L Rodriguez

Quality of life better in Juarez than LA due to Poncho's employment. Poncho respected as educator in Juarez Poncho having trouble finding respectable work. Financial instability. Luis feels like a bouncing ball. Poncho not allowed to live the America Dream Luis looks for his own respect. Compare / Contrast: Rodriguez Way of Life in Juarez vs. Los Angeles Relocating to the United States to begin a better way of life is an "American Dream" for many immigrants. Sadly, for a few, these dreams often turn into nightmares.

In (Chapter I) of his book Always Running, author Luis Rodriguez explores his family's immigration to the United States. Rodriguez vividly compares and contrasts his family's comfortable, honorable, respectable, life in Mexico, where his father was steadily employed; versus the unstable, transitory, hostile life waiting for the Rodriguez' in their newly adopted country.

In La Ciudad de Juarez Chihuahua Mexico, Luis Rodriguez' father (Poncho) was a "principal of a local high school" (Rodriguez 15) from a respected and well connected family, (his father was a General in the Mexican Army.) (Rodriguez 18) Being an educated man in this part of Mexico brought with it respect and admiration. Rodriguez' family lived a comfortable life and was not worried about simply surviving. After Poncho made enemies within the Mexican Government, the family decided to leave for the United States, settling in Los Angeles.

The contrast between the Rodriguez' quality of life in Mexico and in LA was enormous.

As mentioned, Rodriguez father was an educator, an honorable profession anywhere but especially so in the poverty stricken "border town." (Rodriguez, 14) Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Luis' father was unable to find employment, even though he was an "experienced teacher, had a degree in biology, and had published textbooks in Mexico." (Rodriguez 30) Poncho was forced to find work wherever he could, often taking menial labor jobs doing construction, working in factories, or selling items door to door.

This caused a financial burden for the whole family, a definite contrast to the economic stability his family enjoyed in Mexico. In Mexico, Rodriguez' father had the resources to use some of his own money to purchase supplies for his High School, (Rodriguez 15) in contrast, for the first few years in the United States, Poncho had trouble making enough money to provide a home for himself and his children.

(Rodriguez 30) When they did have a place to stay, it was difficult to keep the lights on or to keep the gas running. (Rodriguez 22) at other times the Rodriguez were forced to rely on the generosity of family members. In Mexico the Rodriguez enjoyed the privacy of their own home. In America the Rodriguez were forced to share a house with eleven.