Immigration from the Philippines

Contributed to Bernadette Leano

My Mom's Immigration from the Philippines

My mom comes from a big family in the Philippines. She was expected to be another politician in her family just like her grandfather and her aunt. She was expected to take care of those workers on her farm along with her 8 other siblings. Though this life sounds a bit glamorous, she wanted to live her own life - make a living for herself. She felt that the only way for her to do that was to seek out further education in the land of opportunity. 

Interview: 

Below is an interview of my mother about her immigration from the Philippines to the United States.

 

Bernadette: Hearing stories about your childhood and the cultures of the Philippines, how did you leave the comfort of your family?

Lizette: Well, I had been raised by my mother and my grandfather and they always taught me that you should always do what you have to do to succeed and get farther in life. So that is exactly what I did. My oldest sister, my younger sister, and I left the comforting barriers of our farm and we headed for America. Of course it was hard to leave behind, my family, my friends, my school, my home and, especially, my other brothers and sisters, but I wanted to make something of my life and I couldn't see it happening there.

Bernadette: Okay so when you got here, what happened next? Like what did you do? Was it what you wanted or hoped for?

Lizette: Upon getting here, my sisters and I all moved into a house and continued to attend college. I was majoring in engineering at the time. And to answer the second part, of course it was a little tough in the beginning because my sisters and I were not used to being on our own. As children, we had nannies that pretty much raised us in addition to our mom and grandfather. So yes, it was hard at first, but it all worked out in the end.

Bernadette: So do you think that immigrating to America was the best choice for your future?

Lizette: I would have to say yes because without me coming to America, my sisters and I wouldn't have bonded together as much and I wouldn't have been able to further my education as well as I did in an American college rather than one in the Philippines. I also learned that I would be able to support myself without my family’s money. I gained a sense of pride knowing that I could be able to do this all by myself.

Bernadette: Thanks so much for sharing. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

Lizette: All I would like to say is that though I am from the Philippines, I have learned so much in America and am grateful to be able to be here today.

My Grandfather's Journey from Italy

Contributed by Gabriella Guardascione

      

 

During 1935, in Italy, money was scarce.  Most Italians came to America due to the opportunity that was given to them.  They wanted to earn enough money to go back to Italy and buy land.  They tried to recreate the life they had in Italy while in America.  Most of the people that came were men and unskilled peasants.  Most of them were also Catholic.  Italians tried to open up pasta shops, restaurants, and pizzerias.  Because of prejudice against the Italians, their opportunities were limited.  Immigration was decreased due to the Immigration Act of 1924.  The law was against immigrants from eastern and southern Europe.  When Italians returned to America from fighting in WWII, they were accepted into America society.  By them, most Italians decided to move to Australia or Argentina.

Interview:

My Grandfather, Porfirio Costagliola, came to the United States with his parents for the opportunity to change their lives.  In interviewing him, I discovered what I had not known before.

What made you immigrate to the United States from Italy?

Porfirio: I came here because my father brought us to America.  I went back and forth to Italy and America a few times.  We wanted a better life.

What was going on in Italy during that time period?

Porfirio: The first time we came, in 1935, I don’t remember much.  Italy wasn’t in a bad spot because it was before the war.  The second time we came was in 1947.  We barely had any money to go to the United States.  There was nothing to eat, since it was after the war.

How was life in the United States different from Italy?

Porfirio: In America, it was so much nicer.  The streets were bigger, the people were nicer, and there were more jobs and more money than Italy had.  I hated America though because I missed Italy and my friends.   I had nothing over here and for two years I would cry because of it.  Eventually after going to night school to learn English for four nights a week, I became much more comfortable in society and made friends.

What do you remember doing to help your family?

Porfirio: The first time in America I couldn’t do much because I was too young.  As I got older in Italy, before we left again, I would work on my family’s land helping to plant fruits and vegetables.   At 17 years old, in America, I worked at a Grocery Store as a stock boy.  I often delivered to places like Wall Street and made $28-29 a week, which was different than what I was used to in Italy.  I remember how nice and different the big buildings were compared to Italy.  Then I worked in CBS assembling factory, making televisions.  One day a friend of mine at the Italian club offered me a job as a Longshoreman.  I would watch more people immigrate to the United States and it often reminded me of my time on the ship.   

How did you immigrate here?

Porfirio: My family and I came on a ship called The Rex or in Italian known as the SS Conte di Savoia.

 How was the trip?

Porfirio: I loved the trip.  It was a new, great experience.  It had great food and people.  We even used to play cards at night, bonding over the fact we would be coming into this new country.

