Change of life

Change of life

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A timeline of my life

The family

My Vazquez Iglesias ancestors didn't know then that the family would grow significantly in the years that followed.
Here are some photographs of the Argentine conection:

This is the photo of my grandparents in a restaurant, where we celebrated my grandmother's birthday.

This is my distant related cousin, who arrived in Argentina recently after a long travel from Europe.

This is a picture of my mother when she was a beautiful young woman. She was in her honeymoon in Mar del Plata.

This is one of the classical family snapshots. I'm the one taking the photo. we're on holidays in Entre Rios.



And last but not least, here are the new arrivals...

My little niece Aylen, who is now one year.

And..

My little nephew Martin.

The first letter

Dear mum,

It has now been six months since we arrived in Buenos Aires. The experience has been overwhelming. There's so much to learn. Buenos Aires is a huge city with many impressive public buildings.We're now living in a small lodge right in the middle of the city. Both of us have found work. It was not easy, but we needed money to pay for our food and lodgings.Maria is working with a dressmaker, and I have found work in a local coffee shop, working as a kitchen hand. Although the jobs are not well paid, we can't complain because we have enough money to live decently.

Now, we are both thinking of getting some training in hair dessing, maybe in the future we could own our own shop. Socially, we're not doing much. This is because we don't have any friends yet. The other day, Maria found out that there is a Spanish club not far from where we live. Every Saturday evening they have social meetings with young people and you can also learn to dance tango there.We think this will be a good way to meet young Argentine people.

How is grandpa? I hope you are all looking after him. We'll try to send you some photographs in our next letter. We miss you all very much.

Please write to us to this address:

Paseo Colon 420- Buenos Aires.

Love

Isolina.

Background of my ancestors

In the early twenties, many people from Galicia decided to migrate to the Americas in search of a brighter future. They left in large transatlantic carriers with many of their belongings and a string of children clinging from them.
Leaving behind their loved ones was not easy. The cities they left behind were full of tradition and surrounded by majestic scenery. they knew they were going to miss the land, their culture, the food and above all,their dear friends.To have the courage to leave behind so much beauty and cultural richness, you must have a strong belief that your new horizon will offer a better and safer life for you,and specially your young family.

Ancestor's story

I am Benjamin Salt, a military officer of Scotland. I have been serving the army since I was eighteen. Now, in my forties, I am one of the most important men in my department. However, my career success hasn't come without pain because every day,at every moment, my life is constantly at risk. My wife,Clarie, is always imploring me to leave this job. She wants us to go far away to restart our lives without danger with our three small babies. But I always wonder myself how I can leave my whole life.

One cloudy afternoon, while I was trying to find the best way to solve this problem,I heard on the radio that my closest superiors in the army had died in a helicopter crash. At that moment, I knew that my life had to change. So, in a desperate situation, the first thing that came to my mind, was to move to South America. I remembered that I had an aunt living in Argentina, and my brother Matthew, was thinking of moving there, too.

Today, I sit on the deck of an enormous transatlantic carrier as it leaves the coast of my beloved Scotland. I am filled with deep emotion as I watch the fading skyline of the city I am leaving behind. My lovely wife Clarie and my brother sit closely by in silence. My babies play happily on the deck. It is at this precise moment that I realise that our lives will be changing forever.