Category Archives: 1975 – 2000

Thirty-plus Years of a New Life

              I interviewed my father who is currently 47 years old and was born in Apatzingan Michoacan, Mexico. As a young child, he would migrate all over Mexico due to his father’s job. His father was a musician and they were constantly on the move until they settled in Nueva Italia, Mexico. He then ... Read More »

A Dream Fulfilled (Egypt)

            Ali (name changed) grew up in a privileged, upper-economic status home in Cairo, Egypt.  With a light-skinned complexion and a lanky-athletic build, Ali attended one of the best private Christian schools in Cairo even though he and his family were practicing Muslims.  He was proud (and perhaps overly confident) that his English language and ... Read More »

Mechanic from Mexico

        1. How old were you when you first thought of crossing over? A: I was 15 years old and still in high school. I had heard stories about other people having success “up north”. I wanted to explore the United States and see what could be out there for me. 2. When did you actually make ... Read More »

Remembering your “why” (Russia)

            I was thirteen years old when we moved to the United States. It was my first trip on the airplane, and I remember feeling excited and scared at the same time. Scared because I have never flown on an airplane before, and excited because I wanted to see my city from a bird’s eye ... Read More »

Opportunities and Diversity Appreciated (South Korea)

            When Susan (name changed) was a child, she grew up in a small suburban town in South Korea. She lived a fairly normal childhood one could expect of the suburbs in any nation during the late 70s and early 80s, walking to school and playing in the streets until sundown.  It was a close ... Read More »

Sacrifices

          …making sacrifices is also important to growing as a person, and becoming the best possible version of yourself. Maria was born in Durango Mexico. She was the youngest of 11 siblings, who all lived in a tiny pueblo on the outskirts of the city of Durango. They had very little money, and living far away ... Read More »

Family Shop Provides Immigration Funds

              Growing up, my parents loved talking about their childhood in their intimately small community of San Fernando, Pampanga. My dad would relay stories about coming home from school and riding his bike around the neighborhood shouting “Pandesal! Pandesaaal!” trying to get people to buy his family’s freshly-baked rounds of sweet, warm and crispy ... Read More »

Finding Punjabi Culture in San Jose

              “We have now blended our culture with American culture, but that does not make us any less of either group?”   *Note: My Grandma does not speak English and my words are rough translations of what she told me. Some words that exist in Punjabi do not exist in English, so I did ... Read More »

Escape From Oppression as a Daughter

                  When did you first consider emigrating from South Korea?  Since I was 10. It was horrible. My parents were very old school and from the countryside of South Korea. Sons were valued much higher than girls to the point that nobody wanted to have a daughter. My mom had 5 daughters ... Read More »

Innocence and Youth

                What is your name and date/place of birth? My name is Shaima Bibi and I was born on September 20, 1966 in Suva, Fiji Islands. The most memorable thing about my birth as I was told by my mother was that I was born at home with the help of the local ... Read More »