Teresa Gonzalez
Salt Lake City, UT USA

This is a story of my how my grandfather was born, and named. My great-grandparents lived in Jalisco Mexico; a small town. My great-grandmother was pregnant, so her and her husband traveled to the USA to have my grandfather, so that he would be able to choose what country he wanted to live in, in the years that would follow. My great-grandparents made it to Arizona when the labor started. No one was willing to help them. They were told that on the Indian reservation they might help her. So the two of them went to the reservation, where they were indeed welcomed. The nurse midwives assisted my great-grandmother in the delivery of my grandfather. The chief of the tribe came to my family and asked if he might name the child. My family was so honored and thankful that the Indians had helped them in their hour of need that they said yes. My grandfather (now 82 years old) was named Primitivo (meaning #1). The chief left the tipi and my great grandmother spent the next 3 days recovering.

Jose G. Osuna
Peoria, AZ USA

I was raised in Nogales, Sonora. Ever since I can remember going back and fort across the border was like second nature. Just like looking at those old emmigration buses bringing people back from up north. Those faces, the way they walked. It spoke of hunger, failure, hoples-ness. That was the reality. The dream was over. At least for now. With time the faces of the people changed as did the face of the fence. from a thick wire to a concrete or steel and, in some areas the marine corp. Like I say many things change. Another thing that changed was the image of the officers on both sides of the border. On the mexican side the goverment in a rare case of Honesty or God knows what in a matter of five minnutes changed the total federal precence on the border. All those customs, immigration, vehicle registry employees were gone at the change of a shift. We now had the Policia Fiscal Federal(federal fiscal police).
On the american side we realized that there were just as many corrupt federal employees/agents as in mexico. That was unheard of in mexico and the states.
We have had Customs, Border Patrol, FBI, DEA, Immigration and all kind of federal agents involved in crimes of drugs and smugling of ilegal aliens.
At this point and time we the people that have been in contact with the border over the years can tell you that
the more things change the more they stay the same.
Drugs keep comming in, Ilegal aliens keep comming in, corruption on both sides of the border is a reality.
And people keep being abused here and there. You know what is the thing that makes Mexico and the USA more alike?
The fact that there is Corrupt officers here and there. The same trash happens twice.

Sandra Zúñiga
Corpus Christi, TX USA

My name is Sandra Zúñiga. I was raised in the bordertown of Del Rio, Texas. I am a second-generation American, and am part of family of educators. Living on the border has affected me in several ways.

Personally, I find that I am amazed at the courage and determination my grandparents had in coming to America and in pursuing the American dream. They had a vision of having a well-educated family, and managed to find ways to not only make a living, but to send their boys to a strict private school. These three first-generation boys graduated from college. Frank is a retired high school counselor, Ricardo is a school administrator, and Ernesto is an engineer for DuPont, Inc. Their father, Gabriel, passed away in 1981, but their mother, Carolina, is still the strong woman that she has always been. She has been able to witness her dream come true as she has seen her boys grow and succeed. Together, the boys have given her ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Of the second-generation grandchildren, four have obtained Masters degrees, one has graduated from MIT, and one is a television sportscaster. Many of the others are still pursuing their education. As one of Carolina's granddaughters,

Professionally, I have taught and have had many counseling experiences in Del Rio. Growing up in a tradition-rich family, I was able to understand many of the beliefs, traditions, and customs my students brought with them. Now that I am teaching in Corpus Christi, Texas, I am able to compare my experiences here with ones back home. Children and adolescents share many commonalities across the state and nation. However, I have found that one of the big differences between my students now and my students back on the border, is one of respect. Generally speaking, Mexican families have a great deal of respect and value for education. I would find that in my bordertown, if the schools could get families past the barrier of language and intimidation, they could have great parental support and involvement. Here, on the other hand, parents seem to have education on a low level in the hierarchy of values. Teaching on the border brought unique challenges that are not seen in the city, such as language and lif

As you can see, life on the border has not only inspired me, it has given me experiences that have shaped me into the proud Hispanic educator, and granddaughter, that I am today.

