Contribute To M SOPHIA : Migrant to Spain Issues; help!

Summer 2024 Update

Please Read My Story

Dear Campaign Supporter :

(funds recipient is Livia Argano ~ my power of attorney) .

. gofundme campaign update summer 2024 .

How You Can Support my gofundme Campaign:

Dear Reader, Trauma is trauma and my challenges presently are so intensely persistent in year 5 of integrating myself to Spain; relentless; trauma is part of me though I've made enormous consistent progress over decades. I must and I do, keep going forward. This depleted feeling of drowning would worry anyone in a Plain-as-Day Catch-22 I'm enduring financially in my housing rental flat, immigration costs and painful absurd delays, legal fees, all are so tightly budgeted in my lived reality of now in Summer of 2024 .

I am resilient and determined to overcome these disabling challenges as I take on the daily good warrior fight in my path and proactively persevere, in gratitude for you, reading my current story and for considering a financial donation in any amount to show love and support through this trying moment.

I am a survivor; I need to become a Legal EU Resident in Spain in order to make my living. I persist, forging my future, making my mark, meeting people daily, finding my way to eventual jobs/income, to contribute to the local economy with my talents, genuine joy, fulfilling a positive empowered chosen life -- with a gritty personal stake, in full integrity, and to accomplish holding my awaited Identity Card for Spain In Hand.

My immigration process painfully persists 5 years in; I am unable to make gainful income in Spain until my legal resident card (NIE/DNI) is activated - amidst such unexpected delays, financial, immigration & legal circumstances, confoundingly hard to understand.

I am out of funds... I initiated this gofundme campaign in Spring of 2023, today's update is concise as can be; Summer 2024:

I am responsible for my happiness regardless of the circumstances; a Survivor in this world; practical, truthful, forward facing. I've always been independent in spirit and as a (independent contractor) worker-artist-creator, residing in the EU since 2019 began with great hope. Solo on this life project, I'm a widow, solitude is my spiritual devotion, faith is my reliable and solid companion inspite of my vulnerability. My brave inner strength is a focused self-disciplined lifestyle. Dear Reader, I ask for your empathy and your helpful willingness to respond and to consider:

Continuing delays for legal residency in Spain in real time amount to a Catch-22. In my sixth year now of residing here, without the needed resident legal ID card prevents me absolutely from obtaining a job or making any self-sustaining income ... yet. It is paralyzing. I'm exhausted, hyper-vigilant in my ptsd, below poverty living, diligently budgeting, seriously restricting; in total financial free fall. Before this life change, I was well-prepared, researched, consulate visits, arranged what was needed before leaving a continent away, through migration parameters during the pandemic, I'm now in a financial mess at the core of asking your support. Because of the complicated lack of national concordance between the US and SPAIN I experience no other choice than to go public with This Ask, reluctant yet hopeful for any amount in contributions, doing this in the most humble way.

My Goal is to raise several thousand dollars/euros which you can send through the website in any amount that will indeed help (20, 50, 100 or more) will bridge this moment to get me through.

The Catch-22 :

background & helpful information to Dear Reader:

My inheritance was stolen from me by my only two siblings; revealed in 2016 following my parents' passing. The impact was painful related to me by legal support holding them responsible, going back decades; two probate lawyers revealed family crime originating from my lived historic toxic family abuse to this shock. I was singled out. My marriage to a jazz musician sadly left me no support financially either. Over the decades, I've managed the associated complex ptsd diagnosis since childhood, affecting my immediate economic devastation today. I should not be living this nightmare in theory but here I am; doing the best I can with what I have. The credit cards are maxed out summer of 2024.

Historically, I come from a privileged past; parents whose careers as American Diplomats would render relative wealth to the children, as promised. The painful truth unfolded after the folks died. Complicated by my life-long struggles, a paltry retirement income, and contributing to my serious financial risk it is devastating to encounter what's taken place here in Spain that was never imagined.

