Upon hearing Fadi’s story, I realized that the American Immigrant’s  story has not really changed since the opening of Ellis and Angel Island, and the creation of the classical American Immigrant’s Story. There may be new technology, new methods of communication, new venues for the media, but none of these seem to destroy the myth that America and a better life are consistently synonymous. There is a distinct tragedy in this myth, as it almost always sets up whoever immigrates to America in pursuit of a better life, for disappointment. I also realized, however, that this myth creates a deep-seated determination that does not dissipate once an immigrant’s illusions of American Life are destroyed. Fadi’s family was assaulted with these twisted notions of America and its advantages in their native country of Egypt, thus inspiring his father and mother to immigrate to America, with Fadi in tow, in the fall of 2004.

When Fadi arrived in America, he was nearly ten years old with only a basic grasp of the English language. His father, Ameer Habashy, was the driving force behind the family’s move. Ameer fell in love with America in his thirties, most likely due to the media’s distorted portrayal of it. The primary motivation behind their move was Fadi’s future for which Fadi’s parents had high hopes.

Both of Fadi’s parents, Ameer and Emas Habashy, went to four-year universities in Egypt, and both of them have degrees in Engineering. They both grew up in Egypt, and subsequently, their lives were in Egypt. Up until the move, Fadi’s life was also in Egypt. When the Habashy family left Egypt, they left behind their friends, extended family (aside from Fadi’s aunt and two cousins, who had moved to America three years before Fadi moved), and for Fadi’s parents, their careers.

When Fadi first arrived in Borough Park, Brooklyn, his frustration began. He entered the fourth grade, and although a top student back in Egypt, his sub-par English held him back academically. On top of that, he was thrust into an ESL class, which although helpful, made him feel humiliated and stupid. His primary teacher was not of much help, denying Fadi the extra attention he needed as an immigrant in favor of passing on the responsibility of helping him adjust to the teacher in his next year of school, which was the fifth grade. Fadi felt abandoned by his teacher, and his peers offered him no consolation. They did not have the aspirations that Fadi did, and the fact that he was new and confused made him an easy target for harassment.

Fadi’s parents did not fare much better than Fadi in their first year. When they began their job search, they found out that the Engineering Degrees that they had worked so hard for back in Egypt, did not apply in America. Discouraged but not disheartened, they took jobs that they were extremely overqualified for. Through this, they remembered that they came to America primarily for Fadi, and that some sacrifices had to be made in order to aid their son.

In my interview with Fadi, he often talked about the fact that his parents came to America for him. Although noble of them, it seems that Fadi feels this constant pressure to excel. He is an only child, an important fact because he is the sole focus of his parents, magnifying the pressure to do well exponentially. It is a strange situation in that Fadi did not ask for what his parents did for him, yet he cannot get angry because he acknowledges that what they did for him was exceedingly selfless.

In fifth grade, Fadi had a much more pleasant experience. His English improved, his teacher was incredibly helpful, and his peers seemed as keen as he was on school. The seeds of American optimism began to take root in Fadi’s eleven-year old self.

Then came middle school. In sixth grade, Fadi was surrounded by delinquents determined to undermine every teacher they had. They would feign fights and scream in class. During one instance, Fadi recounts that two of his classmates began to spit at one another, and when his teacher tried to intervene she was caught in the crossfire. Fadi’s optimism faded during these years, and he was forced to adapt to his surroundings. This meant that he often joined in on the ruckus, his young mind unable to resist the temptation. But perhaps it was better that Fadi adapted, he already felt like an outsider and by joining in, it not only diminished his alienation, but it created a sense of comradery with his lawless peers.

In the eight grade, Fadi excelled. The chaos that had governed the previous two years of his academic existence was extinguished when the option to take advanced classes was presented to him. In these classes, he felt that the other students were of a similar caliber academically and behaviorally. Both the advanced classes and the stimulating academic atmosphere carried over into his years at FDR High School in Borough Park. Now, like the rest of us, Fadi attends City College through the Macaulay Honors Program.

The Fearon family stood in their best clothes on the top floor of the Jamaican airport waving goodbye to the only family member missing from the group: Mrs. Maybel Fearon. Maybel applied to a nursing program that allowed her to travel abroad to America with a visa and temporary job. She sat on the place headed to New York full of determination. Moving to an unfamiliar place was going to be tough but Maybel was not going to let the opportunity pass her by.

Maybel worked as a part of her nursing program for six months within which she experienced the biggest culture shock of her life. Switching from Jamaican dollars to United States dollars, Maybel had a difficult time determining the price of needed items and exchanges of cents and dollars. She lost her way several times in the big city and learned to leave home much earlier in order to be on time. The bus system in New York is also dramatically different from that of Jamaica. Believing it was the same process, Maybel got on a bus and later asked the driver to stop at her desired location. Maybel repeated herself several times since the bus did not stop and thought she was not being heard. She became angry with the assumption that the driver was intentionally ignoring her. After a few angry remarks at the bus driver, a passenger explained to her that she had to signal to be dropped off at a bus stop. It was at this moment that Maybel truly noticed the difference between her new home and her old home. Maybel was also surprised to see all the various ethnicities that defined New York City. The first time she saw Jews on the street, Maybel could not believe her eyes. She had only read about them in the Bible and could not believe that they existed in reality. Although New York was extremely crowded, it was not in the same state of poverty as Jamaica was. In Jamaica, the only distinction made by society was between different economic classes. People with money treated the underprivileged inferiorly. However, in New York, the color of your skin would determine how an individual would be regarded. It was a whole new world and Maybel learned the ways of it.

It was a challenging adjustment to live in New York but over time Maybel was able to adapt. After her nursing program expired, she knew that she could not leave America. She realized the prospects that this life could bring and wanted her family to experience the land of opportunity. She decided that it was up to her to bring her family to New York. She began working for a lawyer’s family as a maid. Maybel considered this job to be disgraceful especially since she had undergone the education to become a prestigious nurse. However, she knew that it was a duty that she had to perform to help her loved ones. Through her employment, she observed how this family would hold extravagant parties and waste so much food and money. She knew her life was drastically different because she would save any cash she could gather to send back to her family. With her dedication, Maybel accumulated enough to buy a plane ticket for her mother and later her two sons, Shane and Dwane. She eventually was able to take the Nursing Board Exam in order to become a registered nurse and practice in the United States. Maybel’s husband Carlton Fearon Senior joined the rest of the family a little later because he worked in the Jamaican Army as a truck driver.  Alas, the family had finally reunited.

It was a bit tough for the boys to assimilate to New York. Spending the most time in Jamaica as the eldest son, Shane holds on to that culture. He frequently complained to his parents that he wished to go back home but he ended up forgetting this demand when his mother bought him a game console. Dwane did not need much convincing because of his young age, but he still remembers his hometown, May Pen, Jamaica. Carlton and Maybel’s mother were both surprised by the American lifestyle but were able to adjust rather quickly with Maybel’s guide.

When the whole family was together, they lived on 54^th Street, Brooklyn between Church Avenue and Snyder Avenue. The area was not in the best of conditions to live in so they decided to move to Kings Village. At first the house that they wished to live in was claimed by another family but the Fearon family very much wanted to have that house so they offered to pay the money upfront. Their new address became 1200 East 53^rd Street. Along with a new home, there was a new addition to the family. Dane Fearon was born. The family was proud but it was tough caring for a baby with two working parents. Carlton was a tow truck driver while Maybel worked eight to sixteen hour shifts as a nurse. As a result Dane’s brothers raised him.

Dane’s family was always very protective of him. They were very distrusting of their American neighborhood. In Jamaica, the Fearons lived on farmland and children were able to wander far without any fear. However, in Brooklyn, Dane was not allowed to walk around the block. They were afraid that Dane would get lost or kidnapped and had a tendency to restrict him as a result. Nevertheless, Dane grew up with an Americanized attitude while he believes that the rest of his family possess Jamaican pride. In this way, he considers them to be immigrants unlike himself.