How long did it take?

Porfirio: It took seven days to get to the United States.   

Who came to the United States with you?

Porfirio: My entire family came to the United States the first time around.  The second time, my stepmom died, and my father sent my sister, my brother, and I alone to the United States. He wasn’t able to communicate with us because of Italy’s bad relationship with America, but eventually got through.     

For more information on the immigration of Italians to America, see:

"Italian Life in New York." Immigration and Multiculturalism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 76-78. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

"99.03.06: The Italian Immigrant Experience in America (1870-1920)." 99.03.06: The Italian Immigrant Experience in America (1870-1920). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

"From Europe to America: Immigration Through Family Tales." History of Italian Immigration. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
 

McMillian, Peter. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

"Immigration: The Italians." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

My Aunt's Immigration & Citizenship

Contributed by Nick Rhein

Colombian American Citizen

The United States has cracked down on immigration in the past on numbers with the Emergency Quota Act and the Immigration Act. Today we face the issue of illegal immigrants that cross the borders to reap the benefits of our capitalist economy without the tedious process of immigration. There are many ways to enter the country legally however be it through family members, for work purposes, refugees from dangerous countries, and a few other less common. My aunt was able to come into the country when she married my Uncle Jerry, who already was an American citizen. The normally waiting time is five years after a visa is acquired, but for my aunt, she only had to wait three for being the spouse of a citizen. She paid to take tests in US history and English which are required for the application. If applicants pass and show good behavior and respect for the law, they are American citizens, just like my aunt.

Interview:

Below is an interview of my Aunt, who talks about her immigration journey to become a citizen of the United States.

Q. What town were you born in and where do you live?I was born in Barranquilla (Atlantico) Colombia. I did live the most part in Barranquilla, but I also lived in Bogota.
Q. How did you meet Uncle Jerry?Uncle Jerry went to visit Barranquilla, and I met him in my friend's office.
Q. When and where?January 28,2006 in Barranquilla.
Q. When and where did you get married?We got married November 1, 2006 in Santa Marta's Catholic Church (La iglesia Santa Marta), en Barranquilla.
Q. How long did the process take to get a visa?We start the process in April and I got the visa in October. (2006)
Q. When did you move to the United States?I came to US on November 2, 2006.
Q. Did you ever come the the US prior?No.
Q. Did you ever have a desire to visit?I never thought about to live in a different country than mine. But always knew if I need to moved I'll be ok with it.
Q. What did you have to do to gain US citizenship?Past a test. Actually I need to complete 3 years living here with a green card before I could apply to be a Citizen.
Q. How long did that process take?About four months.
Q. Do you think the process of immigration and citizenship reasonable?Yes. The test is a little extreme because I needed to learn a lot about History and Geography. I read that an average  national citizen is not  able to answer most of the questions on the test. I studied a book with 100 questions, additional to that I need to be able to read, write, speak, and understand basic English.

Q. Did you have any obstacles?
No. But the biggest challenge was and still  is my accent. (hahahah).

Q. DId you have a grasp for English prior to this process?
I took English classes in College, (I knew some English). I was able to write some words and able to understand some reading. But I was not able to pronounced the words.
Q. Are there restrictions to new citizens or not?No.
Q. Were you able to vote in the presidential election?Yes. and I did.
Q. Are you proud to say that you are an American?I can say yes, I'm proud to be a person to show respect to the customs and laws in the place I live.
Q. Do you consider yourself a Colombian, American, or both?I'm an American by citizenship, a Colombian by heart.
My country (Colombia) recognizes dual-citizen perhaps I'm legally both Colombian and American.




For more information on immigration to the United States, see:

 "Todays Immigration." Yahoo News. Yahoo, 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. <http://news.yahoo.com/immigrant-population-record-40-million-2010-100108933.html>.

Starkweather, Sarah. "U.S. Immigration Legislation." U.S. Immigration Legislation. University of Washington-Bothell, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://library.uwb.edu/guides/usimmigration/USimmigrationlegislation.html
.

"How the United States Immigration System Works: A Fact Sheet." Immigration Policy Center. N.p., 4 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. <http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-fact-sheet>.

