Hi, my name is Alex. I was born in Queens but I was the most part of my life in Ecuador were my parents were born. I have 2 brothers were born in Ecuador and 1 sister that was born in USA. Since I was a kid my parents told me that I should be good at school because it’s a privilege to be in this country and in life nothing is free, but also never forget about your family and were you came from.
I was raised in a Christian family and I had to go to a church school 5 years. One sad thing of me is that my family was never together not even one time. When I was 6 years old I went to live in Ecuador with my mom and sister and there I meet my brothers. After 6 years I came back and since then I went 3 times to Ecuador but my brothers, sister, mom, me and my dad were never together and one interesting thing is that my mom and dad are still married.
Same as well with me my parents always told me never forget where you come from and your family
You share many interesting facts about yourself, here! First I love your surname ZHAGUI. When I read your name in my student roster, I was very intrigued. Your surname has a beautiful sound as you pronounce it — sort of whispery and secretive and even romantic, I think! At first I thought the name was Chinese because GUI is a Chinese pin yin sound I recognize although I have not heard of many 2-syllable Chinese names. However in class you explained that your family was Ecuadorian (interestingly one of my husband’s brother married an Ecuadorian)….ALSO I can relate to this comment: “my parents told me that I should be good at school because it’s a privilege to be in this country and in life nothing is free, but also never forget about your family and were you came from.” This rings familiar to any of us who are children of immigrants as I myself am. My father also told me that education is a privilege, and not a given. He fought very hard to continue his education in war-torn China. He wanted me to realize how lucky I was as an Americans to enter college so easily and that I should not waste this opportunity. I sympathize with you that your family has never been united in one country — I hope for you that one day this can happen.