Through all these events, some daunting and some extremely difficult, the Fearon family was able to withstand it all and achieve their goals. Carlton passed his GED examinations and obtained a steady job. Maybel has many options living in New York than in Jamaica. She gets a better sense of technology and she cannot get enough of the food. She is also able to send money back home to family members. She considers sending her children to college as the biggest accomplishment. They have assimilated to the city and believe that they took a better path as immigrants.

Steve Earle was half right when he described New York City as a “City of Immigrants” in his song by the same title. There exists another subset of people who move into the city and contribute to its culture: the migrants.

Migrants come for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes they are here to stay with family, some come to work, and are some come because they are big fish in small ponds. A place like New York City, with its plethora of cultures and languages, is a dream for many of these big fish, prompting them to say goodbye to their small town, pack their bags, and head for The Big Apple. Take, for example, Sabrina Kostusiak. She was born in Connecticut and raised in Buffalo.  Most of her family lives in Buffalo. Her earliest ancestors came to the United States from Poland, Ukraine, and Ireland before the turn of the 20^th century; her earliest family photo is from 1882. They settled in Buffalo and stayed there.

Sabrina moved to NYC to study as a Macaulay Honors student at The City College of New York and has no regrets for her decision. “I always wanted to live in New York City” she said, a dream that prompted her to apply to the prestigious scholarship program. “I knew I needed to be in The City.”

Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State, but with a population of just under 260,000, it cannot compare to the size of New York City, with a population of over eight million. Everyone knew everyone in her town, and most people stayed in the same place their entire lives.

Sabrina did not live like that. She wanted to live her life at a faster pace than her neighbors and to experience more than what her white homogenous town had to offer. “Everybody dresses the same [in Buffalo]” she noted. She applied to Macaulay Honors College and was more than delighted by her acceptance and the opportunity to become a New Yorker.

And what an experience she had. Her first ever visit to New York City was last April, to visit City College on an accepted students day. The first thing she saw was Santa and Mrs. Claus on the subway. Where but New York? “That was really my first impression of the city,” she recalls.

She is not the first or only person in her family to live here, however. Her father attended college in New York City in the eighties. New York was a very different place then, and his experience was much more negative than Sabrina’s. She tells the story of how her father and grandmother accidently took the A train instead of the C train and wound up at 125^th Street. The first person they met looked at them and said: “You don’t belong here”. At that time, the city was known for violence and crime. This was off-putting to Sabrina’s father, and his view of Harlem contrasts sharply with Sabrina’s modern experience.

Sabrina loves the city, in spite of her father’s apprehension. She noticed the difference right away, as well as the changes in herself. “It’s easier to connect with people here”. People also live at a pace in sync with how Sabrina wants to live her life.  However, she also recognizes that she was different from the natives of her new home.

You can tell that Sabrina is from upstate by the way she talks. “Someone pointed that out to me on the first day,” though she never thought that she had an accent. It’s subtle, but noticeable to those who grew up here. Although she sounds different, the some people in New York sound different to her. She also felt at a disadvantage during the early part of her experience here. “I didn’t know the names of the neighborhoods.” But growing up outside of the city made her more curious and more willing to visit places that define New York, such as Central Park. “I know of some people who have never been to Central Park” she claims. “It’s surprising. You don’t know how great the city unless you move here”.

She is still in the process of integrating herself into the city. “I’ve learned the names of most of the neighborhoods in Manhattan, and some of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn,” she announced proudly. Her ultimate goal is to take full advantage of the culture and resources around her. She feels the change in herself.

Though still connected with her family, Sabrina does not think they can become new Yorkers by listening to her stories. Despite the common language, there are incredibly stark differences in culture. “You have to live here to understand.” She sums up.

The difference is incredible. New York, with its speed, density, and variety never leaves Sabrina bored. She feels the difference most strongly when she is back in Buffalo. “Buffalo is more like a community,” she describes, but the momentum is not there. To her, Buffalo is missing the action she desires.

There is no language barrier for migrants as there usually is for immigrants. It enables a person like Sabrina to make New York City their home. However, statistical data shows that migrants into the city are generally fewer than migrants out of the city, probably because of the expense. This does not faze Sabrina, because she feels she is living her dream.

She describes her journey into New York City with an indescribable amount of awe. She takes the train from Buffalo to Penn Station. On her way there, at a point along the Hudson, the river turns to bring the city into view. She could barely communicate the memory of her emotions, but her excitement was clear. “Afterwards you go underground, and then you’re in Penn Station.” She says, the memory of the excitement and joy prominent on her face.

New York City is everything Sabrina ever dreamed it would be. She plans to stay here for a good long part of her life. She is in love with the city, and has been for a long time.

People, both immigrants and migrants, come to the city for and the energy and dynamic affects them all. In the best cases, as in the case of Sabrina, a migrant finds a perfect fit, someplace they can and will happily adopt as their home.

Natalie Schuman. The Peopling of New York City. Professor Rosenblum. Due: Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Assignment 1: Profile of a story of immigration.

Note: I was absent on the first day of class so I did my interview with a friend, not a classmate.

Charlotte Kohlmann’s Immigrant Story

“Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

-From “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. 1883.

Despite the often-unfair laws regarding immigration today, these words engraved in the base of the Statue of Liberty epitomize the journey of Charlotte Kohlmann’s grandparents to New York City.

Charlotte Kohlmann was born in Riverdale in the Bronx on February 12^th, 1994. She lives in a red house in a residential area filled with people from all different countries. She identifies herself as American but has roots in Germany and Italy, among other places.

Charlotte’s mother’s father’s name is Feliche Perrela. He was born in a town called Macchiagodena in Italy. Macchiagodena is a town in the province of Isernia in South Central Italy. It is located in the Appennines Mountains in the region of Molise. Macchiagodena was a farm town and there was little work other than farming. In the early to mid 20th century, many residents of Macchiagodena emigrated to other parts of the world including the United States to find better jobs and earn more money. At 19 years old, Charlotte’s grandfather, Feliche was one of those people. Feliche waited until after the 3rd Sunday in May to leave his town. On this day, a huge fair was held to celebrate the patron saint of the town, San Nicola. He feasted and celebrated with his family and friends as he would any other year. Though there was a feeling of sadness around the celebration as they all knew that Feliche was to leave the next day, along with a dozen other men in the town.

Feliche and the men he traveled to New York with were not the first men from Macchiagodena to start a life here. Feliche went to live with his people in Little Italy in the Bronx. Living in this neighborhood sometimes even felt like being back home. He knew people from his old town and the same sense of community in Italy existed in this small pocket of home in this new, scary city. Feliche got a job as a construction worker. When he got his first paycheck, he sent exactly half of it back to his family in Macchiagodena. Feliche continued to send exactly half of his paycheck back to Macchiagodena until he died in 2005.

As more and more men from Macchiagodena traveled to the Bronx, women started feeling comfortable coming too. That brings us to Jesualda. Jesualda was born in Macchiagodena and at 18 years old, her mother took her and her two sisters to the Bronx. Jesualda grew up in a small apartment in the Bronx. Her neighbors in New York were her neighbors back in the hills of Macchiagodena. She and her neighbors in Little Italy shared a thin wall and a communal bathroom while they used to be separated by acres of farmlands.

It was in Little Italy that Jesualda met Feliche. He courted her for a year and eventually they got married and had two children, one of whom was Charlotte’s mother, Emma. For Feliche and Jesualda, New York City offered a new life that may have been hard at first, but it allowed their ability to put food on the table not be at the whim of the weather and how well their crops did. Jesualda and Feliche never went hungry again, and neither did their children or grandchildren.