My Mother's Immigration into the United States

Contributed by Krystyna Maciejak

My Mother's Immigration into the United States

 

My mom emigrated from Poland into the United States during the 1970-1980s era.  Their main reason for leaving Poland was that Poland was a communist country and life was difficult and limited.  Poland first became a communist country in 1947, under the Stalinist leader Boleslaw Bierut.  Life in communist Poland was very rough.  It was a struggle for people to get the basic foods they needed every day.  Uprisings began in 1970, where there was a food price riot in Gdansk.  Prices on food were raised and this significantly affected the urban workers and caused them to strike.  Riots caused the death of 50 workers who were shot and killed by the police.

Poland had what was known as a “shortage economy”.  This limited people’s lives and caused them to be unable to purchase everyday necessities such as bread, coal, or toothpaste.  In 1980, Poland faced an economic crisis and was forced into raising the price of goods, which caused many strikes, lead by the Polish labor force, to spread across the country.  The strike started on August 14^th, 1980, and workers demanded legislation for independent labor unions.  The strike continued on August 16^th, and many other committees joined the Gdansk shipyard workers.  These strikers made more demands, such as the legal formation of independent trade unions, an end to media censorship, the right to strike, new rights for the Church, the freeing of political prisoners, and improvements in the national health system. The strike caused many factories to shut down during the duration of it.  The Polish Soviet government finally signed an agreement passing many of the workers’ demands, known as the Gdansk Agreement.  This was a significant step in taking apart the Soviet power. 

After this agreement, there was more tension and pressure put upon the Polish government by the Russians.  The Russians felt that they were losing control of Poland.  Wojciech Jaruzelski, sent by the Soviets, became prime minister of Poland in 1981.  On December 13^th, 1981, he declared Martial Law on the country.  This caused lifestyles to change.  Borders were sealed, travel from city to city required permission, curfew was imposed, telephone lines were disconnected, and mail was censored.  Police officers filled the streets.  When people tried to fight back, strikes were crushed by riot police.  During nights about 5,000 Solidarity members, people trying to bring down the communist government, were arrested and put in jail.  At the end of 1981, Solidarity had weakened and by 1982 Solidarity was banned.  The Martial Law was then lifted in 1983.   

Interview:

I have interviewed my mother about her immigration from Poland to the United States.  Click here:Interview or go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/md4gl2gy9b8dhrc/Memory%20Project%20Slideshow.pptx 

For more information, see :

“The Polish Crisis." Socialist Labor Party of America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

http://www.slp.org/res_state_htm/polish_crisis81.html.

"The Story of the Solidarity Movement." Gdansk Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

http://www.gdansk-life.com/poland/solidarity.

Poland Timeline." BBC News. N.p., 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1054724.stm.

"Poland-Economy." Mongabay. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/poland/ECONOMY.html.

"History of Poland." New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/History_of_Poland_(1945-1989).

 

Italian Immigration

When we hear about immigration we think of people from other countries coming to join ours and nothing more. But what happens after they arrive, what is the rest of their story? Immigration from Italy started in the 1800s. Many Italian immigrants faced prejudice when immigrating to the United States. Jobs couldn't be found and names were called. The main purpose for migration to America was poverty, but political hardship and the dream to return to Italy with enough money to buy land were motivators as well. Italians had immigrated to either Argentina or Brazil as well however, for various reasons many of them ended up staying in America. Despite the mass migration from 1876 to 1976 Italians still only made 1.5% of the population. From 1900 to 1910 over 2,100,00 arrived. Of these, around 40 per cent eventually returned to Italy. An investigation carried out in 1978 revealed that since 1820 over 5,294,000 people immigrated to the United States from Italy. This amounted to 10.9 per cent of the total foreign immigration during this period.

Interview:

It doesn't end there, below is a video of a John Cerimele, who talks about his story and continues to live it. 

 

For more information on immigrating from Italy, see:

"99.03.06: The Italian Immigrant Experience in America (1870-1920)." 99.03.06: The Italian Immigrant Experience in America (1870-1920). 14 Mar. 2013 <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1999/3/99.03.06.x.html>.

"Countries and Their Cultures." Italian Americans. 14 Mar. 2013 <http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Italian-Americans.html>.

McMillan, Peter. "Italian Immigration." Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd. 14 Mar. 2013 <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEitaly.htm#mainbody>.

Molnar, Alexandra. "History of Italian Immigration." Mtholyoke.edu. 15 Dec. 2010. 13 Feb. 2013 <https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~molna22a/classweb/politics/Italianhistory.html>.

"ThinkQuest : 404." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. 14 Mar. 2013 <http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Italian.html>.

