Over the boarder

 Cristian Fernandez (30) moved to the U.S. when he was 16 years old. Having to adjust to a whole new culture and way of life opened his eyes to new possibilities as well as understanding what he is capable of.

Why did you move to the U.S.?

My dad has U.S. citizenship and wanted us to come over with him.

What was your first reaction to the news of you moving to the U.S.?

My parents asked me if I wanted to go. They knew it was a big change and they didn’t want to force it on me. I saw it as an opportunity, one Mexico wouldn’t be able to give me. However, it was definitely a surprise and I was nervous because I could not speak English. It ended up being the best decision we ever made, for both my family and I.

How was the visa/citizenship experience for you?

Was the process easier since your dad already has it? No. We had to all apply for a visa and a passport. It wasnt until we got to the boarder and they split us up for questioning that we found out whether we got it or not. They granted both me and my brother a passport and my mom a greencard. All of a sudden we were American citizens. It was a long and tedious process.

What was your first impression of the us when you arrived?

Everything was completely different and bigger. The first thing that struck me was that you had to use a car to get everywhere. There were absolutely no people walking on the streets. The other thing was the flavor and smell of the food in restaurants. It was horrible. All I could taste was fat, sugar and salt in everything. This was completely different to what I was used to.

What advice would you give someone who is about to go through the same experience as you?

Definitely learn the language as soon as possible, adapt yourself to the culture and focus on the goals you have for yourself. Dont close yourself off to what is different just because you don’t understand it or like it. Learn from it and respect it for what it is, something new. Also, depending on your goals, your experience in the U.S. can be completely different. Work on it. No opportunity is just going to fall in your lap.

Did you ever wish you could move back to Mexico?

No. In Mexico there is too much corruption. To get anywhere in life or with your career you need to have connections. For everything you depend on someone else. If you are lucky the person helps you but if not you can get in trouble. Lot of people I know who get set up for crimes that they didn’t commit. In the U.S., even with nothing you can still make something of yourself completely by yourself. The U.S. gave me so much more that what Mexico could have ever given me.

Would you ever consider moving to a different country? If so why and where?

I was once offered to move to Italy. I work for FCA and they offered me a position for two years in FIAT, Torino. I turned it down because it was not something I could persue at that time. If I would move out of the U.S. I would actually move to Germany. I like Germany because of the quality of life. The people and how they interact is similar to Mexico. They take Sundays very seriously and spent it with family, the sense of community is very strong and in general I really like the “organized” philosophy they are so well known for. It may sound like a stereotype, but being an engender it’s a logic I share. In Germany everything is done for a reason and with a purpose. I dont know if I would like loving there but I would definitely give it a try.