The sounds of gunfire, cannons, and people in your town screaming are signs that your life is going to change. My mother is from Vietnam and had her life change because of war. She is now living happily here in America. This is Hai Phan’s life story. My mom was born in South Vietnam in 1974. “The life back then ... Read More »
In 1981, Ambjörn Lindskog, a nuclear physicist from Sweden, took a plane to America, starting a chapter of his life that would change him forever. Although he did not know it at the time, the American dream would inspire him to do do great things, and would drive him to achieve things he never thought possible. He was born on ... Read More »
My grandfather’s life started in jeopardy due to his premature birth and small size, which forced him to spend his first two weeks without his family in an incubator. My grandfather, Al Bien, was born in Beijing, China in 1934 where his home was in a “hutong” or alley. Following the beginning of the second Sino-Japanese war, his family moved ... Read More »
Click Here to Listen to the Audio Version As Read by Veronica Tincher, the Daughter of the Szegos, and a Resident of Palo Alto. Veronica Tincher’s parents, Gabor and Ann Szego were Hungarian Jews. Her mother was born in Budapest and her father came from a smaller town, Kunhegyes. Gabor Szego, her father was a bright mathematician and professor in Hungary. ... Read More »
Helga Newman recalls the day in March, 1938 when her family’s life changed forever. She lived with her parents and grandmother in Vienna, Austria and that day she watched through the window as the Nazi army marched into her city. Her father warned her to stay away from the window for her safety. When Hitler, arrived he began creating restrictions ... Read More »
Hirzel, Canton Zurich, Switzerland – the home village Winter’s Landis family from 1488 until they were forced to flee Switzerland in the 1640’s. In 1614, in Zurich, Switzerland, Winter Dellenbach’s ancestor, Hans Landis, an Anabaptist minister, was martyred for his beliefs which threatened both the establishment church and state – there was no separation between the two then. He is ... Read More »
The year was 1979 when Mario was living in Italy where he had a beautiful small house on a small street in a small town. Everything was small and well taken care of. Mario is a short man with green eyes. He was previously a worker in a nightclub and was now working in a Italian restaurant. A man came ... Read More »
The world outside Sarnen called me to explore it; I boldly responded with a three year trip to France and then London, where I was a nanny to wealthy families. It was 1960. While hiking on the magnificent mountains my home town was visible, pleasantly placed near a lake that glistened like glass in the afternoon sun. You could hear ... Read More »
Jalisco, Mexico. It’s a really beautiful state – where I live. My name is Claudia (name was changed). I am 25 years old. My family and I have a ranch that’s an hour away from the city. I just sometimes wished that I didn’t live like this. We didn’t have enough money to pay our bills.We had really bad jobs that ... Read More »
My name is Jorge Rey (name changed to preserve anonymity). I am patient. I am outgoing. I am humble. I am one of a kind. I happily live in Hayward CA with my wife, two sons, daughter-in-law and my one year old nephew who I adore so much. I was born in 1974 in Guatemala. I lived with my grandparents ... Read More »