Contributed by Obafemi Animashaun

My Parents' Immigration from Brazil to the USA

Contributed by Michael DeAndrade

 

Brazil

 

         During the late 1980s, Brazilian people were ecstatic with the passage of the new Constitution which allowed the people to vote for their president. Though there were many festivities for the establishment of the new Constitution, Brazil’s world economy was declining rapidly. Rising inflation and unemployment rates, and failure of political leadership caused the economic stability of Brazil to rattle. During 1986 and 1987, the Cruzado and Bresser Plans were passed to reduce inflation but instead caused more turmoil to occur. The Cruzado and Bresser plans froze assets of Brazilian citizens, which meant that Brazilian people could not withdraw money from the banks. The money in the bank could only be used to pay daily bills such as, the gas and water bills which frustrated many civilians. Many families, including my own family, were affected by this plan and caused poverty to strike. During this time, there was an influx of immigrants to Canada and Mexico because of their open immigration policy.  Accordingly, my father decided to leave Brazil in 1987 to Canada in hope to find new opportunities. A year later my mother took the same journey and left Brazil to Mexico and eventually entered the United States in hopes to be with my father and find new opportunities.

          During the late 1980s, Mexico and Canada had a huge influx of immigrants entering the country. The removal of racial or national barrier in immigration selection in 1967 in Canada enabled immigrants to freely enter the country in an attempt to have a better life. Like Canada, Mexico did not have restrictions in immigration which allowed immigrants, like my mother, to enter the country without a visa. The issue with the ability of immigrants to enter these countries without any restrictions was there would be an influx of immigrants in the country causing people like my father, who came for an opportunity for a new life to not be able to become employed. Another problem was that since the job opportunities were so competitive and there weren't substantial employment, many turned their attentions towards the United States. At the time, the United States grew frustrated with the increase of illegal immigrants entering the country.  President Ronald Reagan stated in the 1986 congressional elections that the United States had “’lost control’ of its borders to an ‘invasion’ of illegal migrants” and transformed undocumented immigration to a more national security policy. With the midterm elections approaching, President Reagan passed numerous bills, such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which enforced United States Border Patrol along Mexico, and sanctioned enacted which penalized employers who knowingly hired unauthorized workers. Though President Reagan fought valiantly against immigration, the large mass of people still managed to enter the country illegally and gain opportunities that caused many, including my parents, to realize their dreams of helping their families to have a prosperous stable life. 

Interview:

The following is an interview of my parents, Marcos Rocha and Tania de Andrade, about their experience of immigrated to the United States in the late 1980s and the difficulties they faced in adapting to the American culture and the English language.

1. What was your motive for leaving Brazil?

Tania de Andrade:I had three main motives why I left Brazil. My first reason was to meet your father, Marcos Rocha, since he had left a year earlier before I did and continue our lives together. We have been together for three years before we decided to leave to the United States. After he left we continued to talk and Marcos sent me money and other materials I needed to immigrant to the United States. My second reason was to have a better life and to have more opportunities. My third motive was to help my mother. Before I left life in Brazil was very difficult and we were a very poor family. My mother with her salary couldn't take care of four children. After I left I began to send money to my mother to assist her with taking care of my brother and sisters.

Marcos Rocha: My main motive for leaving Brazil was the economic instability in Brazil. When Fernando Collor de Melo froze my families assets in the bank to pay the debt that Brazil owned other nations. Brazil was in an economic downfall and I was forced to travel to the United States to assist my family in Brazil.

2. What were your experiences when immigrating to the United States?

Tania de Andrade:An experience I felt was the changes in culture and the adaption from a poverty level country to a more powerful rich country like the United States. Also in the United States the chances to becoming successful in life or to have a stable life was much higher than in Brazil for the fact that here in the United States I received salaries per week unlike when I worked in Brazil. In Brazil I would receive salaries per month and at times due to the lack of money I wouldn't even be paid. Also the experience with a different language made it very difficult my first few years in the United States.

Marcos Rocha: An experience I felt was the change of culture, which was completely different than in Brazil. Also I was used to a third-world country when I immigrated to the United States and United States was a powerhouse and the difference was a complete shock. I experienced less poverty and though I studied in Brazil about the culture I was going to face when I arrived in the United States it was completely different than what I could have imagined. Also the change in language had a huge impact in my life and it was difficult to comprehend the language when I arrived.

3. What did you see/experienced in Mexico?

Tania de Andrade:The area in which I traveled in Mexico during the few days that I stayed there before immigrating to the United States I saw a lot of poverty and sadness. There were many abandon cars and houses. There were houses that were burnt down or old cars abandon on the streets. The people would always look at me like they were superior to me. The Mexican people treated us as animals instead of people. They would refer to us as property and would barely speak to us.

