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A Long Journey v0.7.4

A Quest actual play following Philomena and Foster as they get called on an unexpected adventure that will show them more truths than they expected, fighting for the future of their home alongside some friends they pick up on their long journey. The world was once nearly destroyed by a war between the gods. Thousands of years later, the world has been reclaimed by the people who survived with the help of the few gods who remain. Now darkness threatens the land, and history is on the verge of repeating itself. Show art by AsWasForetold

Rise and Fall of Gods Pseudonym Social

• MAY 3, 2024

3. To Fall and Rise Again

Philomena recovers from her harrowing ordeal, safe in a monastery, in the company of the catfolk who rescued her days after she fell. Korrin helps Philomena heal, and following a calling, they make an unexpected new friend. Punk Bubbles. Together, they uncover a secret hidden deep within the monastery and perhaps attract some unwanted attention. Music: Tabletop Audio Sound effects: Zapsplat, epidemic sound Check us out: https://pseudonymsocial.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/pseudonymsocial.bsky.social Follow us: https://twitter.com/PseudonymSocial Support us: https://www.patreon.com/pseudonymsocial/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/briannajean

• 1 hr 48 min
• APR 19, 2024

2. The Road Past Ruin

After the attack on Springhelm, Foster is guided by a Firmum scout to a passing caravan where she can disappear. There she meets an enthusiastic alchemist named Remede Fremont, who agrees to help her on her quest to travel to a city she has only ever heard of. Haven’s Reach. Music: Tabletop Audio Sound effects: Zapsplat, epidemic sound Check us out: https://pseudonymsocial.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/pseudonymsocial.bsky.social Follow us: https://twitter.com/PseudonymSocial Support us: https://www.patreon.com/pseudonymsocial/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/briannajean

• 1 hr 27 min
• APR 5, 2024

1. The Returning Festival

Shadows may lurk on the horizon, but today is the Returning Festival and that means there is a lot that needs to be done. Foster and Philomena have been chosen to fill the role of lookout and signaler, as per tradition. Springhelm has been preparing for the coming threat but that danger may be closer than they realized. Music: Tabletop Audio Sound effects: Zapsplat, epidemic sound Check us out: https://pseudonymsocial.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/pseudonymsocial.bsky.social Follow us: https://twitter.com/PseudonymSocial Support us: https://www.patreon.com/pseudonymsocial/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/briannajean

• 1 hr 12 min
• MAR 22, 2024

A closer look at the place where this story begins, and the story of two characters who are key to this tale. Music: Tabletop Audio Sound effects: Zapsplat, epidemic sound Check us out: https://pseudonymsocial.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/pseudonymsocial.bsky.social Follow us: https://twitter.com/PseudonymSocial Support us: https://www.patreon.com/pseudonymsocial/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/briannajean

• 1 hr 45 min
• MAR 8, 2024

The Game and The World

We start off with some scene setting and some world-building. Music: Tabletop Audio Sound effects: Zapsplat, epidemic sound Check us out: https://pseudonymsocial.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/pseudonymsocial.bsky.social Follow us: https://twitter.com/PseudonymSocial Support us: https://www.patreon.com/pseudonymsocial/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/briannajean

• © All rights reserved.

Top Podcasts In Fiction

“It was a long journey with tons of special moments”: Interview with Baldur’s Gate 3 composer, Borislav Slavov

There’s no denying the huge impact Baldur’s Gate 3 has had on the world since its release last year. After countless awards and appreciation globally, it still finds ways to touch our hearts. A huge part of its success is down to the beautiful score composed by Borislav Slavov . It gave every single decision you made such poignancy, whether choosing to save your friends or sacrifice. All of those hundreds of hours players put in were serenaded by the powerful and moving music every step of the way. I recently got an opportunity to interview Borislav, composer of the Baldur’s Gate 3 score, and to call it an honour was an understatement. I can’t thank him enough for finding the time in his busy schedule to talk about his work on the music, and a big congratulations on the BAFTA win. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

There are so many themes in Baldur’s Gate 3, such as redemption, loss, and overcoming personal obstacles. One that, I think, shines brighter than the rest is love, and ‘Down by the River’ and its melody that is used on a few songs on the soundtrack captures those different bonds, whether romantically or platonically so well. What is the importance of that melody to you?

