Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Esthefany López Cruz, Esthefany López Cruz

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Esthefany López Cruz is the daughter of Honduran immigrants. In 1998, her parents decided to embark on the dangerous journey to the United States to escape the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. López Cruz was only one and half at the time. The family settled down in Hastings, Nebraska to be close to López’s Cruz grandmother. Because of debates around Temporary Protected Status, López Cruz fears that the government will send Hurricane Mitch survivors like her back to Honduras. López Cruz faced many challenges growing up in a Spanish-speaking household while attending a school that taught subjects in English. Despite that, …

Carlos Ortega, Carlos Ortega

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Carlos Ortega was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. His family moved to the United States in 2001. Ortega initially struggled in school because of his difficulties with English. With the support of a dedicated teacher and through immersion, Ortega eventually became fluent in English. Both in school and in the community, Ortega has faced much racial discrimination, including physical assaults. Ortega wishes to become a teacher to teach tolerance to young students and to help both adult and young Hispanic immigrants learn English.

Carlos Ortega nació en Chihuahua, México. En 2001 su familia se mudó a los Estados Unidos. Ortega inicialmente …