Friday, November 30, 2007

Permanent Resident Card

Today I got my permanent resident card through the mail. Only fifteen days after my interview with the USCIS officer. This is efficiency. And good will, I suspect.

I am resident since 11/15/07. The card says: "The person indentified by this card is authorized to work and reside in the U.S." This statement bears a big meaning to me, after much suffering.

Al fin solos

The dress for the bride, the tuxedos for the groom and fathers, the pictures, the invitations, the wedding, the extended family, the friends, the reception, the dinner, the gifts, the just married car, etc, etc. When finally the just married couple got wherever they are going to start their honeymoon, they say: "Alone at last". "Al fin solos."

I remember when Angela and I got married on January 24th, 1975 in Miraflores, Arequipa, Peru, about 32 years ago.

In 1999 we have emigrated to Utah, USA. Our home, in Pleseant Grove first and then in Provo, was always full, wiht our daughters, son, relatives and friends around.

Claudia got married. Veronica got married. Lilly got married. We bought a nice home in Provo, with four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Angela's mom came to live with us. Alejandra moved. This year Luis Carlos got married. And then Maria and Angela took their mom to Peru.

Angela came back from Peru on November 7th. The next day, when we woke up, I said: "Al fin solos." (Alone at last). After almost 33 years surrounded by so many people.

I don't mean by that that we wanted to be alone, but life is like that. Nothing new. What I mean is that this is a new beginning for us, a new adventure of love and togetherness. Just both of us. New ways to find sense and meaning to everything in our lives. New things to share, new experiences. Our lives welded as one.

Our daughters and son are going their own roads.

This is the time for us to show and have profound loving experiences. Both, ..... each other, ..... together.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Mortgage Lender Agent



Several months ago I had the opportunity to visit a peruvian couple in South Jordan. They have a beautiful big home. I asked what they were doing for a living, and somebody told me that the wife was a realtor and the husband a loan officer, and that they were very succesful and making good money. They are kids compared to my age.
For about 8 years I have been struggling to get a good living. So I said: "If they can do it, I can do it.

One day, because of certain circumstances, I said to myself: "My time in this company is over." And I quit, without having an offer or some other place to work at.
The next day I prayed about it and immediately after my prayer I visited Jose and Moises. Jose encouraged me to become a loan officer. I took the classes online, and after a few weeks I passed the test and was approved.

Since September 9th. 2007, I am a licensed Loan Officer in the State of Utah for two years. I am with Jose Ojeda and with Aspen Home Loans in Orem, Utah.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Welcome to the United States of America

On November 15th my residence was approved by the officer of the USCIS, here in Utah. My daughter Claudia, her son Ryan (4), and her daughter Kate (2), and me were present for the interview. (Claudia had to take them with her because there were nobody to babysit them). The officer told us (me and Claudia) to raise our right hands and to speak the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth (I'm no sure of the real wording), we raised our right hands and my grandson Ryan raised his hand too.

After reviewing some details of my case, the officer continued with the pertinent questions, and approved my residence in the United States, and gave me some instructions and congratulations.

Today November 19th I have received a letter from de USCIS stating: "Welcome to the United States of America." Our family, the Gameros, are from Peru, Arequipa Peru. My mother-in-law's family, the Nunez Yukimuras, are from Peru and Japan. It makes now sense to me the motto in the Great Seal: "E Pluribus Unum", that is, "out of many, one." Not only of nations but of races as well.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Instituto de Estudios Vallejianos BYU



Last Thursday Nov 15th Angela and I were invited by the Puertas family to the Instituto de Estudios Vallejianos at BYU. What? Cesar Vallejo at the BYU? I mean the institute. It surprised me a lot. I really enjoyed the musical presentation that night, especially the music of the group Sol Andino, (an American Fork family). I really liked it.

This took me to my years in Arequipa when I was attending high school and the Universidad San Agustin de Arequipa. And I remember the poems of Cesar Vallejo. His poetry impressed me much.

Los Heraldos Negros

Hay golpes en la vida tan fuertes ... Yo no se!
Golpes como del odio de Dios; como si ante ellos,
la resaca de todo lo sufrido
se empozara en el alma... Yo no se!

Son pocos, pero son... Abren zanjas oscuras
en el rostro mas fiero y en el lomo mas fuerte.
Seran tal vez los potros de barbaros Atilas;
o los heraldos negros que nos manda la Muerte

Son las caidas hondas de los Cristos del alma,
de alguna fe adorable que el destino blasfema.
Esos golpes sangrientos son las crepitaciones
de algun pan que en la puerta del horno se nos quema.

Y el hombre... pobre... pobre, vuelve los ojos, como
cuando por sobre el hombro nos llama una palmada;
vuelve los ojos locos, y todo lo vivido
se empoza, como una charco de culpa, en la mirada.
Hay golpes en la vida, tan fuertes... Yo no se!

I remember:
Se quisiera tocar todas las puertas,
y preguntar por no se quien, y luego
ver a los pobres y, llorando quedos,
dar pedacitos de pan fresco a todos.

And also:
Yo vine a darme lo que acaso estuvo
asignado para otro;
Y pienso que, si no hubiera nacido,
otro pobre tomara esta cafe!

Did Cecar Vallejo believe in God? Yes. And in a way that he addressed to him as it were face to face, bearing testimony of his own existence and of God himself. Even though he was taught with false concepts about God he learned by intuition.

Dios mio, estoy llorando el ser que vivo;
me pesa haber tomadote tu pan;
pero este pobre barro pensativo
no es costra fermentada en tu costado
!Tu no tienes Marias que se van!

What profound! He is lamenting about his mortal and fallen state, about his own suffering in this world. He refers to the crucifixion of the Savior, to his wounds and death. He addresses to God telling him: You don't know how it is to lose a mother (Maria).

Dios mio, si tu hubieras sido hombre
hoy supieras ser Dios;
pero tu, que estuviste siempre bien,
no sientes nada de tu creacion.
!El hombre si te sufre; el Dios es el!

Exactly, the only way for a god to become God is being a man first. It is the only way for man to learn how to become God. We know that God not always was doing good. He suffered. Jesus Christ is the Father and the Son. Chirst suffered all the pains and infirmities of all men. He suffered to pay for our own sins and transgressions on conditions of repentance.
He feels everything of his creation. The salvation of men and women in eternity is his business, his life. He is the bread of life for all of us. Through him and by him we can attain salvation and become gods as he is God in eternity, when we obey and keep all his commandments.