Aqui Estamos!: Volumen I

Publisher Marketing: The Mexicans that have made South Philadelphia their home arrived here with many dreams; among them to support their families back home in Mexico. As many recount in the stories that follow, their dreams have led them to experiences both brilliant and painful. Within the pages that follow you will find many dreams that have pushed and strengthened the dreamer. There is the constant memory of those left behind and the beckoning of one's own culture; contrasted with the firm resolve to achieve in a new environment, even amidst the uncertainty of solitude, discrimination, and the currents of an alien culture. "Filadelfia es un lograr tranquilo. Dentro de mi matrimonio tengo una hija preciosa que nacio aqui por eso amo mas a Filadelfia. Ya eche raices aqui y por que no querer uno el suelo donde esta caminando todo el tiempo mas que digamos en otros lados? Uno debe querer la tierra donde uno esta desarrollandose, criandose digamos y le digo aqui estamos." "Philadelphia is a peaceful place. I have a beautiful daughter that was born here and she's one more reason to love Philadelphia. Now I have roots here. Why shouldn't you love the ground you're walking on more than some other place? You should love the land where you are developing and growing. Like I told you, here we are." - Abel Ortiz, businessman/comerciante Los mexicanos que han venido al Sur de Filadelfia han venido por amor a sus familias, y por sus suenos. Sin embargo, como muchos cuentan en las historias que llenan este libro, se vive un sueno ( o una identidad?) de doble filo (o una identidad doble). A un lado esta el querer a la familia en Mexico, a lo mexicano, a la vida del hogar, en contraste con el firme compromiso de salir adelante en este nuevo pais a todo costo. El anhelo de regresar esta muy en la mente para muchos, mezclado con el orgullo de forjar una vida aqui frente a la incertidumbre de la soledad, la discriminacion, la politica, y las corrientes de una cultura ajena. Si desea comunicarse con nosotros, puede contactar a Leticia Roa Nixon (Ahdanah) a: leticia.nixon@gmail.com If you want to reach us, please contact Leticia Roa Nixon at leticia.nixon@gmail.com