4 10 735 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e6bcdef6df439f0e631550e238d54b5c.jpg 506db67e47a2974a974fb53a83a9bfd1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Isatu Kallon Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Algassimu Bah OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0155_irw0086_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Community Religion Food habits Culture Assimilation Adaptation Fire fighters OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0155_irw0086 Interview with Algassimu Bah, March 17, 2019 2019oh0155_irw0086 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Families. Liberia Philadelphia (Pa.) Gambia Michigan State University Occupations Employment Austin (Tex.) Community Religion Food habits Culture Assimilation Adaptation Fire fighters Algassimu Bah Isatu Kallon 2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 1 Introduction My name is Isatu Kallon and I am interviewing today Algassimu Bah. Bah describes that he was born in Liberia and grew up during the country's civil war. He describes moving from Liberia to the United States when he was 11 years old, in 1998. They moved to Gambia before arriving in Michigan in 1999. Gambia ; Immigration journey ; Liberia ; Liberian Civil War (1989-1997) ; Michigan ; Refugees ; Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 106 Living in Liberia So what were the condition in the country when you left? Bah describes the violence and lawlessness in Liberia during the civil war when he was a child. His family lived in Gambia for a year where he attended school and got settled, anticipating that they would soon immigrate to the United States. His father had immigrated to the United States in 1996 or 1997 and was able to prepare for the rest of the family's arrival. Bah immigrated with his mother, older brother and younger sister, traveling by airplane from Gambia to Senegal to the United States. Chain migration ; Gambia ; Immigration journey ; Liberian Civil War (1989-1997) ; Refugees ; Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003) ; Senegal Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Liberia 6.335445, -9.441391 6 Liberia http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/651f70e32e14d7718998850512f10f59.jpg A technical in Monrovia during the Second Liberian Civil War 299 First impression upon arriving to the United States So how did other people treated you when they knew you guys were travelling to America? Bah recalls that people in Gambia treated his family kindly. He remembers his first impression of arrival in New York City and eating KFC, which he loved. His family came to Philadelphia and again everyone treated the family well. He quickly learned that he needed to speak English rather than his native language, Fula. He recalls how different it was not hearing the Muslim call to prayer or seeing mosques on every corner. But he observes that children are all the same in each country. First impressions ; Fula (Language) ; Immigration journey ; Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) ; Language acquisition ; Mosques ; Muslim call to prayer ; New York City (N.Y.) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Gambia ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 476 Educational differences / Expectations of and reactions to the United States So education-wise, how was--like, how did the kids treated you at school? Bah recalls that when he began school in Michigan after moving from Philadelphia he was the first African kid in his middle school, so he kept quiet and did not run into any trouble. When in Africa, he imagined the United States would be like heaven with money growing on trees. In Michigan it first snowed in October, and he had never seen snow in his life or experienced such cold. Bah has few memories of school in Liberia as he only attended elementary school, but notes that parents beat children for poor grades ; there they had to stand in the school assembly and say prayers before going to class. He remembers the school in Michigan as very big, with students having their own lockers, rather than students staying in one room all day as they did in Liberia. He has attended middle and high school in the United States and attended Michigan State University studying Media Arts, interning at a TV station. Soccer and wrestling are other hobbies he enjoys. African ; Education ; Liberia ; Media arts ; Michigan State Spartans ; Scholarships ; Soccer ; Sports ; Teachers Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Michigan State University ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1252 Current job So, um, where do you work right--presently? Bah describes the kinds of work he has done in Austin, Texas, including as a coach, substitute teacher, and currently as a firefighter in Manor, Texas. He talks about how much he loves helping other people, and shares that he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. When he was younger, he was in the national society so he always wanted to be a firefighter. He likes teaching and helping the community. He says that he likes the hours at his work as a firefighter ; 24 hours of work and 48 hours off, which gives him plenty of time for other pursuits. How much work he did at the fire station will determine what he does on his day off. If they had more fire calls at work, he will just stay home on his day off and sleep, but if they had fewer calls, he will assist with coaching at the school, or playing soccer. Austin (Tex.) ; Austin, Texas ; Coaches ; Community ; Firefighters ; Habitat for Humanity ; Manor (Tex.) ; Manor, Texas ; Michigan State University ; Occupations ; Referees ; Soccer ; Substitute teachers ; Volunteers Austin (Tex.) ; Employment ; Fire fighters ; Immigrants ; Occupations 17 1471 Community and neighborhood Describe your neighborhood where you live. Bah says that since he moved to Texas, he has been living in the same area/neighborhood. Next to his two-bedroom house is a police station, which makes him feel safe. He likes the quiet of central Austin because when he comes home from work, he needs a quiet place to go to sleep. He says he talks to his neighbors once in a while. He shares that he has made friends with a neighbor from Spain who shares his love of soccer. Austin, Texas ; Neighbors ; Police stations ; Soccer ; Spain ; World Cup Austin (Tex.) ; Community ; Immigrants 17 1580 Hopes and dreams / Religion So what are some of your hopes and dreams in the future? Bah shares that he aspires to be promoted within the ranks of firefighters, as there are different positions including captain, or lieutenant, which he hopes to be in the next ten years. He also thinks about owning his own business or moving back to Africa if possible. He talks about how important his Islamic religion is in his life. He reports that he fasts during Ramadan and prays his five daily prayers, except if he is fighting fires, and goes to the mosque every Friday. Fasting ; Firefighters ; Islam ; Mosques ; Muslim ; Prayers ; Ramadan ; Religion Austin (Tex.) ; Employment ; Fire fighters ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Religion 17 1731 Relationship with his family So describe your relationship with your family. Bah describes his relationship with his family is as close. After the family moved to Michigan, his older brother moved to Texas and he and the rest of his family followed. It takes him three hours to travel to where his mother lives and he visits her often. During the interview, he is in Philadelphia visiting family and friends. Detroit, Michigan ; Texas Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1822 Muslim holidays and ritual celebrations So what holidays do you celebrate? Although Bah states that there are not many holidays in the Muslim religion, he goes on to describe Eid Mubarak, the Muslim holiday that is celebrated after breaking the fasting during Ramadan. During this time is when everyone comes together to cook, eat, and celebrate. He compares it to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. He says that for Eid, everyone calls or sees family members who they haven't seen in a long time. He explains that he fasts during Ramadan from sunset to sundown, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The pillars are fasting, believing in God, prayers, going to Mecca and Zak-at, and donating to charity. He discusses that he has done four of the five pillars and that going to Mecca is the only one he has left. Christianity ; Eid Mubarak ; Fasting ; Mecca ; Muslims ; Pillars of Islam ; Ramadan ; Religion ; Zak-at Immigrants ; Religion 21.410319, 39.859569 17 Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where Bah hopes to go for Hajj. https://blog.britishmuseum.org/hajj-pilgrimage-to-mecca/ Hajj, where Bah wishes to go in the future. 2008 Feelings about the United States / African food So looking back, how do you feel about the United States? Do you regret it or no-- Bah states that coming to the United States was the best thing that ever happened to him. Although he laughs and says he was joking, he said coming here has opened new doors and opportunities. He does not know what would have happened if he had not immigrated. He describes some African food, but says that he is not the perfect cook. He lists several African foods, including cassava leaf, potato leaf, and peanut butter stew, which he knows how to cook. His mom sometimes cooks for him when she comes to visit, and his brother’s wife cooks African dishes as well. He jokes that he is ready to get married so his wife can cook African cuisine. Cassava leaf ; Hakor bantara ; Hakor putteh ; Jollof rice ; Mafeh Tiger ; Peanut butter soup ; Potato leaf ; Senegal Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants 17 2192 United States citizenship So are you a U.S citizen? Bah talks about how he became a citizen in either 2007 or 2008. His family arrived with a visa that his father obtained because he worked for the United States Embassy. Then his father helped the rest of the family come here to the United States. After they arrived, they went through the process of naturalization in which he took a test to become a citizen. American Embassy ; Citizenship ; Liberia ; Naturalization ; Visa Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2261 Challenges in the first six months in the U.S. So what challenges did you face in the first six months? Bah says that the primary challenge upon immigrating was the weather, which was already cold once he arrived in Michigan. He had to acquire snow boots and a heavy jacket. Another challenge was the lack of fresh African foods. His mom bought the ingredients, but it did not taste the same because it was not fresh. In Detroit where he grew up, kids misbehaved and did not get beaten up, in contrast to back home where the teachers hit students if they misbehaved. As a soccer lover, he was surprised that in Michigan people played soccer and other sports inside homes because it was too cold outside. He was surprised by taking a school bus. The way houses were built in the U.S. is different than Liberia. African cuisine ; Detroit, Michigan ; Liberia ; Michigan ; New York ; School buses ; Soccer ; Weather Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2545 Advice and solving problems / Comparing Detroit, Michigan and Liberia So who do you go to for advice and solving problems? Bah describes that when he moved here, he went to his dad for advice or his teachers since they have been here longer and they knew more about the culture than he did. He said in Detroit most of the kids in the school were black so there was less discrimination, except when they asked to copy his homework and he refused, then they called him “African booty scratcher.&quot ; He adapted to the name calling and didn't get into fights. He comments on how in the United States he had to do homework after school, and could not run around and play soccer. His father gave him other reading to do as well, or he had to watch the news with him. Bullying ; Detroit, Michigan ; Discrimination ; Harassment ; Homework ; Name-calling ; Schools ; Soccer Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2815 Cultural adaptation and lifestyle changes So what lifestyle changes have you made since you came to the U.S.? Bah says he learned to adapt with school and kids in school because they did things differently. In Detroit, he ate in the cafeteria. In contrast, in Liberia children bought food in the street or people came to the school’s fence to sell food. Here, he eats at the table rather than on the ground. He also changed the way he dresses. When driving here you needed to be careful he said, and do not argue with the cops. He observes that some of these changes are because he has grown up, not necessarily related to emigrating from Liberia to the United States. Adaptation ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Detroit, Michigan ; Liberia ; Police ; Schools ; Teachers Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2910 Cultural differences Which place have you found that reminds you most of your home country? Bah reminisces that Philadelphia and New York reminded him of home in Liberia because of the way the houses are built closer to each other and how people come out to play outside, as compared to Texas where the houses are far apart from each other. He has been to Philadelphia visiting family and friends, and when he first arrived to the U.S. He said the hardest thing for him to get used to was the weather. The summer in Texas is way too hot for him, but that reminds him of Africa. Adaptation ; America ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Food ; New York ; Schools ; Sports ; Texas Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 30.273938, -97.742510 17 Austin (Tex.) 3131 Speaking with an accent / Thoughts on returning to Africa And to get used to, I guess the people. Bah talks about the challenges he has experienced when native born Americans can't understand him due to his accent. Bah says he did not care, because he was there to get an education and avoided getting in fights. He recalls &quot ; embarrassing&quot ; classmates who made fun of his accent by excelling at soccer and running faster than them. He again discusses the weather, both the cold in Michigan and the heat in Texas, not liking either. His final complaint is traffic and the increase in toll roads. He then reflects on why he might in the future want to move to Liberia, perhaps when he retires, if Liberia is in a more stable state. Adaptation ; African culture ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Education ; English language ; Michigan State University ; Soccer ; Traffic Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants 17 3486 Involvement with the African Student Union at Michigan State University Is there anything else you would like to share that I haven't asked you already? Bah closes by praising the Spartans of Michigan State University, and mentions being involved with the African Student Union (ASU). In high school he hung out with African American friends, but in college he began hanging out with African students and started dressing like an African. He enjoyed college by being active with international students and playing sports. He notes that there were many Nigerian students. He discusses the events the ASU held at MSU, including eating African foods, having fashion shows, and hosting a gala. African culture ; African Student Union ; College life ; Ghana ; Michigan State University ; Nigeria College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Universities and colleges. 42.701895, -84.482075 17 Michigan State University https://msu.edu/~asu/ Michigan State University African Student Union interview Algassimu Bah and his family left Liberia when he was 11 years old, they went to Gambia and later, at 13, he and his family relocated to the United States because of the war. His father wanted the best education for him and his siblings. When they were about to leave for the United States, people were really nice to them because they wanted them not to forget about them when they arrived. The way he imagined the USA was different as compared to reality. Back home when he heard of America, he thought of no suffering, have anything you want, as if it is a second heaven. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_ohm.xml 2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Isatu Kallon Sort Priority 0005 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Algassimu Bah Description An account of the resource Algassimu Bah and his family left Liberia when he was 11 years old, they went to Gambia and later, at 13, he and his family relocated to the United States because of the war. His father wanted the best education for him and his siblings. When they were about to leave for the United States, people were really nice to them because they wanted them not to forget about them when they arrived. The way he imagined the USA was different as compared to reality. Back home when he heard of America, he thought of no suffering, have anything you want, as if it is a second heaven. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0155_irw0086 Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Families. Liberia Philadelphia (Pa.) Gambia Michigan State University Occupations Employment Austin (Tex.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 17, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/algassimu-bah/firefighter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Algassimu's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/61d20624c4b6b726019e2c4336fb20d7.jpeg ea3f025284cfadb5eb538c989eb68946 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Mikaila Barba Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Mingchu Pearl Huynh OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0152_irw0083_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA) Immigration policy Community New York City (N.Y.) Employment Occupations Refugees Buddhism Buddhist temples Refugee camps Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Childhood OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0152_irw0083 Interview with Mingchu Pearl Huynh, March 16, 2019 2019oh0152_irw0083 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Politics and government Families. Religion Education Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA) Immigration policy Community New York City (N.Y.) Employment Occupations Refugees Buddhism Buddhist temples Refugee camps Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Childhood Mingchu Pearl Huynh Mikaila Barba 2019oh0152_irw0083_huyhn_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0152_irw0083_huyhn_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 38 Introduction Alright, hello. My name is Mikaila Barba and I am interviewing Mingchu Pearl Huynh... Mikaila introduces the interview process and the project to Pearl Huynh. The pair share a greeting before diving into the questions. 17 73 Growing up during the conflict of the Vietnam War So tell me a little bit about your childhood and where you grew up. At an early age, Huynh's family lost their wealth and they were forced to move frequently due to the fighting in the Vietnam War, including to Pleiku during the Tet Offensive. During the Tet Offensive, her family's home burned down. Her family members each prepared bags daily in case they needed to run in response to the fighting. She recalls receiving a Chinese education at the school where her grandfather was a scholar and principal. Despite her young age, Huynh contributed financially to her family by starting her own business sewing applique to sell at the market. Appliques ; Chinese schools ; Pleiku (Vietnam) ; Pleiku, Vietnam ; Saigon (Vietnam) ; Saigon, Vietnam ; Tea industry ; Tet Offensive ; Vietcong ; Vietnam War Childhood ; Families. ; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 13.971752, 108.009090 17 Pleiku, Vietnam, where Huynh spent some of her childhood. 