“We’re leaving now. I don’t know where Papa is.” These were the first words written in a leather bound journal with no name. The journal goes on to tell the story, in French, of Ursula Kohlmann’s journey from Germany to New York City. Ursula is Charlotte’s father’s mother, Charlotte calls her “Opa”. She was a Jew in Germany in 1940 and New York City offered her asylum from Hitler’s hell. She was 14 when she started the journal. It described traveling through Spain, Czechoslovakia, France, all together 15 countries with her mother, until they finally arrived in New York City. Ursula had learned French in school but her mother tongue was German. She wrote the journal in French, left out her name and any clue that she was Jewish to protect herself in case the diary fell into the wrong hands. They took a boat called the “Sepa Pinto” from Portugal to New York City. She still remembers the ride, how frightened she was of both being in a new place, and being caught by the leader of her old country. She remembers her mother threw up on the Sepa Pinto from motion sickness and anxiety.

When she arrived in New York and settled in, her mother enrolled her into a public high school on 153^rd street. Ursula was one of the only non-African American students there.  She missed her home and felt out of place in her new environment. She eventually found other Jews who had come to New York City to escape the Nazis. They formed a group and jokingly called themselves “The Elite”.

Paul Kohlmann was also a member of this group. He came to New York from Germany at 19 years old. Paul was the only one in his family healthy enough to flee so he had to leave them all behind in Europe. Paul and Ursula dated for a few months and eventually got married. Paul wanted to fight in the war, on the side of the Americans. But when he got to the recruitment office, he was told he could not fight Germany because he was not an American citizen. They sent him instead to the Army base in the Phillipines.

For Paul, Ursula, Feliche and Jesualda, New York City took them in and protected them, offered them a new life. Charlotte understands the importance of her grandparents’ stories and has taken it upon herself to record and preserve their history. This year, Charlotte helped her grandma translate the diary she kept during her journey to New York City from French to English. She put together a scrapbook of her grandmothers’ photographs. Pictures of “The Elite” on the beach forming pyramids with their bodies fill the pages of the scrapbook.

Reylyn Roldan was born in the Philippines and lived there for eight years before coming to New York City. However, her first family member to come to America was her great-aunt, Felicitas Bobrow, who left the Philippines in early 1960 for America. During this time the only means of transport was by boat. She sailed the Pacific Ocean and first traveled to Hawaii and from there to California. She came here alone with only a few words of English, enough to carry out a conversation. After nearly a decade of working as a biochemist, she earned enough money to help bring her two sisters and brother in law to the United States. At this point, Felicitas Bobrow moved to the East Coast and conducted research at many prestigious universities such as Rutgers and Columbia. Together with her sisters, they all decided to settle down in Queens. This was only temporary because as soon as Reylyn’s grandparents earned enough money to bring their four sons they all moved to Staten Island to accommodate the increasing number of family members. Finally Reylyn and her mother and two brothers came to America 6 years later in 2003.

Reylyn’s family had deep roots in the Philippines with a lineage that goes all the way back to Spain; her family even has their own family crest. They originated from the northern islands of the Philippines in a rural landscape where they lived as farmers and fishermen. It was hard to make a living however, unless you were born into a wealthy family. There was a large disparity between social classes and a larger gap in the income between the upper and lower class. With government corruption and appeasement, moving up the social system was impossible. That’s why they decided to move to America; to pursue a better life for themselves and their families. Reylyn’s family saw America as the land of freedom and opportunity and in order to improve their living conditions they decided to make the ultimate sacrifice of leaving behind their homeland and immigrate to America. However the whole family couldn’t afford to go all at once because the trip is long and expensive. Instead only a few people at a time – roughly every decade – could make the trip. But now they all live in Staten Island, New York City and they came a long way from the lifestyle they left behind them.

Yet immigrating to New York City is only half the trouble. The second half is finding ones home here. That means finding a community or a neighborhood where one feels comfortable and at peace. One barrier from stopping Reylyn’s family from finding their home was the language. Only Reylyn’s grandmother was lucky enough to know English well because she was a schoolteacher and she was able to teach her four sons and her husband the language. Another barrier is the weather. The family was used to the tropical island weather of the Philippines where the lowest it gets in the year was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However the weather cannot be changed, so Reylyn and her family had to get used to it. Even though it was hard for them to deal with the weather at times, it was also a new experience. For them, their first snowfall was magical because they never had such a thing in the Philippines  and they were just in awe at its beauty. Another big barrier Reylyn mentioned was the diet change. Not only was the cuisine different from the Philippines but the serving sizes were too. Bigger pizza. Bigger sodas. Bigger plates. Everything in America was bigger. Then there were new tastes for them such as mustard which Reylyn said tasted weird the first time she tried it. The last barrier to be broken is the life style differences between her family and native New Yorkers. New York is such a faced paced city especially when compared to a little Philippine farm village. The way people walk here seemed like running to Reylyn and it seemed that everyone was always in such a hurry to get places. No one looked at each other. There were no conversations. No pleases. No thank yous. No smiles. Everyone seemed to care about themselves and carried on only to their next destination. However Reylyn and her family soon learned that they had to look hard to spot the kindness in people’s hearts here. They learned that people are a lot more intimate here than the people back in their village.

By coming to America, Reylyn’s family’s hopes and dreams were to provide happiness for the rest of their family to provide their children and future generations with the freedom and privileges that were only in America at that time. Here, in America, they had an opportunity to work hard and they seized it. Through this journey they learned to never give up even when times are rough and to remind themselves where they came from and how they got there. Reylyn and her family pass along their traditions, heritage, and family story to their children and hope that they do the same to their children. But now they have a new place to call home and a new place to create new memories and traditions for future generations. As far as Reylyn sees it, her family’s hopes and dreams definitely have been realized in the half century that it took for them to get here and they wouldn’t do anything differently.

The classmate I interviewed was Ledia Duro, who came to America from Albania in 2002. At eight years old, she, her older sister, and her parents moved to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, as the last of their family to immigrate to America. To Ledia, an immigrant is a foreign born individual who comes to reside in another country. This being so, the relatives who already lived in America when her family arrived included her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her grandparents and uncle who lived in Bay Ridge were the ones who provided a home for Ledia’s family for approximately six months, allowing the family to get situated. During this time, her parents got jobs and the children were enrolled in school. Today, her family frequently visits them, despite the grandparents and uncle moving to the Bensonhurst region of Brooklyn. Other extended relatives originally lived in other parts of America as well, such as New Jersey and Michigan. However, most of her relatives now live in Brooklyn.

The reason why Ledia’s family moved in the first place was to create better opportunities for her and her sister Marlin, who is now 21. As Albania was very poor and corrupt, with little hope for upward social mobility (meaning that if you wanted to move up in society, you had to know people), her parents believed that their children would have a better education and job market in America. In order to achieve these hopes, her father applied for a lottery aimed at giving children more opportunities by granting them residency in this country. And luckily, his family was one of those selected under her father’s name. After several interviews and documentation, all four of them were given the chance to come to America despite having to buy the plane tickets themselves. To her parents, it was worth it.

In a flight that took less than a day, their lifestyle was drastically changed. They had just taken the first step to fulfilling their version of the American Dream and drawing on such a blank slate would not be easy. For example, Ledia’s father owned a warehouse store in Albania and her mother was a teacher. But the language barrier that came with being Albanian immigrants forced her parents to change their jobs completely. Not only would they have different occupations, but they were also required to go to college again to learn English, eventually working as medical assistants. Taking into account the obstacles associated with undergoing a major cultural transition, this fresh start proved to be a challenge for the whole family. For Ledia and her sister, going to school was difficult since they didn’t have any basics of the language, such as reading and writing. It was even hard to make friends, as they were unable to easily communicate with the other kids. According to Ledia,

“Mine and my sister’s transitions were different. She knew more of the language and was more willing to accept the change. I was a bit more reluctant. I would sometimes get so frustrated and lost in class since I didn’t speak a word of English, I would cry.”

