El Otro Lado: The American Dream

To other people living in different country such as Mexico, China, Central America and other parts of the country it appears to be a dream to be living the “American Dream” or “El Otro Lado”. In “The Distance Between US” Reyna visualized it as the country were their parents dream was for a better life it could of bring them and the country that took away both parents, a dream as opposed to what the reality is. “The American Dream” is were everyone wants to be part of, living in a different country hearing what can it brings you, a better living for your family, better pay, more opportunities everything sounds perfect, but it also separates family as Reyna Grande from "The Distance Between Us" states “ I was two years old when my father
left” (6). A Parent leaves the country were they are originally born, leaving their family behind with a mentality to live the American dream or as they say “vivir el sueno Americano”, be able to send money to their loved ones, it also means having to live illegally in the U.S under the darkness hiding from their own shadows aware of their surroundings making sure they don’t get caught; they realize they don’t have a voice; and as wen will they go back home? Some never go back, others take years to go back is it worth leaving everything behind? The will of giving their family a better living is more powerful, and the ones who get affected from it are the children’s growing up without a parent. Children’s live believing they will get a better life; at least that's what they hear form a parent.
Reyna had to look up to her sister Mago as her mentor as her second mother as Mago promised when her mother ask her " Do you promise to take care of your hermanos for me, be their little mother?"(12) Before departing. Part of the American Dream is the money, the reason why people come to the U.S, not only adults leave their country, adolescents as well take the risk of crossing over illegal for a better opportunity. Young adolescents want to live the American Dream in hopes of a better life, open opportunities and better education. Reyna and her siblings Mago, and Carlos got the opportunity to come to the U.S, not long after they realize they would have to start all over learning a new language being in a country were they are strangers, Reyna realizing his "Papi" wasn’t the Pearson she figured. Immigrants face hard challenges in order to achieve the American Dream, with hard work and determination and "Las Ganas" some will achieve their dreams, as were other dont have the fortunate to achieve their goals. Reyna had challenges, facing her real "Papi" was a disappointment getting beat up by her father was something she would of never imagine would happened to her in "El otro
Lado". "Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunities for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class of circumstances of birth.