CLEVELAND — Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran through Oct. 15, is an opportunity to spotlight the unique voices and stories of Hispanic and Latino Americans. One woman from Guatemala is now living in Cleveland and celebrating her recent U.S citizenship.
Lesly Perez is prepping spicy salsa at Ohio City Burrito.
“I speak English but not much,” she said. “I speak more Spanish. It’s my language.”
Perez was born in Guatemala, and she said she fells like she’s now living the American dream, without forgetting where she came from.
Perez had to leave her country after struggling to find a good job.
“I come here for a job,” she said. “In my country a lot of people find they move here for a different life. I work here for seven years. I started working in the back, but now I’m working in the front, sometimes in the back. I’m helping my friends when they need help.”
When Perez first moved here she was happy to find a job but still wasn’t fitting in.
“I learn more English, and I need on the floor talk to customers coming here,” she said. “Before I was a lot nervous, but now, I calm down.”
Perez said the journey to the U.S. 20 years ago was difficult, and so was leaving her country and loved ones behind.
“I lived with my mom and my daddy, but when I come here I come all by myself, no family,” she said.
But Perez now has something to smile about: her recent U.S. citizenship.
“I got it for me last week,” she said. “I’m happy for this.”
Perez is now trying to raise money to help her sister live those same dreams.
“Oh yeah, [haven’t seen her] in 20 years,” she said.
Perez is making sure those 20 years are all worth it in the end.
