Eliana

Last Sunday a few of us gathered at a friend’s in California for a barbeque. I thought at the time it would be a pleasant thing to do; have a few drinks, eat some ribs, and enjoy a little conversation about various sports or current events. You know, the American way of life. As it turned out my heart was to be touched in a manner that would bring tears to my eyes and warmth to my soul.

A young Columbian woman came over while we were barbequing to use my friend’s computer. I knew this woman, she had worked at a company I had a contract with many years ago. I almost hadn’t recognized her.

“Eliana?” I said, more of a statement than a question.

“Oh, hi,” she rejoined ebulliently.

She was stunning, cordial and enthusiastic. The last time I had seen her she was quite different. An ordinary person any American would have viewed as an immigrant from a third world country. And in fact, she was. I had known back then that Eliana was trying to get her citizenship and going to school, but I didn’t really know much more about her. Anytime I had to speak to her when doing business with the company I had difficulty communicating because her English wasn’t very good. I had a tendency to shy away from dealing with her, never rude or insulting, only never taking the time to truly understand.

She had eventually married the son of another friend of mine and had a child. This child, a girl, was with her this evening. The only thing more beautiful than her daughter’s name, was the child’s radiant beauty itself. Her name was Simone and the spirit inside that little body was a sight to behold.

I asked Eliana if she had finished school and gotten her citizenship. She said she had. Not only had she received her citizenship and finished high school, but had taken several language and English courses as well. I could tell immediately as her English was impeccable. She had also gone on to college to receive a degree. Then she said, “after that I thought, why not go on. So, I got another degree in Criminal Justice.” I thought, holy cow! This girl is amazing. Now Eliana is working on her Masters while applying for several different jobs at firms in the Bay Area in her field.

We live in tumultuous times and in America there is much controversy about immigration. Let me say this; in my lifetime I have given much in the form of time and money to causes such as education, human rights for children, drug addiction, et al, but the story about to unfold in these few words makes all that pale in comparison. America is the last and only bastion of freedom for the world, and Eliana’s tale elucidated that quite well in the two hours I sat with her that evening.

After our re-acquaintance she went into the house to use the computer. I sat quietly musing about what I had just seen and heard. A few minutes later I couldn’t take any more and felt compelled to go in and express, not only my amazement, but my great joy at seeing the astonishing accomplishments she had made. I told her sincerely how she was the archetype of the American dream. How so many come to this country to use our resources merely for their own advantage, to make money to send back home, only to long for the day they themselves shall return to their homeland. That was not the case here. This woman was intelligent, tenacious, and strong. I am so impressed with her I would take her on in any endeavor. I would be proud to be part of her team.

When we went back outside to eat we sat together and talked. She told me of times in Columbia where you could see children going hungry for lack of food. Of when she was a child and couldn’t go to school to get an education. Boys or the wealthy were the ones to get educated. About a time her father once told her she was fat, and questioned if she were a lesbian. And then another time when he told Eliana he had hoped her mother had had a boy instead of a girl. She didn’t, she had Eliana and her father was disappointed. What kind of a man is this?

I guess that means little girls have no place in the hierarchy of a third world nation, a brutal, violent, and dysfunctional world. She went on to explain the travails and insults, the fears and anxieties she had gone through most of her life to get to where she was now. The quiet times that she would cry while sitting alone and wondering if she could do it. It saddens me to hear such stories, but gives me great hope that there are those like her who are strong enough to make life work.

Now, life seems to be good for Eliana and her family, and in this man’s humble opinion it is as it should be. If ever there were an immigrant that deserved all the fruits of their labor, a human being that rightly claims their place amongst the bravest of men, it is this young woman and all of those likened to her who have traveled this dismal and lonely road. God bless her and her family.