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Lorenzo Uriquidi

Lorenzo Uriquidi came for a two-month visit to Columbus and wound up staying.

The native of Chihuahua, Mexico, along with his wife andt three children, has put down roots in Columbus. Lorenzo works at NTN Driveshaft, attends Lakeview Church of Christ, and likes playing football, basketball and softball.

Though was born in Mexico, he has been a resident of the United States since age 3, living in the El Paso, Texas, area, and spending summers on an uncle's ranch in Chihuahua.

Though Chihuahua is a large city, the lifestyle there is much different than in Indiana, he says. "It's a little bit rougher."

Compared to El Paso, Columbus is a much quieter place. He has lived here since 1994. "We came for a visit and loved it so much we ended up staying."

His best Columbus experience is helping with Spanish to English translations for the Columbus Police Department and Su Casa. In El Paso, it was often not necessary to use English, so Lorenzo says his English skills were not well developed when he came here because "we were forced to learn how to speak more proper English."

"It's been a privilege I've had to be able to help both sides" with English-Spanish translations, he said.

"I haven't had a worst experience, and I hope I never do."

His children visit Mexico so they can see the lifestyle there, and he helps them keep touch with the Spanish language.

Many of the same holidays celebrated in the U.S. are also celebrated in Mexico, he said, but in different ways. Birthdays, for instance, have the traditional piñata.

Summarizing, he said this is what he wants people to know about Columbus, Indiana:

"If they ever decide to come visit Columbus, they might end up staying here for the rest of their lives....The lifestyle and the peacefulness of Columbus is what kept us here. It's a beautiful city."