Author: Tana Reiff
Level: A1
In 1980 Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated, and the Salvadoran civil war grew more dangerous. Ramón and Pilar Samoya wanted to be left alone to farm, but even poor farmers had to take sides. “No one is safe”, said Ramón. To avoid being forced to fight, he escaped to the United States. Captured by the Border Patrol, he was sent home. He found his village burned and his family gone. Returning to the U.S., he was taken in by a couple in Texas, who helped him get asylum. With their help, he was reunited with Pilar and their children in Houston. Then the Samoyas got work in a restaurant, which they eventually took over. They named it Pupusa, after one of Pilar’s favourite dishes. The Samoya family was helped through the many dangers and difficulties in their lives. Now they in turn wanted to become good neighbours. What could they do to help other refuges in trouble, to contribute to the building of Multicultural America?