I would rather not have to justify my current situation in public. I find this embarrassing. My fraternal twin and an elder female sibling dealt this ugly card of hidden consequence to me. I always felt unsafe, and moreso, now than ever; I felt lonesome coming up, and looking back it's like a curse originated in a complicated toxic family environment. By 2019 this realization ultimately informed my decision to abandon life in the US and leave my country anonymously five years ago. These people know not of my whereabouts, and will never see me again. It's painful to share. I am grateful to state out loud, that my beloved daughter and I remain closely in contact; and as a widow I am truly ok, at peace being solo after decades of managing my complex ptsd, my heart is full as a loving mom.

I decided in 2016 to leave CA and later OR as an economic refugee. The modest resources I did possess allowed me to make the big leap as my starting point a continent away. I arrived in the EU in June of 2019 with specific personal & professional goals to work and to thrive; no retiring. I came over to make income here in Spain -- prior to the global pandemic of 2020. Today in 2024, my fiscal health is clearly in peril. While I mitigate incomprehensible immigration delays, and make small incremental steps with my pro bono attorney in Málaga, life's hitting me too hard, even a recent broken wrist on a public sidewalk in April with added unwarranted annoying situations, have taken a serious toll on me; circumstances beyond my personal control.

The other side of this Catch-22:

On the brighter side, I chose an affordable place in the EU residing in Andalucía after two years in Northern Spain. Speaking, reading and writing four languages is particularly significant! (English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese and some basque) . Though I am understandably vulnerable on many fronts, added to my complex ptsd, the economic fall-out has left me out of my savings in 2024 and credit cards are maxed out in late june .

Solo, self contained as I am, it's a terrifying situation. As the daughter of wealthy American Diplomats of relative economic privilege, the slight of hand I've experienced is most unfortunate, a tragic fact though painfully caught up with my pockets, now it's acceptance mode .

Contextually, I can still say I made the right decision to move a continent away, able on many levels, such as spoken language skills; my predicament could be many times worse had I remained in the US, today -- I can affirm that I own my wit, my creativity, and native resilient intelligence, with a positive proactive will to forge my path forward. In general, this wisdom sense, though the past may never truly vanish; today, the maxed out credit cards make me feel not wise whatsoever, ironically. The financial crash I am living is striking, a consequential daily call to action, prayer too, to god, to you and to ask for a miracle!

I am fortunate to be a native Spanish speaker in Spain. With my gritty determination I will not rest until I have my legal identity card for the EU in my hands in order to remain and to make income .

My strength is that my value is me: four language polyglot, a well traveled world citizen, volunteering my skills locally, I always intended to create income from the start --I am a trained language teacher, an artist and photographer, professional art model, community collaborator, capable of varied employable scenarios. My hands are tied, with an impotent feeling that Spain is failing me. My pockets are basically empty, combined with an unfortunate personal family history that stings by impact at this period of my vulnerability and lived experience .

Disciplined living this year within meager means, the self-sacrifice, restraint, restriction, tightening, managing, dealing with all the annoying relentless snags over frustrating months constrain me but I am putting my affairs in order. On-line work for me is not a good fit, though my efforts to do so have led to keeping my old-school diligence, on the ground, seeking a Work Contract remains to no avail, as nothing will come of my current effort, until I have that legal identity card for Spain in my hands. I do have one student I teach english to via skype, though she's taken vacation .

In Conclusion:

Dear Reader

The terrible reality is the continued painful delays that bring me to my knees. It is accurate to name this A Personal Emergency.

MY gofundme OFFER is a PHOTOGRAPH FOR YOU, made with my appreciation: please choose any image to your liking from my numerous albums; you can Go To my profressional public page on facebook - M Sophia Santiago Photographer; please choose a photograph, I will gratefully mail to you from Spain with MY THANK YOU in advance for your generous financial contribution.

All things being equal, I simply can not continue on credit card debt, a mere trickle of income teaching languages (under the table), praying for a breakthrough from gofundme donations. Your considered donation, Dear Reader is an economic life-line of support to me right now.

Many of you already are contributing supporters! Thank You.

You can contribute here for the first time! You can also contribute again multiple times as some folks are doing!

