Finding A Forver Home

Looking back, Josue believes moving to Austin changed his life in ways he never expected. One of the biggest transformations came through language.

Growing up speaking Spanish, Josue understood that learning English would open doors, but he also knew it would require stepping outside his comfort zone. Instead of surrounding himself only with other Spanish speakers, he intentionally placed himself in environments where English was spoken every day.

"It was uncomfortable at first," he says, "but that's how I learned." Eventually his determination paid off.

Today, he moves comfortably between English and Spanish, helping tourists, assisting customers, and communicating naturally with people from many different backgrounds. Being bilingual has expanded his career opportunities, increased his earning potential, and allowed him to build friendships that extend far beyond the Latino community.

One accomplishment makes him especially proud. Many people assume he was born in the United States. For Josue, that isn't about hiding where he came from. It's a reflection of how fully he has embraced American culture while still remaining deeply connected to his Ecuador roots.

Those roots remain strongest during the holidays. Each New Year's Eve, families across Ecuador gather for celebrations filled with laughter and symbolism. One tradition Josue fondly remembers involves men dressing in women's clothing and stopping passing cars to collect donations. The money helps create an año viejo, a large paper-mâché and sawdust figures representing the past year. 

As midnight arrives, the figure is burned. The fire symbolizes letting go of disappointments, mistakes, and hardships while welcoming a fresh beginning with hope and optimism. "It's about leaving the past behind," Josue explains.

That tradition feels especially meaningful considering his own journey. Chicago represented an important chapter, but not an easy one.

He remembers struggling to feel safe in his neighborhood and finding it difficult to improve his English because nearly everyone around him spoke Spanish. While he appreciated the strong Latino community, he realized it limited his opportunities to practice the language he desperately wanted to master.

Austin offered something different. Here, he found a city where cultures naturally mixed together. He felt encouraged to speak English while still celebrating his heritage. The outdoor lifestyle, bike trails, live performances, and the city's famous embrace of individuality made him feel comfortable almost immediately.

Although Austin has changed over the years, becoming more expensive and increasingly influenced by the technology industry, Josue still believes it has preserved something special.

People are free to be themselves. That sense of belonging is one of the reasons he now calls Austin his true home.

Today, Josue works as a barista, a role that has taught him patience, resilience, and the value of everyday kindness. His favorite part of the job isn't making coffee. It's building relationships.

He enjoys greeting familiar faces each morning and working alongside coworkers who have become close friends. One of his regular customers left a particularly lasting impression after unexpectedly buying meals for the entire staff, reminding him how meaningful small acts of generosity can be.

Of course, customer service has its challenges. Long hours on his feet can be physically exhausting, but the emotional demands are often greater. Some days require smiling through personal struggles or remaining calm while serving difficult customers.

Still, he believes kindness is worth the effort. Behind Josue's optimism are the lessons his parents taught him while growing up.

He credits them with making enormous sacrifices so he could pursue a better life. More importantly, they taught him not to become consumed by worrying about the future. Instead, they encouraged him to focus on what he could control each day. Those lessons have become especially valuable in his marriage.

Rather than dreaming about moving somewhere new, Josue is focused on building the life he already has. he believes marriage is less about avoiding conflict and more about learning to navigate it together.

"When you're married," he says, "it's not about winning the argument." It's about working together to find solutions, supporting one another, and continuing to grow as partners. 

That same mindset has guided his entire journey. Leaving Ecuador required courage. Learning a new language required persistence. Building a life in Austin required faith.

Today, Josue looks back with gratitude for every challenge that helped shape who he has become. He has learned that belonging is not something given overnight. It is built through countless conversations, small acts of bravery, and the willingness to embrace change without forgetting where you came from.

For Josue, home is no longer defined by geography alone. It is found in the languages he speaks, the traditions he carries forward, the people he loves, and the city where he finally feels he belongs.