In the present-day she sometimes still feels judged and belittled for being an immigrant because of her accent. Although this causes people to underestimate her, she chooses not to take the judgment too personally and instead lets her actions speak for themselves. This positive, self-assured outlook reflects other aspects of Ledia and her family’s perspectives as immigrants. Despite the drawbacks they faced and the ways in which they have shaped her family, they have each come to view the move as a fulfilled goal. Her parents are proud to know that their ambitions were realized, Ledia being a successful honors student and her sister now in her senior year of Macaulay Honors College. She is planning on attending law school after graduation. In turn, Ledia is also grateful for the sacrifices her parents made for her, knowing that they had happy lives in Albania.

As for the experience of living here for about ten years, Ledia doesn’t even consider living in Albania anymore. However, she has visited a few times and is always happy to do so because she gets to see her family. She appreciates that America is diverse and different, a place with structure and sense of individuality. Here, there are chances for everyone and hope is always present. At home, Ledia’s family speaks a combination of English and Albanian, and she has no problem communicating to her parents in either language. She has said that their ongoing support throughout the whole experience has only strengthened her relationship with her parents and that she respects them greatly for giving her a better circumstance, which wouldn’t have been possible without their initiative.

    By: Italia Hernandez

        Riding on a crowded train car in Manhattan, you can see the world reflected in the faces of the passengers. There are men, women, and children of every language, color, creed and culture sitting side by side, all of them going about their daily business. People from every part of the globe have been immigrating to the United States for decades, and many find themselves making their way in the Big Apple. While they can all call themselves New Yorkers, each individual has their own story about how they came to claim this title. This is Courtney Edward’s story:

        Her family has its roots in Jamaica, particularly the alluring seaside city of Kingston. This southeastern city is the largest in Jamaica and fittingly its capital. While many of us know of the beautiful, dark skinned residents of African descent that inhabit this gorgeous city, it is also home to people of Chinese and East Indian descent as well as other ethnic groups. Kingston was established in July of 1692 as a refuge for earthquake victims, after this natural disaster destroyed Port Royal earlier that same year. Kingston has come a long way since then, and today it is the most economically important city in its country. Many government institutions operate from there and most monetary transactions take place in this coastal location, stimulating the rest of the country’s economy. Being such an important and influential city in Jamaica, Kingston is on its way to becoming an International Financial Center.

       The first person in the Edwards family to come up to New York was the sister of Courtney’s father – her aunt. Engaged to an American man, she was sent for in the 1980s to New York in order to start a new life with her husband, and once she got here, she sent for her mother – Courtney’s grandmother. Upon arriving in this country, she wasted no time working towards getting the family together. She sent for her son – Courtney’s father. When he got here, he immediately sent for his wife and daughter still living back in Jamaica. On November 29, 1989, Courtney’s mother and sister found themselves in New York. With the family finally reunited, they could now work towards the better future they had envisioned when the thought of moving to the States had first entered their minds.

        What defines an immigrant? The dictionary says an immigrant is a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence. But is that the single best definition? There are people who have come to this country at a young age, sometimes being only a few months old. Some only experience aspects of their “native” culture through the traditions of their parents. Many grow up speaking with no accent, participate in American culture, and identify as Americans first. Are they really immigrants? I believe they are only immigrants by definition. According to Courtney, everyone in her immediate family, whether or not they were born here or immigrated here, are not immigrants. They have all been working hard in this country for years, have lost their accents if they ever had one, and are legally considered to be citizens of the United States of America. Even though some of them were not born here, they have immersed themselves in the culture and lifestyle of New York, and over the years have become fully Americanized. Her grandmother, who still speaks with an accent and has yet to gain her citizenship, is one member of Courtney’s family she considers to still be an immigrant. Having been born and raised here, Courtney considers herself to be an American for the most part but is still in touch with aspects of her Jamaican culture.

          Why do people immigrate to another country? Some are driven out by dangerous situations taking place in their homeland, while others have family in other places of the world and hear that life may be better there. For Courtney’s mother, the opportunities presented by relocating were too good to pass up. Not only were there many potential jobs available for her, but America could also offer better quality education. With the future of her children in her mind, Courtney’s mother made a life changing decision and hopped on a plane to Jamaica, Queens. She sought a better life for her and her family. Did she find it?

            The answer is yes. If we were to speak to Courtney’s mother today, she would tell us that she came to this country with a vision in her mind and hope in her heart. It was through careful planning, willful determination, and the support of her family that allows Courtney’s mother to say that she was able to get everything she wanted out of coming to this country. She worked hard to make sure that her expectations would be met, and today she finds herself in Queens Village, Queens. She is a woman who can say that she has managed to check everything off of her to-do list – she has found success and is giving her family the opportunity to do the same.

Michael Tirado, Assignment 1

Guangdong is a province that spans a fairly large area of China.  It is located on the southern edge of the massive country.  Guangdong is neither a city nor its own country; it is a province (as previously stated) that encompasses several Cantonese regions including its capital city, Guangzhou, which was formerly known as Canton.  Guangdong is geographically unique in China for its 3,368 kilometers of coastline, the Pearl River Delta formed by rivers from all over the province, and, unfortunately for its residents, a typhoon season.

More notably, this province was the origin of the maritime Silk Road and is generally known as an area busy with commerce and industry.  Its capital city, Guangzhou, is the political, economic, scientific, and cultural center of the region.  The Canton fair is held here, which provides major opportunities for international trade.  Guangdong takes part in traditional Chinese events such as the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival.  The Pearl River Cruise, however, is something largely exclusive to Guangdong, as it tours the region’s third largest river and is a must-see attraction for tourists.  Also, the Guangzhou International Food Festival and the Yangjiang Kite Festival are prominent and area-specific events to be had in Guangdong.

New York City is a collection of five boroughs of New York State.  It is located on the northeast coast of the United States.  Staten Island is the most suburban borough, and Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens are generally second in urban areas to the fifth borough, Manhattan.  Together they make up the most populated city of the United States of America.  Notable characteristics associated with New York City include esteemed theater performances on and off Broadway, extensive mass transit systems, and a wide variety of fashions and cuisine.

These two areas of the world are approximately 8,000 miles apart – yet, somehow, they are connected.  Of course, the natural question to be asked is, how are New York City and Guangdong, China linked?  In a word, Chinatown.  New York City’s Chinatown is located in Manhattan and is essentially the largest sampler or representation of the Chinese culture outside the country of China itself.  Walking the streets of this area of lower Manhattan will showcase the architectural atmosphere, cuisine, and, of course, people that have some degree of history with China.

But Chinatown is more than just the home of the majority of Chinese New Yorkers.  It is an example – Chinatown represents the idea that culture is mobile.  With a little human effort, the ideas and traditions of a group of people that have been formed and preserved in one place, perhaps for centuries, can be upheld somewhere other than that place.  It is remarkable to think about.  Of course, assimilation does not always come without difficulty(in the example of Chinatown, the Chinese Exclusion Act), but it is still very, very possible.

Perhaps what makes New York City most noteworthy is that it is a mix of many different peoples and their ethnicities.  One will find many, many different types of people here and, similar to the concept of the United States, all these different peoples are united under the title of “New Yorker.”  There even exist various cultural areas, such as Chinatown and Little Italy, which directly present elements of lands far from the northeast coast of the United States.  For a large span of history, people of these lands have decided to pursue opportunities provided by the economy of New York and left their homes, often bringing with them little more than the values and traditions instilled into them by their original cultures.  Over time, the ideas brought over manifested themselves in the daily lives of these immigrant citizens, giving them a “new homeland”.  In this manner New York City is introduced to the flavors of different regions via its foreign citizens. So, Guangdong offers a culture and New York City offers a new home – and people are the medium of this transaction.