Any small amount will help me stretch into july, august, september 2024 ...

Thank You Very Much.

M SOPHIA SANTIAGO

Benalmádena Costa Spain

July 31, 2024

If you consider and decide to help me please contribute to the link provided on this gofundme site which my Fiduciary in California will manage on my behalf.

Please note that the default “fee” is automatically set at 15%, HOWEVER, you can change this fee and set it at ZERO percent or any percent you find appropriate for GOFUNDME

(by sliding the button).

THANK YOU. GRACIAS. I have an earlier translated text in Spanish, of the Spring 2023 initial gofundme campaign below:

Un Saludo Cordial.

Estoy sola en este mundo; (mis padres difuntos, soy viuda, he elegido hacer mi trayectoria a solas, y de irme de mi país natal, abordando un nuevo continente, viviendo de una manera razonable, dentro de medios propios económicos, continuando a crear mi vida, y de crear ingreso, y de contribuir mi valor en este mundo).

La determinación mía de momento está humildemente frustrada por una crisis económica personal .

Por lo tanto, le pido en su informada empatía, y su comprensión y su disponibilidad generosa, de aportarme un apoyo financiero a esta mujer, que se encuentra sola .

Mi intención personal y profesional informada, con preparación y busqueda requiere mi llamamiento, al apelo de su bondadosa asistencia financiera para ayudarme en un lío, "catch-22" imprevisto en este momento crítico .

De hecho, considero ser una refugiada americana económica; necesité uir de mi país por causas familiares tanto como sociales para crearme una nueva vida tranquila, de trabajar en el extranjero, y de lograr hacer mi nuevo hogar en la Unión Europea . Cuatro años después, una pandemia global añadida, y varios temas complicados de inmigración han predispuesto que yo sobreviva enteramente de mis ahorros y este lío (catch 22) está en no poder todavía trabajar legalmente, a causa de las demoras en extranjería española, con la burocracia de lograr mi residencia legal en España, lo cual se siente tan fuerte en este momento tan crítico, con terribles ansiedades, angustias, y honestamente el peligro que ha surgido naturalmente, en alcanzar el fin de mis ahorros, últimamente .

Seguro es decirle a Ud. y acierto que me encuentro contenta de vivir aquí físicamente, en mi elemento latino aquí en región de Andalucía en España en busca de todas las avenidas abiertas para crear ingreso aunque sea en negro, que encage dentro de las restricciones legales y laborales tramitando mi residencia legal en este país . Lamentables demoras por el Consulado de España en Chicago durante la pandemia, y la petición introducida recientemente de un arraigo social por parte de mi licenciada pro bono es otro proceso que toma tiempo y demoras, lo cual sigue impidiendo mi empleo de tiempo completo a medida de mi trayectoria con la intención de trabajar legalmente de residente con identidad nacional (el NIE) para lograr bien recibir ingreso, y de seguir adelante, instalandome en la vida que aquí mismo he elejido . Actualmente, ofrezco clases privadas y en pequeños grupos de inglés y español pero la inflación económica global le ha pegado duro a todos mis estudiantes, quienes no han podido pagarme ni seguir en sus clases, no puedo continuar con mi modelaje profesional de cuarenta años en las universidades de bellas artes locales o en los estudios de artistas, ni de proseguir mi pasión de veinte años de fotografía; esto me impide de estar en pleno funcionamiento económico y por lo tanto de momento no puedo contribuir en total, siendo ya miembra local en esta economía y el consorcio de la comunidad de la provincia .

Una paradoja completa "Catch 22" .

En conclusión, sí Ud. desea y podría ayudarme a solucionar un poco esta crisis personal, le pido considere contribuir al "link/enlace" provisto sobre el "gofundme" el cual será manejado por mi fiduciaria en mi nombre en California.

Tenga en cuenta que la "comisión" predeterminada se establece automáticamente en el 15%, SIN EMBARGO, puede cambiar esta comisión y establecerla en CERO por ciento o en cualquier porcentaje que considere apropiado para GOFUNDME (deslizando el botón).

MUCHÍSIMAS GRACIAS.