The Barahona Family
Immigrated in 2006 from Honduras
Photo(s) Taken by Maegan Castleton at the Natural History Museum of Utah
From left to right: Gladys’ daughter and Gladys herself
Born in 1977, Gladys Barahona grew up in Central America in the country of Honduras surrounded by the loving care of her family and friends where she spent her time enjoying the outdoors and playing with animals. With the idea of living life to the max, Gladys took on the difficult task and decision of moving alone from her hometown in Honduras to Utah in 2006 in order to support her mother who was facing health issues. With her kids in mind, her dream was to provide quality opportunities for her children in the United States. Below are her reflections on her family’s experience in Utah.
Making Utah Home
What is your family’s story behind making Utah your home?
Try to spend as much time as you can with your family. My son recently moved here two years ago and I know I cannot go back in time and recover the time that we’ve spent apart. But I know I can think about the time I have moving forward. I try to spend time with them, I try to cook meals from my [native] country and I continue to connect with my family back in Honduras. Moving forward instead of thinking [about the time] that I have missed.
New Life in Utah
What makes Utah home?
One of the things that has helped is that I don’t feel lonely [in Park City], there are a lot of activities you can do here and things that the [community] invites us to. There are a lot of activities going on constantly and I feel like I have the freedom [to go] and feel that I can go to any of them without feeling unsafe. Especially in the summer when the sun is out, it is always a good time to go out and go to the parks and lakes. [As a first-generation family], we’re always focused on working a lot. So the quality time we spend together and the time I can provide to them, that is what I try to do to the max capacity I have.
Building the Next Generation
What hopeful message would you like to share with others as a first generation Utahn?
Raising my daughter as a first-generation in this country, I would like her to always remember where she comes from. She knows [the importance] of being a part of the United States and having the culture that comes from here. But, [I don’t want] her to forget about our heritage, [our] powerful traditions, and to always be helping others in school if she has the opportunity to and to be kind to others. I also want her to continue to spend time with me, to be together, and remember where we come from.
“I would like for my daughter to always remember the cultures of where she came from. She knows the importance of being a part of this country and to embody the culture here, but also not to forget our culture and traditions.”
GLADYS BARAHONA
HOME IS HERE
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