first came here, we went through a lot of things, like not eating.
- 18I guess, for six months your father lost his job and we never told you that.
- 19I do remember a lot of beans, bean tacos.
- 20When you asked us, why the same thing?
- 21Remember?
- 22I didn't want to tell you why.
- 23If you could do everything again, would you raise me differently?
- 24I would dedicate more time, I guess.
- 25You know, I was so busy going to school too that I guess I neglected you a little bit.
- 26No.
- 27For me, watching you go to school with two kids and trying to make ends meet,...
- 28...that was the biggest inspiration for me to finish college.
- 29I thought there's nothing that could stand in my way that didn't stand in yours, more.
- 30It's the most important thing for me, having gone to college.
- 31And I feel like anything I do from here on out is okay because I've already achieved my dream.
- 32Everything else is icing on the cake
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