I never get to see my mother before, she died after I was born for 5 days. She passed away because of leukemia, this event is what pushes me to work hard and get through obstacles in life. I don’t know if she can see me from down here but I just want to do everything I can to make ... Read More »
“I’m not an immigrant of the United States. I consider myself part of the brain drain, I came here simply for my education, expecting to return home.” My grandmother, Rita Tabourian, grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and attended school at the American University of Beirut. “My mother gave me the same opportunities she gave her son. She raised me to ... Read More »
Otto grew up in Germany and at a young age was enrolled with the Nazi youth. After leaving he joined the German Navy and fought in World War Two. He was captured by the British and put in a British camp until the end of the war. He got to go home after the war and got a job playing ... Read More »
Born on February 28, 1961, Shahe Krakirian began his life in Beirut, Lebanon living in a small apartment in with his whole family. He shared a room with his two younger brothers. Though they sometimes got into verbal arguments, and even occasional physical fights, his younger brothers were two of his closest friends during his childhood. It was not as ... Read More »
Upon his arrival to the United States of America, one of Arthur Kinyanjui’s many curiosities involved a McDonald’s drive-thru. The Kenyan native was shocked at the sight of his host speaking into a black box that projected voice. “Microphone?” he laughs today. “That was a big one.” Although Arthur had been born and raised in Central Province, one of Kenya’s ... Read More »
What if I told you that a young girl, living in a family of ten in northern Greece, would find her way to Palo Alto, California, married to a New Yorker with a daughter and two loving grandsons? My grandmother, Amy Lewnes, was born on November 30th, 1933 in a small town in northern Greece called Serres. She lived with ... Read More »
Then one summer day in 2012, our family woke up in 3 AM in the morning to catch our flight to America. Airport security had been increased because of a bombing the day prior to our departure. My father, Danail, was always a mediocre student. He mostly got Bs and Cs while in middle and high school. He did not ... Read More »
My mother’s life started with little memory of her hometown of Amstelveen, Netherlands. While Nienke did not remember much of her hometown and where she was born, she remembers key parts of her immigration into America at the age of two years old. One thing unique to my mom though, is she has immigrated twice to the U.S., both being ... Read More »
I remember one day coming home with soot and dust covering the shoulders of my coat from the pollution. My son once asked me, “Why did you leave China with such a good job to come to America? You work much harder here than back in China.” In China, I was considered upper class. I had a high income, lived ... Read More »
Your freedom is something you should always fight for. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”-Martin Luther King Jr. My name is Jose Jimenez, I was very poor and had 9 other siblings. I grew up in Uruapan, Mexico. It is extremely hot and used to be a very small town. I ... Read More »