4. What did you see/experienced in Canada?

Marcos Rocha: I stayed 30 days in Toronto, Canada and I was surprised by how clean the country was. The environment was nothing like what I used to experience in Brazil and nothing like what I experienced in the United States. The one problem I faced was that a job opportunity for illegal immigrants was very difficult to obtain. I tried to even legalize in Canada but unfortunately my patience ran out and I decided to come to the United States but my friends who stayed all became a citizen a couple of days after I left.

5. Why did you decide to come to the United States instead of staying in Canada like you planned before?

Marcos Rocha: Originally I planned to stay in Canada but the lack of opportunities in Canada led me to immigrant to the United States. I left with $1000 and the money was beginning to run out and no job opportunities were available. At the time my brother was living in the United States and the economy was booming under Ronald Reagan's presidency. I decided to pack my bags and go live with my brother and fortunately I attained a job and was able to live a stable life.

6. What was your first impression when you arrived in United States?

Tania de Andrade: When I arrived in the United States I thought everything was beautiful. The lights at night sparkled and I felt the clear night sky was beautiful. Though it wasn't like Brazil’s sky full of stars I felt that clear night sky was beautiful. Also when I finally arrived in New Jersey it was a cold winter day and it was snowing. My eyes gleamed as I stared at the white snow falling from the sky and I thought I never saw something as beautiful as it. In Brazil it never snowed and the fact that when I arrived I saw snow for the first time it made me excited to have come. The roads were smoother to travel in, it did not have bumps like the roads in Brazil and the houses were all beautiful and had different colors.

Marcos Rocha: My first impression was the roads were wider and longer and the houses were completely constructed. In Brazil during the time the houses weren't complete and the roads were narrow unlike in the United States. Also slums were very common in Brazil and when I arrived I would rarely see any incidents of poverty.

7. Did you have any difficulties in understanding the language?

Tania de Andrade:Yes I had many difficulties in understanding the English language. Though I studied English in Brazil I still could not fully understand the language. The English we learned was very basic and the pronunciations were incorrect. Also since the language was very difficult it was hard to adapt or understand what was occurring during the time.

Marcos Rocha: The fact that I studied two years in Brazil the British language the change in language didn't really frightened me. I did not understand the language and I had some difficulties in comprehending the language but it wasn't a big shock like it was to my friends who came at the same time that I did.

8. Did you have any difficulties in adapting to the American culture?

Tania de Andrade:I had some difficulties in adapting to the American culture. One difficulty I had was adapting to the meals throughout the day. In the United States people commonly have three meals a day unlike in Brazil in which we had four meals a day. The lunch here was nothing compared to how the lunch was in Brazil. In Brazil during lunchtime we would eat what corresponds to like a dinner here. Also the taste of the food was completely different. The taste of the American food was stronger than the Brazilian food. Also in the United States the food consisted of large amounts of salt unlike in Brazil which is more garlic than salt.

Marcos Rocha: Yes I had many difficulties in adapting to the American culture. When I arrived here there wasn't many reference or information about Brazil. The daily Brazilian newspaper would take months to arrive so in a way we grew closer to the Hispanic culture. We would watch Spanish soap operas and listen to news that was occurring in the Hispanic countries. Another difficulty I faced was adapting to the style of food. When I arrived pizza and hamburgers was common unlike in Brazil which was more a traditional family meal of rice and beans. Another difficulty I faced was the isolation of the people here in the United States. In Brazil everyone knew everyone in their neighborhoods and grew strong relationships with each other. It was common to receive 20 to 30 visits a day by neighbors or having a neighbor help you fix your lawn or remind you to not forget to go to the doctors. Here in the United States it was more an individual view. Everyone stayed in their houses during the weekend with their families instead of gathering on the streets and throwing a big barbecue like in Brazil. The different views showed me how though we, Brazilian, suffered a lot throughout the years we were still very united and after the first couple of months in the United States I began to miss the culture and customs in Brazil.

9. Did you suffer any discrimination?

Tania de Andrade:Yes I did suffer a form of discrimination in United States. The first job I had in the United States was in a factory that created jackets and other clothing materials. One day I misunderstood what a Portuguese woman called me in the factory. Since I did not understand the English language I thought the woman was uttering profanity against me and I became upset and asked to leave the job. In reality the woman was just complementing my work but since I did not understand the other women were laughing I thought the woman was making fun of me but in reality she was not.

