Don Felix and Family

Astoria- Queens

Is hard to separate one’s emotions even though is a must while working in the media, doing news reports, producing, etc. But sometimes it would take only a machine to just look away like there’s no problem.

I had spoken with Don Felix three days before meeting with him and his family. As I conducted the interview over the phone, he told me what I already knew. He had no papers, his youngest son had a liver disease and his children lived with him. “Ok, Don Felix, I’ll see you Saturday at four in the afternoon” I said and that was that. Saturday came, and I’m knocking at Don Felix Apartment. I’m 10 minutes late, I got lost, almost end up at LaGuardia airport, but my co-pilot was on point. Thanks Luis. Don Felix opens the door; his greeting smile couldn’t shine a light on those tired eyes. He introduced us to his wife, only daughter, youngest son, son-in-law, grandson and excused his older son for his absent. They all live in that humble one bedroom apartment.

Because we are filming a documentary I won’t go into details about what we talked about, but those tired eyes I saw when we met him made more sense. The life of an immigrant anywhere is hard, those long years of adaptation without your family, adapting with them if they ever get the chance to come, all the frustrations and worries. Don Felix spoke from the heart, and so did his entire family who were more than kind to open their lives, their home and share their experience.

Don Felix and his family are one of millions of stories of hard work, love, family. As I left his house with a bag filled with food that “The Mother” Don Felix wife made for us (The food was great), I leftwith a weight on my shoulder, kind of down, but at the same time excited and happy.

I will tell their side of the story, not just theirs, but the story of all those who will open up their lives, their experience to us during this trip. Most important I will tell the real story of millions of immigrants residing in the US hoping for a better life, a life most of us take for granted.