Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/141342
"I moved to Madison because my parents wanted me to see that there were more opportunities in the world." Maria Avina Franco Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico Age: 41 Occupation: Bilingual resource specialist with the Madison school district, site director at Madison Community Schools and Recreation, doula and Spanish health care interpreter. W hen I think about Mexico I remember traditions, music, family. And it was my family that prompted my move to the U.S. My journey started on prom night my senior year of high school. My boyfriend asked me to marry him. Getting married so young is not unusual in Mexico, but my parents found out and were concerned. My dad, who never cries, starting crying and said it was very important that I don't get married. He thought I would have kids young, stay home and not reach my full potential. I didn't know it at the time but he had been talking to my aunt who lived in Madison about what was happening. Meanwhile, she was encouraging me to come visit her and help her because she was pregnant. So my dad gave me a plane ticket to the U.S. and said, 'I'm really proud of you for graduating and I want you to take a vacation and visit your aunt.' But they didn't want me to just visit—they wanted me to get away from this boyfriend. It was winter when I came. I had never seen snow before and I was so excited. But a month later, I got so sick with the flu, I thought people were crazy for living here! I didn't know what was going to happen. I stayed with my aunt and helped her with the baby. I also cleaned houses to make a little money. I always liked helping people, so I also started volunteering 36 BRAVA Magazine July 2013 while I worked on learning English. I knew I was going to stay in Madison when I met my husband. I was on State Street and this American guy approached me because he heard me speaking Spanish and he was studying Spanish. Three months later I was on the verge of returning to Mexico because my visa was expiring, so we got married. I was 19. Once I started having children, it was difficult not having family here. American families are often spread out. My husband had siblings and they had all moved away. I felt very alone. There were a lot of classes to prepare you for having kids—but everything was very technical. The emotional part was missing, that cultural celebration of beginning your family. Now through my work as an interpreter and doula, I want to bring that experience of cultural connectedness to immigrant families because I know they won't get it any other way and it makes a difference. It's hard not knowing what's happening in Mexico, not seeing family. I miss the smells, the sounds, the energy. When people hear my story they seem amazed and wonder how I can keep going with such energy and a smile on my face. I wonder what they would think if they knew about the pain I feel when I think about what I left? I just have to keep reminding myself of what I have done here and what I have now…it almost makes it even.