talked over my job prospects, and asked for my parent’sadvice. I was drawn to the salary in New York, but my mother reminded me that in the Big Apple, that the salary wouldn’t go far. My dad told me that the decision was ultimately be up to me but to remember that “money isn’t everything “. With that advice, I made my decision to work at ACCION as I felt like my dismal salary would go further in New Mexico than in New York. I arrived in Albuquerque and went to a restaurant in the airport where I had the most delicious green chili stew and fry bread and I KNEW that I had made the right choice.
I searched for an apartment and decided on the Cinnamon Tree Apartments as I did not see anything else that I could afford. My dad came down to Albuquerque and co-signed for me to get my one-bedroom apartment, and helped me to buy MY FIRST CAR!!!
We went to a place that sold futons and got a futon, some end tables and lamps, and a television. I set about learning about my new life.I soon learned that I was living in the “war zone ” area of the city. I didn’t think about it too much as my apartment complex had security staff that would monitor anyone entering into the complex who didn’t have a Cinnamon Tree sticker on their vehicle.
I received a lot of attention from a young man who lived in the complex. I would notice him walking around the complex with children and I didn’t think that it would be wise to engage with someone who had kids. The lady whom I thought was his mother would spend a lot of time sitting outside and enjoying the fresh air. She was diabetic and had an amputated leg. She often called me over to talk to her, and I learned that the man I often saw walking the children was not her son and was walking with the children as their mothers didn’t often pay attention to their children.
Life changing event 