About this blog
I’ll call myself Manuel Gonzales for protection purposes.
I’m a university student. I’m a senior, going to my seventh semester at the time of this writing. My major is English.
I’m a writer. I write fantasy, sci-fi, and other genre fiction. I don’t believe in the crap that people say that literary fiction is better than genre fiction, that’s just some people being snobs.
I’m a video game player as well, a Nintendo fan for the most part but can play other stuff from the other companies. My favorite video game series is the Legend of Zelda series. Right now, my two Nintendo systems that I own are the Nintendo 64, classic console, and a Nintendo Gamecube. I have no Wii because I lost interest in the console once I had 2 years with it. For current generation stuff, I own a Playstation 3 and an Xbox 360, and plan on getting a gaming PC some time in the future.
I like to read a lot; my favorite book is 1984 followed closely by I am Legend, which has become a movie 3 times now. My favorite movie by the way is Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Yoda is the man…er…the alien…?
Personality wise I’ve been described as Winnie the Pooh characters. As the titular Winnie the Pooh on accounts of looks and as Eeyore, on account to my attitude towards life. I tend to be a procrastinator but I’m trying to get that over with. Later. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite soccer team is Cruz Azul from the Mexican soccer league. My favorite sport to watch is soccer, and during the World Cup time, I have the unique opportunity to cheer for two teams, Mexico and the USA. Granted, I think both teams suck on the tournament because the European teams and Brazil are better. And if they play against each other, I say, may the best team win. I also really love college basketball and football, and I can’t wait for March Madness next year because I know we will do alright. I listen mainly to Latino music and movie soundtracks, like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Yes, I am in fact a huge dork. I tend to be a bit of worrier but it comes with the territory I guess. My psychologist once asked me if I was paranoid. I told her duh! But she said, well yeah, but she meant mean “crazy” paranoid. I laughed, a lot when she said that.
What is this blog going to be about though? I’m an undocumented student at my university as well. I’m an illegal alien if you want to use that term even though I never will, there is no such thing as illegal people.
So this blog will be about me, what I face, and how I came to be in the privileged position at my university. Blogging will be my outlet for my frustration and thoughts. I will occasionally also write about other things other than immigration and me, mainly video games, movies, books, TV, life, and other musings that my mind stumbles upon. I would like to think I’m more than just my immigration status, even if I sometimes feel that it is not the case.
So, leave a comment if you wish. Positive words are great. As said in the On Comments section of this blog, I won’t be accepting negative comments on regards to immigration. Anti-immigrant forces have plenty of space in the internet, mainly EVERY immigration article that comes out, to spread their vile sayings and they are certainly not going to do it here. Don’t try. Really, I’ll just delete your comment.
Manuel Gonzales
Hey,
I’m pingpong abyss from the Dream Act Portal, and I found your blog by clicking on your comment over at Damn Mexicans. I love the blog you have going here. Do you mind if I add your blog to my blog roll and add you to the list of dreamer blogs over at DAP?
Keep writing,
fash
I use my real name. Because I can. When necessary I will break the law. If necessary that means I may have to go to jail. I just felt like saying that. I guess because of the community in which i live, have have friends who lack the benefit of full documentation in the US. I think a term that is useful would be “extralegal.” What do you think?
Hopefully it won’t come to going to jail. Extralegal?
Hopefully not jail.
I talked about “extra-legal” here: http://leviticustwentyfour22.blogspot.com/2006/05/open-letter-to-us-congressional.html
It is from Hernando de Soto’s Mystery of Capital
Glen
Hey, it’s free2be from DAP. Just wanted to say nice blog! I just started one, but I’m not quite ready to make my “debut” yet. Keep up the good writing
Thanks for the positive comments. Well, tell me when you can make your “debut”, I would like to see it.
I thought you’d be interested to know that nonprofit org Breakthrough’s (www.breakthrough.tv) new video game on immigration : ICED – I Can End Deportation – has launched today at http://www.icedgame.com.
In the game, you can step inside the shoes of one out of five immigrant teens, each of a different ethnicity and immigration status. The game teaches how immigration laws deny due process and violate human rights to all immigrants.
Go play the game, it’s free and fun…
I’ve downloaded it on Monday actually and I’ve played. I find it a little bit foreboding considering the fact that all paths lead to deportation, or maybe I didn’t play it right.