Nia Lopez
Woodbury, NJ USA

My friends are from mexico many have crossed the us/mexican border in search of jobs and better living conditions. many are very hard workers like my self.immigrates are not coming to America looking for handouts,because they live by their tradition (the family who prays together stays together)they help each other.i don't think it's fair that they must loss their lives trying to make it to the USA for a better life.as far as tax dollars they work hard all year and because they are not legal.they don't get any of their tax dollars back that money so what about ther tax dollars.as far as jobs they are not taking jobs from us citizens they are taking the jobs that the us citizen don't want.I think the laws should be changed.immigrates suffer a big loss coming to the US because the odds are againest them. And they contribute a lot to the US.

G. I. Johnston
Caldwell, ID USA

My contribution is simple. I spent about a year of high school in Douglas AZ. I had lived in other places and countries before then.. I was appalled by the misuse of Mexicans by other people on either side of the border, and it seemed as if it was "just because".

Sergio Valle Cervantes
Austin, TX USA

No es realmente mi historia, es la historia de mi papa, Jesus Valle Martinez, el a la edad aproximada de 18 anos, logro obtener la residencia norteamericana y desde entonces ha trabajado en los USA, el siempre ha sido orgulloso de trabajar en los USA y de vivir en Mexico, porque el es el clasico "fronterizo" que trabajaba en los USA y gastaba o invertia todo su dinero en Mexico.
Siempre nos dijo, a sus hijos, si algun dia queriamos venir a los USA, hera para hacer mas grande a este pais, no hera para venir a ser un holgazan. Siempre su filosofia a sido el trabajo duro, como el de toda la gente de los USA, no importa si son nativos o inmigrantes. Gracias a el trabajo en los USA el pudo darnos una vida digna en la frontera. Recuerdo cuando yo here paqueno, como las transacciones comerciales heran llevadas a cabo por igual con moneda americana o moneda mexicana. Es despues de Luis Echeverria donde se inicio la prohibicion de utiilizar moneda americana en los comercios de la frontera, pero la gente de cualquier manera la sigue utilizando.

Si les interesa su historia (de mi papa) despues les sigo escribiendo.

Ben Madrid
San Francisco, CA USA

My maternal grandfather crossed the border in 1915. He was getting to army age and voted with his feet.
He worked the farms, and later steel mills until he was an old man.
We were raised as Americans. The kids spoke English at home and answered our elder's Spanish with English. That made them happy. They wanted assimilation for their kids in the 1950s. We believed we were second to none. The 1960s radficalized me like so many others were radicalized.I realized I had been protected as a boy and skin color was the strongest measure of a person in the USA. It was a fact a thinking person could not avoid.
But even though for our generation assimilation was the measure of success I and many like me, maintained our roots and our heritage. We kept or relearned the Spanish language.
Part of the Chicano movement was a backlash by our generation against assimilation. It was anger directed at the unattainable goal. That cherished goal of our elders. Assimilation.

MITO AVERY
DENVER, CO USA

HELLO, I AM ORIGINALLY FROM A TOWN DOWN in Mexico Union COAHIULA, Mexico, it is Mexico union San Antonio, Texas. THAT IS A COOL AREA FOR RANCHING AND HUNTING,IT SEEMS THAT IS THE ONLY THING TO DO DOWN SOUTH IS TO HANG OUT ON THE RANCK WORK FOR A RANCH OR BE A RANCHER WITH CATTLE OR GAME FOR HUNTING. THAT AREA is so hot and humid it is so inhospitable because of the climate.But I love Piedras Negras, Black Rock in English. Also the tortas are a one of a kind, so is the leche camada, fudge chocolate. that area has got the best scorpions and poinous snakes anywhere, watermocosins,coral snakes and yellow scorpions, they burn bad, the scorpions when you get stung by them, also the red ants can kill your feet. I want to know when you all are going to air this documentary in Denver please inform me when you do,I want to see it. I miss doown south visiting family people, but there is nothing to do but hang out in alamo hieghts at the QUERRY IN MEXICO UNION,SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS. ALSO IMAGINE THERE ARE 20 MI
also please e-mail me if you all use any of my good experience from down in Mexico Union. Currently I live in Denver, because I moved to Aspen When I was 15, And I HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE IN COLORADO.

Robin Cathleen Oleata
La Jolla, CA USA

I have trouble identifying my cultural identity as any other than that of the Southwest, that of the border. I am not american, nor mexican, nor chicana, nor indian, my heritage is that of border crossings and missegination. My father was raised in Yuma, Arizona, my mother like me, in San Diego.

