Coming to the U.S.

Before she was Esther, the joyful close friend of my grandmother, Fulvia Espino worked as a secretary for a law firm in Panama. She spent much of her time going back and forth from Miami, Florida, carrying important documents for her firm's clients that needed to be signed. Once the clients signed the documents, she would get right back on a plane to Panama. This was Esther's first taste of American life. On these short business trips to Miami, Esther got to see her mother, who had been a Florida resident for 50 years. Despite the beautiful Miami beaches and getting to see her mom once a month, Esther still hadn't intended on moving to the U.S.

And then things took a turn for the worst.

Manuel Noriega took control of Panama in 1983. Instating puppet presidents and working with the American CIA to take down left-leaning Central American countries, Noriega corrupted Panama's economic system. While the citizens of Panama struggled to make a living, Noriega would throw cocaine-fueled parties in his various mansions. Wages at this time became significantly lower, and Esther was lucky to maintain a job. It was at this time that Fulvia decided to visit her cousin in New York, wanting to get away from the chaos that was ensuing in her home country.