The year was 2018 when Fabian Marquez decided to flee Venezuela with his brother and embark on an adventure that would change his life. Marquez had only just turned 18 in his hometown of Merida when he was given the chance to leave Venezuela. Thanks to a program called the Scout Association. The association, also called Scouts, is the largest Scouting organization in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to encourage the intellectual and social development of young adults so that they can take a constructive place in society. When the association offered Marquez and his older brother a chance to leave the country for a year, they leaped at the opportunity. 

“Going to high school was okay. But when I started public university the protests started.” said Marquez. “They stopped classes pretty often so it made it hard to go. I would go to class for one or two days and then have two weeks off due to the protests and that would just happen over and over again. Then I joined Scouts and moved to the UK so I stopped going.”

Marquez said that living in Venezuela became more and more difficult and wasn’t an easy life.

“If you lived in Venezuela you would always be missing either electricity, water, or gas. You could have one or two of those things, but never all three. If you did, you were very lucky.”- Fabian Marquez

Marquez had a choice of moving anywhere he wanted to in the United Kingdom and he chose Oxford due to its rich history. While living in Oxford, he said his favorite thing was meeting new people from around the world.

Marquez says he made friends from Russia, Columbia, Africa, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, and more. They all lived together in dormitories and all became close despite differences in culture and language. 

“I took an intensive summer course to learn English back in Venezuela but I just learned the basics like the weather and how to ask for the time,” said Marquez. “When I moved to England, I really started to learn English fully. After three months, I could have an entire conversation without any help.”

After his time with the Scouts Association was up, he decided to chase the American dream with his brother and move to the United States. 

“My aunt already lived here [in the US] and it was better than going to live in Chile or Argentina. I just knew we couldn’t go back to Venezuela. There was no food, no electricity, not even water. Everything is expensive and there’s no medication. If you get the flu there you could die just because there is no medicine.”

When Marquez arrived in GA after being granted an asylum visa, a friend told him that a Mexican restaurant nearby was hiring. He applied and started his career journey as a dishwasher at Tacos and Tequilas in Buford. From there, he moved up to a food runner and then a busser until eventually a server. After two years, he showed determination and began training as an assistant manager. Working at the restaurant for a total of almost three years, there was no one who knew Tacos and Tequilas like he did. 

After working as an assistant manager, he showed all the good qualities of a leader and was promoted. Today, he is the manager of Tacos and Tequilas Buford, the largest restaurant in the chain, at the young age of 21.

“Fabian was the best person for the position,” said Rafael Marquez, his brother. “We both worked really hard to get where we are today and we’re lucky to have this opportunity to grow and be surrounded by such a friendly and talented workforce. The American dream is definitely a dream come true.”