In Search of the American Dream

Date: 8/10/08
Time: 5:49pm
Place: My couch

In Search of the American Dream


The Twentieth Century was an era of many changes and advances. Of all the major events that happened during this century, the one thing that my family was involved in was in the pursuit of the American Dream or migration. My entire family originates from the Dominican Republic. My great grandmother decided that she wanted to migrate to the United States along with all her family in order to give her descendants the opportunity to have the most options available to them to become whatever they wanted in a country that was fair and prosperous. This all began in the 1980’s when she was the first one to get on a plane and leave all her family behind to start the foundation of a new beginning. She came to an unknown country, with different customs, food and different everything. She came to New York, where she had no friends or family. She found the way to get a job and a place to live in the meantime until she was to be reunited with all her family. Soon after she was here maybe a year or two after she started to bring her children from youngest to eldest. Then when my grandmother was here she did the same with all her (4) children. Then it was my moms turn and no doubt she brought my brother and me as well. By the year 1989 the entire family was reunited.

Now looking at the migration as a historical event, since the beginning of the 1900s, many people where migrating to other places in the hope to find a better place to settle in. Some where leaving because they wanted the freedom to express and practice their religious beliefs. Others where leaving because they where not in accordance with the form of government from their original countries. For many more reasons as well but in the long run it was the same reason, they wanted a better life.