Jesse's Bullet Train

"Jesse's Bullet Train - Mexicali's Yellow Days" is the true story of a U.S. Citizen who had to go live in Mexico as a child when his parents were deported from the USA in the spring of 1958.
It is a personal record of events, experiences, and observations narrated as a contribution to the art of communicating self-awareness techniques, and the processes used for connecting with people to create meaningful support systems; a collection of memories that relate to a culture of poverty in a foreign country.
From the perspective of a blind man (Jesse has a rare genetic condition that affects his central nervous system; especially his eyes causing optic nerve atrophy that resulted in partial blindness at an early age).
Add to this exceptional circumstance, the awkwardness experienced when your family is deported to a border town of Mexico and enter into a new way of life that only led to extreme impoverishment.
How he managed to return to the USA where he felt like a stranger, struggled to learn English and to obtain his general education and managed to become a successful vocational rehabilitation counselor.
These humble passages describe his struggles, and his techniques for overcoming them. He gives his secret for dealing effectively with adversity, and what worked for him for reaching his achievements.
Jesse has a peculiar way of viewing exceptional circumstances, as opportunities for sprouting professional unsubstantial qualities for the individual that is ready for the undertaking, key to making excellent social workers, and counselors.
Here he relates his stick-to-itiveness and gives guidance to do the same with practical advice to illustrate the plot well.
His 30-year tenure as Rehabilitation Counselor evolved in an all-encompassing relationship with his community and connects it with his home life on Mexican culture upbringing (born in California but raced in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico).
Describes his life in the USA (prior to and when he returned as a teenager) in 1968 and faced culture shock straight on.
Being partially blind, Hispanic, non-English speaking and as an underprivileged child; how he benefited from the experience of doing hard labor; then connected with existing social networks; adult ed (stimulating learning of job trades, further education and good citizenship); the Welfare System (providing protective services/foster care, Medical benefits, food and shelter); the Independent Living movement (promoting independent living for disabled individuals), and the Affirmative-Action laws (opening doors in the educational system to minorities and advocating in government programs which used to be exclusive of a majority of citizens).
He learned how to take part in whatever community action programs that were just entering the political scene of the era. Taking advantage of any opportunities, or anything that would help in moving up in the world. He describes his whole educational experiences, and how he imitated his own vocational rehabilitation counselor and consequently, dedicated 30 years of his life committed to serving persons with disabilities when he could have stayed on welfare benefits.
He describes some of his successful work, and failures. He shares personal experience, counseling philosophies and advice; not as a scientific document but as a gift that he wants to share with humanity. He hopes this will be an inspiring story for other persons with disabilities pursuing a triumphant American Dream.
This book is recommended for High-school students, and older readers (2016 - Reedited 2023).