Artifact #2 Reflection

Poverty is often a push factor for migration for many people.  This was the case for both my great-great-grandmother and Reyna Grande. 

My great-great-granmother, Marie Nielson Robins, wrote in her autobiography about the struggles that she had growing up because of lack of money.  Marie accounts how her father earned 8 cents a day for flailing wheat. Often their meal "consisted of a slice of Rye bread moistened with water and sprinkled with salt" (Marie). Her mother also worked in the fields and was given "a drink of whiskey and some sandwiches.  She always traded her liquor to some of the men for their sandwiches, and these she brought home to her children." Marie's older brother always saved some of his lunch to bring home to his younger sisters. 

My great-great-grandmother got her first job when she was nine years old.  She cared for a large family in Gunnison, Utah (this was after they arrived in the United States).  For pay, she received her board, "a calico dress, and a sun bonnet made from a dress the woman had worn out." 

She was only able to attend school a total of 12 weeks her entire life, before she had to start working.

Marie's christmas's were very sparse.  Their christmas dinner and presents combined was a loaf of white bread.  Marie wrote, "Toys of any kind were unknown to us.  I never owned a doll in my life and even when a child, would not have had time to play with one."

When Marie was twelve years old, she went to Fillmore to find work.  She remained away from home for one year, and was very homesick to see her mother. 

In comparison to my great-great-grandmother's life, there is Reyna and her family's life in Mexico.  Reyna's and her family ate very little while they were living in Mexico. "We don't eat much," Carlos said.  You wouldn't need to make a lot of money to feed us" (Grande, p 147).  Their mother worked many jobs while she was in Mexico with her children in order to keep them fed.  Also, Mago worked out near the train station when she was very young to help pay for food for herself and her siblings.

One difference for Marie and Reyna’s family is while, in Mexico, they were able to go to school until 6th grade, and in America, they were able to graduate.  My great-great-grandmother only ever took 12 weeks of school, before she had to pay the school fees and she was kicked out. 

While the children were still in Mexico, Natalio visited them to take them back to America.  He brought the children toys: dolls and cars.   That was another difference between Marie and Reyna.  Marie wrote that not once had she ever had a toy. 

Reyna’s parents left her when she was a small child to get work.  In Marie’s case, it was she who left her family to work.  In both stories, the girls miss their mothers very much.

Poverty has always been a motivation to leave and find something better.  I have enjoyed learning about the different ways of life because of their (Reyna’s and Marie’s) trials.

Artifact #2