Andrew Chen is a second-generation American, and more specifically, New Yorker.  He lives in Queens and attends the City College of New York.  Andrew is a Chinese-American – his parents emigrated from the Guangdong region of China.  Both grew up on farms and had visions of a more successful future:  Andrew’s paternal family was rather average and sought better opportunities, while his maternal family was well-established but did not wish for future generations to be farmers.  Suddenly moving to New York was not an easy experience.  Andrew’s father both attended high school and worked as a bartender to support his four-member family, and Andrew’s mother struggled immensely with learning English (neither had known any of the language upon entering high school).  Both did well enough to get into college, however, and that was where they met.  The Americas did indeed offer better opportunities to this family, as Andrew’s father became knowledgeable in computing and likely would not have been able to do so in Guangdong.

Andrew’s parents began new lives in New York with a goal in mind – to ensure that the generations they could have (and did) spawn would grow up to be skilled in a profession that was not simple agriculture.  So far, they are accomplishing their goal:  Their offspring is studying in college.  They uprooted themselves, essentially for his sake, and sprouted a new family tree 8,000 miles from their original home.  When they did this, they indirectly accomplished another feat – by successfully establishing themselves in the United States, Andrew’s parents showed their Chinese relatives in Guangdong that something better was very possible.  They were the first members of their immediate or extended families to immigrate, and by doing so effectively they inspired other family members in Guangdong to do the same.  Thus, some of Guangdong, China is in New York City.

And so, the cycle of immigration continues.  Perhaps relatives of Andrew’s that remain in China will arrive here one day.  Immigrants constantly broaden the spectrum of culture by bringing new things to new places, which meshes different civilizations together and creates a remarkable hybrid.  Basically, Andrew is Chinese and American.

Source for information on Guangdong:

“Guangdong Travel Guide: Tours, Map, History, Attractions, Climate, Cantonese Cuisine.” Guangdong Travel Guide: Tours, Map, History, Attractions, Climate, Cantonese Cuisine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.

Sitting down to talk to Paulina Librizzi, I had no idea that learning about her family would be like listening to a version of The Godfather. Coming from a family who knows very little about their origins, it was incredible to meet someone who not only knows her family’s history, but also has a thirteen-page document about it. The document is complete with pictures of the members of her father’s side of the family and the official documentation of the family’s immigration from Italy to America in the early 1900’s. Since I’ve always only had a vague idea of where my family comes from, I was truly blown away by how interesting and detailed her family’s story is.

The story begins with Paulina’s great grandfather, Santo, arriving in America on February 6^th, 1904. He had left Naples on January 20^th, aboard the ship The Liguria, with only ten dollars to his name. He was twenty-three years old at the time of his arrival and was most likely traveling with a man named Giuseppe Brucato, who was a relative of Santos. Conditions weren’t very good in Italy at the time, so they had left for America in search of a better life. The records show that they were headed to stay with a man named Rosario, who could have either been Santo’s brother or cousin, who was living around Little Italy.

Two years after Santo arrived, Lucia, Paulina’s great grandmother, arrived in New York. She was only fourteen years old and described as being 5’3” with a “rosy complexion and chestnut hair.” She was traveling with her father, who was forty-nine, and her brother, Damiano, who was twelve years old at the time of their arrival. According to the records, they arrived on Ellis Island on April 18^th, 1906, aboard the Nord America. Lucia came to America to wed Santo. Lucia and Santo may have been slightly related, which was more common back then, and that’s why she came all the way from Italy to marry him.

On May 3^rd, 1906, more Librizzis and Brocatos arrived in America from Petralia, a town in Sicily. They were all headed to 3 Mulberry Street in Little Italy to stay with their cousin and nephew, Santo. Since so many people were headed to one address, they were asked by customs if they were polygamists and anarchists. It must have been a very crowded house.

Now here is where the story gets interesting. Family legend has it that Santo and his family had to flee back to Italy in order to escape The Black Hand, an Italian Mafia in New York. The Black Hand was an extension of the mafia in Serbia that had helped in the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the assassination that started World War II. They were an infamous group in Europe and in the States. They would often send letters to their victims demanding money and threatening their lives. According to the family story, Santo received letters threatening to murder his sons, Victor and Leonard (Paulina’s grandfather), if they didn’t pay the price that the mafia demanded. Instead of paying up, Santo and his family fled back to the safety of Italy.

Santo returned to America on November 7^th 1910 as a thirty year old man. He was traveling alone; leaving his wife and sons, now three years old and one year old, safely back in Petralia. Shortly after this, on May 11^th, 1912, the records again show Santo arriving in New York from Petralia. He must have been traveling back and forth in order to make sure it was safe enough for his family to move back to New York.

Six months after Santo’s return to America, Lucia and the boys came to meet him in New York. They had traveled second class on the Duca D’Aosta, a ship from Southern Italy. Lucia had listed her father, Leonardo, as her closest relative in New York, but stated that she was headed to Rockaway to stay with her husband. Afterwards, the family settled in Queens where they remain to this day. Leonardo, Paulina’s great grandfather and Santo’s son, is still alive and always tells the story of how his father escaped the mafia and saved their lives.

Paulina actually traveled to Italy just a few years ago in order to meet her family still living there. It was the first time she had a chance to meet many her many cousins. Her cousin, Pietros, is studying abroad in London this year. Pietros has two sisters who are ten and twelve, and adored Paulina when they met her. Pietros’ great grandfather is Damiano, Lucia’s brother who came to America when he was only twelve years old. Maybe it was the threat of The Black Hand that drove him back to Italy. Maybe he just missed home.

It’s incredible to think about Santos life and all that he went through to start a new life for himself in a completely different world than what he was used to. He must have been terrified when the mafia tried to take that away from him when they threatened his family. However, Santos bravery and resilience made it possible for the family to continue on with their life in America, all while keeping his story and culture alive in his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Paulina doesn’t know much about her mother’s side of her family. Her grandparents on her mother’s side also emigrated from Italy, but instead of holding onto their culture and their story, they became more Americanized in order to fit in. Her grandfather quickly learned English and traded pasta for meat and potatoes. He didn’t tell his children about his life before America.

How regrettable it is to think about all the other immigrants who chose to stay silent and ignore their native culture in favor of a more American version of themselves. In doing so, they lost a part of themselves, an important story that should have been passed down to each generation. All humans feel the need to know where we came from and how we got here, and the only way to truly do that is to tell people your story, especially if it involves the Italian mafia.

For starters, Italia does not consider herself or her family to be immigrants.  That is because she is the 4^th generation of her family, which originates from Puerto Rico.  Her family has been in the United States for so long, and because she was born in America, Italia does not see herself as an immigrant.

Italia’s father came to the United States at the tender age of one month old.  He was born in 1972 in the city of Ponce, which is located in southern Puerto Rico.  He came to New York with both of his parents.

Born in 1947, Italia’s maternal grandmother came to the United States from Guayanilla, located in southeast Puerto Rico and just about 15.5 miles from Ponce.  She was 19 years old and came with her father, Italia’s great-grandfather.  She was more than happy when she arrived in the United States because it was a childhood dream of hers to move to New York.   It was in 1966 that Italia’s grandmother first settled down in Coney Island with her father, neither of them knowing a soul around them.

Even though Italia’s grandmother is technically a United States citizen in Puerto Rico, the quality of life was not the same there.  For that reason, her family came to New York in search of better opportunities.  It was with the intent of helping make money for the family and slowly bringing her siblings over into the US that Italia’s grandmother set out to find work.  Left behind in Puerto Rico still were three of Italia’s grand-aunts and one grand-uncle, and the situation at home was not going well financially.

Italia’s grandmother was not the oldest child.  However, although being a middle child, she was chosen to be the first to come to the United States because of her great desire to live here and because she began working at a very young age so she would have an easier time getting work.  It was entirely too expensive to bring everyone over at once.  This is why only one of the children could be chosen to come to New York.  Her plane ticket cost $46.  The rent at their Coney Island home was $98 per month.  Italia’s grandmother and great-grandfather worked very hard and by December of the same year (1966) Italia’s grandaunt, granduncle, and great-grandmother were able to come up to New York.

