The day i realized that the United States was the best country on earth. When i was 14 years old i started working at my uncle's business. He owns a landscape business called Gladstone Gardens i still work there tell this day over the summer. When i started my first summer.I went  into work thinking i'm gonna be working with people that are older and that dont speak english. Well My first day i was put in a crew of all mexican workers. The first day was rough all they did was speak in spanish and i noticed that they were laughing alot.  It made me think to myself are they laughing at me. It made me mad that i couldn't understand them. About a week went by of doing jobs with them everyday was a new day they started to talk to me more and more everyday in the little english they knew. They figured out i was the nephew of the owner and changed the way they acted fast. One weekend i was sitting down with my uncle talking about work. I went on and started to ask him questions. Why is there no Americans working in my crew he went on said Because no one wants to do that job. No one wants to move rock all day for 6 days a week. I thought to myself ya neither would i when i am Thirty. The summer was going by fast. It started to get super fun working with them. They found out fast i was nothing like my uncle. The summer was over and school was starting up. I realized that i wasn't gonna see my new friends tell next summer. While i was bored sitting in a classroom all day i was thinking what could they be doing right now. At the beginning of december i got a call saying that i could swing by and grab my gift from work. I was excited thinking i would see them again and get another laugh in with them. But When i came back to Pick up my christmas Bonus. No one was there i was the only one i asked my uncle where is everyone. He told me over the winter they go back to mexico to visit their family. I Thought to myself why doesn't there family live in the united states. I left wondering so many things and a lot of questions on my mind.

The Next summer approached fast and i couldn't wait. When we went to work to get ready for the first day everyone was their laughing and drinking coffee and inspecting their trucks and equipment. There was some new people but mostly the same old ones. My uncle called me over and introduced me to this guy he was about 5,10 and 230 lbs. My uncle said this is Ramon and he will be in your crew today. I thought oh just normal guy like the rest of them. About two week into the summer i turned 16. My Mom got me a car and i was so excited. But that wasn't the excitement at all. About two weeks after my birthday a crew leader quit. My uncle called me in his office and told me I am the only one that can speak english and can drive. I thought ya and what does that mean? He gave me a stack of paperwork and said you are the new crew leader for crew 5. He said it was just for a couple weeks until they found a new person. I thought it was a dream. But that's when it all Started. The first day of me working as a crew leader i drove the big Gladstone Garden truck home. I was excited i got to drive a huge truck and got more responsibility. The next morning i woke up five AM And had to be at the shop at 530 AM before sunrise to get all of my equipment ready and do inspections. Everyone loaded up and right before we left my Uncle yells Roman is gonna be with you today. The morning started out finishing our job that we were working on for the past 3 day. At about 11 am I took the crew out for lunch at a really fancy restaurant called Burger king.
While we were sitting down me and Ramon got to talking. I asked him why he came to work at Gladstone Gardens. He went on to say he just got his green card and this is the only place that would hire him. Ramon is the hardest worker i have ever seen. I asked him where he is living at and if he needs a ride home after work. He said he was good and would catch the bus. About two days later if figured out that roman lives with 5 other workers in a cheap apartment. One morning i asked him why do so many of you live in that apartment. Not thinking it would turn into a sad story. Roman answered fast and said Almost all of my paycheck gets sent back to Mexico Where my wife takes care of our kids. I asked why dont they come over here. He said they cant its hard for a whole family to come over from another country. I said is there no jobs in mexico? Ramon said Quickly there are no jobs that pay good. I thought to myself so he goes 9 months without seeing his three kids and his wife. I can't imagine that feeling. The rest of the summer went by slow and me and Ramon became closer and closer. My uncle never found a new crew leader so i just became the new all time leader. One night when i was laying in bed about to fall asleep i thought. I can't imagine being in Ramons spot. I have gotten blessed to be in the family that i am i am lucky to have a mom that has a good job. As the months flew by fast Ramon was my right hand man he was always there if i needed help. First one to step up and do a job know one wanted to do. Me and Ramon got super close and when it was time to take the last inspection it was sad we both closed down the shop and turned the equipment in. I gave him a ride home and that was the last time i saw him until next summer. The next summer approached fast and i couldn't wait i was almost done with sophomore year and just couldn't be more excited to see Ramon. Towards the end of April is when landscape season normally starts back up the ground is thawed out and you can start on those jobs that piled up over the winter. But i could only work weekends until school was over. The first saturday back it seemed like Ramon had been here the whole time. We went out to breakfast on my first day back. We talked about how his family was and what all happened since the last time i saw him. But there was work to be done. For the rest of the day me and Ramon drove around to different jobs and did bids. The summer went by to fast and towards the end of the landscape season is was time to say goodbye again. Ramon has been working hard to get his family. To come to the United States for good. I talked to Ramon about 3 weeks ago and he is doing well they just bought their third house in mexico and is living the dream for his three months he is over there. Ramon and me talked for about a hour. It seemed like fifteen minutes. Roman said he will back for another amazing season. He said his kids dont understand what is going on they are confused why they only see their dad for three months a year. He tries and tries to explain to them in the best way possible of what is going on. I can't wait to see him again it sucks that two separate countries can have such a hard process to being a legal citizen. Me and my uncle talk about every sunday at family dinner. He has told me that i will be placed with Ramon again this year. I still go to work every saturday to just help prepare for winter and check up on things. It is sad every year we have to put the lock on the gate and close it down for good. My mom and me were talking and i asked her why does the United States have such a hard immigration policy. She said not all immigrants are like Ramon. It drives me nuts that how hard Ramon works he still can't get his family to come over. He works harder than most citizens in the United States.   My whole Family loves Ramon and he is always glad when he is invited to family events. I am the closest thing to family for Ramon in America.