Coming to America

Every August, I think of the excitement I had in 1980 when I was getting ready to come to Minnesota as an exchange student.

I enrolled in a youth exchange program for a year through Youth For Understanding (YFU). This trip changed my life as I was sent to the state of Minnesota to live with a wonderful host family, where I spent a year as a “Husky” at St. Anthony Village High School in a suburb of Minneapolis.
MN gopher

After my year came to an end, my American family asked me to come back to study at the University of Minnesota. My private school in Mexico at the time was more expensive than the University of MN, so I came back to the US to study and became a proud U of M Gopher!
Becoming US Citizen

In April of 1991, I became a US Citizen and this was one of the proudest times of my life. I certainly believe that as stated in the Declaration of Independence, we hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness. I remember these statement every year especially on this date.
Present Day

Today, I carry a US passport and travel around the world. I am certified by the Department of State as a Public Diplomat, and I have been a counselor to over thirty exchange students who have come and stayed in the USA for a period of time.

I love my life, my family, and I am grateful to be part of this nation and more importantly, Minnesota. My wife was born in the US and together we have three daughters. My daughters are the first generation born in the US.

Coming to America

Every August, I think of the excitement I had in 1980 when I was getting ready to come to Minnesota as an exchange student.

I enrolled in a youth exchange program for a year through Youth For Understanding (YFU). This trip changed my life as I was sent to the state of Minnesota to live with a wonderful host family, where I spent a year as a “Husky” at St. Anthony Village High School in a suburb of Minneapolis.

MN gopher

After my year came to an end, my American family asked me to come back to study at the University of Minnesota. My private school in Mexico at the time was more expensive than the University of MN, so I came back to the US to study and became a proud U of M Gopher!

Becoming US Citizen

In April of 1991, I became a US Citizen and this was one of the proudest times of my life. I certainly believe that as stated in the Declaration of Independence, we hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness. I remember these statement every year especially on this date.

Present Day

Today, I carry a US passport and travel around the world. I am certified by the Department of State as a Public Diplomat, and I have been a counselor to over thirty exchange students who have come and stayed in the USA for a period of time.

I love my life, my family, and I am grateful to be part of this nation and more importantly, Minnesota. My wife was born in the US and together we have three daughters. My daughters are the first generation born in the US.

Resources ::::: Youth For Understanding — www.yfu.org
Public Diplomat – Department of State
Bill of Rights Institute – https://billofrightsinstitute.org/

Questions:::::

What makes an American?

Do you know which generation are you in the USA?

Have you traveled to any other country?