by Ayla McDonald
Fernando Rodgriguez Andrade is an international student studying at Parkland College.
Hailing from the South American country of Honduras, Andrade is a native Spanish speaker and is in his second semester of taking intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
The year of 2018 has been Andrade’s first as an international student to the US. Andrade spoke of his experience of American culture as an intense learning opportunity that has come with the challenges and rewards unique to living in another country.
“This is my first experience of education in the US, and my first time taking classes in a place that is not my home country,” Andrade said. “My first language is Spanish. I came to study in the US with knowing nothing about English…It was difficult for me to meet with Americans, especially when I didn’t speak English. At first when they spoke to me I didn’t know how to respond. I could only say things like “Hi, I’m from Honduras,” and “I am hungry”. It was like being a little child.”
Though learning a new language has been hard, Andrade is advancing quickly with the support he has received from his host family, from other Americans, and from his teachers at Parkland.
“I am here living with my godfather who is giving me support to study in the US. I call them my ‘angels’,” Andrade said. “…My godmother speaks some Spanish and was able to help me along with my teachers…I started in the lowest level English course but now am in the highest level thanks to ESL. There are really good programs here at Parkland with good teachers who have helped me to build skills…People in my family’s church encourage me with my English also, telling me ‘don’t be afraid, have fun!’.”
When asked to describe his impressions of the US, Andrade said that the two things that have impressed him most are security and education.
“U.S. security and education are different from my home country,” Andrade said. “When I first arrived here I felt freedom; people here are free to walk down the street without fear that someone will hurt them. That was the first thing that surprised me as something I didn’t have in my country, there’s always a fear… This college was impressive with its size, its resources and access to technology and the internet; I was amazed that it was so easy to get a calculator.”
Andrade talked about Honduras, his home country.
“If you really want to learn the reality in a country you have to live there and see what it’s like with your own eyes,” Andrade said. “Honduras is a beautiful country…We have good people, people who want the country to succeed…We are a country whose economic bases are in agriculture and tourism… But the government is corrupted; it offers no support for the people. The person in power is considered a dictator.”
The situation of poor quality of life in many South American countries has recently spurred what’s been reported to be thousands of people, many of whom are Honduran, to travel in a migrant caravan to the US border where they seek asylum.
“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has mobilized staff and resources to southern Mexico…following the arrival at the Mexico/Guatemala border of thousands of people as part of a ‘caravan’ of refugees and migrants travelling from Honduras,” an October 23rd report put out by the UN Refugee Agency said. “The ‘caravan’, which has been estimated at up to 7,000 people or more in size is the second organized march in the region this year, the first having taken place in April in Mexico.”
Andrade shared his beliefs about why his countrymen are leaving Honduras.
“There are people in the caravan who are criminals, but the majority are coming for necessities for a good life,” Andrade said. “If you ask they’ll tell you they don’t have enough food, they don’t have access to education, they’re in danger from gangs…Some people in the caravan are coming for health reasons, or to find work…”
Andrade believes that the problems in his country can be changed if other countries interfere.
“My conclusion about the caravanning will be the solution is to change the government with pressure from other countries,” Andrade said. “We receive most of our economic support from the US. If the US pressures to remove its support, the situation will change.”
Being in the US now himself, Andrade compares his situation to that of fellow Hondurans coming in the caravan.
“Comparing my experience with them is totally different,” Andrade said. “I’m really lucky to be here legally, with the opportunity to be a good student, a good son to my mother. Some of my friends are coming in the caravan. It hurts when people say they are criminals because they’re not. I want to do something to help, but what can I do? I have faith that the situation will change, but until then I will feel sad and thankful for the people who have given me this opportunity. Like I said before, they are my angels.”
