Level 5 NYC: Maria M's Audio Story

Maria M is one of my talented students.  In her audio story, which includes some great music, she shares about her life in Nicaragua (Central America), and the many difficulties she and her family faced after moving to the United States, first in Miami (Florida), to Connecticut  to New York City---All in the pursuit of her dreams. Education is clearly important in her life.  Her story reveals her dedication and persistence, continuing her university education even after the birth of her son.  You may even learn something about the job responsibilities of an accountant.  (I really didn't know what accountants do at big companies!) 

She completed her audio story in the fall of 2012. (I saw her again last Thursday, and received her permission to share this.)

You can also see Maria performing in The Christmas Truce, with our friends Karina and Madjid.

Below, you will find the audio story, and the text for the narration.  Travel with her from Central America and up the coast of the US!


Audio: My Story

My Story 

By: Maria M.

Many years ago, I remember my beautiful city of Esteli in Nicaragua, the country where I was born, my high school study in a convent school called (Our Lady of the Rosary College),

Where I had many good friends, great teachers. I enjoyed my classes especially in the field of Spanish where we had to do many exhibitions of books and dramatizations of some stories, was very dynamic, I finished my high school in the year 1992.

Then I study bilingual secretary for two years at a technical school, my career was not over, because I felt the need to seek a better opportunity for the future, even without financial resources, I had help from my mom to finance my career, who take the opportunity to make an application being classified in college in my second option Accounting and finance, because the first choice was Business Administration.

In 1995 I enters college in which the first three years of study in Estelí in public accounting and finances,The career heavy as it applies much mathematics, but mostly much financial analysis of any company, I most enjoyed was the management company, because it was very interesting and very important, Three years after I graduated technician in this career in the year 1997.

Then I moved to the capital of Nicaragua (Managua), where I completed two years of study to get a degree in public accounting.

In the year 1998 my dear son was born at 7 am on the 24th, one of the happiest days of my life. I remember I was going through Nicaragua Hurricane Jeanne, this caused much damage to our country, destroyed houses, bridges,cities were cut off, landslides, volcanoes which killed many people, buried in mud caused by torrential downpours.

After seven months of having my son, I continued my studies at the University, culminating in 1999, I receiving my B.A.

Then I did a job application for a company that was engaged in the purchase and sale of tires for vehicles of all kinds. The tires were from Guatemala, Panama, USA and Ecuador, the brands Goodyear, Continental, Firestone among others, I started working for this company as a bookkeeper where I had many jobs as cash accounts, processing checks for suppliers of the company, verify that all vouchers have complete documentation, record the data in a particular accounting system and do all that the accountant general and administrative department requested. But the area where most enjoyed was serving as Head of the Imports, which was to manage all customs formalities as documentation verifying that the goods were correct and complete payment of customs duties, warehouse service payment, once the merchandise enters into the hold of the company, this has to be prepared for sale, as posting it in the inventory of the company with their respective costs incurred, Check price lists and finally Put into the store for sale. This in itself was entire mechanism when it was concerned with Import.

After four years working in this company I was assigned as a counter, in which my work had much more responsibility to those I already had. I worked for this company for six years, in which every year, I received recognition for my work as well as increases in salary.


In 2006 we decided together with my husband and son to move to U.S.A, for the purpose of seeking the American dream. We first arrived in the city of Miami, which had many experiences. It is noted that it has been very hard. The first jobs are very physical that one acquires, due primarily to the lack of language proficiency. It reduces many opportunities, primarily what we did was to find a school for my son. I signed up immediately, my son came to dominate the language six months after.

My first job was in a factory where all clothing selected under very bad conditions, no air conditioning just fans. Eight hours I was standing, my arms rested not until it was time for lunch. I work one year in this place.

In 2008, we decided to move to the city of New York, in order to continue looking for better opportunities and also wanted to be near my husband's family. We first decided to stay in Connecticut, because there in lie my nephews who assured us work. After a month to live in this place I could not find work and frustration was eminent, then I found a job at a bakery on the recommendation. The schedule was super heavy. I came at 6 pm and did not leave until I finished pack all the bread out of the large ovens. Most of the time I was out at 3 in the morning. It was the same. my arms and legs with long standing pain.

At six months, we finally decided to move to my in-laws in New York, a small apartment, but we had no way out. After three months I got a job in a supermarket where I continuous working. I work six days a week, three days in the area of ​​Deli, two days a cashier, I cook a day, in this area is where I think a lot and I tell myself, I have to keep studying English for many years keep my studies.

We live in New York almost four years. We rented an apartment in which we live alone three. My son is about to start high school. I occasionally go out for a walk in Manhattan, the place I love most is Central Park , Time Square. I'd like the statue of liberate, museums, St. Patrick's Church and other tourist attractions.

Note that my goal is to master the language very well, to get a better job opportunity, and above all be able to go back to my country, Nicaragua, hug my mother with my brothers, to visit my old friends.