In this lesson—the first of two about migration—we will listen to a K’iche’ speaker explain some of the reasons why many people from their community have migrated to the United States. Pay close attention to how they describe the economic, social, and emotional impacts of migration, both positive and negative. As you listen or read, write down any new vocabulary you learn, especially words related to work, money, family life, and emotions. We will also discuss some key expressions in K’iche’ in the vocabulary section. Migration is not just a journey from one country to another—it is also a major change in the lives of individuals, families, and the entire community.
Jas che keb’e taq le e winaq pa Estados Unidos?
Kawaj kintzijon jub’eq chirij le b’enam je la’ kaq’ax ja’, pa taq we q’ij kamik ri’, e k’i chik e b’enaq je la’ kaq’ax ja’, e k’o alab’om, e k’o altomab’, e k’o tat e k’o nan, par ¿jas che xya’taj wa’ pa le qatinamit? Xa rumal cher ojer tzij sib’alaj k’ax kariqitaj pa le qatinamit, maj le chak, maj le katijowik, xa k’u cha’ xkichomaj kakitzukuj kik’aslemal pa jun chik tinamit, pa taq we q’ij kamik ri’, e k’i le achijab’ e k’o je la’ y kaqilo xb’antaj le chayunem e k’i le ixoqib’ xeb’e pa le chayunem, are na e k’i ta le achijab’, are wa’ karaj kubij cher sib’alaj e k’i chi le achijab’ e b’enaq je la’.
Jas uwach utza taq jastaq uyo’m pa le tinamit le b’enam pa Estados Unidos?
Jun chech le utza taq jastaq are le uwokik taq le ja, nima konojel le eb’enaq je la’ kaq’ax ja’, a katan a oxtan taq le ja katajin kakiwoko, jun chik are le upa ja; nim katajin kak’extaj le upa ja, xa rumal cher k’ate k’u ri’ k’o sin kirajil arech kakiloq’o jachike le jakaj kakitijo, chuqe k’o chi sin kirajil arech kekowinik kakiloq’ katz’yaq, chuqe’ nima konojel katajin kakichup kirajil chech uloq’ik taq ulew waral pa le qatinamit arech kakinimarsaj le kimeb’ail, chuqe’ e k’i katajin kakichup le kirajil arech kakikoj ki k’ay kekowinik kakib’an nik’aj taq jasta chech unimarsaxik chuq le kimeb’ail. Chuq nim tob’anaq wi chech le me’r korti’l chech le qatinamit, xa rumal e k’i sib’alaj e k’i le eb’enaq je la’ kaqax ja’, nimaq taq pwaq katajin kakik’ol pa taq le k’olb’al taq pwaq le k’o waral pa le qatinamit, are la’ le le’.
Jas taq uwach uk’axal uyo’m le b’enam pa Estados Unidos?
Jun chech le uk’axal are le jachoj ib’ pa le upa ja, are taq kab’e le tat je la’ kaq’ax ja’, k’or kub’ana’ na kach’aw ta chi uloq, on chuq kak’uli’ chi jumul chi la’ kasachan la le upa ja chech, kakanaj kan le ixoq kuk’ le e ralk’wal, nima k’asaj k’o kan chkij, na kakiriq ta chij jas kakib’ano, koma xa kaqaj le pwaq le kakoj chech le kib’enb’al, kepe le e k’olb’al taq pwaq on le ajil tz’aqat ja wi je’ kitom wi le rajil, kakimaj le ja, kakimaj le ulew, jachike na k’u ri kiya’om kan chwach wa’ we loq’alaj pwaq ri’. K’a te k’u ri’ le ak’alab’ nimaq taq k’ax katajin kakiriqo, xa rumal cher na kakiriq ta chi ub’e’el le kikaslemal, ketzaq pa Itzel taq jastan, on chuq maj alachin kacha chi chikech, jun chik chech le k’axa taq jastaq are le kik’aslemal le e k’ajolab’ xa rumal cher k’o chi kirajil, ko chi kich’ich, k’o chi kib’inb’al, maj chi kub’ij kik’ux chech le tijob’al, kakesaj b’i kib’ kuk’ le e kachi’il ketzaq pa Itzel taq jastaq, k’a te k’u ri’ jun chik are le ketzalij loq, e k’i chikech le ketzalij loq na kuluk’ama ta chi kiwach waral ri’, kulkib’ana jun ik’, keb’ ik’, k’a te k’u ri’ ketzalij chi jumul je la’ kaq’ax ja’. Chuqe’ e k’i chikech le ketzalij loq kakitzaq le qab’antajik waral, kenimarik, na ke ch’aw ta chi pa qa ch’ab’al, kakitzaq le qatzyaqilal, are la’ le kinwil in, sib’alaj nim katajin kub’an wi k’ax chech le qatinamit pa taq we q’ij kamik.
Why Do People Migrate to the United States?
I want to briefly talk about migration to the United States. Today, many people have migrated—men and women, fathers and mothers. But why did this phenomenon happen in our community? It happened because of the suffering we lived through just to survive. There was no work, no food to eat. That’s why many people started thinking about finding a way to survive in another country. Nowadays, many men live over there, and this is reflected, for example, in the elections: more women participated in the voting compared to men. This tells us that many of the men have migrated over there.
What Are the Positive Things That Migration to the United States Has Brought?
One of the positive things about migration is the construction of houses. Most of those who have migrated to the United States are building homes with two or three floors. Another benefit is for families: we are seeing major changes because they now have the financial means to buy food and whatever else they want to eat. They also now have the resources to buy clothing. Almost everyone is investing in real estate in our community to grow their assets. Many are also investing in businesses so they can expand what they own. Migration has also helped a lot with the local economy, because many—very many—of those who have migrated to the United States are depositing large amounts of money into the town’s local banks. That’s that.
What Are the Negative Things That Migration to the United States Has Brought?
One of the negative things is family separation and divorce. When the husband migrates to the United States, in many cases he loses communication with his family or even remarries over there. He forgets about his real family. The woman is left behind with the children and, on top of that, with a large debt. They fall into despair and don’t know what to do, because the money used to pay for the journey was borrowed. Then the banks or private lenders who provided the loan come and repossess the house, land, or whatever property was used as collateral. The ones who suffer the most are the children. They lose their sense of purpose and fall into bad habits, or there’s no one left to care for them. Another negative effect is on the youth: since they now have financial resources and own cars, they give less importance to their education. They drop out of school with their friends and fall into vices. Then there are the migrants who return. Many of those who come back no longer feel at home here. They stay for a month or two and then go back to the United States. Also, many who return lose their cultural identity here: they become arrogant, stop speaking our language, and no longer wear our traditional clothing. That’s what I see as causing great harm to our community today.
| Jachoj ib’ | Divorce |
| Chayunem | Elections, comicios |
| Ch’ab’al | Idioma, lenguaje |
| Itzel jastaq | Vicio, perdición |
| Kamik | Hoy |
| Waral | Aquí |
| Meb’ail | Pertenencias |
| Ajil tz’aqat | Prójimo |
| Katan | De dos niveles |
| Oxtan | De tres niveles |
| Jumul | Una |
| Ojer tzij | Hace tiempos |
| Winaq | Persona, gente |