Since I live in the United States I really don’t think about farms and plants growing more than other things like businesses that use more technology. 

My great grandfather, Rafael Acosta, was born in 1931 into a poor family in the DR where he didn’t really have family memories to help him pursue his dreams and was not able to get a good education. He worked since childhood,  cultivating and selling cocoa, rice, plantains, cassava, green peas, green bananas – which is something you don’t see in the United States. He was not able to get an education and he was one of the oldest children of his family and had to work to help his family with food and other necessities that his family needed.

I learned that my great grandfather started working when he was 6-7 years old. He didn’t go to school but did learn about money and how to plant and sell anything that he was to cultivate. He was very determined and was able to provide homes and land for many of his family members. He was able to provide for his children and he raised a few of his grandchildren too. He was able to leave a legacy for his family.

I am very happy that I was able to meet him before he passed away in 2017. I am able to still visit his home and hear stories about him. I never knew the history of what he was able to accomplish without even going to school. 

I want others to know that you should always try to meet your family. It is so special to learn the history of others, especially when they are alive. I was able to meet my great grandparents and that is something that will forever be special to me.