Marcos Rocha: In the beginning yes I did suffer discrimination. Unfortunately, many people still have the belief that they are superior to others. Nowadays I don’t suffer discrimination and I am highly respected in the area I work. Before I was usually discriminated by people from my own race who thought that since they arrived earlier and understood the English language and customs more than I did they were superior to me. I had difficulty in adapting in the construction field because of the discrimination I faced by the Portuguese and also American but after years of experience in the field I became highly respected by all races.

For more information on immigration from Brazil, see:

"BRAZIL COMPLETE NEW CONSTITUTION." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Sept. 1988. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/03/world/brazil-complete-new-constitution.html.

"Common Menu Bar Links." 3. Changing Immigration Pattern and the Emergence of “Visible Minorities”. Department of Justice, 3 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/rp02_8-dr02_8/p3.html

Durand, Jorge, Douglas S. Massey, and Emilio A. Parrado. "The New Era of Mexican Migration to the United States." The New Era of Mexican Migration to the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/projects/mexico/jdurand.html.

"History of Brazil since 1985." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Brazil_since_1985>.

Widner. "Brazil 1988." Brazil 1988. Constitution Writing and Conflict Resolution, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.< http://www.princeton.edu/~pcwcr/reports/Brazil1988.html>.

 

The Journey to America from Guatemala

Contributed by Dan Cabrera
During the early 70’s and 80’s Guatemala was in turmoil. Violence was drastically increasing day by day. Yet, people still managed to prosper and live. They grew and harvested their plants. The children attended school and had dreams of a good future. Some of them saw it in Guatemala. Many others wanted to venture out. They wanted to go to America.

America is a very different place than Guatemala. Depending on where you are, the climate is just one of the many things to get used to. There were the suburbs and towns in contrast to the farm like community people lived in in Guatemala. Even the cities were different. Guatemala City and New York City are extremely contrastable even if they are both classified as cities. Immigrants still grew accustomed though. They became part of those communities while integrating their old ones at the same time.

Interview:

This is a following interview between me and my father, Minor Cabrera. He grew up in Guatemala and at the age of eighteen came to America. This was the year right after he graduated high school. Apart from that, he moved from a farm town to the town of Plainfield, New Jersey.

What kind of environment were you raised in? Town, City etc. What was it like? 

I lived in the countryside. The houses were all the same. There were bananas everywhere, because we all worked on a banana plantation nearby. There were no phones except for this one that was in the local store of the neighborhood. We got around on bike for the most part. My father had one bike and me and my 4 other siblings all shared a bike. We wouldn’t venture outside of the neighborhood. It was a very peaceful area. There wasn’t violence there like in Guatemala City.  As a child I was basically isolated from the rest of the world. My life was in my town.   I was raised in between a town and a city. I spent my time between Guatemala City and Jutiapa. Guatemala City was very chaotic.

What are some memories or anecdotes of your life there that stands out to you?

Me and my three other brothers were sent to clean and maintain the stalks of some of our bean plants, but we brought our fishing rods with us. This consisted of any branch with any string and a hook. So instead of listening to our dad, we decided to go fishing. At the time of lunch, my younger brother was sent by my dad to bring us food. He didn’t find us and went back home with the food. When we arrived home, we found out that we were being looked for because they thought something bad happened to us. When my dad found us and found out that we were just dilly dallying, he whipped all of us with his belt. And then he sent us back and this time we listened.

As you may know Guatemala had its issues with coupes and violence. Did any of the violence affect you? Any family members or the way you lived?

No thankfully, nothing bad really happened. Like I said we were very secure in out little neighborhood. There weren’t any gangs or violence around. The worst was your average fight that would happen between two people. It’s a lot worse now. There’s more drug wars and violent shoot outs. There aren’t too many safe havens like my old neighborhood in Guatemala anymore. You have to be more careful because no one is safe.
 

What’s one of your favorite celebrations in Guatemala?

My favorite celebration had to be Christmas. We would shoot fireworks. For our Christmas tree we would chop down a, basically it was a stump with a leaves. We’d decorate the tree with lights like we do here. Some years we would make fake snow with chopped bars of soap. We would add water and batter it. We let it dry for a day and then we would cover the tree with it.

What does Guatemala have that America doesn’t?

More guns and drugs I think. Really though I think it had a more united sense of family and community. My brothers and I whether we liked it or not were forced to live together and go through the same burdens. This made us close. It’s not like you and your sister sometimes. We wouldn’t go out with friends a lot because we had each other.

Why did you want to come to America?

