This assignment is about my autobiography or testimonio. It is a small sample of my life experiences and how my life was shaped by these experiences. Most accounts are of my childhood and are as true to fact as I remember them. The original testimonio was written from my point of view but to add a little spice to the webpage assignment, I decided to tell it from a third person or journalistic reporter’s point of view.

Santiago Conguripo Michaocan, Mexico: It was reported today that the infamous Rey Martinez returned to his homeland. Although it was intended as a short stay ,to introduce the locals to his daughter, it has given Californians a chance to recuperate.

Rey Martinez was born in Santiago Conguripo Michaocan, Mexico in 1964. He is the third child in a family consisting of two older brothers, Jesus Jr. and Jose Manuel and two younger sisters, Rosa Maria and Blanca Aurora. He was born to Jesus Martinez Sr. and Aurora Saldaña. From early in his childhood, it was obvious he was different. While his brothers were content with their schooling, he was ditching school by the age of five. He took advantage of his parent's migration trip to the United States to create his own rules. His dad's family lived in the small town of Santiago and his mom's side of the family lived in El Rancho, the small village just across from the river. The river that separates not just the two towns but also two states, Michoacan and Guanajuato.

When Rey's parents left for the United States he was left in the care of relatives on both sides of the river. While in Santiago he stayed with his grandparents. When he stayed in El Rancho he stayed in the care of his tia Sara. Rey was fearless as a young child. He wasn't afraid to cross the dreaded and dangerous river by himself. Grandparents and other relatives worried about the danger of crossing the river, but not Rey, life was just an adventure that he had to experience. Rey was supposed to attend the school in the town he was staying in. He attended one school in Santiago and one in El Rancho. The teachers both knew him and knew he was alternating schools based on his living arrangements. Rey took advantage of this and go to the other town but not attend school. The next day he would go to the other town and skip school again. Rey was smart for a five year old but not smart enough. One day his grandfather discovered his scheme and beat some sense into the boy. Rey learned that crime only pays when you can get away with it.

Jesus and Aurora returned to Mexico in just a couple of months. They went to the U.S. to make arrangements for their family to move. They wanted to pursue a better life for their five children. At first, only Rey, Rosa Maria and Blanca Aurora went with their parents. There wasn't enough money for the entire family to migrate at once. The two parents and three children trekked to Northern California. A brief visit with relatives in Mountain View and then off to Santa Rosa. The Martinez family stayed with relatives f or about two months. During the stay, Rey was enrolled at the local elementary school. Rey was about to get re-acquainted with mischief.

The elementary school was extremely different from the schools Rey had attended. All of his classmates were white and spoke in a language he didn't understand. This frustrated him but he was creative kid who found ways to pass time while the others talked in their foreign tongue. Although he found ways to pass the time, he still felt out of place, like a Tequila bottle in the milk section of a grocery store. Then, finally it happened. The little gringos started picking on him and making fun of him. The little white boys taunted Rey until he snapped and kicked their little butts all over the playground. The teachers were terrified. How could someone allow such a person into their school. Rey was sent home. He continued to cause mayhem, even in a new country.

A few weeks later, Rey's family moved to Mountain View. They moved into a small red house that was located across from the next victim of Rey's reign of terror. He was enrolled at the school directly across from the little red house. Rey's brothers joined the family at the new house. Rey's father had saved enough money to send for his other sons. Soon, Rey's brothers joined him at school. Rey enjoyed the school because he met a cute little girl named Patricia who also spoke Spanish. They played together during recess and she taught him a few lessons. No one could have guessed that their paths would cross again and she would be an accomplice when they reached in high school in San Jose. Meanwhile, Patricia was having fun teaching Rey some English.

The next school year was spent at a different school. The Martinez family had again moved. They stayed in Mountain View but they moved across town. Rey didn't like this school as much and soon he was up to his old trick. This time his brother Jose assisted him. Since their mother didn't speak or write English, Jose usually wrote the notes to excuse them from school when they were ill. Jose began writing notes when they didn't feel like going to school. Jose and Rey would hang out at the laundry mat at the Safeway shopping center or they would go to friend's house. He grew fond of his American friends. Their parents had money so they had more toys than he and his brother and sisters put together.

The Martinez family was happy at their address on Jackson St. but they had a desire to own their own house. Jesus and Aurora worked long and hard hours. They saved every penny they could until they were able to put a down payment on a house in San Jose. The entire family pitched in. Piggy banks were busted open, the boys worked out in the onion fields during the hot summer and the girls, well they sat at home being cute. The girls were only four and six years old. Rey Martinez was moving to a new town. Should the school officials notified the parents? Rey attended an elementary around the corner from his new house and again he held the school in complete fear. Fellow students didn't know how to react to this new kid. He was outstanding in sports and cracked everyone up in the classroom. He got into a few scrapes with the school bullies and won most of his fights. Except the one that counted the most, the one against a girl. Ironically, Becky was also a Martinez. Not related but still a Martinez.

Rey attended Sheppard Middle School and then went on to William C. Overfelt High School. He was now a teenager. He was capable of more damage and mayhem. Rey took complete control of high school by his sophomore year. He was in charge of KWCO, the school radio station, he was in the Chicano Student Union, the Art Club and ICC. By the time he was a junior he was in the student government. He still belonged to the other clubs but by now the teachers were afraid of him. They didn't question him when he was not in class. They heard his voice reading off the daily bulletin in the morning. In the spring of his junior year he was voted as the President for his senior year. Patricia his elementary school friend was voted the class treasurer. During his senior year, Rey was feared in the classroom as well as outside the class room. He was a terror on the football team. Rey scored the first touchdown of the football season on a slant pattern against Pioneer High School. It was a beautiful pattern that went for a 50- yard touchdown. That would be the highlight of his high school career. Rey played mostly defense after that but didn't get to score again.

Upon graduating from school, Rey decided not to attend college. He decided to get a job and to have fun. A few years later he took some courses at the local community college. While doing some extra curricular activities for his Human Sexuality class, he got his girlfriend pregnant. Rey married his girlfriend in Reno Nevada. Little did he know that most gamblers that go to Reno end up loosing. On May 5, 1987 Rey plans for a life of continued crime took a turn. Monica Michelle Martinez was born and he became a different man. Rey actually took his job seriously. Although he soon divorced Monica's mom, he remained committed to his daughter. Now he is introducing her to his homeland. Although many years have passed and Rey has only returned to Mexico on two other occasions, he has not been forgotten. Upon seeing his daughter the locals have but one question to ask him, "is she as bad as you when you were her age"? It's true legends never die. They just move away.