The Mexican- Part 1: The decision

Living in extreme poverty, in a small town on the outskirts of a bustling metropolis, a small family is struggling to survive. The father watches as men and women, who were born into wealth, toss scraps of food to other families like his as if they were filthy, nasty vermin.

He vows to do something to change his family's life. He wants something better for his four children- not necessarily to become like the wealthy he sees daily, but at least better than they are at the moment. He views the wealthy as uncaring shells, who only worry about where the next million will come from or how to throw the biggest and most expensive party to increase their social status. The Mexican just wants his family to live without hunger, have clean clothes, have a solid floor beneath his feet, and a roof that will not fall apart or leak on them.

He weighs his options very carefully. His current job working in the fields is labor intensive, and pays poorly. If he is lucky he will bring home 75 pesos per day, and that is working sunrise to sunset most days, often 7 days a week. Most of the time he sneaks discarded food into his hankerchief to bring home to his children, food that otherwise would just be tossed to feed the pigs. His house has dirt floors, and no refrigeration or electricity. His wife washes their clothes in the river nearby. Living on $300-500 pesos a week barely covers food- the cost of meat has just gone up. Medical expenses are even higher. His two older children had to drop out of school because they could no longer afford uniforms or the tuition.

His cousin left a number of years ago to find work up north. Just the other day his cousin had written to him, and told him how much better life was and how much money he was able to send back to his family. The cousin suggested that he go live with him for a while. There he would have a place to stay, and a job right away, and he would then be able to send money every month to his family.

The Mexican has seen many other men of his town leave for the north, and then seen how their families have prospered with the money sent to them.

He decides to take that offer of his cousin's. At least for a little while, just to see if what his cousin told him was true. Trying would be better than nothing, he thought. For his family, this option was the best.

A month later, The Mexican finds himself in the United States of America...