This semester we have been exploring our past as well as the past of our home: New York City. New York City is one of the most multifaceted cities in the world because it has the highest percentage of immigrants. The fact that there are so many different immigrants makes New York the melting pot capital of the world! We had the chance to delve into our own backgrounds and cultures by writing about our family’s origins. Each of us has written an immigration narrative that reflects on our family’s (or our) immigration to the U.S. We explained the push and pull factors involved. We talked about the difficulties of starting a new life in the U.S. We wrote about who and what we brought with us and what we had to leave behind. Below you will find our stories. We will take you on a journey from the Dominican Republic to China. Join us as we rediscover our roots.

Immigration Narratives from:

Asia

• Journey From India
• Taiwan
• Filipino Parties
• Immigration Narrative
• Immigration and Ideals
• Jaya He- Victory to Thee
• American Mythos: The Journey Westward
• Ah Gnigh
• A Journey To The Other Half Of The World
• 16 and an Immgrant

The Caribbean

• Caribbean Roots
• Chrystelle Lanou's Interview as told to Victoria Manna
• Dominican-Raised, Brooklyn-Born Woman
• Coming from the Dominican Republic...
• Immigration, Accents, and Rebirths

Europe

• My immigration narrative
• Il Passato
• Men of the Green Isle
• A Lasting Experience

North America

• Grandma's Story
• Texas
• Immigrants Speak Out?
• The Adventures of a Californian-Canadian
• Immigration Narrative

South America

• Del español... to the English

Or, see all the immigration narratives here!

Read Immigrant Interviews about:

Changes in Lifestyles

• Dora's Interview as told to Thomas Saw Aung

First Generation Immigrants

• Hilda Chiquito: The Opportunity Costs of Life in New York City
• Miguel Lebron’s Interview as told to Lisa Ng
• Rose Yao's Interview as Told to Genevieve Hynes
• Dora's Interview as told to Thomas Saw Aung
• Nube Cabrera's Interview as told to Ann Jose

Future Plans

• Dora's Interview as told to Thomas Saw Aung

Homeland

• Dora's Interview as told to Thomas Saw Aung

Parent Immigration Story

• An Interview with Katie Chiu
• Natasha Marsub’s Interview... As told to Maria
• Samuel J Paul's Inteview as told to Viki Hazkour
• Anna Zhuk's Interview as told to Allegra DePasquale

Second Generation Immigrants

• Donald Fung’s Interview as told to Christian Budhi
• An Interview with Katie Chiu
• Natasha Marsub’s Interview... As told to Maria
• Trisha's* Interview as Told by Makeba L. Ross
• Samuel J Paul's Inteview as told to Viki Hazkour
• Anna Zhuk's Interview as told to Allegra DePasquale

Read Immigrant Interviews from:

Bangladesh/Pakistan

• Caring for Our Wise Generation...
• Halal Food
• MD Islam’s Interview as told to Shio Fung Zhu
• Natasha Marsub’s Interview... As told to Maria

Caribbean/Jamaica

• Jamaican and Proud!
• Trisha's* Interview as Told by Makeba L. Ross

China

• Donald Fung’s Interview as told to Christian Budhi
• An Interview with Katie Chiu
• Rose Yao's Interview as Told to Genevieve Hynes

Ecuador

• Hilda Chiquito: The Opportunity Costs of Life in New York City
• Miguel Lebron’s Interview as told to Lisa Ng
• Dora's Interview as told to Thomas Saw Aung
• Nube Cabrera's Interview as told to Ann Jose

Haiti

• Audmar - Working in NYC
• Gary Rey's Work as told to Kwan Holloway
• Harryson Civil's Interview as told to Kwan Holloway
• Samuel J Paul's Inteview as told to Viki Hazkour

Mexico

• Fred Rodriguez’s Interview as told to Neha Gupta
• Juan Hernandez’s Interview as told to Liz Joseph

Russia

• Leonid Gozman's Interview as told to Sara Brown
• Janet Veksler as told by Sara Brown
• Anna Zhuk's Interview as told to Allegra DePasquale

In this assignment, each member of our class scoured far and wide for an immigrant worker to interview in order to demonstrate the kinds of jobs people get after immigrating to the United States. Our classmates met individuals of all ethnicities and spanning all fields of work, acquiring a proper scope of immigrant occupations. We met people ranging from Soviets to Ecuadorians, performing jobs varying from teachers to doctors to grocers. This gave us a deeper understanding of the plight of immigrants and the act of working in general. Listed below are the interviews we were able to procure from these vital workforce constituents.

Peruse our Worker Profiles by field:

Corporate

• Hilda Chiquito: The Opportunity Costs of Life in New York City

Education

• For the Kids: Profile of an Immigrant Worker
• Audmar - Working in NYC
• The Food of Love
• Stephanie Falcon's Work as Told to Thomas Saw Aung

Food Vendors

• Halal Food
• "I am happy where I am" as told by Sabeena
• Meet Miguel Henrique from Xia Grocery
• Meet Anna Sanchez from Tortilleria Nixtamal
• Slow is mainstream
• Presentation and Aspiration: A Hostess' Job
• Gary Rey's Work as told to Kwan Holloway

Manual Labor

• Central Park Conservancy: The Center of New York City
• Hilda Chiquito: The Opportunity Costs of Life in New York City
• From Fresh Fish Cutter to Loving Father
• Worker Profile: Xavier Celestin

Medicine

• Even Our Elders Help Their Elders
• Hilda Chiquito: The Opportunity Costs of Life in New York City

Science

Social Service

• Janet Veksler as told by Sara Brown
• Stephanie Falcon's Work as Told to Thomas Saw Aung

Access all Worker Profiles here.