Manuel,
You are very strong for writing this blog. Your position is shared by millions of young people in the U.S. Because the immigration debate is so near to you, please check out our organization’s new video game. Breakthrough is a Human Rights nonprofit. Breakthrough’s new video game on immigration: ICED at http://www.icedgame.com has a new video trailer called, ICED- The Immigrant Shuffle.
Please watch the video at – http://www.breakthrough.tv/product_detail.asp?proid=105&id=7
Much like your blog, the goal of the video game is to educate people on the experience of immigrants who have no paperwork, or have green cards, student visas or other statuses under the current legislation that is in violation of Human rights. We hope this will spark discussion so that we can get the laws changed making it better for folks like yourself.
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Take care Manuel,
Nicole
hi Manuel,
I just discovered your blog and have only glanced at it but know I’ll be putting you on my blogroll. My own blog on WordPress is mostly unrelated, but my main focus as a documentary filmmaker has been immigrant detention & deportation. I really admire what you’re doing and look forward to reading more of your posts.
best
Konradical
Well, thanks. I never noticed this comment until now, mainly because it was positive.
Great site, let’s pass this DREAM Act!
Forgot to ask… are you in DAP?
Yes, I’m in DAP.
I’m leaving you this comment because you are currently on Citizen Orange’s blogroll. I’m looking to keep only those on my blogroll that I’m in touch with so if you could please write me at ****, I would really appreciate it.
I’m a former college in the same situation as you are. I’m am an undocumented immigrant. I attended college for a year and a half until prop 300 in AZ was passed into law. At the time that law was still a proposition I was attending Mesa community college with a 3.7 GPA and planning to transfer to ASU. Unfortunately, due to this law my tuition was too expensive and my scholarship was revoked. I was unable to keep attending school. Many of my friends that are in the same situation followed had to do the same. I have lived in AZ since I was five years old and my entire academic career has been in this state. As I stand now I feel as if I’m in a state of limbo, unable to control even the most basic parts of what most people call life.
I live in the state that most people refer to as ground zero for the immigration debate. The majority of bills and propositions that are anti-immigrant have passed into law. Our governor Janet Napolitano has been chosen to be secretary of homeland security. This puts the fate of many immigrants in the hands of a republican house, republican senate, and a soon to be republican governor. In this state resides “The toughest Sheriff in America”, Sheriff Joe Arpaio. As a sheriff, his prime focus is to instill a state of fear in every person with immigrant characteristics. Our county attorney is politically aligned with the majority of politicians in this state in reference to the immigration debate.
Well that’s just a little taste of what a person in my situation has to endure while residing in this state. The vast majority of my friends from high school have either moved to another state or all together moved back to Mexico. Some of the fortunate ones have fallen in love and married U.S. citizens, they have been able to legalize there situation. I’m am currently married to a U.S. citizen, that still guarantees nothing. My wife and I have sought the counsel of many immigration lawyers, with no luck. There are just to many variables when it comes to legalizing my situation.
While working at my current job I met a gay immigrant that changed my way of thinking. This person presented himself with such confidence and assurance. That when he told me about his status I just couldn’t believe it. Well, he just recently moved to Minnesota. We talked about what to do with our lives in regards to school. That was the primary reason for his moving to Minnesota, that and the law in this state that makes it impossible for us to get a job. I have been talking to my wife about moving up there so that I may attend as well.
I’m very new to the whole online immigrant community thing. I would just like to know if any of your friends or fellow bloggers know of a state that doesn’t charge out-of-state tuition? I would also like some referrals to some academic advisors that can help me with achieving my academic goals while still being in this situation. I know that many of the people who read your blogs are in the same situation as me and I by no means am trying to burden anyone. I am just simply asking for help. It just seems like an impossible feat to accomplish anything or be anyone while residing in the shadows of society. As the days go by, I see my life pass me by and my state of mind deteriorate. In the information Bar I have provided my personal E-mail address, so that you may contact me. I would really appreciate the help.
Chango Bean.
I apologize if the grammar in this message is incorrect, I haven’t written in a while. udent
http://iamashadow.wordpress.com/about/
Hello Manuel,
Congratulations on your wonderful blog. It’s brave, it’s fresh, and it’s got great social value.