This is the main melody and theme of the game and I was lucky to find inspiration and compose it right at the beginning of the production.  Its role was the most important one in the entire game. It governed the soundtrack and  it was presented right at the start of the game through 4 parts, meant to reflect the main aspects of the third instalment in the series: Survival and sacrifice, fellowship & betrayal, love  and lure (of absolute power).After you create your character and begin your adventure  it goes like a silver line through the entire story.

In both ‘Down by the River’ and ‘The Power (Credits Song),’ that melody is used in two different yet poignant ways. Was that repetition something you had in mind when you wrote it, or was there a moment that gave you the inspiration to use it in other pieces of music on the soundtrack?

With the “The Power – credit song”  I wanted to comprise several important themes in the game (including the main one , “Down By The River ” ) in a single song. This was my way to bring the story of love, struggle and survival to a conclusion. And also my love letter to the Larian studios team and everyone who managed to reach the end of the game. A fun fact is that the instrumental bard version of the song was produced after I composed the song version (with lyrics). That was the moment I realized that this song was bound to play a bigger role from different perspectives in the game, with the last one being at the very end.

What was the first piece of music you wrote for Baldur’s Gate 3?

“Down By The River”, which I presented and sang live on stage , presenting the music direction to the team at the very beginning 🙂

Would you mind going into a bit of detail about the creative process when crafting the music for Baldur’s Gate 3? 

BG3 had to feature a massive interactive soundtrack that reflects the narrative design, cinematics, players decisions and key story moments. When the world changes as a result of a player’s choice, so does the music – it instantly reflects the new situation. To have a good grasp on all those aspects of the game I had to stay closely connected with Narrative, Gameplay and Cinematic teams throughout the entire development of the game..

Larian is a special place where we keep inspired and in sync with one another through discussions, brainstorming and ideas sharing all the time. Sometimes the music production would follow the traditional waterfall process and would come as one of the last elements in the game, being completely driven by the narrative, visuals and gameplay. This means I would collect all the information and inspiration I need for the music from the already created elements of the game.  On the other hand, the insanely big scope of the game required a strong vision and direction for music even when not everything else was already set in stone. There was not always time to wait for some elements (visuals, story, gameplay)   to be complete before I start my work. And this is where the bigger challenge was.

I had to go ahead of the waterfall. My anchor and biggest inspiration in those moments were the narrative of the game and the passionate discussions with my fellow colleagues at Larian. They would spend hours talking with me, explaining to me the goals we were aiming for, help me understand  and collect the music needs and  open my imagination to the point I can have a look into the future. Based on those, music production was going in parallel with the other parts of the game, leaving a space for the music implementation at the very end this way. This is how we successfully ended up with 17 hours of interactive music in the game. 🙂

There are two songs that absolutely blew me away while playing. One of which was ‘Weeping Dawn’ as the moment can be missed completely in Emerald Grove. I think it’s so striking because it’s one you simply get to listen to and watch Alfira as she plays this touching song so early on. It’s a moment I thought about a lot, especially in Act 3 when I craved for those simpler times as opposed to hunting down the Netherstones and stopping the Illithad. How did you feel when you saw it in game for the first time, especially with the amazing work Larian did in portraying it?

Makes me happy you mention this particular moment in the game as it is a great example of how Larian works as a company. This song was a result of a passionate collaboration between narrative, music and cinematic teams and it was not planned initially. One day one of our writers back then, Rachel, approached me directly with an emotional request to compose a song for a character from the game she was responsible for at that time. A week later I presented the song to the team.  The guys were touched so much that it was decided to give it a full blown cut scene with Alfira performing the song as part the reward for completing her quest. A true labour of love and an instance of mutual inspiration and Larian Studios culture.

Baldur’s Gate 3 interview: The second song, and one that is both beautiful and unique, is ‘Raphael’s Final Act.’  Mariya’s powerful opening hits you hard, and then Andrew starts to sing, which is so refreshing. Where did the idea come from to score the boss fight as a musical number?

