Fancy finding you here in my corner of the internet! My name is Esmeralda, but my friends call me Es : ) I am the proud daughter of Colombian immigrants and a first-gen American.

Mi Pa was born & raised in Medellín, Colombia, he’s one of 6 (all of whom also made it to the US). His journey was riskier than my mom’s. He jumped the border with his brother and mom. Back then, it was literally running for your life across a bridge area to a safe house. Getting on a plane after was easy, but unfortunately for him and my uncle they didn’t know English. Airport security stopped them for having change in their pockets and noticed they couldn’t speak the language. They arrested them, went through their bags, & grilled them demanding to know who the woman’s clothing they were carrying belong to. By that time, my grandma had managed to get on the plane and her sons refused to give her up. From there, my grandma made it while my dad and uncle got deported. They were in the deportation center for 3 days before being sent back to Colombia. Not long after they made the attempt again – this time being successful. My dad first lived in NY, which is where he met my mom. They were neighbors. Later, it took him 5 yrs to get his green card, upon which he immediately filed to bring my brother as a resident. I saw my dad become a U.S. citizen 4 years after that.

The man that earned the title of “Mi Pa” (aka “My dad”) was not my biological father, but he raised me as his own. This is why I admire him more than most people in my life. He didn’t have to be there for me. Didn’t have to care for me. Certainly didn’t have to stick around when my parents divorced, but he never stopped being my dad. He never stopped loving me. Never stopped calling me “mi bonita chiquitin” – my pretty little one.

There’s a lot of things that are hard about him being gone. One of the hardest things is that I always thought I’d be able to thank him for what he did for me. My biggest life goal was to work hard and begin to repay both parents for the life they fought to give me. I wanted to take my family on a trip I paid for to say thank you. To show my gratitude. I didn’t get that chance. He unexpectedly passed my last semester of college.

I miss him every single day.

My mom was born and grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. She’s one of 5 siblings. I one day want to write it all down, but by the age of 7 my mom was cooking the meals for their entire family. She says often times all she would be able to make though was bone broth for days. They didn’t have much, but thankfully did have a roof over their head. In ‘95 and at 22 my mom got a visa to visit the US. Seeing the life she could work for here, as opposed to Colombia, she decided to stay. She first lived in NY for a few years & then came to VA. It wasn’t until I was in 6th grade she finally was able to get her US citizenship.

My moms lived a harder life than I would’ve ever wanted her to. She’s gone through things I know she still hasn’t confronted, but she’s fought like hell to get us to where we’re are. She’s done her best – and that’s something that as I work through my own traumas I am constantly reminding myself of. Saying this as someone that has had parents I know loved me with everything they are: Parents aren’t perfect & it’s their first time going through life too, but having parents that want the best for you and strive to help you with that makes all the difference. I’d go down swinging for either of my parents. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without them.

Our saying is my mom worked to stop the cycle & now I’m working to break it 🥹 My family background shapes most of who I am and why I do the things I do, including this blog. Through the generations, my family has overcome and accomplished so much to be at the point where I get to do something silly like this today. I’ve always had the desire to share my perspectives, knowledge, opinions, and the beautiful life I get the privilege to live. This is where the name for my socials and blog stemmed from – La Vida de Es. The life of Es. It all hasn’t come without it’s shortcomings or traumas, but I’ve been learning to adjust and see the light even through some of the dark. If any of what I have experienced can be of use or comfort to someone, then I’ll consider it all time well spent. I believe in helping each other where we can to make life better and easier. This is all to say: I don’t know where life will take me or what I have yet to learn and in turn share, but thanks for being here & coming along for the ride!