Celeste Amador

January 18, 2017

AP Human Geography
5th period
Yo me llamo Martina Campos Castillo y voy a cumplir sesenta y tres este
ao. It was kind of hard translating everything from Spanish to English since my
knowledge of the language isnt very big. So I tried my best in order to tell you her
story. Her name is Martina Campos Castillo and she is 63 years old. She came from
San Luis Potosi, Matehula and immigrated 25 years ago. I choose to interview this
person because I wanted someone who was older, experienced, and wise.
It all started in the 30th of January in 1954 in San Luis Potosi. She was born
from her mother and father along with her 6 other siblings. She remembers being
happy and energetic. Sometimes playing with the animals that they took care of in
their small ranch, two cows and dozens of chickens. She lived in a barren land
where dead grass grows and mountains surround the pueblo. With cactus and aloe
vera surrounding their home. She lived in cement block house with a usual kitchen
and rooms for everyone. She remembers that she had to share one large bed with

her younger and older sisters. She describes it as a beautiful land that shell never
leave. A very tranquil place, full of peace.
Houses were in this style, this is a reference to the style of housing

Celeste Amador
January 18, 2017
AP Human Geography
5th period
She would help along with her sisters do housework such as cook, clean, and
tend to the animals while the boys do manly work with their father or uncle. She
would make dishes with her mother that include the typical beans and rice. They
would also eat various versions of soup usually with vegetables or meat. They often
wore ordinary clothes and in special occasions, the girls would wear long skirts and
made their hair in a braid and the boys would wear their best boots, hats, and belts.
The first time she came was in the 1990s when she about 40. That had been about
26 years from now.
She misses everything. She misses what was there and how her town
functioned. She didnt just leave to pursue the American Dream but to help her
daughter. Her daughter fell ill in 2003 and ever since has been sick. Since then she
has been coming back and forth to
look after her. She had been quite hopeful that theyll grant her permission into the
United States. Before she had come into this country she had imagined that the
U.S. is the same as her native land, Mexico. She especially found hard to live here
because of the language barrier since she only knows Spanish. And to this day she
hasnt attempted to learn English. Her definition of an American is a person who
works hard to achieve their dreams and person who eats a lot. She doesnt feel
American but a proud Mexican. She thinks that anyone can become American and
still hold on to their traditional because they wont forget about their roots. Her
opinions on how the law should be that they need to be just with Mexicans because
they come to work and sacrifice everything to their families back at home, not just
Mexicans but with every immigrant. She thinks that the United Sates needs to give

Celeste Amador
January 18, 2017
AP Human Geography
5th period
immigrants more opportunities. Her advice to other people coming over here is that
Just the way theyre treating people here, dont come.
In a way it was forced but not to the extreme. She had to come over more
frequently because of her daughter and wanted to take care of like any loving
mother would do. She wouldve gone through many checkpoints near the border
and taken travel buses in order to arrive securely and in less time. That concludes
the story of Martina Castillo.