When Italia’s grandmother first came to New York, she set out to completely immense herself in American culture.  She would converse with the people around her whenever she got the chance.  She also watched a variety of television shows—Jeopardy was her favorite.  Adjustments to American culture were not so difficult for her.  She continued to cook the same foods that she did when she was in Puerto Rico, so adjusting to the food was not an issue.  For the most part, all that she struggled with was learning English.

Over the past 38 years since they have been living in New York, Italia’s grandmother has lived in about 6 different locations.  First, they lived in Coney Island in 1966.  Within a few years, Italia’s mother was born in 1973.  Her grandmother, great-grandfather, and mother then moved to Sheepshead Bay, where they lived for about five years.  Following that, they lived in Ocean Parkway.  After some time, they moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn where, on Valentine’s Day, Italia was born.  For a while, they all lived on Stratford Road, and soon after, they all moved to Bensonhurst in southeast Brooklyn where Italia was raised.  They finally settled down in Marine Park, Brooklyn, which is where they live currently.

All in all, everything that Italia’s grandmother hoped for with life in New York was realized and her dreams were fulfilled.  Everyone who was left to come into the United States is now living here happily.  It was the best decision for them to come to New York, and they couldn’t be happier.

             Sara’s (Saranya’s) tale of immigration starts with her father. He was a college graduate working for the BHC when he decided that he wanted to go to the U.S. in order to continue his education and further assist his family. Prior to this, he met and married Sara’s mother, who later gave birth to Sara’s older sister. When the time was right, Sara’s father came to the U.S. on a student visa with several of his college friends. While there he obtained his masters degree at NYU and began working for the DEP as a civil engineer. After getting his job with the DEP, he began sending money back to his family in India and wrote what his daughters call “love-letters” back and forth with his wife. This lasted for about 8 moths to a year.

Over time, Sara’s father was able to bring his wife and daughter over. After obtaining a visa, her Sara’s father was also able to bring his parents and a brother over. His brother worked for a while, but eventually returned to India. They’d been living in a friend’s basement, but later moved into a 1bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in Jamaica, Queens. Eventually Sara was born.

Sara’s mother was excited to come to the U.S. She wanted to study, get a job and be a career woman. Her husband’s parents did not support this however, as it was more traditional for women to become stay at home wives and mothers. In spite of this, she studied at NYU the same way her husband did and became a certified accountant with a CPA. She worked at a travel agency for a while, then later for Urbani Goods Company.

While working, Sara’s mother sponsored three of Sara’s aunts so that they could come to the U.S. They all stayed with her for a while, and then went their separate ways. One now lives in Colorado, another in Queens and the third in New Jersey.

While in Jamaica, Queens, Sara’s father saw a beautiful red house that he’d have loved to make his own. He liked it so much that he would purposely walk home on a path that allowed him to pass by the house. When the house became available, it was his wife who saw that he liked it and convinced him to buy it. He’d told her that it was far too expensive, but she said it’d be fine. In the long run, it was, as they paid off the mortgage on it just last year.

Life in the U.S. had both ups and downs. For Sara’s father, obtaining a job in the U.S. meant prestige for his family back home. For her mother, it meant having opportunities that most women back in India would not. The down side was that they had to be far more independent than they did back home. In India, family was a key component of everyday life. If one ever had a problem, he or she could always find a family member or family friend that they could talk to and confide in. If one had to raise children, but needed free time to attend to other matters, there was always an aunt, uncle, or other family that could babysit. In the U.S., however, Sara’s parents were mostly on their own. This made working and raising children at the same time more difficult. As a result, when Sara was born, she had to spend a year in India with her grandparents.

Other troubles Sara’s family faced included communication, subway issues, slowness or lateness of transportation in general and, for Sara’s mother, trouble travelling while pregnant. When it came to communication in particular, Sara’s parents actually did know English, as they’d been required to learn it in school. However, they still had strong accents that made it difficult for others to understand them.

Cultural changes for Sara’s parent were not as severe. There was a temple in Jackson Heights, which allowed access to traditional religious experiences. Food was able to remain unchanged as all necessary spices could be brought over from India whenever someone visited. They were also able to celebrate cultural holidays such as Diwali: an Indian national holiday in which they invite many friends and family over for a big party.

In spite of separation from culture not being a problem for Sara, there was still a loss of culture from her parent’s generation to hers. Sara does not consider herself to be an immigrant. She does consider her parents and sister to be immigrants. However, she thinks that she is actually more Indian than her sister. She believes this because her sister came to the U.S. when she was only a year old. Thus, her sister didn’t have much of an immigrant experience the way her parents did. While Sara’s parents sent Sara on many trips back to India to maintain her cultural roots, Sara’s sister was in college, and couldn’t always go.  As for Sara herself, in spite of her many visits home, she doesn’t speak her family’s language, and as a result, there is a slight language barrier between her and her grandparents.  She also feels pressured by them to get in touch with her culture more, but she’d prefer not to do so.

Overall, it seems that the immigration story of Sara’s family ended in success. Sara’s father’s standards and work ethic earned him respect within the workplace. When he first came to the U.S., white people mesmerized him, as they were highly respected in India. Now, he has white people working under him. He also obtained and slowly paid for the home of his dreams. Sara’s mother was able to balance working, studying and raising a family and has a career and two beautiful and intelligent children to show for it. Both parents were also able to assist their family members back home and allowed them to experience the U.S. for themselves, whether permanently or temporarily.

Will Newman’s Immigration Story:

Since its establishment by the first Europeans, The United States of America has always been one of the most popular destinations that people desire to immigrate to. The most common pull factors that attract people to come live in The United States are to seek religious freedom, a higher economic status, and a more secure future for themselves and their children. Since transportation was very primitive up to the middle of the twentieth century, the first American destination for many immigrant families was Ellis Island- an island located at the south of Manhattan, New York. The classmate whom I interviewed, Will Newman considers himself to be a third generation immigrant. Ellis Island was the first destination that Will’s ancestors arrived to when they came to this country.

Will Newman’s family has a very compelling immigration story for one to learn and contemplate on its many rich qualities. The maternal side of his family is mainly of Irish ancestry. His great-grandmother, Huddy was born and raised in Ireland and came to New York in the 1920’s. She worked as a maid in New York in order to provide a decent lifestyle for herself and her family in this new and different society. Huddy was very impoverished in Ireland and became lower-to-middle class by conscientiously working in the United States. Will’s great-grandfather, Tuohy, was also born in Ireland and held a job at a department store when he came to New York. The great-grandmother and great-grandfather settled together in Yonkers, New York. Will’s grandmother, Mildred was the youngest of her five siblings. Mildred’s parents were very stern and distant from her that she treated her friends as if they were part of her immediate biological family. Her siblings were much older than her so she became friends with them as she became older and more mature. Mildred’s family emphasized hard work and as a result, her siblings became very successful individuals in their unknown fields. Will’s grandfather is a second generation American who was mostly raised by his grandmother, because his mother was unable to take care of him. Will’s great-granduncle worked in advertising and frequently travelled to Japan. He befriended Japanese immigrants and opened successful restaurants in Midtown Manhattan. Until now, the restaurants still exist and Will’s family still keeps in touch with their Japanese friends. Will is very distantly related to an Irish rent collector who was murdered in cold blood for his support of the English Monarchy and for his very arrogant and overall unpleasant personality. A story about this Irishman was written in the New York Times, but Will was not able to retrieve it from the Internet. Despite the fact that Will claims that he finds the story fascinating, he is still not very proud of this man’s actions nor of his tragic death.