I am a twenty-six-year-old author and wrote the book, Chronicles of a Nomad: Memoirs of an Immigrant, on the subject of immigration. I would like to send you a complimentary, still unreleased, copy. My intended audience is people such as yourself who have had to live and study as undocumented immigrants in the States.
The story is told in first-person by Carlos Rodriguez, a young immigrant who writes his memoirs in an effort to understand if there is a place in the world that is right for him. You could consider him a blogger as well. He spends his childhood feeling unwelcome in his environment, and then at age fifteen, the worsening state of his troubled nation prompts him to flee to the United States, where he ends up overstaying the time allowed on his tourist visa.
Like you have mentioned, not all U.S. immigrants are Mexican and the common generalization can be unfair. Immigrants indeed originate from countries all over the world and in this case, Carlos Rodriguez comes from Venezuela. The book focuses on the events that propelled him to emigrate far from home and on his process of adaptation (or non-adaptation) as an immigrant.
Whether Mexican, Venezuelan, Guatemalan, Argentinean, Russian, Egyptian, Romanian, or Indonesian, this is a subject that we, the foreigners, can always relate to. The story covers segments on family, education, culture, religion, economy, politics, marriage, and of course, immigration.
I have just begun an effort to gather reviews from real people who have an honest interest in the matters that affect children and young immigrants in today’s world and your opinion is one that I would value dearly. I would be honored if you read my title and I would be happy to also mail you a printed copy of the book after it comes out (February ‘09).
Should you be interested, please e-mail me back and I’ll gladly give you a link to the downloadable PDF (full version). That way, you won’t have to wait until it hits Amazon.
Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!
Yours truly,
A. A. Alvarez
Chronicles of a Nomad: Memoirs of an Immigrant
http://www.aaalvarez.com
Hi Shadow,
When I’m able I’m going to post about David Bacon’s book “Illegal People” at my blog. I could link to you and use you as a resource to find related blogs… I don’t know when, though, I’m having a hard time keeping up with my school work and my two yr old right now!
Best to you,
April
I really like your blog, keep writing.
Hi all,
This is fantastic. Your stories should be known. There is so much hesitation and fear but keep writing and fighting!
I’m an advocate. I’m the webmistress for http://www.dreamactaz.org. I belong to a small organization of citizen advocates for the DREAM Act called CADENA. We go to certain congressional offices to look for support for the legislation.
Please go to the website. I tried to make a one-stop resource tool for undocumented students.
I need stories!!!!!! Specially if you are from Arizona. We present these anomymous stories to congressman and one Senator.
Please Chango bean contact me dreamactaz@gmail.com
…
Hey Manuel,
I found you haven while searching the interwebs for high quality bloggers, and am reaching out to let you know about a project I’m working that I think you’d really dig. It’s a way for your blog fans to converse with each other in chat-like real time, though organized and focused specifically around shared content (in a pretty interface).
From what we’ve seen so far, people are many times more inclined to comment and discuss with one another on this than via stock commenting, and the interaction is much more lively and entertaining.
Does this sound like something you’re interested in seeing/trying? Hit me back when you have a change and I’ll give you an invite to check it out.
Cheers,
Andy
Wow! after days and weeks of searching, I finally find my ‘niche blog’
Welcome to my world! you can be sure I’ll keep coming back.
Feel free to drop in on my blog anytime. http://aliendiaries.com/
nice blog
Jane,
I will drop by sometime.
Franco,
Thanks.
wow, shadow, I just can’t get enough of your stories….
And I say the same about yours.
I’m still new to the blogosphere. I was wondering if I could add your page to my blogroll. is that ok?? err.. that’s a good thing right?? Your blog just rocks!!
Will do.
I am Legend is a great book in any genre. I agree with you about those who claim ‘literary’ fiction is ‘better’ than other genres–
bah to them–and I can say that after 12 years of dealing with academic intellectual snobs–more BAH to their insecure egos.
Otherwise–due to several ‘issuess’ noted in other comments I’ve got this tiny piece of advice to offer for anyone seeking an ‘education’—NEVER stop reading, Never stop learning. Exercise your imagination no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.
Oh and as for the ‘illegal’ people of any sort–that’s just more bs from all the insecure folks mucking about. BAH to that too!