Eden J. Straw
Las Cruces, NM USA

My family's story is tied to the border through 3 generations, from grandfather to granddaughter. My paternal grandfather moved the Rio Grande Valley in 1924. He led land parties from the midwest(There is a photograph of a land party behind the maitre d's stand at the Port Isabel Yacht Club restaurant,Port Isabel,TX. My grandfather is in it along with most of the crooked politicians of the period.) My grandafather worked with the Bentsons and Shivers. He worked as bank vice president in Misson,TX and Donna, TX. My father was born in the Valley and left when he joined the navy in time for the Korean War. My life joins with the Border when I moved to Kingsville, Tx, in 1991 to attend Texas A&I University. I eventually changed my major to History with minor in Southwest Borderlands Studies. My major focus was Mexican American ranch cemeteries and cemetery folk art. Through my courses, I was able to interact on the many levels of the border culture. I aslo traveled many of the two-land and caliches.

Billie Jo Shepherd
Campo, CA USA

I have not had a chance to view your undoubtedly fine work on some border issues, so my comments are based only on having looked at your story summaries. Very people-oriented, which is good, but does not seem to address the impacts of illegal immigration/smuggling, NAFTA and the maquiladora trade on those of us who live on the US side. Consider for a moment, the rural mountain communities in eastern San Diego County where residents have not only had their lives disrupted and endangered by Operation Gatekeeper, but by NAFTA trade, as well. While they are endangered by hundreds of (often substandard) trucks rumbling practically through their front yards and over narrow, winding mountain roads never meant to carry heavy commercial trade, they, in no way, benefit financially or culturally from that trade. They do not own or work for maqulidora plants. They DO pay for the infrastructure that carries it. They are the forgotten victims of both U.S. border policy and trade agreements that seem to assume

Maria de la Luz Lopez
National City, CA USA

My name is Maria Luz Lopez or Marilu like my friends and family call me. I am the second oldest child of eleven brothers and sister and first generation of a mexican/american in the United States. My mother Guadalupe left her hometown delicias, Chihuahua Mexico in 1967 at age of fifthteen due to poverty and my grandparent's only hope of futuer income. She left with a maternal aunt whom had miganted a couple years early. While my maternal aunt Catalina Talamantes lived in El Paso Texas and worked as a prostetud meet an American and married him. Now that my maternal anut was trying to re-establish her life into sociaty she retuned to her hometown Delicias and hand picked my mother from all her improvish nieces and newphes in hope to help the family income by giving my mother the opportunity to earn american dollars while being my aunt's personal babysitter and housekeeper. Therefore, my mother future and my came about my aunt's need of a babysitter in the united states. My aunt arranged my mother's illegal crossing through El Paso Texas in a car climing her as an american citizen. It worked and my mother spent her teenage years as my aunt's personal babysitter and housekeeper. During that time my aunt divorced Mr. Wyatt and moved to Oxandar, California with her two children and my mother Guadalupe. There in Oxnard my mother meet my father at the age of 18. Two months in the relationship my father Jose Luis Lopez and my mother married each other. My father had also migranted into the United States from Guadalajara, Mexico but had crossed ligelly with a Temporary passport. My Father's story was differant from mom's his reason was to gain his independence from his parents. My father had some education behind him and spoke some English thanks to his father whom was an English teacher in Guadalajara Mexico. My father first job was as a bus boy at a very eleganat resturant. His broken English and his excellent phycical landed him that job. Not to mention his light skin and hazzel eyes. That job thwaiter at a very expansion and elegant resturnant. A coupled months later I was born and San Diego, California became my parent perminate hometown. However, in december 1972 my father passaway in car crash while heading to work on a early saturary morning. A mixer of thick fog and a miss cured sent my father down a steep hill killing himself instally. to be continue... to tired to write.

Rios
Glendale, AZ USA

I was born in sinaloa,mexico Ilove mexico.just last week my little sisiter went to mexico to visit my grandma and my grandpa and my other families(mostly in Burrion)thats why I love to go to mexico to visit cousins.My idal Miguel Hidalgo.Why?Beacause all the heroic and brave stuff he did to save the little pueblo!THE END.