Preparation for the Journey- Exploring Reyna Grande's The Distance Between Us

    As I prepare to take a walk with Reyna through her story, I remind myself that there are many people,  many children who are preparing for a long journey fraught with hunger, dehydration, fear, sickness, pain, injury, loss of comfort, loss of family, and loss of safety. At the same time, I recognize that I have never had to change my resident country. I have moved many, many times; but, each location has been within the state lines of Alabama.

    I have come to see immigration as a great concern for all involved. When I was younger, I had no knowledge that people faced difficulties coming to America. In primary school grades, immigration was always praised because, "we are a nation of immigrants," and "the United States is a land of opportunity." The uglier truths were not paraded for inquiry or exploration only the pomp and circumstance of those happy new American citizens.

    In this blog, I will examine aspects of immigration, family, heartache, and mental and physical health as Reyna weaves the strands of her life into a full picture.