I was born in Saigon Vietnam. I’m 55 I came here when I was 8 years old, I had a very short time in Vietnam. Up to 8 years old I was a student. I attended a private French school until I was 8 years old which was until 1975. Living in Vietnam ... Read More »
Category Archives: Southeast
Adjusting to Many Differences from China
In July 1990 in China, a seven-year-old boy was going to live with his parents in the United States. He was afraid of the new environment he was about to encounter, but more than that he was happy to see his parents and live with them all the time. After his ... Read More »
Construction Work and Guitar Player
My father Beto Gustavo (name changed), was born in Orizaba, Mexico and raised in Zapoapan Veracruz, Mexico. Currently when writing this, he is 47 years old. He decided to immigrate to the United States from his birth place. He works as a handyman, having a wide range of skills. He enjoys playing soccer from ... Read More »
Great Migration: Alabama to California
Editor’s Note: Many African-Americans trace their roots back to slavery, but often the specific family’s early history in America as well as their country of origin has been erased. The story of these families are an integral part of the American story and slavery was a form of forced immigration. We pick up the family story as far back ... Read More »
Guyana Agriculture Expertise Leads to Florida
Our family friend, Basil, is from the small South American country, Guyana. He was born in a county called Corentyne, which is Southeast of the country’s capital Georgetown. He grew up in a small farming community called Bush Lot Farm and had seven siblings. At that time, Guyana was not a rich country, and ... Read More »
Child Immigrant from Colombia Becomes PR Pro
Melissa Strozza was 5 years old when she and her family moved to the United States in the early 90´s. They were living in Cartagena, Colombia, but there was a tough situation in the 80´s and 90´s. Colombia went through a big civil war, so jobs were hard to ... Read More »
Never Too Old for the American Dream (México)
“The main key to being successful as an immigrant is saving up as much money as you can and that will be the most useful thing in your life as an immigrant.” My parents made sure that that idea was stuck in my head since I was young. I grew up on a farm. My father Cirilo and my mother ... Read More »
From Third to First (Colombia)
My name is Robert and I was just a teenager when I left. In my jean shorts, white tank top, and sandals I was young. 19 years old, alone, and full of dreams when I decided to come to the United States. I knew there was more opportunity for me here than the island in Colombia that I came from. ... Read More »
Unsung Hero: Judge Dennis Cantrell II (Tennessee)
This is my grandfather Judge Dennis Cantrell II. I was born on June 3rd, 1919 in Gainesville Georgia. I was born into a family of 9 and poverty. Not long after I was born, my family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, the things I saw were different than what I had saw in Georgia, or at least what I had remembered. ... Read More »
Making It Out
Editor’s note: Slavery is an integral part of the American story and those who were forced to come to the US in chains, are no less immigrants than any other group. Not only was their freedom taken, but in many cases, their personal family history was lost. On this web site of immigration stories, we pick up their descendants’ story ... Read More »