420 Developing an interest in Buddhism At that time like I cannot go to school and I cannot go to the night market to sell stuff... Huynh discusses how she developed an interest in Buddhism when accompanying her grandmother to a Buddhist temple and reading Buddhist writings. Referring to the hierarchy of needs, she describes that after having her financial needs met by her small business and her psychosocial needs met by school, she started to look towards spiritual things. Buddhism ; Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Religion 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/27342e9e9376b21ca7789497e0548355.jpeg Photo of Huynh worshiping at a Buddhist monastery in New York 623 Huynh's family fleeing Vietnam to the Kuku Island refugee camp Then in 1979, um, at that time Viet--Vietnam was, um, they start to get rid of the Chinese. As conflict grew in Vietnam with the Chinese, Huynh's family merchandise was confiscated by the government and they were forced to pay large sums of money to flee the country. Unfortunately, there were only enough funds to allow seven of the children to leave. Circumventing the government, Huynh's family found a way to get the rest of the children out of South Vietnam via boat, where they shortly arrived in the refugee camp of Kuku Island in 1979. Buddha ; Buddhism ; Kuku Island (Singapore) ; Malaysia ; Navy ; Refugee camps ; Singapore ; Spirituality 1.223520, 103.861140 17 Kuku Island, Singapore, where Huynh stayed in a refugee camp. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/08/27/refugees-bring-order-to-life-in-camps/5b619221-66e3-45ff-a614-4b6a0d20bbcd/?noredirect=on&amp ; utm_term=.c590a46fb612 Paul Zach, &quot ; Refugees bring order to life in camps,&quot ; The Washington Post, Aug 27, 1979, detailing life in the refugee camp on Kuku Island, Indonesia. 1027 Coming to America / Following the Buddha We stay in Singapore, um, for one day and then we take the airplane and then, um, to the United States. After decades of moving, Huynh reunited with her family when she came to Philadelphia. Huynh talks with appreciation about her sister who sponsored her arrival to the United States, showing the interviewer her refugee status I-94 form. She recalls that her sister died of liver disease in Philadelphia. She shares about how the Buddha continues to work in her life and led her to a different path, noting that she left Philadelphia to live in a Buddhist temple in New York. Australia ; Buddhism ; Buddhist temples ; Family ; I-94 Form ; Liver disease ; New York ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Refugee status Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Refugees ; Religion 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c8769334689b4c54a9347f542e0e5565.jpeg From left to right, Mingchu Pearl Huynh, brother Tommy Huynh, sister Nancy Huynh Quach. Nancy is the sister that sponsored Huynh to come to the United States. 1234 Transition from refugee to American teen So when we left off you were talking about how Buddhism is really important to you... Huynh talks about arriving in the United States in 1980 with almost nothing, but getting settled with the help of the Nationalities Services Center (NSC). She took a non-traditional route by leaving her family in Philadelphia, and going to New York where she then attended high school. She recalls the challenges of living with a foster family (her first foster father was her Buddhist master, then she was sent to live with a Seventh Day Adventist pastor), learning English, and attending American school. Buddhist masters ; Buddhist monk ; Buddhist monks ; Covina (Calif.) ; Covina, California ; Foster family ; Government benefits ; Language acquisition ; Nationalities Service Center ; Refugee status ; Seventh Day Adventists ; Taiwan Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Refugees ; Religion 34.089833, -117.889844 17 Covina, California, where Huynh finished high school. 1555 Leaving Buddhism to experience life / Meeting the Dalai Lama So in the meantime, my master in New York... Huynh recalls that from 1983-86 she lived at a Buddhist temple. As Pearl became educated, she strayed from her Buddhist upbringing. She remembers living with a significant other, then later being single, before striving to be financially successfully by studying financial advice through books on tape. Once out on her own, she started her career in information technology and rose to many levels of success, working in software development and related fields. After gaining career success, Huynh had a transformative experience when meeting the Dalai Lama while traveling in Australia. His message encouraged her to re-commit her life to service. She also describes meeting her husband. Australia ; Books on tape ; Buddhist temples ; Chase Bank ; Dalai Lama ; Graduate schools ; Information technology (IT) ; Kalachakra ; New York City Retirement System ; Software development ; The City Foundation ; Wall Street ; Y2K Education ; Employment ; Occupations ; Religion 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b44674aa1c1efe7aac78bdb750ad5a7b.jpeg Photo of Huynh in her office at the New York City Employees Retirement System, where she worked as a programmer analyst. 1942 Returning to Philadelphia What drew you back to Philadelphia from New York? Huynh discusses how she helped The City Foundation become established, working there from 1998-2008. While volunteering alongside her husband William for The City Foundation, she realized how their different backgrounds led to challenges in their marriage. After the economic crash and becoming introspective from the suspected &quot ; end of the world&quot ; in 2012 ; Huynh decided to move back to Philadelphia to be close to family. 2012 Phenomenon ; Chinatown, New York ; Flipping houses ; Health Center Ten ; Tzu Chi Foundation ; Volunteers Employment ; Families. ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ea74f1b7ed435109cb1103f9d425c22d.jpeg Photo of Huynh and her husband William Liu as volunteers for the Tzu Chi Foundation. 2303 A non-traditional view of family / Education in the United States How has the concept of family changed... Due to the many changes in Huynh's life, her view of family is non-traditional, having lived with a foster family and having a Buddhist master. Living in Philadelphia allows Huynh to feel a sense of closeness to her siblings. Huynh shares about her educational journey. Baruch College ; Brooklyn College ; City University of New York (CUNY) ; Family ; Pell Grants Education ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2518 First day in America Do you remember your first day here? Huynh recounts her first day in the United States, June 15, 1980, and talks about arriving in Philadelphia. She has stronger memories of living in California, and notes the challenges of eating vegetarian. Three months after arriving, Huynh left home on her own and moved to New York to be with her spiritual master, learning how to ride the subway and navigate the bus schedules. Greyhound buses ; Language acquisition ; New York City (N.Y.) ; Public transportation ; Running away Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Religion 17 2823 Philadelphia versus New York How would you compare your experiences in New York with your experiences in Philadelphia? Huynh shares how she likes the slow pace of Philadelphia compared to the hustle-and-bustle of New York. After almost forty years, Pearl claims that Philadelphia has not changed. Huynh discusses the differences in her community in the United States versus Vietnam. Communism ; Community ; New York City (N.Y.) ; Vietnam ; Wall Street Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 https://hiddencityphila.org/2016/05/tourist-photos-from-1981-reveal-the-heart-of-old-philadelphia/ Photos of Philadelphia in the 1980s, around the time when Huynh came to Philadelphia. 3124 Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association--Part I And, um, and since I have a job at the, the health center, um, it bring me to a different perspective. Huynh details the difficult process to bring services to her community. Along with Pennsylvania State Representative Jared Solomon, Huynh started the organization &quot ; Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association.&quot ; She shares its mission and her role in the project. Andrew Dalzell ; Interpreters ; Jared Solomon ; Merchant Fund ; Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA) ; PASSE ; Translations ; WeChat ; Youtube Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://www.nepca.us/ Website for the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association 3565 Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association--Part II We en--I encourage people to participate in civic organizations activity. Huynh works to get the Chinese community to participate in civic events. She notes the benefits to the individual and the recognition afforded to the Chinese people through their involvement in the community. Huynh shares about some of Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association's specific outreach efforts, such as street cleaning and decorating, and the seminar program. Castor Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Cottman Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA) ; Representation ; Street cleaning ; WeChat Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/35af159d17dbf98495412b251faefeed.jpeg Photo of Huynh standing in front of an advertisement for an event hosted by the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association 3814 Treatment of immigrants by the U.S. government How has your, uh, interest in the government changed as the climate has changed? Huynh extends her appreciation to the United States government for giving her opportunities, including education. All these benefits have led her to want to give back to the community. In regards to the current immigration policy struggles in the U.S., Huynh chooses to believe in the good nature of the American people. Huynh talks about her transient views on the idea of home. Buddhism ; Immigrants ; Immigration policy Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Politics and government 17 4149 Efforts of Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association What are some unmet needs of the community? Huynh identifies the personal benefits given to her through her involvement in the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association. She compares the impact of NEPCA as one candle lighting another, with each candle creating more light, which benefits the community. Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA) ; Selflessness Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4457 The American dream What advice would you give to someone in your situation who's immigrating to the United States? Huynh struggles to think of advice for a new immigrant due to the challenges facing the United States today compared to the context when she came as a refugee. While Huynh believes that the &quot ; American Dream&quot ; is an idea of the past, she is fortunate enough to have achieved it. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Generosity Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4602 Photo albums and memories--Part I Okay, when I was in the refugee camp, uh, me and my, my s--my older sister start a sewing school. Huynh goes through her photo albums and shares the accompanying memories. She details her many talents in sewing, painting, and acupuncture. Buddha ; Painting Handicraft 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e1e0eb3bce789085b8e3c5d53d1e723d.jpg Photo of Huynh posing with her painting of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at the American Buddhist Confederation Temple where the artworks were created. 4988 Photo albums and memories--Part II No, I have, I have several boyfriends. Huynh shows the interviewer more photographs and describes her memories. She describes her husband, her career, her life in the refugee camp, her volunteer work, Buddhism, her nieces, and her experiences during the September 11, 2001 attacks when her husband was working in one of the World Trade Center buildings. Buddhism ; Carnegie Hall ; Husbands ; Jobs ; Nieces ; Photographs ; Refugee camps ; September 11, 2001 ; Taiwan ; Training ; Volunteering Employment ; Families. ; Occupations ; Volunteers 17 interview As part of the “Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration” course at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Mingchu Pearl Huynh was interviewed about her journey to the United States. Pearl shared stories of her transition from wealth to poverty, growing up in various refugee camps, and discovering Buddhism. After arriving in the United States, Pearl was determined to succeed, gaining an education and working in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Since setting in Philadelphia, Pearl has discovered her passion for service and has worked on developing the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA). No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0152_irw0083_huyhn_ohm.xml 2019oh0152_irw0083_huyhn_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Mikaila Barba Sort Priority 0022 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Mingchu Pearl Huynh Description An account of the resource As part of the “Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration” course at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Mingchu Pearl Huynh was interviewed about her journey to the United States. Pearl shared stories of her transition from wealth to poverty, growing up in various refugee camps, and discovering Buddhism. After arriving in the United States, Pearl was determined to succeed, gaining an education and working in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Since setting in Philadelphia, Pearl has discovered her passion for service and has worked on developing the Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association (NEPCA). Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0152_irw0083 Subject The topic of the resource Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Politics and government Families. Religion Education Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 16, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/mingchu-pearl-huynh/search-for-self" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit about Mingchu's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/05b3c3f7deb89d36dee44d04d45c657f.jpg 38a21b0f0e3f2e5c4d932cf4bba66bf7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Nicholas Heydeman Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Abolaji Amosu OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0151_irw0082_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Food habits Nigerian culture Nigerian traditions Rituals College environment OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0151_irw0082 Interview with Abolaji Amosu, March 16, 2019 2019oh0151_irw0082 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia (Pa.) Families. Immigrants Education College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Emigration and immigration. Lagos (Nigeria) Childhood Food habits Nigerian culture Nigerian traditions Rituals College environment Abolaji Amosu Nicholas Heydeman 2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 24 Introduction Interview with Ms. Abolaji Amosu. The interview begins at Northeast Regional Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The interviewer says both his and Amosu's names. Amosu notes her age to the interviewer. Nigerian immigration ; Northeast Regional Library 40.050535, -75.061279 15 Northeast Regional Library http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4a77c3f32651700dfaf02bb128670ea7.jpg A portrait photo of Abolaji Amosu. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 78 Nigeria as her homeland / Ethnicity Where did your family come from? Amosu says that her family originally lived in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, she explains that her African ethnicity is Yoruba, one of the main/populous ethnic groups in Nigeria. Finally, she explains how her father is originally from Benin, but speaks Yoruba. Africa ; Age ; Benin ; Ethnicity ; Homeland ; Lagos, Nigeria ; Yoruba Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 6.547324, 3.300445 13 The city of Lagos, Nigeria, home city of Amosu's family. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/cc759bff8ec8c9582dff92d332ccb1b1.jpg Ulf Ryttgens, c. 2000-2006, An image of Lagos, Nigeria's &quot ; Golden Plaza&quot ; in Ikoyi, Lagos.  Licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic license. 180 Why her family left Nigeria Why did your family come over? Amosu recalls how, at age six, her uncle registered for the Diversity Visa Lottery, which stipulates that annually a certain number of applicants will win a United States Permanent Resident Card. Her family won the lottery, which allowed foreign residents to immigrate to America. She also explains that the trip to America wasn't planned due to challenges in her homeland, but instead an opportunity for immigration to a new country. Her family was wealthy, what she describes as “higher middle class,” and her father wanted the family to embark on a new adventure in life, while Amosu believed the family was on vacation. Diversity Immigration Visa ; Family ; Immigration ; Permanent residents Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0519665fc6544b0c67e68f5c73ce5268.jpg Amosu's uncle, his family, and her mother during her uncle's wedding day in 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria dressed in Yoruban wedding garb. From left to right: uncle's stepmother, a relative of Amosu, her uncle, and mother. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 257 Childhood in Nigeria / Graduation party Could you recall any part of your childhood in Nigeria? Amosu remembers her 3rd grade graduation party on a yacht when she was around age 5. Despite the occasion, Amosu refused to listen to her mother's warnings and fell into the water, spending the rest of the night sitting down as punishment. Celebrations ; Childhood ; Private education Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 329 Naming ceremony and getting lost as a child So, do you remember any other social gatherings or-- Amosu recounts her brother's naming ceremony in Nigeria which celebrated his birth. She explains that it's a part of her culture's tradition to choose names for their meaning rather than for how the name sounds. She explains that her name means &quot ; Woke up with wealth.&quot ; She shares the meanings of the names of her sisters as well. She also remembers the ceremony involved a huge celebration in the form of a block party. During the party, Amosu followed her older cousin until she lost her way, later found by her neighbor, and was sent to her room. Celebrations ; Naming ceremony ; Nigerian culture ; Nigerian traditions ; Rituals Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/eb17ae25b44d4c807dfc98d0442bc0e4.jpg Afolabi Amosu during his second birthday. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 523 Family size / Characteristics So how big is your family? Amosu recalls that three of her siblings were born in Nigeria, and her youngest sister was born in America. She also describes in detail what each member of her family looks like, saying that she and her siblings are variations of their parents ; she resembles her father due to their shared &quot ; mahogany&quot ; skin tone. Familial relations ; Family size ; Skin tones Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4154d986c84a1ee7cfa18262d8d34259.jpg Image of Amosu's youngest sister, Tumise Amosu, during her 1st birthday. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 638 Food traditions Would you happen to have a food tradition? Amosu describes in detail the food tradition and culture of the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria, including eba, afang soup, and various grains. She describes eba as a paste made from the cassava root. She recalls her family's version of jollof rice, in which the rice cooks in a seasoned tomato soup until done. She comments that the longer the jollof rice cooks in the soup, the better the meal will be. Afang soup ; Cassava ; Cultures ; Eba ; Food traditions ; Fried rice ; Jollof rice ; Regional food competitions ; Spinach ; Yuroba Childhood ; Families. ; Food habits ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/84a2d6504e047252d7108a1e7a2b830d.jpg Segun Famisa, Jollof rice is a popular way of making rice in West Africa, this (as seen in this picture) is garnished with vegetable sauce, and a boiled egg. Licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic license. 862 Eating together / Cultural hybrid cuisine Uh, how does, uh, how does the average kitchen table go in your family? Amosu notes that when she and her siblings were younger, it was easier to come together to have family meals. Now, due to everyone having their own schedules, it's much harder to sit down and eat together. She also describes that her mother decides what will be on the dinner table, determinant on how she feels or craves. Amosu notes that her food preferences for Yoruba or American cuisine vary from day to day. Her youngest sister only grew up in the United States, so they acquiesce to some of her “American” food preferences, like adding hot dogs to fried rice because she does not like beef. Amosu describes how she thinks taste for food changes as her family combines American and Nigerian cuisines. Cooking ; Family ; Family meals ; Food Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1130 Nigerian music and influences What sort of music do you like? Amosu recalls that her musical preferences in Yoruba music came from her mother during her childhood, although she also listens to contemporary Yoruba music. Contemporary Yoruba music resembles R&amp ; B, while older songs use drums and flutes, allowing the listener to focus more on the story in the lyrics. Amosu utilizes this music in order to write stories of her own as a means to draw inspiration or meaning to her words. &quot ; Ife Eji Owuro&quot ; ; Cultures ; Musical traditions ; Nigerian music ; Songs ; Yuroba music Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1326 Americanization through music I think when we first came here, listening to a lot of like Disney Channel music and all--Nickelodeon music, I think a lot of this help me feel more quote unquote American than like being in school did. Amosu recalls that when her family arrived in America, the music of TV channels like Disney and Nickelodeon allowed for her to feel American. When her school didn't provide the satisfactory assimilation of her culture, music allowed her to adjust to American culture and her fellow classmates. So music served a crucial function in her growing up in America. Americanization ; Immigration ; Music Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 1371 Transition from Nigerian to American school When did you start school? Amosu remembers that everyone starts school around age one or two in Nigeria in order to socialize children. Because of this early start she was ready for third grade upon immigration, but she was seven years old, much younger than third graders in the United States, so the school wanted to put her in first grade. Her father had to convince the school that African schooling was not inferior to American, and demanded that his children take a test to pass into the correct grade. Amosu recalls being bored and falling asleep because she had to repeat things that she had already learned. The school made Amosu repeat the third grade again. African stereotyping ; American education ; Childhood ; Education ; Nigerian education ; Stereotypes Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1679 First day in America and the perception of the United States Going back to your arrival to the United States, uh, could you recall your first day? Amosu recalls her first day in America when she was six years old. She thought the trip to America was a vacation, especially when the plane landed in Philadelphia Airport. She saw snow on the first day—knowing what it was from Disney films—but did not know how cold it would be. Her family's friend allowed them to stay at his home while they searched for an apartment of their own. Amosu knew what America was based on the movies she watched, but she never thought of the nation. First day ; Immigration journey ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Social networks Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.874594, -75.242638 17 Philadelphia International Airport 1916 Leaving things in Nigeria / First meal in America Uh, were there any conundrums besides the, uh, difficulty with, uh, housing? Amosu recalls being disappointed that her family wasn’t able to bring their dog along. Her first meal was the familiar Yoruba food composed of jollof rice, soup, and eba. First meals ; Immigration journey ; Leaving Nigeria ; Yoruba Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2022 Parents finding work So, after your parents settled, um, how did they find work? Amosu remembers that although her father was highly educated, he had to repeat some education to become a child psychologist. Similarly, Amosu's mother, previously a Nigerian nurse, had to work as a hotel housekeeper and as an attendant in a nursing home because she did not have a college education. She now is in school and works as a nurse. Amosu believes that her parents finding work depended on their connections with the neighborhood or places that employ their skill sets. Having connections helped her parents find work. Adult immigrant education ; Employment ; Job hunting ; Social connections Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2141 First house Uh, so where did you settle? Amosu recounts her family's first home in Philadelphia being an apartment on Champlost Ave., four blocks from Fern Rock Train Station in North Philadelphia. Her home was a two bedroom apartment with a combined living room and apartment. She notes that her mother used plenty of Febreze air freshener in conjunction with plug-in wall air fresheners. Champlost Ave ; Febreze ; Fern Rock Train Station Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.044462, -75.143781 17 Champlost Avenue http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ef8ab84b6eba65e323e442109a0838a0.JPG li2nmd, Septa Broad Street Line at Fern Rock Train Station in February 2018. Licensed under a GNU Free Documentation version 1.2 or later version license. 2278 Exploring and connecting to Philadelphia How did your family explore Philadelphia? Amosu notes that her family went on expeditions across the Philadelphia area to explore their new home. In order to adjust to life in Philadelphia, the family went to places including Dorney Park or Center City to become familiar with their new city. The family asked around for recommendations from friends in their social circle to learn what places they wanted to go to and developed their own preferences. Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Dorney Park ; Exploring ; Old Country Buffet Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.580470, -75.534696 17 Dorney Park Amusement Park 2429 Making friends and friend preferences How did your family establish connections within the--I want to say apartment complex because, you know-- Amosu recalls her siblings and she finding the family's connections and social circle figures through their interaction with other children. Her apartment complex served as a miniature neighborhood and the children formed friendships and then introduced the parents to each other. Amosu notes that some of her neighbors were immigrants, including a couple “Spanish” families (Puerto Rican) and connected through kindness and their children going to the same school and apartment. Her family preferred other Nigerian immigrants as friends because they shared a worldview. She remembers that she preferred to listen to other people with accents, since she also had an accent. Apartments ; Connections ; Friendships ; Julia Ward Howe School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Neighborhoods ; Social networks ; Socializing Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2602 Losing her accent and fitting in during elementary school How did you lose your accents? Amosu explains that, over her time spent in America, she lost her formal British accent in order to adjust to her peers' own dialect. Although her British-like Nigerian accent was formal, her peers didn't understand her. Thus, around the fourth grade, Amosu tried to remove her accent to form friendships at school. Amosu recalls attending Julia Ward Howe School from third to fifth grade, which is close to the Fern Rock Septa Station. Although Amosu was frustrated that she had to repeat the third grade, she acknowledges it allowed her to better socialize and make friends. She recalls a friend by the name of Daniella or Danisha with whom she bonded over BRATZ dolls. Accents ; Biro pens ; British accents ; Dialects ; English language ; Julia Ward Howe School (Philadelphia) ; Peer pressure ; Socialization ; Socializing Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.041707, -75.142319 17 Julia Ward Howe School on 5800 N. 13th Street, where Amosu attended elementary school. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b2ddd43551a30939081b7b23cb0aac42.JPG Smallbones, the Front of Julia Ward Howe Building, 2010. Image holder released the copyright to the public domain. 3099 Opinions on school subjects You said that your family expected high grades, correct? Amosu recounts that she had issues in learning mathematics while in school. However, her parents encouraged her to keep studying the subject in order to overcome it, thus pushing her engrossment into the subject. Despite this, Amosu easily excelled and enjoyed subjects such as English and History as she loved the stories found in literature and history's continuation of its own story. She contributes her competitive nature in school to proving others wrong about her ethnicity, showing that she was an intelligent, capable individual who could achieve high academically. Education ; Interests ; Subjects Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3614 Transition to middle school So, how was the tradi--transition to high school? Oh, from middle school to high school. Amosu remembers that after she graduated from elementary school, her family moved to the Northeast portion of Philadelphia. She attended Woodrow Wilson Middle School, where she found herself as the new kid in class. Being new, Amosu faced difficulties in making new friends, but devoted her attention to her studies. Amosu recalls that in middle school she didn't participate in many extracurricular activities. She found a literature club and new friends through her love for stories, but that was it. &quot ; New kid&quot ; ; Education ; Middle schools ; Socializing ; Solomon Solis-Cohen Elementary School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Transitions ; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.052435, -75.069047 17 Location of Woodrow Wilson Middle School http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a79170f06052b5f5c105323c884a2bfe.png Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, Cottman Avenue 1800 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, now known as Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Image holder released the copyright to the public domain. 3820 Trying to suppress her African identity Did your identity ever come into-- Amosu comments on how she dealt with her identity as an Nigerian immigrant during school. She remembers wanting a nickname, trying to curse, dressing, and using slang like an American in order to fit in better, yet she maintained an African identity at home with her family. Amosu remembers that she tried to suppress her African identity to distance herself from a stereotypes, like that Africans lived in huts and did not wear clothes. She also did not want to be the token “African” to her classmates. She chose clothing, make-up, and hair styles that made her seem more American, and she and her sister coached each other on how to act. By high school, she finally embraced her identity and accepted the fact that she would never be a full American. African culture ; African history ; American dress ; Americanization ; Coaching ; Cultural identity ; Cultures ; Education ; Identity ; Make-up ; Nicknames ; South Park Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4336 Transition to high school How was the transition to high school then? Amosu recounts her transition to Northeast High School was one where she retained her friend/peer group, but realized how hard it was to be a freshman after ruling the middle school in eighth grade. She looked up to the older students, especially the seniors because she thought of them as close to adults. However, despite entering the high school together, Amosu's friends changed, finding different friend groups due to differing schedules. She also had to train new friends and teachers to correctly pronounce her name, which was almost always the first alphabetically on the role list. Education ; High schools ; Northeast High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.056847, -75.069118 17 Northeast Regional High School http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ead732a6a53e8841001b0a4221160ce8.jpg Northeast High School, 2019. Image courtesy of Dr. Charles Hardy. 4647 Technology in education / Education programs available to students Uh, another thing about me is that, uh, I grew up in Delco and I go to--went to Ridley Township or Ridley High School and, uh, thankfully, uh, Boeing pretty much donated a bunch of iPads-- Amosu remembers that her school utilized technology in their curriculum, but they didn't trust or allow freshmen to carry or use their laptops. Also, she recalls that there were three tracked programs in Northeast High School based on their academic excellence: Magnet, International Baccalaureate, and Avid. She had not applied for the Magnet program, because she did not know to do so, even though she excelled at school. Amosu notes how technology in education allowed her to access new information and involved her classes using games like Kahoot. Computers ; Curriculum ; Education ; High schools ; Northeast Avid program ; Northeast International Baccalaureate program ; Northeast Magnet Program ; Technology Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 5167 Selecting a college / Attending Temple University Uh, throughout high school, did you, uh, look at colleges? Amosu recalls that, during her junior and senior years, she began to investigate in-state colleges including Holy Family University, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University. Due to the closeness of the campus to her home and its well regarded English department, Amosu chose Temple, where she entered as &quot ; undecided.&quot ; This allowed her to explore different subject paths, and she ended up selecting an English major. Amosu notes being empowered by college by allowing her to schedule her own classes based on what she wanted to pursue. In her time at Temple University, she found two notable professors which bolstered her desire to learn: Dr. Tristen Samuels and Clarissa Howards. College life ; College of Liberal Arts, Temple University ; Colleges ; Family ; Finances ; Holy Family University ; Penn State University College choice ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 39.981122, -75.155432 17 Temple University of Pennsylvania http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/30cec6769ab2277df8bc0895f46a4b00.JPG Dorevabelfiore, Front of Samuel Paley Library on the main campus of Temple University Libraries in Philadelphia, PA. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. 5487 Expectation to attend college / Finances So what drew you to attend college, specifically? Amosu recounts that, due to her family's history with being highly educated, it was a familial expectation to go to college. Along with societal expectations for her to attend college, her education enforced this throughout her years in school, making it seem like college was the only option. She reflects on how tuition costs affected her choice to go to Temple University. She mentions the opportunities such as study-abroad programs offered at Temple compared to more expensive universities. Colleges ; Drexel University ; Holy Family University ; Social expectations ; STEM ; Temple University ; Tuition College choice ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 17 5760 Jobs Did you have a job during high school? Amosu never had to get a job during high school. Instead, she got money from her parents through request or allowance. However, she found a work-study job through the Free Library of Philadelphia partnership with Temple University at the Northeast Regional Library. She loves working with books. First job ; Free Library of Philadelphia ; Jobs ; Northeast Regional Library ; Work study College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 17 5884 Oral history project / Advice for other immigrants So how did you come across the, uh, oral history pr--uh, project? Amosu remembers that her supervisor at Northeast Regional Library introduced her to this oral history project after looking for immigrant patrons to tell their life stories. At first, she was reluctant to participate because she doubted her childhood memories were worth recording. Despite this, Amosu chose to participate in the project. Amosu concludes that recent immigrants shouldn't abandon or neglect their homeland's culture or language, because the language is an advantage and enables college students not to study a second language if they choose not to. Americanization ; Child's perspective ; Foreign languages ; Immigration ; Northeast Regional Library ; Oral history Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 interview Abolaji Amosu, born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000, came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 6 in 2006. In this interview, Amosu discusses her childhood in Nigeria, her family’s immigration into the U.S., and life growing up in the U.S. In addition to this, she mentions how her homeland’s culture affected her life, media and educational preferences, and social relationships. Finally, she shares her opinion on the interview, explains how she found the oral history project, and provides advice for fellow immigrants coming to the U.S. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_ohm.xml 2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicholas Heydeman Sort Priority 0004 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Abolaji Amosu Description An account of the resource Abolaji Amosu, born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000, came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 6 in 2006. In this interview, Amosu discusses her childhood in Nigeria, her family’s immigration into the U.S., and life growing up in the U.S. In addition to this, she mentions how her homeland’s culture affected her life, media and educational preferences, and social relationships. Finally, she shares her opinion on the interview, explains how she found the oral history project, and provides advice for fellow immigrants coming to the U.S. