{"id":12061,"date":"2024-05-03T17:21:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T17:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.greendot.org\/?p=12061"},"modified":"2024-05-03T17:21:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T17:21:25","slug":"jarek-orta-y-donde-estan-tus-botas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greendot.org\/newsold\/jarek-orta-y-donde-estan-tus-botas\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing: ‘\u00bfY d\u00f3nde est\u00e1n tus botas?’ by JAREK ORTA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

This piece<\/i> placed first for High School Writing submissions<\/i><\/b> in the 2024 <\/i>\u00c1nimo Voices WRITING, ART, & SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION 2024<\/i><\/a>, which invited students to respond to an open prompt. The competition is an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing, spoken word, and art.<\/i><\/p>\n\t

“\u00bfY D\u00f3nde Est\u00e1n Tus Botas?”<\/h2>\n\t“\u00bfY d\u00f3nde est\u00e1n tus botas?” This was the frantic question that greeted me one morning as my
\ndad and I were in the truck defrosting the windshield. In my rush, I forgot my boots by the
\npatio door. “Oops. One sec, Dad,” I said, as I dashed back to retrieve them. It was just another
\nSaturday, heading to our family business: Orta Gardening Supply Inc.\nArriving at the store at 5:00 AM meant you were already late. The plant, grass, and soil
\ndelivery drivers were already at the front gate. By the time we finished unloading everything,
\nit was 6 AM, and it was time to open for customers.\nOrta Gardening is, and has been, my Saturday and vacation spot. Despite the early hours and
\nlong days, I have seen my first glimpses into the close-knit community I have been embedded
\nin. It was more than just a place for plants; it was where immigrant gardeners’ stories
\nintertwined, forming a unique bond rooted in shared backgrounds.\nWorking at the nursery is a right of passage to be an Orta Torta. More importantly, this
\nhonorable badge is a reflection of my relationships within the community and the hard work
\nand resilience that come with it. As I immersed myself in the stories of immigrant gardeners
\nand watched the rich culture of my family’s business, I became inspired to bring a piece of
\nthis culture into my own life. Engaging with people at Orta Nursery gave me insight into the
\nexperiences of many Hispanic immigrants striving to better their lives and support their
\nfamilies. I grew to know early-bird clients and delivery drivers, now calling them by their
\nnicknames such as El Ni\u00f1o, Tamalero, and Orej\u00f3n.\nAs I prepare for a day filled with tasks, the distant voice of my dad is already directing me to
\nspecific chores. “Baja el Cempas\u00fachil de la troca de reparto,” he instructed. Ad\u00e1n, hearing
\ninto the conversation, chimes in, “Aprender juntos es crecer juntos,” while assisting me in
\ncarefully placing the Cempas\u00fachitl plants in their designated spots. And of course, “Do the
\nwork yourself,” says my dad as he stands there watching over us. “Ten en cuenta lo que dije,”
\nAdan whispers to me as we both laugh at our dad’s seriousness. Even though we’re just
\ntagged as “workers,” these folks bring a ton of wisdom to the table, pushing me forward. And
\neven my dad’s serious vibe, tricky as it is to admit, adds excitement to my journey.\nAs I’m just getting started, I get hit with, “Dile a Adan que agregue dos scoops de grava a la
\ntroca blanca.” Before I can even respond, it’s, “I need 20 bags of steer manure and two 5
\ngallons of Hydrangeas.” Trying to assure them I got it covered, I get cut off by someone else
\nin a rush, “Necesito dos de triple crown de 50 kilos y el \u00e1rbol de lim\u00f3n lo tengo apartado el
\nmi\u00e9rcoles.” Right next to him, the guy says, “Necesito 30 rollos de pasto.” In just five minutes, I’m drowning in requests. And the worst part? My lunch is the first casualty. And forget about that 10-minute break where I’d stroll a block down to catch my favorite food truck parked under a tree by the gas station. Saturdays always manage to swipe that simple pleasure away from me. Despite the hectic hours on these Saturdays, the experience is genuinely rewarding and comforting. It’s not just about navigating through demanding tasks; it’s about being surrounded by heartwarming individuals who genuinely want to see me succeed and push me further. In this environment, I not only acquire new skills and knowledge but also contribute to my community in a unique and meaningful way. Being a part of the nursery requires more than just plant knowledge, timely deliveries, and a good work ethic, but more so a steady relationship with clients, workers, and distributors. I aided in breaking the language barriers that so many of my co-workers face in what little time we had during our lunch breaks. We discussed common phrases to broaden our
\nvocabulary in both Spanish and English. Our efforts improved customer service and showed
\nour commitment to personal growth and community. Through the process of breaking the
\nlanguage barriers within the nursery, I was able to share my support and skills with a
\nbroader community.\nI’ll admit, sometimes I just wish I could leave my work boots by the door, hit the snooze
\nbutton, or maybe make up a story of having a severe headache, especially on Saturdays. But I
\ndon’t. I get up week after week.\nToday it is 4:15 AM and I find myself telling my dad, “Hurry up, sleepyhead, we’re late.” 5:00
\nAM and most of the truck’s plant, grass, and soil are already unloaded. As the sunlight gently
\ntouches the nursery’s entrance, the delivery drivers find a welcoming sight – a fresh cup of
\ncoffee and some pan dulce. In these early hours, the essence of our bond is embodied in a
\nSpanish saying, “Un buen caf\u00e9 y pan caliente, hasta el pr\u00f3ximo s\u00e1bado.” In both the nursery
\nand my school communities, my experiences have grown beyond routine – they have become
\nthe stories that shape my aspirations and underline the importance of community, shared
\ngrowth, and lasting connections.\n

So maybe next Saturday, you’ll hear me ask my dad, “\u00bfY d\u00f3nde est\u00e1n tus botas?”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Jack-Orta-thumbnail\"\n\t

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jarek Orta<\/strong><\/p>\n12th Grade, \u00c1nimo Leadership High School
\n<\/a>\n

Guiding Teacher: Carrol Rowland<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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