Skip to content

"Upon our arrival at Austerlitz station, our mother was there to greet us, and we embraced her tearfully."

In a secluded village in Galicia, 1967: Marisol Colmenero desires a life beyond her current circumstances, yearning for Paris, where her mother resides. At 17, she reunites with her mother and spends her life working with children. At 75, she reflects upon a life well-lived.

"Upon our arrival at Austerlitz station, our mother eagerly anticipated us. Upon seeing her, we...
"Upon our arrival at Austerlitz station, our mother eagerly anticipated us. Upon seeing her, we embraced her fiercely, shedding tears of joy."

"Upon our arrival at Austerlitz station, our mother was there to greet us, and we embraced her tearfully."

In the year 1967, at the age of 17, our protagonist embarked on a life-changing journey, leaving behind the quaint, remote mountain village of Torbeo in Galicia, Spain. Torbeo, a place untouched by the modern conveniences of running water, electricity, and transportation, had been his home for the past three years.

This decision to leave was not made lightly. His mother, who had ventured to Paris in 1960 in search of better opportunities, had been a beacon of hope for the family. The intention was to improve their lives, and it seemed that Paris held the key.

The author's sister, inspired by their mother's journey, was also considering a move to France. Together, they decided to join their mother in the city of lights. The father, though saddened by their departure, did not object. He promised to visit them at Christmas and for them to return to the village every August.

The journey to Paris was not a short one. It took nearly twenty-four hours by train. The author boarded the train from San Clodio, a small town in Galicia, and was accompanied by many fellow Portuguese passengers, a testament to the prevalence of emigration from the region due to poverty and isolation.

As the train chugged along, the author felt a surge of excitement. This was his first mention of feeling such emotion in the article, a sign of the anticipation that lay ahead. The destination was Paris, a city he had chosen as his own, and the prospect of a new life was invigorating.

In his native Galicia, emigration was common. Many family members had ventured to Cuba and the United States in search of a better life. The author's mother, however, had chosen a different path, settling in France since 1960. Despite the lack of specific information in the search results, it is known that the author joined his mother in France in 1967, though his name remains unspecified in the provided details.

In Torbeo, the author had learned sewing from a local woman. This skill would prove useful in his new life, providing him with a means to earn a living and adapt to his new surroundings. The journey to Paris marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one filled with excitement, challenges, and opportunities.

Read also:

Latest