La Del Otro Lado (The One From The Other Side)

"Speak English." "Pick a side."

Imagine. Strangers shoving sadistically.

It hurts me.

"What are you doing?" "What language is that?"

Leave me alone. I’m four!

"Is that Spanish? Don't do that."

"You like Mexico so much? Go back!"

"How did you get here? Did you swim?"

"Be grateful. Speak English."

Don't understand. Why not speak both?

I'm an immigrant. So what?

Drinking salsa like juice.

Stop staring. Jealous?

New country. On my own. Not leaving.

Your country welcomes me.

Sonríe. Te deseo paz.

Abrázame vecino. Te quiero.

¡Te prometo! Hablo verdad.

Mi casa es tu casa.

¿Amigos?

Growing up next to this Tijuana border wall taught me that many immigrants don’t make it.

(Border Wall at Tijuana and San Diego Border, photo credit from Wikipedia.)