American Dream? I have one, too. (Or had one?)
I picked up this audiobook to find courage and strength that are uniquely present in women's life. After the struggle around New Year's Eve, I know I need help.
Julissa's family ran a silver business, and her parents often traveled between Mexico and the United States. They got Julissa into the United States with a travel visa after an accident at her school.
Unfortunately, life enjoys slapping people right in their faces. She overstayed her welcome and her travel visa expired. Since Julissa isn't Elizabeth Gilbert and the United States isn't Indonesia, she couldn't pay someone to stay longer. So she decided to take the risk of forging a fake Green Card and a Social Security Number. (To know more about Elizabeth Gilbert, check out [Book Summary] Eat, Pray, Love—Elizabeth Gilbert.)
By the way, now the U.S. Custom is more technologically advanced so don't bother trying to follow Julissa's path nowadays. You'll have a high chance ended up being handcuffed and deported.
To be fairly honest, I don't like Julissa Arce as a person. She has received many people's help along her journey, including Uncle Mike, Mr. G, Jeff, a friend with six packs, etc. But she pushed really hard and gave a technical-term-loaded interview just to keep the person out of Goldman Sachs. (He entered the company eventually.) There was another time she intentionally gave her colleague Kate a hard time. (No wonder someone said that women drag each other down in a comment on LinkedIn.) This kind of shutting the door after getting on the bus is the worst behavior I can imagine. (Well, in some cases, it can be worse if she tries to throw someone under the bus.)
There are questions raised about this book if you search for book reviews online. For example, if she really cares so much about her family, why not apply to UT Austin but wait till Mr. G's demands? Instead, she tried to run away as far as possible. Besides, applying to schools isn't free. For graduate schools that I applied to, it ranges from $75 to $125. How can she apply to nearly every school she can find when her finance is in a such dire situation?
I guess there're some untold stories behind the curtain. For example, we'll never know why Elizabeth Gilbert cried on her bathroom floor. (Check out [Book Summary] Eat, Pray, Love—Elizabeth Gilbert.) I can't imagine why Elizabeth Zott decided to give birth to her daughter while she is strongly against marriage and babies when Elizabeth Zott was still alive. (Check out [Book Summary] Lessons in Chemistry—Bonnie Garmus.)
Fortunately, an article I read this afternoon helped me see the bigger picture of these memoirs and that novel. Check out 日劇「四重奏」與本居宣長的「物哀」. Simply put, if you can put yourself into others' shoes and embrace the reality of life, you can live to the fullest.
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