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0151_irw0082 Subject The topic of the resource Philadelphia (Pa.) Families. Immigrants Education College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Emigration and immigration. Lagos (Nigeria) Childhood Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 16, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/abolaji-amosu/fully-american" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Abolaji's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c18f417d80f71390cad5a969e003f94d.jpeg c8114d53bb45dbd51528c93179e4012d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Annika Soderberg Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Min "Mandy" Wang OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0149_irw0080_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Changsha City (China) Changsha (Hunan Sheng, China) Food habits Childhood OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0149_irw0080 Interview with Min &quot ; Mandy&quot ; Wang, March 14, 2019 2019oh0149_irw0080 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Philadelphia (Pa.) Education Families. Employment Occupations Liuyang Shi (China) Changsha City (China) Changsha (Hunan Sheng, China) Food habits Childhood Min &quot ; Mandy&quot ; Wang Annika Soderberg 2019oh0149_irw0080_wang_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0149_irw0080_wang_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 2 Introduction to project and brief background of hometown Two. Three. Alright, it's counting so I think that means it's on. A brief introduction is given to the project in which this interview is included. Wang teaches Soderberg how to say &quot ; hello&quot ; in Mandarin Chinese. Wang introduces her hometown and her work at a printing company sourcing printing materials with her husband. &quot ; Fireworks City&quot ; ; China ; Free Library of Philadelphia ; Hunan Province ; Liuyang River ; Print industry ; West Chester University Employment ; Immigrants ; Liuyang Shi (China) ; Occupations 28.163547, 113.642514 6 Liuyang, the &quot ; fireworks town&quot ; , where Wang grew up. 125 Husband's arrival in America / Reasons for immigrating And, but, my--because my husband, uh, born in Hong Kong and he when she--when he at high school, and she--he come to America, United States. Wang details the journey her husband made to America before they were married. He lived in Philadelphia for ten years, and now has his citizenship. He had trouble adapting to the Chinese culture after growing up in Hong Kong and living in the United States, so the couple was motivated to immigrate. She then briefly describes three main reasons for immigrating: education, air pollution, and food safety. Wang feels that the Chinese model of education creates too much pressure and less independence for students. Air pollution ; Changsha, Hunan Province ; Citizenship ; Education ; Environmental hazards ; Food safety Changsha (Hunan Sheng, China) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants 28.223534, 112.934018 12 Changsha, where Wang and husband resided briefly, approximately 1.5 hours from Liuyang. 356 Growing up an only child in the &quot ; Fireworks City&quot ; I think, I'd like to go back to your, to your childhood. Wang shares her family's experience under the one-child policy in China. She is an only child ; she explains that in cities in China, families could only have one child, although in villages families may have two children if their first child is a girl. Perhaps more uncommon is that her parents were very loving and did not impose as much pressure as other Chinese parents may have. She directly translates the word 'harmony' when describing their family relationship. She shares her mother's work in the local fireworks company and her father's work in government-sanctioned construction. &quot ; Fireworks City&quot ; ; Boyfriends ; Construction ; Fireworks company ; Harmony ; Liuyang, China ; One-child policy ; Parent relationships ; University Childhood ; Employment ; Families. ; Liuyang Shi (China) ; Occupations 17 https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629361870/despite-the-end-of-chinas-one-child-policy-births-are-still-lagging Scott Neuman &amp ; Rob Schmitz, &quot ; Despite The End Of China's One-Child Policy, Births Are Still Lagging,&quot ; National Public Radio, 2018. 692 Pressure in the Chinese education system You also mentioned education was one of the reasons why you came to the United States. Wang describes the education environment in China as highly competitive and pressured. Most families gear their children from a young age to study to pass exams which will then help them get into a good school and find a good job. She desires a more relaxed environment for her own children to learn in. She recounts the strict exam-based approach to learning in her own experience with learning English in China. Education ; Examinations ; Exams ; Hardships ; Job searches ; Pressure ; Spoken English ; University Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Liuyang Shi (China) 17 809 A choppy journey to America So at what point like--how old were you when you moved from China to the United States? Wang remembers first visiting Philadelphia for three months in 2016, returning pregnant to Hong Kong where she gave birth to her son, then came back to Philadelphia in December 2018. Her husband already lived in Philadelphia at that time. By giving birth in Hong Kong, her son became a Chinese citizen, but since Wang's husband is an American citizen, he is also an American citizen. She recalls the comfort of having family in Philadelphia to welcome her and ease the transition of moving. She had to teach her husband Mandarin, and she learned English from him. Childbirth ; Children ; Dual citizenship ; English ; Family ; Hong Kong, China ; Mandarin ; Moving ; Pregnancy ; Teaching Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Hong Kong (China) ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 981 First house and adapting to Philadelphia What was your first house like in America? Wang describes her current living situation and expresses a desire to move to Lower Merion, a better school district for her children. She illustrates differences between American and Chinese culture, mainly a lack of common kindness in China that Wang sees in Philadelphia and the very different rules of traffic and pedestrians. American culture ; Chinese culture ; Development ; Education ; English ; Hopkinson House ; Language acquisition ; Lower Merion school district ; Manners ; Pedestrians ; Road safety Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/58c9f0e83897e9085038787906749ff8.jpg Connie, “Hopkinson House, Washington Square,” February 15, 2008. Philly Immigration. 1193 Adapting to cooking in the United States So are y--now that you're in the United States, do you contact your family in China? Wang shares her discomfort with shopping and cooking as Philadelphia does not have all the same ingredients or tools as China. However she is grateful for the exhaust hood above the stove which allows her to cook some spicy food, especially her favorite pork dish from home. She briefly shows pictures of family members. American food ; Changsha City, China ; Children ; Cooking ; Exhaust hood ; Family ; Hunan cuisine ; Pork ; Shopping ; Spicy food Changsha City (China) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/aaafa8275afbe55b637d2409f339627a.jpg siaosiao, &quot ; Chinese Clay Pots,&quot ; November 4, 2007. Flickr. 1548 Culture shock and learning English So you had your son--um, I'm trying to remember--you had your son in Beijing right? Or, um, in Hong Kong, you said? Prior to immigrating, Wang had visited Philadelphia. She recounts the difficulty of moving to Philadelphia with little English and little assistance. She is grateful for the free English as a second language lessons offered at the Free Library of Philadelphia which allow her to become a better communicator. Because of programs like these she is a more confident English speaker, better able to make friends, and converse with her children's teachers. Culture shock ; English as a Second Language (ESL) ; English classes ; Free lessons ; Language acquisition ; Pronunciations ; Questions ; Transitions ; Travel Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/acfbda867ceaa465988acb88946927b1.jpg csbarrett, &quot ; Independence Library,&quot ; July 17, 2010. Wikipedia. 1765 Friend from home, learning English, and maintaining Chinese culture Do you have like other friends-- Wang details the experience of attending university in China with a friend who also came to America as an exchange student, where she met her husband and lives in Washington, D.C. She recalls studying written English during this time, but not spoken. This caused some difficulty for both she and her friend upon immigrating because the spoken language was so fast and difficult to pronounce. Wang wishes for her family's Chinese heritage to remain alive and achieves this by exchanging the English lessons her son learns at school with Mandarin lessons. Chinese culture ; English ; Exchange students ; Language acquisition ; Mandarin Chinese ; Pronunciations ; University ; Washington, D.C. Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d23f6b017b51c3928611c6c66aa3de98.jpg Huangdan2060, &quot ; Central South University of Forestry and Technology,&quot ; August 22, 2014. Wikimedia Commons. 2019 Bringing Chinese culture into the home So does your h--what does your home look like? Wang shares how the apartment her family rents has little Chinese decoration. They had limited room for bringing cultural items with them, so they bought some Chinese decorations and display those in their home. Wang acknowledges how these are not the same as what she knew in China and hopes that in time her family's little apartment will start to feel like home. Apartments ; Chinese heritage ; Cultural items ; Photos Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2144 Visiting parents and home in China Do you ever go back and visit? Wang shares how she is in the process of obtaining her green card and how she will then be able to go back to China to visit family and friends after obtaining permanent residency. She reflects on her parents' full and happy lives now retired in China, and on future plans to possibly care for them in America. Caring for parents ; Green cards ; Immigration status ; Older adult university ; Parents ; Retirement Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2269 A typical day for a Chinese student So, um, well I wanted to go back to your education and university in China. What was y--do you have a favorite memory about going to school there? Wang goes into detail about the academic environment for a typical Chinese student. Most of the day, night, and weekend was consumed with some form of studying. Oftentimes parents added to this pressure, anxious for their children to perform well. It is this environment that inspired Wang to seek a different, more relaxed education for her children in America. Chinese education ; Extracurricular activities ; Homework ; Job competition ; Parental anxiety ; School pressure ; University ; Weekend study Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2558 Making the difficult decision to stay in Philadelphia What made you say, &quot ; I want to stay here&quot ; ? Wang emphasizes the opportunity in America for her children to study in the education system, and for herself to grow personally. She describes a restricted view of the family that is common in China, limited to obtaining a house, car, and children. She states her desire for a life made up of more than these things, including exercise and studying English, which she feels she can do here in the United States. Exercise ; Meaning of family ; Planning for the future ; Possessions ; Status Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 15 2650 Learning about American culture Um, are there any other, um, like, cultural practices or religious practices you would do in China? Wang shares the various ways she learns about and experiences American culture, including through a book on American culture and through Google. She notes one point the book, that Americans are very independent and unwilling to help. This has been surprising to her because she has experienced Americans in Philadelphia as very helpful and nice. Cultural differences ; Culture books ; Google ; Independence Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2768 Current life and making Philadelphia home Well, can you tell me about--how do you--like, what does your day--what does a normal day look like for you now? Wang describes what her life looks like now as a mom with a newborn baby and housework, and as a student learning English. She also shares her dreams of possibly going back to school or opening her own company. She hopes to find a job after she obtains a green card, where she can make more money to give her children a good education. Once she improves her English, she hopes to work in her brother-in-law's eye doctor clinic. She considers continuing her schooling to get training in a field of work she enjoys, although she is unsure what field that will be. Breastfeeding ; Certificates ; Entrepreneurship ; Eye doctor clinics ; Green cards ; Housework ; Lower Merion school district ; Private schools ; Studying English Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.029768, -75.284240 15 Lower Merion School District, where Wang would like her children to go to school. 3025 Clean food and clear sky Um, you mentioned in the beginning that the main reasons you wanted to come over here were education, air pollution, and safety-- Wang marvels at being able to see the clear sky and houses from far away in America, which would not be possible in the smoggy cities of China. She discusses the better quality of food in America. In particular, she notices the U.S. government paying more attention to food policy and making more effort toward cleaner food than China. Blue sky ; Consumer demands ; Food additives ; Food safety ; Government policy ; Junk food Emigration and immigration. ; Food habits ; Immigrants 17 3244 Living under the Chinese government Um, were you happy with--you mentioned that your government in China didn't have good food quality policies. Were there any other policies that you weren't happy with with the Chinese government? Wang describes the fear citizens experience under the Chinese government, largely due to bribery present in powerful businesses. She says most other Chinese citizens live in fear of the government and keep most political opinions to themselves so as not to offend them. Bribery ; Cost of living ; Fear of government ; Government work ; Power in business China ; Politics and government 17 3477 Friendships in China versus the United States Um, are there any other aspects of Philadelphia that you really like? Wang reflects on the friendship she has experienced in the United States. Compared to some of her conversations in China filled with double meanings and deception, she appreciates the simple nature of saying simply what she wants to say and trusting the other is doing the same. &quot ; The friendship is more simple.&quot ; Complicated relationships ; Deceptive conversation ; Double meaning ; Friendship Changsha City (China) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3567 Comparing Chinatown to the ever-modernizing China Is there anything else that you want to share before we close? Wang discusses the fast development of society in China with improving online technologies and very cheap prices. This makes the Chinatown in Philadelphia look very old and dirty. She prefers to go grocery shopping at Acme or Whole Foods. She also shares some compliments she has received about her outfits, which she happily replies with saying that she bought them from China, where clothing is &quot ; very cheap but beautiful!&quot ; Acme ; Alibaba Group ; Cheap labor ; Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Clothing shopping ; Fast development ; Illegal immigration ; Modernization ; Online shopping ; Spa services ; Tao Bao ; TaoBao ; Variety of goods ; Whole Foods Emigration and immigration. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3982 Hopes for the future Does it--is there any part of Philadelphia that reminds you of your home a little bit? Wang notes the older look and feel of Chinatown as a result of an older generation of Chinese immigrants that have settled there. She hopes for a new flow of immigrants to come and bring some of China's modernization to the area. She shares how she wants to do her part in updating the appearance and culture of Chinatown, and continue adapt to the culture of America. Changing Chinatown ; Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; English study ; Modernization ; New immigrants ; Older generations Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 https://www.phila.gov/CityPlanning/plans/Independent%20Community%20Based%20Plans/Chinatown%20Neighborhood%20Plan%202017.pdf &quot ; Chinatown Neighborhood Plan,&quot ; Philadelphia City Planning Commission, 2017. interview Wang details the journey her husband made to America before they were married. He lived in Philadelphia for ten years, and now has his citizenship. She then briefly describes three main reasons for immigrating: education, air pollution, and food safety. Wang shares her family's experience under the one-child policy in China. She describes the education environment in China as highly competitive and pressured. Wang remembers first visiting Philadelphia for three months in 2016, returning pregnant to Hong Kong where she gave birth to her son, then came back to Philadelphia in December 2018. She illustrates differences between American and Chinese culture. Wang notes the older look and and feel of Chinatown as a result of an older generation of Chinese immigrants that have settled there. She hopes for a new flow of immigrants to come and bring some of China's modernization to the area. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0149_irw0080_wang_ohm.xml 2019oh0149_irw0080_wang_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Annika Soderberg Sort Priority 0035 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Min "Mandy" Wang Description An account of the resource Wang details the journey her husband made to America before they were married. He lived in Philadelphia for ten years, and now has his citizenship. She then briefly describes three main reasons for immigrating: education, air pollution, and food safety. Wang shares her family's experience under the one-child policy in China. She describes the education environment in China as highly competitive and pressured. Wang remembers first visiting Philadelphia for three months in 2016, returning pregnant to Hong Kong where she gave birth to her son, then came back to Philadelphia in December 2018. She illustrates differences between American and Chinese culture. Wang notes the older look and and feel of Chinatown as a result of an older generation of Chinese immigrants that have settled there. She hopes for a new flow of immigrants to come and bring some of China's modernization to the area. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0149_irw0080 Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Philadelphia (Pa.) Education Families. Employment Occupations Liuyang Shi (China) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 14, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/min-wang/chinese-american-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Mandy's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2bab22ce75f21acfa4cdc9d76cf266b1.jpg 2e8370ac00bc0629565fcd5e6aab632d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Colleen Dougherty Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Xichuan "Matt" Zhang OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0148_irw0079_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Tai chi College environment College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Pucheng Xian (Shaanxi Sheng, China) Shaanxi Sheng (China) Childhood OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0148_irw0079 Interview with Xichuan &quot ; Matt&quot ; Zhang, March 9, 2019 2019oh0148_irw0079 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Families. Occupations Employment Education Communism Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Teaching Teachers Martial arts. Philadelphia (Pa.) Tai chi College environment College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Pucheng Xian (Shaanxi Sheng, China) Shaanxi Sheng (China) Childhood Xichuan &quot ; Matt&quot ; Zhang Colleen Dougherty 2019oh0148_irw0079_zhang_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0148_irw0079_zhang_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 5 Introduction My name is Colleen Dougherty. I am here with Matt Zhang. We are at the Northeast Regional Library in Philadelphia. The interview starts with the introduction of Matt Zhang explaining the purpose of the meeting, which is to study his reasons for moving to the United States and later Philadelphia. The interview was conducted at the Northeast Regional Library. Matt Zhang ; Migration patterns ; Northeast Regional Library 17 25 Early life in Shaanxi, China And to start, why don't we start with your childhood? So where were you born? Xichuan &quot ; Matt&quot ; Zhang starts by explaining where he grew up, in a small village called Pucheng County in Shaanxi Province, China. Zhang was raised by his mother and grandparents, while also living with his four siblings. His father did not live with the family full time because he worked as a technician in a state-owned factory in Xian City, which was several hours away. Childhood ; Factory work ; Grandparents ; Pucheng County, China ; Shaanxi Province, China ; Siblings ; Xi'an, China Childhood ; Employment ; Families. ; Occupations ; Pucheng Xian (Shaanxi Sheng, China) ; Shaanxi Sheng (China) 8 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/fe42546a5e900cbe52707bb709dd1021.jpg Family photo, courtesy of Matt Zhang. 174 Value of education At the time, so there was of course the Cultural Revolution in China. Zhang shares that he was born in 1964, toward the end of the Cultural Revolution. Zhang recalls the value of education in his hometown, growing up “under the red flag.” In school, he states, he was a good student and remembers leading the class in morning exercises and was the &quot ; monitor,&quot ; or student leader of the class. Zhang describes how he was the first person in his family and village to pass the college entrance exam, and the whole town celebrated his accomplishment. Zhang moved to Xi'an city where he studied English literature, enrolling in Xi’an Foreign Languages Institute, now called Xi-an International Studies University. Confucian ; Cultural revolution ; Education ; Language acquisition ; Pucheng County, China ; Shaanxi Province, China ; Xi'an International Studies University ; Xi'an, China Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Pucheng Xian (Shaanxi Sheng, China) ; Shaanxi Sheng (China) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b505a7420007ad5c00a30518374a3b60.jpg Xi'an International Studies University 642 The roles of Zhang's mother So you mentioned it a little bit about how your village got so excited when you first--when you were--you passed the exam. Zhang notes the close relationship of the people in his village. He then explains the roles his mother played, such as seamstress, chef, and artist. Zhang's mother worked at the People's Commune where she cooked food for hundreds. Even though his mother did not receive an education, he describes her as a very smart woman who hand-sewed their clothes and gifts, along with his traditional tai chi uniforms. China ; Communism ; Community ; Neighborhoods ; People's Commune ; Sewing ; Tai chi ; Traditional Chinese clothes Childhood ; Communism ; Education ; Families. 12 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8d5cce6448f56db022ad034bed7c5fdb.jpg People's Commune canteen in China 832 Expectations of the United States and English language acquisition And so before you came over to the United States and growing up, what did you know about the U.S.? Zhang grew up admiring the United States because of its freedoms. Growing up, he worked on a farm and knew that he had to work hard in hopes of one day moving. In high school, his English teacher initially taught Russian, therefore he did not learn the correct pronunciation until he began college. In college, Zhang recalls listening to the radio, reading newspapers, watching movies, and learning from native speakers which increased his understanding of the English language and American culture. He remembers expecting America to have a lot of high-rises and believed everything would look like New York. He jokes that when he first arrived in the United States in 1995 that it was not what he expected. English ; Farm life ; Language acquisition ; Movies ; New York City (N.Y.) ; Newark (Del.) ; Newark, Delaware ; Radio ; University of Delaware ; Voice of America ; Xi'an Foreign Language Institute ; Xi’an International Travel Agency Childhood ; Communism ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; New York (N.Y.) 17 1269 Invitation to the United States So how did that whole process start of you being invited over? Zhang discusses how he applied for a student visa twice to earn his masters degree in physical education but was rejected because he did not have a sponsor. After he graduated, the government assigned him a job at Xi’an Physical Education University as an English as a second language instructor. In 1993, U.S delegates came to speak at his university and they were interested in martial arts. At the time, Zhang was the interpreter for the conference, and because he was well versed in both English and martial arts, they invited him over to teach for the University of Delaware Physical Education College. Beijing, China ; Chinese martial arts ; Interpreters ; Invitations ; Kung fu ; Tai chi ; University of Delaware ; Visas ; Wu shu ; Xi'an Physical Education University College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Universities and colleges. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f49003120cbf70ce75bdb5182d544e5e.jpg Letter of Appointment courtesy of Matt Zhang 1604 Moving preparations / First day in the United States How did you prepare to come to the U.S after you were invited? Zhang remembers the preparations he made to move to the United States. While preparing, there were things he had to leave behind in China and others that he found essential for teaching. He also jokes about his first day in the U.S and what he expected versus what he experienced. Zhang mentions several of his colleagues and friends who helped him prepare and those who helped him after his arrival. He remembers being very hungry, and to his surprise, he ate his first meal at Burger King or a similar fast food restaurant. Several neighbors and colleagues helped him to get settled by supplying a bed for his new apartment in Newark, Delaware. Beijing, China ; Bicycles ; Burger King ; David Barlow ; Immigration journey ; Japanese ; John F. Kennedy Airport ; Martial arts ; Rooms for rent ; Tim Miller ; U.S ; University of Delaware ; Xi'an, China College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Universities and colleges. 39.677942, -75.750547 15 University of Delaware 2033 Teaching in the United States So what was it like teaching in a different country? Zhang discusses that he was surprised when he first started teaching that those who may have had disabilities, were in poor shape, or who were not athletic were allowed to take a physical education class. In the beginning, he received feedback that his teaching style was too strict. To help his students, Zhang developed a simplified version of tai chi that still focused on the fundamentals of the sport. Zhang also mentions the challenges he faced when trying to teach Americans tai chi as it forces you to be patient and relax. Breathing ; Chinese martial arts ; Education ; Folding Tree posture (Tai chi) ; Kung fu ; Meditation ; Meridians ; Qi gong ; Shadow boxing ; Shaolin boxing ; Tai chi ; Teaching ; University of Delaware ; Xi'an Physical Education College Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 2460 Tai chi Why, why did you want to study it? Why did you want to study tai chi? Zhang highlights the benefits such as relaxation, patience, and balance that tai chi offers. To protect himself and his family in his neighborhood in China, Zhang originally practiced martial arts as a form of self-defense. At first, he had little interest in tai chi because it appeared too slow. In college, Zhang discovered the different styles of tai chi, such as Qi Gong, which focuses on breathing techniques and even helped him with his forgetfulness. Zhang jokes how one of his tai chi students reminded him to use the strategies he taught them when he went to take his driving test. Chinese martial arts ; Health ; Philosophy ; Shaolin boxing ; Tai chi Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 2653 Education in China / Learning English Um, what was school like back in China? Zhang recalls the education back in China and how at times it was difficult without fancy facilities or heat in the winter. The English teachers were supportive and helped him pass his college entrance exam. Zhang states that college was better because they lived in dormitories and received funding from the government that covered tuition, food, and textbooks. He also mentions that in the big cities English is taught in middle school, but in the countryside English began in high school due to a shortage of available teachers. Zhang started to learn English his second year and even recalls one of his favorite teachers, who he still connects with, who helped him to pass the college entrance exam. Zhang also shares that along with martial arts, he was a nationally ranked gymnast. Education ; Gymnastics ; Language acquisition ; Martial arts ; Pucheng County, China ; Pucheng Middle School Childhood ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 2998 Bringing martial arts to Philadelphia What--how did you get to Philly? What made you move to Philadelphia? In 1997, Zhang met his wife, Georgina Doherty, at an annual spring festival in Delaware. Zhang and his students performed a tai chi demonstration, and it caught his wife’s attention. After they were married, he spent several years performing tai chi demonstrations at the spring festival until one year he received an invitation to bring his skills to Philadelphia. At the time, there were no groups in the Philadelphia area that taught the full series, and he believed that teaching kids who tended to lean more towards drugs and crime martial arts could lead them towards success. Ambler (Pa.) ; Ambler, Pennsylvania ; Chinese festivals ; Chinese martial arts ; Chinese Military Police Boxing ; Georgina Zhang ; Kung fu ; Mayfair Community Center ; Montgomery County (Pa.) ; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Tai chi ; University of Delaware Spring Festival ; Willow Grove (Pa.) ; Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 3345 Building a martial arts community Before you moved--before you re, re, relocated to Philadelphia, what were your expectations of the city before you moved here? Zhang talks about his goals to open his own martial arts school. At first, he offered free classes at the Mayfair Community Center, but attendance was low. Zhang recently opened a studio between Magee Avenue and Bustleton Avenue in the Northeast, but still experienced low turnout because many of the residents in the area did not drive. He explains that as a committee member for Philadelphia International Martial Arts week he plans to promote Chinese martial arts. Zhang and about twenty martial arts schools will have a kickoff event with free and discounted classes at the courtyard of Philadelphia's City Hall. Caster Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chinese community in Philadelphia ; Magee Avenue and Bustleton Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Mayfair (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Mayfair Community Center ; Philadelphia 76ers ; Philadelphia City Hall ; Philadelphia Councilman David Oh ; Philadelphia Eagles ; Philadelphia International Martial Arts Week ; Roosevelt Boulevard (Philadelphia, Pa.) Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 3625 Northeast Philadelphia--The second Chinatown So how's the--cause you mentioned a little bit that they're all coming together, which is incredible. Zhang only lives a few blocks away from the Northeast Regional Library on Brighton Street. He details the thriving Chinese community in Northeast Philadelphia, which is now more populous than the community in Chinatown. Zhang is the main organizer for the Chinese New Year festival where he invited not only the Chinese but a Russian group that also does martial arts called Sambo. Zhang highlights how the Chinese community works with places such as the Northeast Regional Library offering free tai chi classes and hopes to provide English as a second language classes. Brighton Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Chinese New Year ; Community ; Culture ; Islamic mosques ; Mayfair (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Northeast High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Pennsylvania State Representative Jared Solomon Community ; Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 3868 Zhang's book, &quot ; Pronunciation Skills of American English&quot ; So how do you compare Delaware and Philadelphia in terms of culture? Zhang remembers living on campus at the University of Delaware filled with college students and faculty. His transition to Philadelphia was different as his circle of friends grew, as well as a feeling of relaxation. Zhang recalls attending the English Institute, also known as the University of Delaware English Language Institute, to improve his English. Feeling inspired to help others, Zhang wrote a book called “Pronunciation Skills of American English,” making him the first author in China to write a pronunciation book with audio tapes. He has plans to write a second book. Authors ; Martial arts ; Newark, Delaware ; Pronunciation of American English (Book) ; University of Delaware ; University of Delaware English Language Institute ; Xi'an Foreign Language University ; Xi'an International Studies University Authors. ; Education ; Immigrants ; Newark (Del.) ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Writing 17 4094 From tai chi to computer science So you have a ton of plans for yourself. Zhang recalls that when he first got married he hoped to move back to China, however, after the birth of his two sons, he had to find a job to support his family. Zhang earned a degree in computer networking and data engineering from Chubb Institute and a master’s degree in computer science from Syracuse University and has worked for the Wissahickon School District and Pennsylvania Department of Education, as a technical specialist. He also worked with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, known as PaTTAN, teaching special education teachers how to use technology to help their students. Zhang mentions how he is in between projects, but one day hopes to continue work with his studio and promote not only Chinese culture but also his skills in English language and computers. Chubb Institute ; Comcast ; Computer networking and data engineering ; Computer science ; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ; Leo Zhang ; Luke Zhang ; Pennsylvania Department of Education ; Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) ; Syracuse University ; Technical specialists ; Wissahickon School District (Philadelphia, Pa.) College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 4580 The ancient cities of Xi'an and Philadelphia--Education and crime How has Philadelphia changed the way you see home? As a community leader, Zhang attends several meetings that focus heavily on the improvement of education. Originally from Xi'an, the ancient capital of China, Zhang comments that he considers Philadelphia to be the ancient capital of the United States. He compares the education systems of both Philadelphia and Xi'an and hopes that the two cultures can work together to make improvements. Zhang describes how there are kids involved in drugs and crime and believes that education here in Philadelphia should be as strong and vital as it in China. Ancient city ; Community leaders ; Education ; Improvements ; Pennsylvania Department of Education ; Success ; Wissahickon School District (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Xi'an City ; Xi'an, China Education ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 4924 Future plans Where do you want to be ten years from now? Zhang's goal is to continue working on his studio, the East West Institute, and plans to offer not only martial arts and tai chi but also Chinese, English as a second language, and computer courses. Due to Zhang's strong belief in education, he talks about finding sponsors to help his school become a non-profit. Zhang describes how he wants to share his knowledge with the people of Philadelphia so that they may have a better life. East West Institute ; Education ; English as a second language (ESL) ; Kung fu ; Martial arts ; Non-profit ; Tai chi ; Teaching Education ; Immigrants ; Martial arts. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/55dcbeac2b263f48caa50de8e9fc7689.jpg East West Institute, courtesy of Xichuan Zhang 5011 Final statement--Free education for all So my final question, is there anything that I didn't ask that you want to add for someone who will be listening in maybe ten to twenty years from now? In the future, Zhang wishes for better communication between China and the United States ; hoping we can develop a deeper understanding of the different cultures. In ten to twenty years, he hopes that students don’t have to pay for tuition for all those seeking higher education. Zhang envisions a prosperous country where people are not searching for jobs and are unable to pay their bills but instead are successful and happy. Zhang believes that knowledge is power and one day hopes that we are free to learn. &quot ; Melting pot&quot ; ; Culture ; Free education ; Knowledge ; Open policy ; Power ; Prosperous ; Success Education ; Employment 17 interview Matt Zhang discusses his journey from Shaanxi Province, China to Delaware, then to Northeast Philadelphia. He starts by discussing his childhood and what he knew about the United States growing up. From there, the conversation shifts to how Zhang came to the United States and the cultural difference and challenges he face when he first arrived. He highlights his purpose for coming to the United States and what he likes about Philadelphia, as well as future goals he has set for himself. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0148_irw0079_zhang_ohm.xml 2019oh0148_irw0079_zhang_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Colleen Dougherty Sort Priority 0036 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Xichuan "Matt" Zhang Description An account of the resource Matt Zhang discusses his journey from Shaanxi Province, China to Delaware, then to Northeast Philadelphia. He starts by discussing his childhood and what he knew about the United States growing up. From there, the conversation shifts to how Zhang came to the United States and the cultural difference and challenges he face when he first arrived. He highlights his purpose for coming to the United States and what he likes about Philadelphia, as well as future goals he has set for himself. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0148_irw0079 Subject The topic of the resource Families. Occupations Employment Education Communism Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Teaching Teachers Martial arts. Philadelphia (Pa.