The main reason I wanted to come to America was for work. In Guatemala the best job opportunity I had was being a teacher and over there teachers aren’t paid well at all. So when the moment was right, at the age of 18, I came to America.

Where did you live in America?

The first town I lived in here was Plainfield. There were more concrete streets and cars and phones. Everyone was also a lot more clustered together. It’s just like any town but it was still different for me. I had to learn routes, stores, and even the language. It was like if I took you with all your knowledge that you have, even the trivial knowledge like the history of where you lived, and got rid of most of it. It was a little difficult starting from scratch. I learned how to act basically. The way you act can get you far here.

What was the hardest thing to adjust to when you first arrived?

The hardest thing to adjust to was the language and the boundary that it created. I mean this was sometimes because I came to a place where there were many Hispanics just like me. Still there are more now than there were back then. Anyway the language boundary denied me of jobs that was the main reason for my coming here. It’s a land of opportunity as they say, but you have to be in a good position first. So for the beginning of my time here I worked in a factory packing pampers, working in a cafeteria serving food, a busboy, and cooked at a restaurant before I started the job I have been doing ever since (HVCAC technician).

What does America have that Guatemala doesn’t?

America really has more opportunity and diversity. This can come in the form of jobs and the type of people you meet. If it wasn’t for America I wouldn’t have the life I live right now. I wouldn’t be able to afford this type of house, be able to send you and your two sisters to private school, and maybe even afford taking care of all of you. When I was your age I was already 6 years in working. I didn’t have a car or laptop or even air conditioning. Compared to Guatemala, America is more advanced and has more prosperity.

Conclusion:

So from one bike, a stick and string for a fishing rod, and one phone shared by the whole town, my dad has changed his life drastically. He is able to afford to pay for four cars, and a nice house in New Jersey. America has changed his life and even mine. Try imagining living without you phone, laptop, T.V., or air-conditioning and heating. 

For more information on Guatemala and immigration, see:
 

"Chapter 3: The 1970s." Chapter 3: The 1970s. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://shr.aaas.org/guatemala/ciidh/qr/english/chap3.html.
 

"Guatemala 1962 to 1980s." Guatemala 1962-1980s. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Guatemala2_KH.html.
 

"Countries and Their Cultures." Guatemalan Americans. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Du-Ha/Guatemalan-Americans.html.
 

"Migration Information Source - Guatemala: Economic Migrants Replace Political Refugees."The Migration Information Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.migrationinformation.org/feature/display.cfm?ID=392.
 

"Guatemala History." History of Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/guatemala/history.
 

From Guatemala to America

Contributed by Evelyn Rodriguez:

From Guatemala to America

                On November 6, 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed. It offered nearly immediate legal residency to undocumented immigrants with an option to pursue full citizenship if they have been living in the US since 1982. It also helped the legalization of Special Agricultural Workers. In 1986, most immigrants lived in metropolitan areas in the Southwest, cities like Los Angeles and Houston. Yet for the other immigrants, there was a 50% increase of patrols on the Mexican borders, making it even more difficult and dangerous for people to pass. Many people died of dehydration. Also, people never knew what types of dangerous mobs and human traffickers were out there or if they could be kidnapped or not. The border patrol during this time shot dozens of people, killing them.

                Life for immigrants was very hard. They had to learn to adapt to the American culture, yet still keep their culture preserved and keep a strong connection. It was also hard for people to leave their families and the only thing they had ever known in their lives. Most came into this country knowing only their foreign language and had to learn English which was very difficult but was essential for success. Most came into America searching for better opportunities but coming into a country with only the cloths on your back most of the time and trying to succeed was very tough.  Yet people still risked their lives and cultures because they saw a better future in the US.

Interview:

Click here to listen to an interview about my family's journey from Guatemala to America.  An immigrant's story. or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOGQxUNfTzM.

 

 

For more information on Immigration to the US from Latin America, see:

1. Kahn, Carrie. "Study Details Lives of Illegal Immigrants in U.S." Npr. N.p., 14 June 2005. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4703307

2. Farkas, Steve. "What Immigrants Say About Life in the United States." The Migration Information Source. Migration Policy Institute, May 2003. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=119

3. Mess, Kurtis. "U.S. Immigration Legislation: 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act." U.S. Immigration Legislation: 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (Simpson-Mazzoli Act). Hein Online, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://library.uwb.edu/guides/usimmigration/1986_immigration_reform_and_control_act.html

4. Graglia, Amy. "Fundacion MEPI." Fundacion MEPI. Kaiten Soft, 6 Jan. 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://fundacionmepi.org/index.php?option=com_content