The idea for the song came  from our Director Swen Vincke, about half a year before the release of the game. The team instantly loved it and we believed it would be an exciting way to conclude the story arc of our charismatic villain Raphael. I had to set the style of the song, produce it  and decide how we were going to implement it in the game. And that’s the part I went a bit unconventional. The moment the lyrics landed on my desk I realized  there was  one thrilling way to go – a full blown musical number,  as an intro to Raphael’s  “Final Act” encounter. It was one of those moments when you think – “I know it’s crazy, but it feels so right.”

Raphael’s Final Act #BaldursGate3 concert, @philharmonia London Philharmonia Orchestra , Game Music Festival , Andrew Wincott @larianstudios 📷 by @GameMusicFestiv pic.twitter.com/nSmjCMwrPR — Borislav Slavov (@Borislav_Slavov) May 6, 2024

Mariya Anastasova plays quite a role in the soundtrack, and her voice is stunning. How did you two come to work together on Baldur’s Gate 3?

I stumbled upon a recording of “The Beauty and the Beast”  where she was singing and I loved her voice. Without hesitation I sent her a hello message and an invitation for a vocal recordings audition. We met and It turned out she was listening to Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Spotify before she even realized I was the same guy that invited her. Everything happens for a reason , I guess? 🙂

What has your time working on Baldur’s Gate 3 been like, and do you have any special memories of your time working with the musicians, singers, or members of Larian while composing the soundtrack?

It was a long journey with tons of special moments. Here is a fun fact. All the first versions of the songs were initially performed and recorded with my voice. You can imagine the fun every time I was singing together with the musicians to nail the right tone, phrasing and emotion I was looking for in the songs. Sometimes we laughed, sometimes the eyes went wet. And every time we put a piece of our hearts there.

Thanks for reading our Baldur’s Gate 3 interview with Borislav Slavov. You can check out our review of the game, here .

Chris White

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Released Journey: The Long Road - (PUBLIC RELEASE!)

Discussion in ' Terrains, Levels, Maps ' started by Spencer Johnson , Feb 11, 2023 .

Spencer Johnson Expand Collapse

PUBLIC RELEASE! New map! This is called The Long Road which aims to bring The Long Drive to BeamNG! This map has been great to work on, as it feels more like an experience while driving through! I have also added a rainy version that makes the roads wet, and the ambiance 10x better. Hope you enjoy this map and a special thank you to Camodo Gaming for commissioning it! Patreon FREE Download Link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/78485489 Features: 4 Biomes 16km x 16km Map Size Lots to explore and see Lots of Custom Assets / Models Custom Sounds Dark Night Rain Version Easter Eggs And MORE (not giving all of it away...) Images: Video: (Contains Spoilers)  

Nazu Expand Collapse

reminds me of a very peculiar game  

bussin.buses Expand Collapse

Nazu said: ↑ reminds me of a very peculiar game Click to expand...

Bot_imppa Expand Collapse

hey look  

Agent_Y Expand Collapse Jbeam/QA support BeamNG Team

Lol I had a dream last month that someone made a map like this and Camodo reviewed it, it even had a similar abandonned city but in the dream it was less ruined and had actual asphalt roads, and there were also crossroads sections. Now someone has to make a drivable KarL lol  

JustANormalDriver Expand Collapse

epic  

Matt_890s Expand Collapse

The hill texture in pic 5 could use some work ngl, otherwise this is a pretty interesting map!  

Johan The Channel Expand Collapse

Spencer Johnson said: ↑ New map! This is called The Long Road which aims to bring The Long Drive to BeamNG! This map has been great to work on, as it feels more like an experience while driving through! I have also added a rainy version that makes the roads wet, and the ambiance 10x better. Hope you enjoy this map and a special thank you to Camodo Gaming for commissioning it! Also yes this map will be released to the public eventually , I don't like fully pay-walling it, so expect next month if you don't want to join Patreon now Patreon Download Link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/78485489 Features: 4 Biomes 16km x 16km Map Size Lots to explore and see Lots of Custom Assets / Models Custom Sounds Dark Night Rain Version Easter Eggs And MORE (not giving all of it away...) Images: View attachment 992367 View attachment 992368 View attachment 992369 View attachment 992370 View attachment 992371 View attachment 992372 View attachment 992373 View attachment 992374 View attachment 992375 View attachment 992376 Video: (Contains Spoilers) Click to expand...