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 9, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/matt-zhang/health-wealth-happiness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Matt's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3850babccb0d1d557743a3b9cb0cea8d.jpg 4bff9d37e98d9a87423bc63bd8fa3a69 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Janneken Smucker Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Irina Melekhina OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0147_irw0078_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Jewish ethnicity Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Soviet Union Russia Assimilation Religion Jews--Identity. Physicians Military education Traditional dance Republic of Crimea Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast) OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0147_irw0078 Interview with Irina Melekhina, March 9, 2019 2019oh0147_irw0078 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Families. Childhood Occupations Employment Education Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Communism Moscow (Russia) Dentists New York (N.Y.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Jewish ethnicity Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Soviet Union Russia Assimilation Religion Jews--Identity. Physicians Military education Traditional dance Republic of Crimea Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast) Irina Melekhina Janneken Smucker 2019oh0147_irw0078_melekhina_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0147_irw0078_melekhina_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 0 Daughter of Soviet doctors --dental school after that. I have a lot of friends in the dental school... Melekhina shares that she attended first to third grade in Simferopol, Crimea where she was born. She later moved with her family to Kiev, Ukraine after her father changed jobs. Both her mother and her father worked as medical doctors in the Soviet Union which allowed them to have luxuries compared to other citizens. Family life ; Kiev (Ukraine) ; Medical doctors ; Parents ; Professors ; Republic of Crimea ; Russia ; Simferopol ; Soviet Union ; Ukraine ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Childhood ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast) ; Occupations ; Physicians ; Simferopolʹ (Ukraine) 44.947247, 34.099257 13 Simeropol, Crimea. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/162382656d8f4bbfabfd1842648ede25.jpg Irina Melekhina in the Northeast Regional Branch Library on March 9, 2019 for her oral history interview. 122 Training as a dentist, but dreaming of dancing And then, uh, uh, you--when you went to school, you wanted to become a dentist, is that correct? Melekhina remembers living in Kiev, Ukraine between the ages of 10 - 17. After finishing her schooling, her parents encouraged her to become a doctor, so she decided to attend dentistry school in Kiev but finished it in Crimea. Right after graduating from dental school, she immigrated to the United States. Despite her dentistry degree, Melekhina confesses that she had always wanted to be a dancer and dreamed of dancing her entire adolescent life. She describes the folk dancing that she enjoyed preforming. Ballet ; Dentists ; Folk dancing ; Hungarian dance ; International dance ; Medical schools ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Childhood ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Kiev (Ukraine : Oblast) ; Occupations ; Physicians 50.427735, 30.481994 13 Kiev, Ukraine 234 Immigrating as Jewish refugees with a two month old on the day of revolution / Communism in the Soviet Union So can you tell me about, um, when you say &quot ; we,&quot ; was that with your parents? Melekhina’s father died at age 43, which led her and her husband to return to Crimea where her mother lived. She met her husband, Aleksandr, at dental school, and then had a daughter, Alisa, in 1991. The family obtained refugee status through her husband's Jewish ethnicity, which he had to suppress in the Soviet Union. He changed his last name to hide his Jewish identity in order to attend dentistry school. On the day they were supposed to immigrate, the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt began. Melekhina recollects living in the Communist Soviet Union where she had to use coupons instead of money to acquire food rations and says that she was very hungry during her pregnancy. 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt ; Adult immigrant education ; Communists ; Food rations ; Immigration journey ; Jewish ; Jews ; Moscow, Russia ; New York ; Refugees ; Revolutions ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; United States ; United States Embassy in Moscow Communism ; Dentists ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Moscow (Russia) ; Occupations ; Physicians 55.756041, 37.579319 17 United States Embassy in Moscow, Russia 748 Arrival in New York in 1991 / Relocating to Philadelphia in 1994 So then you arrive in New York City. What do you remember about your arrival? Melekhina reminisces on arriving in New York City for the first time and seeing the bright lights and fluorescent colors, despite being exhausted from their harrowing exit from the Soviet Union. They lived with her husband's extended family for a short period of time before obtaining aid from the Jewish community and settling in Brooklyn, New York. Melekhina's husband then attended New York University's College of Dentistry to retrain as a dentist. After he graduated in 1994, the Melekhina family relocated to Philadelphia to corner the Russian dentistry market, as it was too competitive to be a Russian dentist in New York City, as there were 200 Russians training at the same dental school. Living in Brooklyn felt like living in Russia because there were so many Russian immigrants in their neighborhood. Brooklyn (N.Y.) ; Brooklyn, New York City (N.Y.) ; Brooklyn, New York City, New York ; Dental schools ; Jewish Federation ; John F. Kennedy Airport ; New York City (N.Y.) ; New York University College of Dentistry ; Refugee status Dentists ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; New York (N.Y.) ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Physicians 40.677763, -73.940840 15 Brooklyn, New York, United States 1000 Resettling in Philadelphia / Establishing dentistry careers And, uh, you said Alisa, your daughter-- Melekhina tells how her husband was able to find a job right away due to his experience in dentistry in Russia right after resettling in Philadelphia. She liked Philadelphia because it was smaller and quieter than New York City ; they lived in the Haldeman area of Northeast Philadelphia. At first, Melekhina stayed home with her young daughter but eventually she decided to attend the Community College of Philadelphia to become a dental hygienist. Melekhina's second daughter, Caroline, was born in Philadelphia. Community College of Philadelphia ; Dental hygienists ; Dentistry ; Haldeman (Philadelphia neighborhood) Dentists ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Physicians 39.962765, -75.167007 16 Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1210 Daughters' educations and opportunities in the United States What did you think of her education opportunities? Melekhina describes the educational opportunities her two daughters Alisa and Caroline had in Philadelphia. They both attended the Philadelphia Public School System, including Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Alisa home schooled for a period, because she was a world class competitive chess champion. She then attended Drexel University with a philosophy major and then earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She now lives in New York where she continues both her law and competitive chess careers. Caroline now attends Temple University as a psychology major and hopes to go to graduate school to become a neurosurgeon. 2nd generation immigrants ; Daughters ; Drexel University ; Education ; Home schooling ; Lawyers ; Opportunity ; Second generation immigrants ; Temple University ; University of Pennsylvania Law School ; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; World Chess Champion Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1416 Learning the English language / Becoming a United States citizen Um, you speak very good English now. Did you have to learn? Melekhina recalls expanding her knowledge of the English language through her college classes and American TV shows. Her oldest daughter can speak Russian, but her younger daughter could not, so this meant that Irina and Alexandr needed to learn to speak English at home. She also discusses becoming a U.S. citizen and the freedoms she now has in the United States compared to those in the Soviet Union. This includes both freedom of speech, voting, and the choice to wear whatever clothing she chooses. She describes the dress code enforced in the Soviet Union and her first time voting in the United States. Children ; Citizenship ; English as a Second Language (ESL) ; Freedom ; Language acquisition ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; United States citizens ; United States Citizenship Test ; Voting Communism ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1702 Connecting to Philadelphia's Russian community through dentistry / Changing family traditions Um, I know here in Philadelphia there is a growing, um, community of Russians. Melekhina reveals how her family connects to the Russian community in Philadelphia through their dental practice. This includes Russian immigrants seeking out the Melekhinas’ practice specifically due to their shared heritage and language. They also have many friends that they knew in their home country who now live in the United States which they are able to keep in touch with. Melekhina reveals how her family has stopped practicing all of the Russian traditions but have adopted Christmas for their two daughters. Assimilation ; Christmas ; Community life ; Dental practices ; Friends ; Holidays ; Russian community ; Traditions Dentists ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Physicians 17 1871 Hiding Jewish identity to attend medical school in the Soviet Union Does your, uh, husband still identify as Jewish? Melekhina recalls that in the Soviet Union her husband had to cover his Jewish identity in order to go about his everyday life, including changing his last name in order to attend dental school and stating his ethnicity on his passport. This made Melekhina's husband feel as if he was a lesser member of the Russian community because of his Jewish heritage despite not actively practicing the religion. Jewish ; Nationality ; Religious persecution ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Communism ; Dentists ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Jews--Identity. ; Occupations ; Physicians ; Religion 17 https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/03/archives/on-the-jewish-question-in-the-soviet-union-on-the-jewish-question.html &quot ; On the Jewish Question in the Soviet Union&quot ; , New York Times, May 30, 1970. 1934 Owning a home in Philadelphia / Her mother visits with a green card How has Philadelphia changed in the years since you've--I guess, you've been in-- Melekhina talks about how her family has lived in Philadelphia since 1994, and that the city has experienced significant changes. During that time, they have bought a home from which they run their dental practice. Melekhina's mother has also obtained a United States Green Card so she is able to visit often and spend time with her family. Green Cards ; Home ownership ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Northeast Regional Branch Library ; Permanent residency Dentists ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Physicians 17 2099 Visiting Crimea / Learning the culture of the United States Have you been back to Russia since you-- Melekhina recollects visiting Crimea and realizing how much she did not like it anymore. Melekhina describes the turmoil Crimea has experienced as the territory has switched back and forth between Russia and the Ukraine. She describes how she cannot switch back to the culture she used to once live in after adapting to the culture of the United States. Melekhina recalls having to learn new practices like shopping in a supermarket when she first immigrated, but that she embraced these differences as she wanted to start a new life. Americana ; Capitalism ; Communism ; Culture ; Jewish Federation ; Republic of Crimea ; Returning home ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Communism ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2404 Reason for immigrating to the U.S. / Hearing of the collapse of the Soviet Union You mentioned that your options at that time would've been to, uh, immigrate to either the United States or Israel. After obtaining refugee status, Melekhina remembers how her family had three options for immigration: Israel, South Africa, and the United States. They chose to immigrate to the United States due to their relatives and they have been residing in the country ever since. Once they arrived in the U.S., Melekhina had a hard time remembering that they could openly talk with one another and loved the freedoms she had. She describes going to a supermarket as being a “kid in a candy store” due to all the choices. She also recalls feeling sad when she heard that the Soviet Union collapsed and crying as a result. She describes how shocked she was when she learned about aspects of Soviet history that had been suppressed until after its collapse, including the mass imprisonment of citizens. Today, Melekhina claims that she does not follow the news of Russia as much as she used to when she first immigrated. American food ; Collapse of Soviet Union ; Economy ; Freedom of speech ; Israel ; Jewish immigration ; Mikhail Gorbachev ; Propaganda ; Refugee status ; Russia ; South Africa ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; United States ; Vladimir Lenin ; Vladimir Putin Communism ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union &quot ; The Collapse of the Soviet Union&quot ; , Office of the Historian. 2839 Medallion of the Soviet of the Socialist Republic Um, can you tell me about this? Melekhina shows off a medallion that she purchased at a Russian store in the United States. She bought the medallion to remember that period of her life and to help teach her daughters what the Soviet Union was like. Her daughters have expressed interest in learning about this history. Medallions ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; State Emblem of the Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; United Soviet Socialist Republic Communism ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2c2a7c0bb7ac3cdc9b363d50861ceeed.png State Emblem of the Soviet Union / Medallion of The Soviet of the Socialist Republic 2903 Mandatory military training in the Soviet Union And this one here, like we have to do like a military, uh, you know, like classes all the time in high school. Melekhina remembers participating in mandatory military trainings throughout her schooling in the Soviet Union. These trainings included learning how to march, learning the army commands, and learning how to use a rifle. Melekhina recalls the feeling of impending attack from Western countries that she continually felt throughout her childhood. This sort of propaganda was preached to the citizens of the Soviet Union and was not necessarily truthful. She shows a photograph of her as a high school student dressed in military uniform. Brainwashing ; Cold War ; Communism ; Education ; High schools ; Mandatory ; Military classes ; Military training ; Nuclear war ; Propaganda ; Required military ; Rifles ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; Vladimir Lenin Childhood ; Communism ; Education ; Military education. ; Military training camps 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b6babfc1cb08f7c7a40f0bedf629b73b.jpg Irina Melekhina dressed in military uniform as a high school student (front row, second from the left) c. 1980s. Courtesy of Irina Melekhina. 3190 Training in Ukrainian (international) dance as a child And this one right here? Melekhina talks about how the dance studios worked in Russia. She began dancing at 5 years old, where she trained in Ukrainian dance at her grandmother’s encouragement. She loved performing. Melekhina danced all throughout her time in the Soviet Union including medical school. Ballerinas ; Ballet ; Dance studios ; Folk dance ; International dance ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Traditional dance ; Ukrainian dance ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Childhood ; Dance ; Education ; Families. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/7b2e0f0f6fce30bfae28f66bdec3275c.jpg Irina in a dance studio in the Soviet Union (7th from the left). Courtesy of Irina Melekhina. 3326 Being a Young Pioneer in the Soviet Union / Her father's Communist Party membership And this is my like--the school, you know, like uniform. Melekhina explains how she had to wear a red tie as a part of her school uniform, symbolizing that she was a Young Pioneer. She shares that as children grew, they advanced in a hierarchy from Young Pioneer to Komsomol to Communist. Her father was a mandatory member of the Communist Party because he was a professional, otherwise he would not be able to have a job. When her father died when she was age 19, the family lost some of the privileges obtained from him being a party member. Black Sea ; Communists ; Komsomol ; Red ties ; Russia ; School uniforms ; Semi-Island ; Simferopolʹ (Ukraine) ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; Young Pioneers Childhood ; Communism ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Occupations ; Physicians 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0f73ff9de7af8a4a4b56db7abe614265.jpg Melekhina in her school uniform. Courtesy of Irina Melekhina. 3576 Traditional Russia artifacts / Difficulties of assimilating What else? Like, I don't know, like I brought some stuff. Melekhina shows traditional Russian objects that her friends sent her from their home country in order to remember where she comes from, including nesting dolls and small painted wooden objects. She now considers herself an American, not a Russian. She also recalls how hard her immigration journey was, especially because there are fewer Russians in Philadelphia than there are in New York. As a new mother she had a harder time adjusting than her husband who was in school with many other Russians. American identity ; Americanization ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Education ; Folklore ; Immigration journey ; Language acquisition ; Parenthood ; Russian identity ; Russian nesting dolls ; Traditional Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/10b0011368fefb9a3a8b95ee23db9920.jpg Russian Dolls 3780 Reactions to visiting Russia Have they traveled back with you as adults? Melekhina discusses how there is a completely different environment in the United States compared to Russia. She also remembers returning to her home country where she felt judged by her friends for leaving Russia because they believed Melekhina betrayed her country. However, Melekhina's family understands that the country was unlivable during the time of the Soviet Union and that ultimately immigrating was the best decision. Betrayal ; Green Cards ; Permanent residents ; Russia ; Soviet Union ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ; Visiting Russia Communism ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 interview Irena Melekhina recounts her experiences growing up in the USSR, earning a degree in dentistry, and then seeking refugee status along with her husband prior to immigrating to the United States in 1991. She recalls a sense of being brainwashed by the Soviet government, yet still feeling a loss at the collapse of the Soviet Union. She and her husband and 2 month old child arrived in New York City in August 1991, just as the August Coup was taking place in the USSR. The interview recounts these early years of adjusting to life in the United States, resettling in Philadelphia for better job opportunities, and raising their family in Northeast Philadelphia. Toward the end of the interview, Irina shares a series of photographs and memorabilia from the Soviet Union. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0147_irw0078_melekhina_ohm.xml 2019oh0147_irw0078_melekhina_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Sort Priority 0028 Indexed By Kayla DiPaolo Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Irina Melekhina Description An account of the resource Irena Melekhina recounts her experiences growing up in the USSR, earning a degree in dentistry, and then seeking refugee status along with her husband prior to immigrating to the United States in 1991. She recalls a sense of being brainwashed by the Soviet government, yet still feeling a loss at the collapse of the Soviet Union. She and her husband and 2 month old child arrived in New York City in August 1991, just as the August Coup was taking place in the USSR. The interview recounts these early years of adjusting to life in the United States, resettling in Philadelphia for better job opportunities, and raising their family in Northeast Philadelphia. Toward the end of the interview, Irina shares a series of photographs and memorabilia from the Soviet Union. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0147_irw0078 Subject The topic of the resource Families. Childhood Occupations Employment Education Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Communism Moscow (Russia) Dentists New York (N.Y.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/exhibits/show/irina-melekhina/young-pioneer">Explore an exhibit about Irina's life.</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3fcc1e72cee748fab2089e07983302d7.png 86643c9722b251fc73604eaba121e7d9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Nicole Strunk Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Marco Jara OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0145_irw0076_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Closeted gays. Gay youth Sexual minority students. Sexual minority youth Mexico City (Mexico) Naucalpa (Mexico) Childhood OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0145_irw0076 Interview with Marco Jara, March 7, 2019 2019oh0145_irw0076 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Philadelphia (Pa.) Employment Occupations Volunteers Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gay men. Homosexuality--Social aspects. Sexual minorities. Sexual orientation. Cancun (Mexico) Gay couples. Families. Gay men--Family relationships Sexual minorities' families. Closeted gays. Gay youth Sexual minority students. Sexual minority youth Mexico City (Mexico) Naucalpa (Mexico) Childhood Marco Jara Nicole Strunk 2019oh0145_irw0076_jara_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0145_irw0076_jara_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 4 Introduction Okay, so my name is Nicole Strunk and this an oral history interview, um, on March 7, 2019. Nicole Strunk is a West Chester University Student. She is Interviewing Marco Jara who is an immigrant from Mexico. Jara is sharing some of his life story and his experience as an immigrant in the United States. This interview is occurring at the Independence Branch Library in Philadelphia. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/c5c3521dd76097d12a73446585c90147.jpg Nicole Strunk, “Marco Antonio Romeo Jara,” 28 Childhood and family Um, can you tell me a little bit about your childhood? Jara says that as a child he lived in Mexico City with his grandparents, his three brothers, his sister, and his two aunts. He also remembers that he loved dancing to disco music and playing with his neighbors. Jara explains that there were not video games and internet at the time, so to have fun he and his friends would have to go out to the park and play. When asked about his family, Jara explains that his parents did not always have a good relationship, so they decided to get a divorce. Then, when he turned ten years old, he moved with his mother and the rest of his family, except for his father. Big family ; Divorce ; Grandparents ; Internet ; Mexico City, Mexico ; Video games Childhood ; Families. ; Mexico City (Mexico) ; Recreation 9 Mexico City 180 Jara's first house and second house Can you tell me about your first house? Do you remember where-- Jara describes his first house as a small third floor apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a small patio where his mother used to wash dishes. Jara and his family lived in the apartment until he was eight years old. He explains that his second house was bigger than the apartment. In the second house, each person had their own room, the house had two floors, and it was very nicely decorated. At his second house, they were able to have chickens, cats and dogs. Jara explains that although the second house was not exactly in Mexico City, it was only an hour drive away. Animals ; Apartments ; Education ; Elementary schools ; House-building ; Metropolitan ; Middle schools Childhood ; Families. ; Mexico City (Mexico) 17 415 Family members' occupations What did your parents do? Jara shares that his mother did not regularly work outside the home. His grandparents ran a grocery store from their home, and his aunts who also lived with the family worked at a factory making underwear. Jara's father worked for four years as a politician in the Industrial Revolutionary Party (PRI), which was the most popular political party in Mexico at the time, working in a tax collecting agency for the municipality of Naucalpa. Although Jara was not in favor of his father's career, since he did not have a good relationship with his father, it did not affect him as much. Enrique Pena Nieto ; Fabric ; Grocery stores ; Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) ; Naucalpa, Mexico ; Politicians ; Unemployed Childhood ; Employment ; Families. ; Mexico City (Mexico) ; Naucalpa (Mexico) ; Occupations ; Politics and government 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/faaaa5ef8f8c19fde9484e876fcba5e5.jpg “Formal President Of Mexico,” Philly Immigration, accessed April 10, 2019. 592 Relationship with his father / His father's death Does he still do that? Jara explains that he had a closer relationship with his grandfather, who he lived with, than he did with his father. He recalls when his mother called him while he was living in Cancun to tell him that his father passed away ; Jara had seen him one year prior and had a good conversation, but he felt very strange upon hearing about his death. Jara also explains that it was difficult not having his father nearby while growing up. He explains that he lived with his grandfather, and he loved him, but there was still a father figure missing. Deaths ; Family ; Fathers ; Grandfathers ; Grief ; Mourning ; Psychologists ; Relationships Childhood ; Families. 17 842 Relationship with his grandfather You've talked a lot about your grandfather. Jara describes his grandfather as a hero. His grandfather had no formal education, but was a hard worker, having jobs in construction, factories, making water ice, and selling balloons in the park. He recalls that he was a good cook and always had a smile, and was a good host to visitors. Jara adopted these traits in his own work in customer service. He remembers a particular Christmas at age 28 at which his grandfather played music on the guitar, and then gave him a huge hug, acknowledging Jara's homosexuality. Construction ; Cooking ; Customer service ; Dropping out ; Education ; Factory workers ; Hardworking ; Heroes ; Homosexuality ; Hosts ; Smiles Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Employment ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships ; Gay men. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Occupations ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1068 Family's perception of his sexuality / Coming out story Were you always able to, um--I guess, was the rest of your family as welcoming as your grandfather about who you are? Jara explains that his family was respectful about his privacy, and did not ask him about girlfriends or dating. When Jara met his future husband in Cancun, Jara reported that he thought that his family knew about his homosexuality, but that they never asked. He told his boyfriend that he would tell his family once he knew it was a serious relationship. His boyfriend insisted after a year that he fully come out and introduce him to his family. Jara made plans to visit his family in Mexico City and tell them about his sexuality and his relationship, but logistics made it difficult at first. Towards the end of his visit, Jara finally found the right moment and the courage to tell his sister. She acknowledged that she knew for a long time that he was gay. Acceptance ; Boyfriends ; Cancun, Mexico ; Catholicism ; Coming out ; Facebook ; Homosexuality ; Honesty ; Marriage ; Mexico City ; Privacy ; Respect ; Spa managers ; Traditional family Cancun (Mexico) ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships ; Gay men. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Mexico City (Mexico) ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1435 Family members' reactions to his coming out And then I was, uh, leaving the next week, um, Tuesday I guess, and my sister said... After acknowledging that she knew that Jara was gay, his sister explained that she is very surprised at the news of him moving to the United States. She was very thankful that Jara trusted her and told her about his sexuality. Jara then asked his sister for advice on how to tell the rest of this family. Later on that night, Jara came out to the rest of his family. Jara explains that his older brother had some trouble understanding it at first, so stood up and left the room. However, his younger brother, mom and grandmother were fine with the news. Jara's mother expressed that no matter what she will always love him because he is her son. She does not care if he is gay or not, her love for him will never change. At the end of the conversation, Jara told his family that he will introduce his boyfriend the year after. Family ; Reactions ; Unconditional love Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships ; Gay men. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 2022 Meeting his future husband How did you meet him? Jara explains that he met his husband through a gay meeting app while he was working as a manager of a hotel spa in Cancun. His future husband worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines and regularly flew in to Cancun. He also explains that at the time he did not give his husband too much interest, but later on, he fell in love. American Airlines ; Cancun, Mexico ; Dating apps ; Flight attendants ; Florida ; Hotel spas ; Playa del Carmen (Mexico) ; Playa del Carmen, Mexico ; Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) ; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ; Tulum (Mexico) ; Tulum, Mexico Cancun (Mexico) ; Gay couples. ; Gay men. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/0036b5b6a4515c4259d748225c64f609.jpg “Playa Del Carmen,” Philly Immigration, accessed April 10, 2019, http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/admin/items/show/946. 2227 Experiences as a gay child Was growing up gay, um, difficult, like, um, I guess socially or at school? Due to his sexuality, Jara had to deal with bullying in school when he was young. He explains that it was hard to deal with, but later on in life he started to feel comfortable with who he was so he stopped caring about people's comments. He remembers middle school as the most challenging time period. Bullying ; Character ; Closeted ; Harassment ; Homosexuality ; Hurtful comments ; Middle schools Closeted gays. ; Gay men. ; Gay youth ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Sexual orientation. 17 2348 Comparing reactions about sexuality in Mexico vs USA Do you think you would have gotten a different reaction, um, here in the States than in Mexico? Jara explains that in Latin America, they think that the United States is more open minded. However, he explains that that is not the case. America was not as open minded as he thought it would be. Everyone in Latin America associates the &quot ; American Dream&quot ; with perfection. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Civil rights ; Entertainment influence ; Gay rights ; Latin American perception ; Open-minded Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gay men. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 2751 Decision to live in the United States How did you and your husband decided to live here instead of Mexico? Jara explains how he and his husband evaluated Jara's chances of getting hired for a job in the United States, compared to his husband getting a job in Cancun. Each of them had a house to pay for in their respective countries. They decided it would be harder for his husband, an English speaker, to find a good job in Cancun. Reflecting back, Jara is glad they made that decision because of the political changes in Mexico. Bilingual ; Employment ; Job searching Cancun (Mexico) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Gay couples. ; Gay men. ; Immigrants ; Occupations 17 2917 Expectations of and reactions to Philadelphia Can you tell me what it was like to come here for the first time? Jara says that he did not have any expectations before arriving to the United States. Then he explained that he got lost the first time he walked around Philadelphia. Jara communicated with other people to be able to get around Philadelphia. He loved the city's diversity, including hearing Spanish spoken on the street. He also likes that he can walk or bike everywhere. Jara says that he has not had any bad experiences in Philadelphia, so there is not a thing that he does not like. 16th and Bainbridge St. (Philadelphia, Pa) ; Dallas (Tex.) ; Dallas, Texas ; Diversity ; First days in America ; Lost ; Retirement centers ; Senior citizens Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3258 Searching for work in Philadelphia / Volunteering Can you tell me about like what you do here now? Jara speaks about the difficulty of finding a job in Philadelphia and stresses the need to be patient. He says that the process of finding a job in Mexico is faster. Right now he is unemployed, and volunteering at different organizations including the William Way Center. He met some new friends through a Spanish meet-up app, and he received advice about looking for jobs online. Jara also applied to be a flight attendant at United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines. American Airlines ; Broad Street Ministry ; Flight attendants ; Job searching ; Service industry ; Spanish meet up apps ; Unemployed ; United Airlines ; Volunteerism ; William Way Center Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Volunteers 17 4014 How Philadelphia makes him feel Why do you say that Philadelphia really opened it's arms to you? Jara ends his interview by sharing how much he likes Philadelphia. He says that he feels like he receives love everywhere he goes. He has not had a bad experience, and everyone has been very welcoming and respectful with him. City of Brotherly Love ; Friendly ; Love ; Welcoming Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 interview Jara begins by reflecting on his early childhood memories and family in Mexico City ; he remembers his first home and the family and pets that lived there with him as well as the bigger home his family moved to outside of the city. He continues to speak about his relationships with different family members and how he met his current husband and subsequently coming out as gay to his family. Jara concludes the interview speaking about Philadelphia and his new life in the city ; he frequently volunteers with homeless shelters and LGBT organizations within the city while attending ESL classes and applying for permanent jobs. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0145_irw0076_jara_ohm.xml 2019oh0145_irw0076_jara_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Laura Gomez Sort Priority 0023 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Marco Jara Description An account of the resource Jara begins by reflecting on his early childhood memories and family in Mexico City; he remembers his first home and the family and pets that lived there with him as well as the bigger home his family moved to outside of the city. He continues to speak about his relationships with different family members and how he met his current husband and subsequently coming out as gay to his family. Jara concludes the interview speaking about Philadelphia and his new life in the city; he frequently volunteers with homeless shelters and LGBT organizations within the city while attending ESL classes and applying for permanent jobs. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0145_irw0076 Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Philadelphia (Pa.) Employment Occupations Volunteers Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gay men. Homosexuality--Social aspects. Sexual minorities. Sexual orientation. Cancun (Mexico) Gay couples. Families. Gay men--Family relationships Sexual minorities' families. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 7, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c81f88dbcb2a20c09a8670e0ff4f90f5.jpg f09c4652ca17ae9b2a491b022f6e0d65 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Kate MacDonald Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Yan Tai Lau OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0144_irw0075_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Assimilation Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) Language barriers Children Childhood United States citizenship OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0144_irw0075 Interview with Yan Tai Lau, March 6, 2019 2019oh0144_irw0075 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Occupations Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Emigration and immigration. Hong Kong (China) Religion Assimilation Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) Language barriers Children Childhood United States citizenship Yan Tai Lau Kate MacDonald 2019oh0144_irw0075_lau_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0144_irw0075_lau_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 2 Introduction Hi, my name's Kate MacDonald. Lau introduces herself in this interview on March 6, 2019 at the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library. Big city ; Childhood ; Family ; Hong Kong ; Villages 17 27 Early life in Hong Kong Why don't you tell me a little bit about where and when you were born? Lau shares that she was born in 1958 in Hong Kong. When she was a child, she lived in a village on the outskirts of the city with her parents, two sisters, and four brothers. She says it was common for families to have many children, and she lived near extended family until she got married and moved. Big city ; Childhood ; Hong Kong, China Childhood ; Families. ; Hong Kong (China) 17 207 Siblings and education in Hong Kong And when you were a child, what did your education look like? Lau talks about her education and how she graduated from secondary school but did not go to college. [Note: this segment has a brief interruption due to background noise] Colleges ; Education ; Elementary schools ; High schools ; Secondary schools Childhood ; Families. ; Hong Kong (China) 17 354 Early working life in Hong Kong After you graduated school, what did you do? Lau worked at a transportation center as a secretary. She got the job with help from her husband, who knew the company's boss. She married in 1982 and she started working at the transportation company in 1986, where she worked for about two years. [Note: The interview moves to a break room to mitigate background noise] Employment ; Marriage ; Secretary ; Transportation centers Hong Kong (China) ; Occupations 17 515 Marriage and family How did you and your husband meet? Lau describes how she met her husband at a Christian church in Hong Kong. Together they have two sons, Yun and Heng, both of whom were born in a village near where her parents live outside of Hong Kong. Lau returned to work after her children started kindergarten. Although she comes from a big family with four brothers and two sisters, she and her husband had two children because &quot ; two kids is enough, you know?