Maria Angélica Hamilton immigrated to Texas from Santiago, Chile, on the Fourth of July weekend in 1984. She came to America after marrying a native Texan whom she met in Chile.
After seven years going to school part-time in the U.S., she graduated from Texas State University as an ESL elementary teacher.
Maria lives in Austin with her husband. She has two sons. Although she considers herself a proud Texan, she also celebrates Chile’s Independence Day every year.