Matt_890s said: ↑ The hill texture in pic 5 could use some work ngl, otherwise this is a pretty interesting map! Click to expand...

Bosch Expand Collapse

as an avid player of the long drive i approve of this map. very cool  

patrick the furry Expand Collapse

30948012835649813754713584651326541/10  

patrick the furry said: ↑ 30948012835649813754713584651326541/10 Click to expand...

Johan The Channel said: ↑ What is this? Click to expand...

bussin.buses said: ↑ I think it’s because the Long Drive has textures like that, and I’m pretty sure that’s why the cars are kinda low-poly, too Click to expand...

bruhcarerr Expand Collapse Banned

nice, also i recommend you to import the abandoned ships of the desert expanse map (if you havent already) and put them instead of the original abandoned ships in the long drive that you can find barrels in them. but a pretty cool map! --- Post updated --- JustANormalDriver said: ↑ he means: that much of a number/10 Click to expand...

bruhcarerr said: ↑ nice, also i recommend you to import the abandoned ships of the desert expanse map (if you havent already) and put them instead of the original abandoned ships in the long drive that you can find barrels in them. but a pretty cool map! Click to expand...

Spencer Johnson said: ↑ Recommendation already done I literally did just that haha, they worked perfectly in this map. Click to expand...

bruhcarerr said: ↑ nice! (also, in the main post, you mean that it will be free after a month?) Click to expand...

Spencer Johnson said: ↑ Yes Click to expand...

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A Long Journey

App screenshots.

App Description

A Long Journey is a visual novel game with role-playing elements, the setting takes place in the future, where people want to explore new planets.

Introducing A Long Journey

Download a long journey latest version for android, mac, win.

The game is set in the future, where the world is becoming harsh for human life, and a corporation called Hawkink Tech has created the first colonial ships to explore new planets. .

The game’s protagonist is a software engineer who has chosen to risk his life and become a colonist to start a new society on a distant planet. However, something goes wrong and he wakes up too soon from his frozen slumber, to find himself alone on the giant empty ship.

The story of the game revolves around the protagonist’s journey to find a way to escape the ship, and he soon discovers that he is not alone. He meets a young woman with fiery red hair with whom he must overcome the challenges they face. The story of the game is full of twists and turns, and the player must discover the next story and make decisions for the protagonist.

The visuals of the game are top notch, with beautifully designed character models and environments that will transport players to vast empty spaces. The game’s music and sound design is also excellent, adding to the overall immersive experience of the game.

One of the game’s strengths is the branching storyline, which is influenced by the player’s decisions. Player choices have consequences, and they can lead to different outcomes, adding replay value to the game.

In a nutshell, A Long Journey is a well-written and beautifully visual novel game with role-playing elements. The game’s story is engaging and the branching story offers replay value. The game’s music and sound design add to the immersive experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Available Files

Editor's Rating

Story (8/10)

Core Loop (5/10)

Gameplay (8/10)

Visual (7/10)

Final Score

This is a personal assessment, you can experience and score according to your own way of thinking. Leave your review in the comments section below.

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The Long Road to Graduation: Chelsea Harkins’ 14-year journey to a bachelor’s degree

May 13, 2024

On Saturday, May 11, at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Chelsea Harkins completed a 14-year journey to receive her college degree from Georgia Southern University. It’s a quest she pursued with passion and perseverance, overcoming unimaginable obstacles along the way.

“It’s been something that I could never just step away from and just say, ‘I’m throwing my hands up and I just can’t do it,’” she said. “It was a need to continue doing this for myself.

“Now that I’m at the finish line, I can look back and see how unique it is. But at the time, when you’re in it, it’s a hard line between ‘Wow, I failed because I didn’t do it the way people normally do’ and ‘Wow, I did it even though people said I couldn’t.’”

Despite their opinions, few people could have traveled the road Harkins took to get her degree.

A native of Cincinnati, Harkins began her college education in 2009 at Miami University in Ohio, where she pursued an English education degree to become a teacher in an urban school district. Her passion was and still is helping people, and teaching students in difficult circumstances seemed a fulfilling way to spend a career.

