Blog #2 My Familia (Michael Li)

To know about me, you must know about my family. I am the only one born in America. I have 2 older brothers, a mother and father. One of my brothers, age 25, has down syndrome and severe mental retardation. His name is “De We”, a poorly translated way of saying David.  He has the brain capability of a 2 year old or younger. My mother doesn’t go to work and usually stays home to takes care of him.  He is basically like a big baby in the family because he can’t really do anything by himself other than eat/sleep. De we used to go to special training schools to learn mechanics of a young child, but he never really learned much. After graduating, he hasn’t gone to any more training schools (he didn’t like going). Now my mom fully takes care of him from every aspect of his life and bring him out whenever my mom goes to shop around my neighborhood.

My oldest brother isn’t much better. He is a high school drop out from the 3rd worst high school in Queens. He has a 7 year old half chinese-half spanish daughter and a son coming from the same girlfriend. He used to steal from the family, especially me, and was never home. He gambles, drinks, smokes and was unemployed for the majority of the past 10 years. He was arrested twice. He was a model for me, a model which I would never follow.

As I said, my mother doesn’t work and stays home most of the time. She is as great of a mother anyone can ask. My dad works as a cook in a local Chinese restaurant. He works 11 hours a day, from noon to almost midnight. He works at minimum wage, so he works more hours to help provide for the family. He also delivers food at times to earn extra tips to give me for spending money (A reason I usually bring food from home to eat).

I live in a predominantly West Indian and Hispanic neighborhood. I was the only Asian boy in my elementary school, and one of two Asian kids in middle school, which has toughened me up a bit. It was a big change for me when I went to Bronx Science, which has a majority of Asians. Even with a tough family to grow up in, I’m pretty “normal.” I am very big on sports, and play multiple sports (Mostly Football and Basketball). I’m just like most Asians in the aspect where i play computer games a lot. I’m aiming for a high GPA so I could eventually help my family financially. I need to get good grades, to help give me a better opportunity to establish a ground for a good career. I try to do my best to help my family. BUT truthfully, I’m a pretty “chill” guy who does what he has to do (I only try hard if i really need to).

My dad, mom, Cousin behind them, niece, Oldest brother, me standing on a chair, De We in the white, Mirna my brother’s GF, my uncle, cousin, aunt