5. Garcia, Angela S., and David G. Keyes. "Life as an Undocumented Immigrant." American Progress. Center for American Progress, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2013. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/03/26/11210/life-as-an-undocumented-immigrant/

From Germany to America

Contributed by Emily Ryan

My Great-Grandmother’s Journey from Germany to the US

 

            Immigration to the United States from Germany during the mid 1920’s was a high time for immigration.  Nine percent of the average yearly total people immigrated to the US from Germany between the 1920’s and 1930’s.  Also, between 1920 and 1930, 412,474 people immigrated to the United States yearly.  Steamships were the primary form of travel.  The duration of the voyage to America generally lasted about two weeks.  New York City was the main port for arrival.  The location where the majority of immigrants arrived was Ellis Island.

            An important piece of legislation in this time period was the Quota Act of 1921. This limited the number of immigrants from Europe to about 350,000 people per year.  The National Origins Act of 1924 instituted a requirement that visas be obtained from an American consulate abroad before immigrating, reduced the total European quota to about 165,000, and changed how the quotas were determined.  In 1924, Border Patrols were put into action to combat smuggling and illegal immigration.  Some immigration records can still be found today.  On these records, a person can see the name of the vessel, the crew, and a list of the passengers.  These can be used to verify that someone immigrated to the United States. 

Interview:I interviewed my 104 year old Great Grandmother on her immigration to the United States from Germany. Here is the written transcript of the interview.

Q:What year exactly did you come to the United States?

A:“I came to the United States in 1928.”

Q:How old were when you came?

A:“When I came to the United States, I was 20 years old.”

Q:Did your whole family come with you or did some people stay behind?

A:“I came on my own. I had an aunt who was already living in the United States that I was going to live with. The rest of family stayed in Germany.”

Q:What was Germany like before you came to the United States?

A:“Germany was not a pleasant place before I came to the United States. Hitler was about to come into power. I had been to the United States once before my immigration. I came back to Germany and talked with my mother. I remember that she told me to go back to the United States if that was what I wanted. She told me I had to leave while I had the chance because soon I would not be able to leave. Conditions in Germany were not good and they were getting worse.”

Q:Why did you leave Germany?

A:I left Germany because conditions were bad and they were getting worse.”

Q:How was the United States different?

A:“The United States was a different way of living. The conditions were only slightly better than they were in Germany.”

Q:Why were conditions only slightly better? I thought America was supposed to be so much better?

A:“They were only slightly better because my aunt and her family did not make things easy for me. They didn’t treat me nice and I was having issues finding a job because I was German. I was eventually able to get a job but it was not a good one.”

Q:What was your first job?

A:“My first job was a nanny. I took care of kids.”

Q:Do you remember what port you arrived at? Was it Ellis Island?

A:“I did arrive at Ellis Island but I did not have to stop there. I was able to pass right through because I had family in America already waiting for me.”

Q:Was the Statue of Liberty your first sight?

A:“Yes it was. It was such a nice first sight.”

Q:What did it feel like to finally arrive in the United States?

A:"I felt happy but I knew it would not be easy adjusting. Once I came to the United States I remember I changed my religion from Protestant to Catholic.”

Q:What was the voyage like?

A:“The voyage was rough. I just remember that I was very seasick the whole time. I also remember being terribly seasick when I arrived.”

Q:Did you face any hardships on your journey here?

A:“Well I faced the hardships of being seasick and that once I got here, I was faced with economic hardships as well. My first job was being a nanny and that did not pay the best. My second job was working in a factory and that was not easy either.”

Q:What were some other hardships you faced once you were here?

A:“After I was here for a few years, my citizenship became a difficulty. They made it hard for me because I was German. They were giving me a difficult time. Also, once I met my husband’s family, they were not that approving. They didn’t like me because I was German.”

Q: Was learning English difficult for you to learn?

A: “No. I actually was able to learn English easily. It was not too difficult.”

For more information about immigration ot the Unoited States, see:

"Immigration in the Early 1900s." Immigration in the Early 1900s. Eyewitness to History, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpim1.htm

 

"Immigration to the United States." Economic History Services. Eh.net, 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/cohn.immigration.us.
 

"Immigration Records(Ship Passenger Arrival Records and Land Border Entries)."Immigration Records. N.p., 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/passenger-arrival.html.
 

"Timeline." Open Collections Program: Immigration to the US,. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html.
 

"United States Immigration Before 1965." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. http://www.history.com/topics/united-states-immigration-to-1965.