Just a few semesters into her education, however, Harkins and her family were faced with the ultimate nightmare for any parent. Her oldest daughter, only 9 years old at the time, was diagnosed with severe mental health issues. She spent the next few years finding the right medications, receiving specialized therapy and joining groups for socialization and play.

In an effort to keep her education moving, and to learn more about what was going on with her daughter, Harkins changed her major and pursued courses to become a psychiatric nurse.

“You start digging really deep and doing as much research as you can to figure out what’s happening with your child,” she said. “It led me to want to work in the mental health field because I saw what was lacking and also what was good. But it was a lot of ‘Let me try to take a class here or there,’ but my daughter had to go to a lot of institutions and doctors and I just couldn’t keep up.”

It was several years before Harkins could commit to school at all again, but health setbacks required her to shift her life again.

Her youngest son was diagnosed with heart failure while still in the womb. When he was born, Harkins said he had a stroke and died in her hands. He was immediately airlifted to another hospital and brought back to life. It was years before he could experience the normal, healthy life he enjoys today.

“Those extra worries don’t really go away,” she said. “Even when doctors start saying things are better, they still sit in your mind as a mom.”

After years of upheaval, Harkins’ life began to get back to a semblance of normalcy when she and her family decided to move to Richmond Hill, Georgia, in 2018. She wanted to continue schooling when she arrived but had to wait two years to be able to get in-state tuition at Georgia Southern’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah.

When it was time to go back to school, however, Harkins wasn’t sure where to begin again.

“I changed my major a lot,” she said. “It’s actually a running joke in my family and circle of friends that I never know what I want to do when I grow up.”

She decided to pursue an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in sociology and criminal justice, and a minor in psychology. The interdisciplinary degree would allow her to use the credits she’d gained in other programs, and her concentrations and minor would allow her to pursue her passion for helping others through such difficult circumstances as her own.

“It was hard because the mom guilt made me feel bad for doing it,” she said. “But personally, I loved doing it — every class I took. A lot of people say, ‘Man, you wasted a lot of time, though, changing majors or taking courses you didn’t need. And always my response is, ‘That’s not true! Because nobody can take this knowledge from me. I don’t have to give it back. It’s mine. I get to keep it so I don’t feel like it was a waste.’”

Harkins return to school was anything but easy. In order for her to become a full-time student again, she relied on her family to rely less on her. She was still helping keep family finances in the black, and she worked at The Crab Shack on Tybee Island as a waitress and bartender as well as an assistant at McNamara Law Firm in Savannah.

Despite the long hours, Harkins still found time to do hours of service-learning at a women’s shelter in Richmond Hill and take 18 credit hours for the last two semesters of her degree.

“This ending year is the hardest I’ve done, but I’m doing it,” she said. “We had a family meeting and we all agreed that I’m going to push through and do it. And they would try not to rely on me for as many things. So it was kind of a family affair by the end. Even my husband started cooking! It was great!

“Are there times I wanted to quit? Yes, today,” she added, laughing. “As I’m looking at how many papers are due, today is a good day if I wanted to quit.”

Though she faced difficulties and isolation as an older student, Harkins says she was motivated to keep going by her kids, who watched her persevere for years to reach this goal. She says they’re all thriving now,  and some of them are now adults. But she wants them to remember how important education is — especially her daughters.

“I’m the first woman on my mother’s side to earn a college degree,” she said. “I think it’s important for women to be educated and to know that their education is worth it and that they can do anything. I tell my daughters one of the most dangerous things you can do is be completely dependent on somebody else.”

As Harkins reflects on her journey, she still wrestles with whether she should feel guilt for taking so long to finish or feel pride for pushing through and crossing the finish line. She faced personal doubts, guilt and occasional negativity from friends and family who thought she shouldn’t be in college at all.

At the end of this road, however, she’s happy they’ll all be there to see her do what seemed impossible.

“I tear up as I think about the people who are coming from all over the U.S. to watch me do this,” she said. “So I am just excited and ready to see everybody and let them see me do what some of them said I couldn’t.

“It’s a hard debate inside your brain of whether you should celebrate yourself or should you be mad at yourself because you didn’t already have it done. But the other side of being happy with myself is winning. It’s starting to win out.”

