A: How was it at school?

D: When I was in Colombia, I was about to finish third grade. And when I came to the United States, I had to redo third grade. And I remember they gave me the opportunity to move into fourth grade, because I already knew everything that was going on—except I didn't know the language. So I would have been ahead, but my dad said, "No, just keep him in third grade".

A: What part of Florida did you move to at first?

D: Hialeah, where my dad's sister is. She's been living here for like 30 something years. When we got our visas, my dad came here first. He went to Florida for about a week, then he went to my uncle's house in Rhode Island. There, he stayed for three months and got a job. When he was a little stable, that's when my mom and I came.

A: Have you gone back to Colombia since you left?

D: I haven't but my parents have.

A: When you left Colombia, was a sudden move?

D: Honestly, when I left I was like, "Oh, hey cool! I'm going somewhere!" But I never thought out the "Oh... I'm never coming back!" part.

A: Did you get to say goodbye to people?

D: Honestly, I don't even remember. I just remember a couple of days before we left it was my birthday. I was turning eight years old. And I remember speaking to my dad over the phone because he was already here. That's one of the last memories that I have. And I don't remember saying goodbye to anybody. I just remember being on the plane and being "Oh, great!"

A: Did you adapt to the seasons in Rhode Island quickly?

D: Oh yeah, I got used to that quickly. I never saw snow in my life, so I was just happy.

A: Have your parents adapted to America pretty well?

D: Yeah. They already got used to this. They moved on pretty quickly. Because I know that my mom, especially, was upset because she went from being in Colombia where she didn't have to struggle. She wasn't like high class, but you know what I mean? She had a pretty easy job. And then to come here and work in a factory for two years or so. Then she started to clean houses because she got laid off. Now she has been cleaning houses for seven years. My dad started working in a factory and worked there for seven years too. At the time, he was working with a fake social but then got laid off when his papers got fixed and finally arrived. He now has a good social [and is a legal resident]. He went to go switch [the number] at work, and then his factory just laid him off because they said what he did was a crime, or something, and that he could have messed up the factory. But he had been working, doing his job, and everybody liked him. So everything was fine for those seven years, but when he told them the truth, they were like "Yeah, get out." Then he really didn't have a job, but now he cleans houses with my mom. Today, they have a little cleaning company and have their residency.

They went to Colombia last year. My grandma, my dad's mom, got really sick a month before their paperwork was finished. And like two days before their papers arrived in the mail, she died. He was going to go visit her. He wanted the papers to come in fast, but then she died. So he didn't even get a chance to go, but they still went to Colombia and I stayed here, alone, for two weeks. I was fine with that. Hey, I got the whole house to myself [laughs].