Will’s paternal ancestry is also very unique and diverse. The ancestors of Will’s paternal grandmother, Dorothy Houston have resided in the United States since the 1600s. They settled in the Midwest and just like many Midwesterners at the time, they were farmers. Will’s paternal great-grandfather, Thomas lived in Budapest, Hungary and was a middle-to-upper class citizen. He was a banker and an owner of many buildings. Shortly, after Thomas escaped from Hungary for religious reasons, communists sieged his buildings in the 1930’s. In the late 1930’s, Thomas moved to three different countries. He left Hungary to go to Vienna, Austria and then left Austria to go to Paris, France. His last and final migration occurred when he moved to New York in the early 1940’s. Thomas remained in the continent of Europe for a very short time after leaving Hungary, because Jewish people were targeted by the Fascist Nazis and were put through abysmal living conditions that involved physical, economic, and emotional hardships.

Will’s paternal grandfather moved with his father (Will’s great-grandfather) to various places in Europe before coming to the United States. Will’s grandfather was a jokester and a dilettante of the card game, bridge. Unfortunately, Will has a very vague memory of his grandfather, because he passed away in the 1990’s when Will was a young child. Will’s father grew up in Stamford, Connecticut and was the youngest of his three siblings. Will’s mother was born in Manhattan, New York and grew up in Westchester, New York. The setting of her upbringing is described to be suburban with a New York City influence. Despite the NYC influence, the place still possesses the essential qualities of offering a relaxed and comfortable life.

One very bizarre story that Will learned from his mother deals with his aunt who currently resides in Switzerland. One time his aunt brought a pie to avoid entering her Irish relative’s home empty-handed. When Will’s aunt went to knock on their door, the household violated normal hospitality and sentimental etiquette by taking the pie from her and shutting the door behind on her face! This story is very hard to digest, because it makes the listener curious about the reasons behind a person’s acceptance of a pie as a gift from someone that s/he apparently despises and wants to deliberately ignore. There were no sufficient pieces of information provided during the interview that can address the reasons behind this very peculiar moment.

Will Newman’s family immigration story is very unique, because his maternal and paternal sides of the family came to the United States for various reasons- religious and socioeconomic. Will is very glad that he grew up in Westchester, New York and that he was not forced to relocate to different places, whether for economic or religious reasons like some of his ancestors. He is also very thankful that his ancestors come to the United States. He believes that if he were to move to the United States as a first generation immigrant, he would have experienced the commonly known cultural and economic challenges that all immigrants, especially those of the twenty-first century encounter during the first few years of their emigration.

“I am American,” Gisella Dionio states when asked if she considers herself to be an immigrant. She doesn’t fit her personal definition of an immigrant, who she identifies as “someone born/raised in a culture different from that of America’s who comes to America.” Although she was born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, she still identifies herself with Filipino culture, considering both of her parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines. While Gisella and her younger brother are first-generation American and do not speak Filipino, their parents’ native language, they possess a love and respect for the Filipino culture.

Although her mother and father share the same occupation in the medical field and both immigrated to the United States at roughly the same time, their backgrounds and upbringings vary tremendously. Born to an upper class family in the Philippines, Gisella’s mother was the first of her family to come to America. Her family members were very successful—working in politics—and established a reputable name for themselves. Growing up in a financially stable and well established house hold, one would assume that everyone in the family would be content with that life style and would not seek change. Yet, Gisella’s adventure-driven and strong-willed mother wanted to make her own money and establish her own identity. She always stood out from the rest of her ten brothers and sisters, whom were more conservative and reserved. As the adventurous, fearless, and strong-minded one of the family, at the age of twenty-two, she emigrated from the Philippines in search of a journey for vast opportunities.

Gisella refers to her mother’s journey as the “typical American dream”, one seeking greater prospects and change from the traditional and conservative Filipino culture. At the young age of twenty-two, her mother immigrated to New York right after finishing college in her native land. She wanted to pursue a career in nursing because she wanted to help people and was passionate about that field. While in the Philippines nurses are looked down upon and belittled, she recognized that nursing was a promising and respectable career in the United States. She knew that if she was to remain in the Philippines, she would be looked down upon because of her chosen career path, and not be content with her life in such a setting. The highly esteemed and well paying job of a nurse in America appealed to a young, educated woman from the Philippines who saw a bright future for herself.

Although assimilation is often difficult for immigrants, what placed Gisella’s mother at an advantage was her knowledge of the English language. Although the official language of the Philippines is Filipino, English is considered the “professional language”, Gisella notes. Her mother already knew how to speak English and obtained her nursing degree in her birth country, therefore, she did not have to start from scratch—on a professional note—which was very beneficial in her journey of finding herself and succeeding in a foreign country.

Although she was familiar with the language, she was far from accustomed to the culture. In relation to the United States, the Philippines is more conservative and reserved, in terms of tradition, customs, and dress. Group and social norm engulf individuality in the Philippines, whereas the Unites States is generally the opposite. Gisella’s mother initially experienced a culture shock and fear of diversity, as she was accustomed to seeing only one race of people, whom largely shared the same religion, beliefs, and culture. In New York, she became exposed to eccentricity, liberal views, revealing dress, and individuals of differing sexual orientations. Although the change was initially shocking, she doesn’t believe she can move back to her native country because she has become familiarized with American culture and appreciates the opportunities this country has given.

Unlike his wife, Gisella’s father was not born to an upper class family. His family in the Philippines was very poor and even education was deemed as a luxury, as they could not afford it. Although the economic status of their families differed, both Mr. and Mrs. Dionio came to America for the same objective: to live out the American dream. Mr. Dionio met his wife at the nurse-training program, while he was seeking to obtain a managerial position at a hospital. He too was cognizant of the condescending nature of the Filipino culture toward nursing positions; therefore he immigrated to the United States in hopes of a more promising career and successful future. It’s interesting to see two individuals from differing socioeconomic classes and backgrounds that share similar career goals and ideals find love among one another in a foreign country.

Gisella reflects that her parents have realized their dreams by coming to the United States, carrying out their career goals, and establishing a family. Although Gisella and her younger brother, William, are first generation American, they appreciate their Filipino roots and their parents’ culture. Their latest visit to their parents’ country of birth and land of their heritage was this past summer. Gisella proudly states that “it’s honestly such a beautiful country and I love the people and the culture.” While she can understand the language, she cannot speak it, which sometimes makes it difficult for her to join in family conversations and communicate with family members in the Philippines who solely speak Filipino. It hasn’t proved to be severely problematic because most of her relatives speak English as a second language, as they were taught in school. She would like to teach her future children about Filipino culture because she is proud of her heritage and it will become a part of who they are as well. Her neighborhood will likely make it easier to introduce the culture, as there is a large Filipino community in that Queens region. Filipino residents compose the majority of the tenants living in the apartment buildings surrounding her. Although she doesn’t attend any cultural services, she knows several established Filipino youth groups, which make it easier for her to get in touch with her roots.

Bethany Herrmann’s story begins with strife and ends with love. Her maternal grandmother, Esther Elstein, was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1930. Her whole life changed at the age of nine when the Nazis invaded Poland and her family was forced into a concentration camp. Esther was blonde and blue-eyed and with the sacrifice of her mother, she was able to escape. Unfortunately, she never saw her family again. After her escape, Esther stayed in Poland, worked as a nanny, and pretended not to be a Jew; her Aryan looks benefited her for no one suspected her true identity.

When World War II ended and Nazi Germany was defeated, it was still unsafe to live as a Jew in Poland. Esther then moved with her husband, Abba, to Haifa, Israel in search of safety and happiness. Once there, they had Bethany’s mother and uncle. Although Abba was a doctor, it was difficult for the couple to live and support a family comfortably in Israel. Esther did receive some schooling, but she couldn’t find a steady job. Abba and Esther decided to move to the United States when Bethany’s mother was nine and her uncle was seven. Their decision to move to New York, specifically, was not only due to the need for better opportunities and work, but also for religious freedom. America, in their minds, was a place of acceptance.

The family moved to Mount Vernon, New York, an especially Catholic and African American area at the time. There weren’t many synagogues in their new home, but Bethany’s mother and uncle went to Jewish schools and unlike their mother, they did not live their lives in fear of being Jewish. According to Bethany, her mother’s lack of dedication to her Jewish religion may be because of the fear produced by the war back in Europe. Although she isn’t particularly Jewish, Bethany says, she is still proud of her culture.