Being happy should win out for Harkins, who has crammed four years of college into 14 as the saying goes. And while she’s proud of her accomplishments, she knows there’s still some ribbing she’ll have to endure.

“I think people still don’t believe there’s actually a graduation party,” she said.

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Watch CBS News

Making the treacherous journey north through the Darién Gap

By Enrique Acevedo

May 14, 2023 / 9:39 AM EDT / CBS News

The Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world. Stretching from Alaska to Argentina, its construction was once the largest international development project ever attempted by the United States. But more than a hundred years after the road was first proposed, one section remains unbuilt: the sixty-six miles of remote jungle known as the Darién Gap.

"It is the only stretch of the Americas where engineers could not build the Pan-American Highway," said Julie Turkewitz, Andes bureau chief for The New York Times. "This essentially created a barrier between South America and Central America."

Last fall Turkewitz and photographer Federico Rios followed and photographed a group of migrants on their nine-day journey through the Darién Gap. She found a route once too treacherous to build a road has become a traffic jam. "Just masses of people crossing the jungle," she said. "It was like being in line at the Statue of Liberty."

• In record numbers, Venezuelans risk a deadly trek to reach the U.S. border (New York Times)

Last year 250,000 people crossed the Darién Gap – twenty times more than just a few years ago.

"You have a sort of vibrant economy of smugglers who are advertising the Darien Gap on TikTok and Facebook, which is where a lot of migrants are talking," Turkewitz said.

Acevedo asked, "What does that look like? They advertise their services, or they are trying to tell people that this is a safe way to get to the U.S.?"

"Both. They talk about how this trek is possible. They will answer people's questions. They spread a ton of misinformation about which nationalities are being allowed in."

And when they arrive in the jungle, most migrants are not ready for what lies ahead. "It can be absolutely harrowing," said Turkewitz. "You don't know what's around the next bend. You don't know how deep the river is. You don't know how slippery the rock is. A lot of people who are making this journey not only are not physically prepared, but don't have the resources to buy boots or to buy proper food or to buy proper clothes. And some of them are children. And so the sort of level of vulnerability that people are subject to is kind of hard to describe."

Alejandro Marrufo crossed the Darién last year. He said he saw families and children on the journey. "Yes, I saw people who died. Imagine you hurt yourself in the middle of the jungle. How do you get out?" he asked.

Marrufo left Venezuela in 2018. He decided to venture north after struggling for years in neighboring Colombia to earn enough money to support his children back home. "I have done all this for my two daughters," he said. "They are the reason I have lasted five years on this journey."

Runaway inflation, at times reaching as high as 10 million percent , has led to shortages of food and medicine in Venezuela. Since 2015, seven million people – a quarter of the country's population – have fled . Most have settled in countries nearby, but hundreds of thousands have made their way to the United States.

And trouble in the region isn't limited to Venezuela. COVID devastated economies across Latin America and the Caribbean, while authoritarian governments and climate change are driving millions of people to leave.

"Most people don't want to flee their homes and travel thousands and thousands of miles through seriously dangerous conditions to start over in a new country," said Tyler Mattiace, a researcher for Human Rights Watch in Mexico. "People do that because they are forced to."

Mattiace says the U.S. government needs to pay more attention to why people leave home in the first place.

Acevedo asked, "Do you think there's too much focus on the U.S.-Mexico border?"

"Absolutely, I do," Mattiace replied. "The policy towards Latin America has really ignored serious and growing human rights crises in many countries across the region, and focused almost exclusively on trying to stop migration coming north through any means possible. Those policies, first of all, don't work. The number of people who are fleeing their countries continues to grow, because these crises continue to grow. And it also has deadly consequences."

In March, a fire at a Mexican migrant detention facility near the border killed 40 people .

Mexico has seen a record number of asylum claims in recent years. More migrants are living on the streets and crowding shelters, a direct result, says Mattiace, of U.S. pressure to quiet the situation at the border.

More than a month after crossing the Darién Gap, Alejandro Marrufo made it to Mexico City. He's found a job at a local market, and can even send some money back home. He says his goal is to make it to the U.S. legally. "I don't want to enter illegally; for me, that's not an option," he said.

