In this semi-autobiographical story by Carlos Bulosan, a letter written in English in need of translation links two themes: 1) The challenges (language barriers, racism, exploitation and mistreatment) faced by illiterate Filipinos who immigrated to America for a better life during the first half of last Century; 2) The harshness and unpredictability, especially for those on the land, of the life they left behind. Sadly, most of their families at home will rarely, if ever, hear from them again. Other themes include family, community, the importance of education, expectations vs. reality, resilience, perseverance.
Although the story alludes to some of the problems faced by immigrants, it does not go into very much detail. These are described much more vividly in the story Why Had I Left Home?, extracted from Bulosan’s semi-autobiographical novel America Is in the Heart
The Story of a Letter Text / PDF (2,400 words)