Esther Elstein thrived in America; always a gifted seamstress, she opened her own store in New Rochelle (a town close to Mount Vernon) where she sold lady’s undergarments, including underwear, bras, corsets, stockings, nightgowns, and lots of customized pieces. She also sold prosthetic breasts to women who had undergone mastectomies. Esther owned that store for forty-two years. Bethany’s grandfather, Abba, was a doctor and never had trouble finding a job. Her grandparents pressured her mother to do well in school and in turn, Bethany’s mother went to SUNY Binghamton and received a degree in social work and anthropology.

Bethany considers this side of her family to be immigrants because they came from Europe to the U.S., longing for liberty and happiness. She doesn’t consider herself an immigrant, though, because she was born in the States and was raised American.

Ironically, Bethany’s other side of the family is from Germany. At first, when Bethany’s mother and father started to date, Esther did not approve. As a woman who escaped the Holocaust, it was natural for her to disapprove. However, as she got to know her daughter’s boyfriend, Esther realized that they wanted to be together and she disregarded her own prejudices and accepted Bethany’s father into the family. Bethany is especially proud of her grandmother’s decision to accept her father and she has every right to be. A traumatizing experience with a certain group of people inevitably taints someone’s view of the group, but in Esther’s case, she ignored her deep-rooted resentments and embraced love over hate.

Bethany’s paternal grandfather came from Germany to the United States as a young boy. His family left Europe due to extreme poverty and settled in The Bronx. They had a large family of five children and were practicing Christians. Their hope was to move to a place in which they could live comfortably, but in reality, it was difficult even in New York. The family struggled. Bethany’s grandfather, however, rebelled against his Christian upbringing and eventually considered himself an agnostic; he strived to fit in with his American peers. He eventually married and had Bethany’s father who also grew up in The Bronx, close to Yonkers. According to Bethany, her father wasn’t urged by his parents to excel in school and as a result, he never became academically strong. Her father never went to college; he was more into craftsmanship for he worked on cars, air conditioners, and framing for a long time before he started his own business. Perhaps Bethany gets her craft from her father, for she strives to be an architect and she gets her intellect from her mother, for she is a Macaulay scholar. Bethany doesn’t consider her father an immigrant because he was born in the United States.

When I interviewed Bethany, she said that she owes her existence to World War II. In her opinion, if the war never happened, neither side of her family would have fled Europe in search of freedom. And if her family hadn’t left their native countries, her parents never would’ve met and she would never have been born. She smiles when she says this: “I can’t believe I exist because of a war.” I ask her if her grandmother Esther ever thought about this. “What do you mean?” she asks. I clarify, “I mean, I wonder if while she was a nanny living in disguise in Poland she ever thought of the positive consequences of the war. When there is war, those affected by it focus on the negatives. Who would’ve known that if the war didn’t occur, she wouldn’t have been blessed with a granddaughter like you?”

Bethany’s family history is an inspirational one for many reasons. Her family was relentless in their demand for liberty and happiness. They sacrificed their lives as they knew them, left behind their homes and family, boldly took control of their lives and came to the New World. They overcame countless struggles, including their own prejudices, and welcomed love in lieu of hate.

The story of Carl Colena’s family’s arrival to the United States dates as far back as the 1800s and as recently as a few decades ago. His paternal ancestors have been in America for far too long for anyone to remember their countries of origin with certainty. Carl’s paternal grandfather was born in Berkeley, West Virginia and it is suspected that he is of Sicilian descent, although it is unknown when his ancestors first arrived in the US. His mother died during childbirth and he was raised by his father. He had been a child laborer, working in West Virginia’s coal mines because his family’s financial insecurity prevented him from attending grade school and because the state’s poor economy and high unemployment rates did not allow him to choose any other field. Some time before World War II, he moved to New York, leaving his family behind, in search of better wages and more varied job opportunities. Upon his arrival, he enrolled in the Merchant’s Marine Academy in Kings Point. He graduated and worked onboard merchant ships. When the war started, he was assigned by the Coast Guard, which was commanded by the US Navy, to work on ships that carried supplies to Russian allies under the Lend-Lease Program. He met his wife after the war.

Carl’s paternal grandmother was born in Virginia. She is believed to be of Irish descent, with her ancestors possibly originating from Galway, Ireland. As is the case with Carl’s grandfather, it is unknown how long ago her ancestors first arrived in the US. At the time of her birth, her mother already had more children than she could handle to raise on her own and her paternity was unknown, so she was taken in to be raised by a neighboring African American family. The South lacked a formal adoption system at the time so this was a common practice in poor areas. She grew up alongside her adoptive family’s daughter, whom she considered her sister. Her adoptive sister moved to New York State to study at Cornell University. After graduating, she moved to Manhattan to work in the business sector. Carl’s grandmother moved from Virginia to New York to live with her, as well as in search of better job opportunities than those that were available in Virginia at the time. Despite living in New York, she chose to marry Carl’s grandfather, a fellow Southerner, instead of a native New Yorker. The tendency to marry someone from one’s own place of origin is a common practice among early generations of immigrants to the United States. The fact that it occurred between Carl’s grandparents, who were migrants within the US, suggests that they might have felt more closely connected to other people from the South than to New Yorkers and that their regional identity might have been stronger than their national one. Because they both migrated to New York from the South more or less independently, they grew apart from their families back in their home states and Carl currently has very little contact with his extended family on his father’s side.

After they were married, Carl’s paternal grandparents settled in Jamaica, Queens, where they raised Carl’s father alongside their other three children. Carl’s father spent most of his early life in Jamaica, until he eventually moved out to Long Island. However, before he left Jamaica, he met his wife, Carl’s mother.

Carl’s maternal grandparents both originated from Mainland China but migrated to Taiwan. His maternal grandmother was from Sichuan Province, and his grandfather from Jiangsu Province. The civil war that was fought in the mainland between 1927 and 1936 forced them to move to Taiwan. They were supporters of Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Chinese National Party, and when his government evacuated to Taiwan, many supporters and refugees followed. They did not originally intend to remain in Taiwan permanently. When Chiang Kai-shek moved his government to Taiwan, he still claimed sovereignty over the rest of China, including territories that were claimed the People’s Republic, as well as some claimed by foreign governments. His presidency in Taiwan lasted for twenty-five years (1950-1975) and during that time he raised an army in preparation for an invasion of mainland China to regain control of the nation. His supporters expected him to recapture the Mainland and to return to their homeland after his victory. Carl’s grandparents emigrated from China separately and met each other after moving to Taiwan, where they married and had three children.

Carl’s mother spent her early life in Taipei, growing up with a brother and a sister. She spent her college years studying at National Taiwan University, and after graduating, went on to study abroad in New York. She enrolled at the New York Institute of Technology and lived in the dormitories in Central Islip for her first year. For the remainder of her academic career at NYIT, she moved to Hicksville and later to Flushing, Queens. While in Hicksville, she worked as a live-in assistant for a family. One of the members of the family was a woman who had lost nearly all of her limbs and required a lot of assistance with her daily functions. When she moved to Flushing, she shared an apartment with several other NYIT students while working on completing her studies. She had chosen to attend NYIT primarily because of its prestigious Computer Graphics Lab, which was reserved for students enrolled in a specialized graduate program, in the hopes of learning computer graphic animation. Many of the people who attended this program had successful careers and served pivotal functions in startup companies such as Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney Animation Studios, Microsoft, and Nvidia, among others. Unfortunately, she was rejected from this program. After completing her education at NYIT, she went on to study at the New York School of Visual Arts, where she pursued a master’s degree in computer arts. Shortly before she finished her studies at SVA, she met Carl’s father. They married and continued to live in Queens, where Carl was born.