In the USA, I have new habits

Dear Bono,

These are some of my habits (hábitos).

I bite my fingernails, because I like the flavor. I send text messages by phone while driving and exercising. When John texts me, I correct his Spanish. I like to eat sweet potatoes (camotes). When I eat french fries (papas fritas), I only have five or six. On Sundays, I like a big breakfast, with pancakes and syrup, eggs, and hash browns. I like hot tea—very, very hot, even in summer.

When I cook, it is from memory and from instinct (instinto). I do not measure the salt or other ingredients. I just make what I am making—tortillas, tamales, salsas … I ask my friends, “Does it taste OK?” I do not taste the salsa myself. I never cook from a book, never from a recipe (receta). I remember how my abuela cooked when I was a girl. My grandmother still makes tortillas the slow way, by hand, with masa, but other women in México buy from small tortilla shops, tortillerias.

My habits in México were different. In Poza Rica, and all across México, we have five meals every day—desayuno, almuerzo, comida, merienda, cena. My friend asks me, “How do you have time?” My mother and my abuela cook all day—the kitchen does not close.

I wrote before about sweet potatoes. I like them very much for dessert (postre), and they are a common dessert in México. In Poza Rica, I remember a man who sold them from a cart that he pushed through the streets. He blew on a whistle (pito), like a referee (árbitro) in football. He served grilled sweet potatoes on small plates with condensed milk.

I remember other things. I remember when I studied in college. I liked to study at night, by myself, in the quiet of my home.

I like to read. Now I am reading La Quinta Montaña by Paulo Coelho. It is a book about the life of Elijah (Elías) from the Bible. He had many doubts (dudas), many loves, many struggles. I am like Elijah. I have traveled to new places. I follow the path (camino) where God leads me. I change paths if I have to. If I have doubts, I stay strong.

Despite (a pesar de) struggle and doubt, I have the love of my friends. I think about my birthday in May. I will rent a room and hire a 10-piece band—$1,000 for six hours. I need a good picture of you, Bono, for my cake. My friend in Reynosa will bake a large cake for me and mail it from McAllen, Texas.

You are invited to my party. But if you cannot come, I will have a big picture of you, life-size. People can take pictures of you and kiss your lovely thin lips (labios).

Un abrazo,
Karla

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Do I need a green card?

Dear Bono,

I never worried before about my visa status in the United States. Once I was stopped by a police officer in Atlanta. I drove to a friend’s house, near Buford Highway, a street where many Hispanic people live.

A policeman followed me for a short distance. Finally, he stopped me. He asked me who I was and where I was going. He asked me where I was from.

He asked for my driver’s license. I said, “I do not have one.” I told him I have a driver’s license from México. He asked to see it. He asked me when I was born, and I answered him in Spanish.

He told me, “Be safe,” and drove away. I did not receive a ticket. I was lucky. I am an “illegal,” but still I am happy here in Atlanta. I have many, many friends from all over the world.

How do I get a green card? Marrying a U.S. citizen is the fastest way. After marriage, I can apply to become a legal, permanent resident. But I need to learn more. These are hard decisions to make.

My family, my friends, my abuela (grandmother) in México are the most important things in my life. But people say that life in Georgia may become harder in 2011 for “illegals” like me. The next time a policeman stops me, I might not be lucky. I might be deported.

Parties and festivals are important, especially at this time of the year. On Christmas Eve I went to a party and danced all night. At my house I invited friends, including John, for a party before New Year’s. We celebrate life together. We dance bachata, a dance from the Dominican Republic. I work all day to make tamales, salsas, mole, and we buy lots of wine and cerveza. Some friends drink tequila and get very drunk.

Already I think about my birthday party in May. Sometimes I spend $1,500 on my party. Maybe it is crazy, but I work very hard all year. I like to give myself a nice present—a big party with 70 or 80 friends. I hire a DJ, mariachis (I like mariachis!), and we always eat Mexican food—always Mexican!

I am inviting you now to my party! We will listen to U2 music and dance together, maybe to “Mysterious Ways.”

John printed the words to “The Hands That Built America.” I think it is very beautiful. I know it is a song about immigrants like me.

You gotta live with your dreams, don’t make them so hard
And these are the hands that built America

I help build America every day. It feels like my home.

Un abrazo,
Karla

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