But with border policies constantly changing, the road ahead for Marrufo (and so many other migrants) remains unclear.

According to Julie Turkewitz, "Some people follow the rules and they get nowhere; some people follow the rules and they get in; some people don't follow the rules, and they get in. And I think that arbitrary nature is one of the things that makes people feel the most frustrated, but it's also the thing that makes them risk the journey. It's that constant hope of something better, and this idea that, you know, their kids' lives can be better.

"I'm sure you guys hear this all the time, and it's probably sweet, like cheesy and cliché, but the American dream dies hard. Even after all of this, the deportations, all of the problems that one knows exist in the United States, the power of the American dream, it's powering that journey [for them]."

       For more info:

• Julie Turkewitz, Andes bureau chief, The New York Times
• Photographer Federico Rios
• Tyler Mattiace, Americas researcher, Human Rights Watch

      Story produced by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Carol Ross. 

      See also: 

Enrique Acevedo is a correspondent for CBS News. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Acevedo has covered major news stories around the globe in English and Spanish for print, broadcast and online media.

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Getting to Know the Big Dolphins UDFA with the Big Personality and Great Story

Michael france | may 12, 2024.

• Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins undrafted free agent Bayron Matos has had about as unconventional a route to the National Football League as any player in recent memory.

The Dominican Republic native first took to baseball, where he could throw a 90 mile-per-hour fastball.

Basketball was his next love — the reason he came to the United States at 17 years old. He soon found himself in Tennessee with no knowledge of the language. Matos' English began with one word.

"Every time somebody used to ask me something or whatever, I'd say 'hungry,'" Matos told the South Florida media Friday. "They'd be, 'How are you?' and I'd say, 'I'm hungry.' 'Are you going to school today?' 'I'm hungry.'"

Basketball brought Matos to the U.S., but what he got from the country was much more than athletics.

"It was a better opportunity to go to college ... learn a new culture," Matos said. "A beautiful culture."

MATOS AS A COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER

Matos was a three-star basketball recruit who had several offers from SEC schools. He ultimately wound up at New Mexico. After a redshirt his first year, Matos played in 20 games for the Lobos as a redshirt freshman. He averaged six points per game.

Matos then transferred to the University of South Florida, where he played one season for the Bulls, appearing in 28 games.

It was then that Matos made the football team as a walk-on in 2022. Matos knew about the sport from his time in Tennessee.

"My host family back in Tennessee, they said, 'You are in the United States, you are going to be a football player. You will never touch a basketball," he said.

Matos' role with the Bulls was variable, but limited a few snaps.

"I played defense, I played special teams. I blocked ... I play special teams, I played defensive end ... I played in two games against BYU [and] against Howard," Matos said.

BAYRON MATOS AND HIS NFL ASPIRATIONS

Matos has studied the game through NFL offensive tackle Tyron Smith -- who is his favorite player.

"I watch that guy a lot," he said. "Watching that guy play is watching art."

Matos said he ultimately chose the Dolphins after receiving different offers as a rookie free agent because he liked offensive line coach Butch Barry, Miami's player development, and the weather.

Miami signed Matos for $247,500 guaranteed.

As a native of the Dominican Republic, Matos is part of the International Player Pathway program, which means he currently does not count against the 90-player roster limit, nor would he count against the maximum of 16 practice squad players once the regular season starts.

The 6-foot-7, 313-pound Matos is intriguing from a measurable standpoint. Matos has speed to go with his immense size -- he ran a 4.88 40-yard dash.

Matos said that playing in the NFL is one of his "goals in life."

"Man, I feel good to be here," Matos said. "(The Dolphins) gave me this opportunity to be here, I'm really grateful for that. I know (that) not a lot of people take a shot on a guy that never played the sport before."

The Dolphins have recent experience with an international prospect, lineman Durval Queiroz Neto from Brazil. He spent a couple of years on the Dolphins practice squad and got a handful of snaps in a preseason game, but never was able to progress to the 53-man roster.

Matos' goals are much bigger than that, though.

"I want to be one of the first Domnicans to play in the NFL," he said, "and my goal is to be one of the best tackles to play in the NFL."

MICHAEL FRANCE