&quot ; She alludes to the &quot ; social situation&quot ; regarding children, but says that China's One Child Policy did not apply to people in Hong Kong because Hong Kong was a former British colony with different rules. Assembly of God Church ; British colony ; Childcare ; Chinese One Child Policy ; Christianity ; Churches ; Family ; Fanling District ; Hong Kong ; New Territory ; North District Children ; Families. ; Hong Kong (China) ; Religion 22.492291, 114.138344 14 Mtr Fanling Station, Fanling, Hong Kong 879 Returning to work after having children And what was it like going to work after having children? After her children started school, Lau started working again, and she calls herself &quot ; lucky&quot ; because a friend of hers helped her get a job as a secretary for a district counselor, which was a &quot ; good job&quot ; that she liked better than working for the transportation company. However, when asked for the friend's name, she says it is a secret. District counselors ; Employment ; Secretary Hong Kong (China) ; Occupations 17 1142 Visiting and later immigrating to Philadelphia When did you come to the United States? Lau visited Philadelphia in 2008 for a short period. She returned to Hong Kong for work, and then returned to the United States in 2016 to care for her mother- and father-in law. She and her husband originally moved to Kensington but moved to Chinatown in 2017 to be closer to her mother-in-law. The interviewer and Lau also talk about how learning numbers in foreign languages is difficult. Assimilation ; Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Healthcare ; In-laws ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Language learning Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.953744, -75.156231 19 The Friendship Arch in Philadelphia's Chinatown. 1408 Working in Philadelphia as a home health care aide And, do you prefer Kensington or Chinatown? Lau talks about how she started working as a home health care assistant when she moved to Philadelphia. This was to care for her mother-in-law. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law passed away in 2018. Lau says she still enjoys her work, taking care of other elderly women. She got the job through an agency that provides services for elderly people with low income. She notes that her husband worked at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), having first started as a volunteer. At the time of the interview he works at the Independence Library. Ambulances ; Employment ; Free Library of Philadelphia ; Healthcare ; Home health care aides ; Independence Library ; Medicare ; Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) ; Sirens Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1722 Immediate family members Do you--who do you live with in Philadelphia? Lau's mother-in-law passed away on October 24, 2017, and her father-in-law lives in assisted living, so Lau and her husband live in an apartment. In 2009, Lau and her family came to the United States for a brief period, but her older son stayed in Hong Kong to finish college where he studied acupuncture, and since then, he has gotten married and has children. Her younger son lives in South Carolina with Lau's brother-in-law, where he attended some college after finishing high school there. Acupuncture ; Assisted living ; Children ; Colleges ; Education ; Grandchildren ; Home life ; Hong Kong (China) ; In-laws ; Nursing homes ; South Carolina Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2146 Coming to America So when you first visited the United States, it was 2008? Lau describes how she visited the United States for a few months in 2008, and the experience was disorienting because it was so foreign. &quot ; It was very hard&quot ; and she wanted to go back home, especially because her own family was back in Hong Kong. Now, though, she does not want to move back to Hong Kong because she has grown to love it here. In addition, in Hong Kong it is harder for someone her age, 60, to find work. Age ; Employment ; Hong Kong (China) ; In-laws ; Language barriers ; Strangeness Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2316 First experiences in Philadelphia after moving in 2016 When you moved from Hong Kong, was it difficult to find a place to live here? Lau explains how she was able to immigrate to Philadelphia through family re-unification laws. The application and approval process took about 5 years, and Lau says that is because the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (which she calls 9-1-1) made the immigration process more difficult. Then, after getting approved, she moved to Philadelphia and her first impression was that it was an old city. One of the things that surprised her the most was that there were &quot ; many black people,&quot ; which was a culture shock since she grew up in a mostly homogeneous area. After the paperwork and the culture shock, the most difficult part of moving to Philadelphia was finding work and saving money, but now she is more settled and has job security. Diversity ; Employment ; Job hunting ; Jobs ; Public transportation ; September 11, 2001 ; Visas Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2605 Weather in Philadelphia versus Hong Kong What do you like most about Philadelphia? Lau reflects on her new life in Philadelphia, including her favorite and least favorite aspects. Her favorite aspect is the weather ; in Hong Kong, summers can be much more hot and humid. Hong Kong (China) ; Weather Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2704 Learning a new language When you moved here, did you speak English? Lau’s first language is Cantonese, and when she moved here her church and social circles were all in Cantonese. She first started learning English through work, and she has also been taking English classes at the Center for Literacy on Market Street for about one year. Her husband speaks English, but she laughs when she says she is not sure how he learned. People in Hong Kong sometimes learn Mandarin, but she says only lawyers learn English. Cantonese ; Center for Literacy ; English ; Language-learning ; Mandarin Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.951351, -75.146833 18 Center for Literacy at 399 Market Street in Philadelphia where Lau has been taking English classes for about a year. https://centerforliteracy.org/ The Center For Literacy Website 2927 Path to citizenship So you had--did you have a lot of time to prepare for the move? Lau is a permanent resident with a green card, but she wants her United States citizenship so she can vote. When asked who she would want to vote for, she laughs because right now there isn't anyone she would want to vote for. Green cards ; Permanent residents ; United States citizenship ; Voting ; Voting rights Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3008 Things she brought with her from Hong Kong When you first moved here, what kinds of things did you bring with you? When Lau moved to Philadelphia, she brought some clothes, some books, her cellphone, laptop, and some cash. When asked about what she left behind, there is a bit of a language barrier, but she later says she left behind photos because she has photos on her cellphone. Her brother sends her photos from home, which makes her miss her parents. Cash ; Cellphones ; Family ; Hong Kong (China) ; Laptops ; Parents ; Photos Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3202 Family back home Do you visit your family back in Hong Kong? About one year ago, Lau went back to Hong Kong to visit her grandson after he was born. She stayed for about 10 days, but while she was in Hong Kong, her mother-in-law passed away, so she came back to Philadelphia, which was &quot ; very hard&quot ; for her. She reflects on her mother-in-law's passing and how her mother-in-law talked about how she didn't want to suffer. Perhaps God answered her prayers, Lau muses. Death ; Family ; God ; Grandchildren ; Hong Kong (China) ; Hospitals ; In-laws ; Prayers Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3362 Friends from church in Philadelphia Do you, do you have any friends in Philadelphia? Cause you've talked a bit about your family. Have you made friends here? Lau talks about how she has made friends through her church, CCCNC, but she cannot remember what all the initials stand for. She calls it the Chinese Christian and Center. They speak Cantonese at the church, and in her neighborhood there are also a lot of people who speak Cantonese. All her friends who have lived here for a long time speak Cantonese and English. Cantonese ; Chinese Christian Church + Center (CCCNC) ; Friends Churches ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.957729, -75.157267 20 Lau's church, the Chinese Christian Center + Church in Chinatown at 1101 Vine Street https://cccnc.org/ Chinese Christian Center + Church Website 3492 Family in the United States and family immigration policy When you're not at work, what do you like to do? When asked about what she does in her free time, Lau replies, &quot ; Learning English, and learning English.&quot ; Lau also helps take care of her brother-in-law, who lives at a place she calls 801, which most likely refers to Community Behavioral Health at 801 Market Street. Her husband has three brothers in Philadelphia, and a fourth brother in South Carolina. Her brothers-in-law have lived in the United States for over 20 years. Lau's husband did not move with them because the two of them were married, and immigration policy prioritizes unmarried relatives over married ones. Now, her brothers-in-law are all married to Chinese women they met in the United States. One of the brothers moved back to China for a while, but they are back in the United States. 801 Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chain migration ; Community Behavioral Health ; Family-based immigrant visas ; Language acquisition Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3791 Least favorite aspects of Philadelphia What, so far, is your least favorite thing about the city? Lau doesn't like how Chinatown and the surrounding area are dirty and she doesn't like the roads, which she describes as &quot ; broken,&quot ; referring to the potholes. She does not drive and does not want to learn because she is afraid ; she laughs at the thought of learning how to drive. Since she can walk to work and take public transportation, driving is not necessary. Her husband drives. Broken ; Cars ; Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Driving ; Potholes ; Public transportation ; Roads ; Transportation Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3936 Becoming an informed citizen So no driver's license, um, but you mentioned that you were interested in citizenship. Do you know when you would want to do that? Lau would like to try to obtain her citizenship within the next 2 to 5 years. There is an organization in Chinatown that can help her learn the material on the citizenship exam, although it is expensive for her. Filling out the application costs $100. Her husband would also like to be a citizen within the next two years. They would like to get their citizenship together. Her son in South Carolina is not a citizen, and she is not sure if he wants to. She suspects her son does not care about the difference between a green card and citizenship, but she herself is excited because voting is her right. She tries to keep in touch with politics, but her English is not yet good enough. She reads Chinese newspapers to stay updated on government policies, and she also watches the news. However, she notes how ABC 6 News has no news, just traffic and the weather. She doesn't understand the president when he talks, but she laughs when she's told that English speakers don't understand him either. Citizenship ; Donald J. Trump ; Green cards ; Language barriers ; Naturalization ; News ; Newspapers ; Permanent residents ; Translations ; United States citizenship tests ; Voting Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Politics and government 17 4294 Things she would change about the United States So if you could change one thing about America, what would you change? Lau isn't sure what she would change about American life, but she thinks that marijuana should be illegal because it is bad for your health. Marijuana is also illegal in Hong Kong. In addition, after watching the news and seeing gun crime, she thinks that guns should be more difficult to obtain. In Hong Kong, no one is allowed to have guns. Gun control ; Marijuana Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4608 Philadelphia versus other American cities Was that--were you ever s, scared to move to this country? After the topic of drugs and guns, Lau shares that she felt unsafe and a little scared when she moved here, but compared to other cities, Philadelphia feels safer. She also says she does not want to move anywhere else in the United States, but she has thought about South Carolina because the houses are cheaper and the environment is better. This section ends with Lau's phone ringing. Crimes ; Environment ; Housing ; Safety ; South Carolina Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4730 Keeping in touch with family She's just answering a phone call from her sister real quick. Lau talks to one of her older sisters, Mary, about once a week. Her sister visited the United States recently, about a year ago. They have a friend who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Lau's brothers have never visited the United States. Brooklyn (N.Y.) ; Cellphones ; Communication ; Family ; Hong Kong (China) ; Sisters Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4888 Describing Philadelphia to family in Hong Kong When you talk about Philadelphia to people in Hong Kong, how do you describe it to them? Lau says that she emphasizes the beautiful rivers of Philadelphia and her wonderful church when she talks to her sister and her brothers. In addition, she talks about how Philadelphia has fewer people than Hong Kong, and Philadelphians are nice, &quot ; except Chinese.&quot ; She explains that when she says Chinese, she means the people from the mainland, who have a different culture than people from Hong Kong. Churches ; Delaware River ; Mainland Chinese ; Manners ; Population density ; Schuylkill River Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 5039 Closing remarks--How Philadelphia changed Lau And then I think it's about 7:30 now the library closes at 8. Lau thinks that moving to Philadelphia has helped her change, specifically in that she has become less shy and introverted. Learning English has helped her express herself confidently and gain confidence. Changes ; Community ; Confidence ; Language acquisition Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 interview In this interview, West Chester student Kate MacDonald interviews Yan Tai Lau, a woman who emigrated from Hong Kong to Philadelphia in 2016. The interview discusses Lau's migration from China and the challenges she faced in trying to assimilate to American culture, as well as her long-term goals for the future. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0144_irw0075_lau_ohm.xml 2019oh0144_irw0075_lau_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Kate MacDonald Sort Priority 0026 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Yan Tai Lau Description An account of the resource Yan Tai Lau emigrated from Hong Kong to Philadelphia in 2016. The interview discusses Lau's migration from China and the challenges she faced in trying to assimilate to American culture, as well as her long-term goals for the future. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0144_irw0075 Subject The topic of the resource Occupations Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Emigration and immigration. Hong Kong (China) Religion Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 6, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Image by Flickr user Kailtin, licensed <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C.C. BY ND 2.0</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d4e93d5f0bcbd182f3686bfc5d0963fc.jpeg fc6d3821c6023dbd8b1bd3cd2a68a073 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Courtney Richards Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Bangde "Annie" Fu OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0143_irw0074_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Guangxi (China) Temple University Food habits Holidays OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0143_irw0074 Interview with Bangde &quot ; Annie&quot ; Fu, March 6, 2019 2019oh0143_irw0074 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Childhood Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) Employment Occupations Education College students--Social conditions Families. Guangxi (China) Temple University Food habits Holidays Bangde &quot ; Annie&quot ; Fu Courtney Richards 2019oh0143_irw0074_fu_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0143_irw0074_fu_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 5 Introduction This is Courtney Richards. I am at the Independence Library on March 6th, 2019 with Annie Fu, and today we are conducting an oral history project... Richards, the interviewer, opens the interview by telling listeners when, where, and who is taking part in the interview. Independence Library ; Oral history projects 39.950454, -75.152350 18 The Independence Library, Free Library of Philadelphia http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/acfbda867ceaa465988acb88946927b1.jpg &quot ; Independence Library, Free Library of Philadelphia,&quot ; c. July 17th, 2010, Wikimedia Commons, csbarrett. 22 Life growing up in Guangxi, China So Annie, um, tell me a little bit about your childhood. Fu shares that she is from Guangxi, China. She returned for a visit and found it had changed significantly from when she was a child. She has fond memories of going out to restaurants, and playing with friends and cousins at parks. She describes that a playground was almost like a gym. She took art classes and enjoyed drawing and painting in her spare time. Childhood ; Family ; Friends ; Guangxi (China) Childhood ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) 6 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3a27ef6909877f27baff59d7de556bdd.png Guangxi, China, Fu's birth place 280 Describing family life and traditional celebrations So what did your parents do for a living, if you don’t mind me asking? Fu recalls that her father was living in the United States when she was a child and only returned for around a month at a time. She says that the most influential person in her life is her grandmother because she was such a hard working lady, she took care of everyone, and if she set a goal she reached it. She fondly remembers celebrating Chinese New Year, when her family cleaned the house, cooked special foods, and received red envelopes with money. It is challenging to keep in touch with family in China due to the time change ; texting is easier for her than phoning. Chinese New Year ; Guangxi (China) ; Influential people ; Making a living ; Traditions Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Holidays ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f63cd8a330cdc9ba5dcc72f6493437b9.jpg C1815, &quot ; A Look at Chinese New Year&quot ; , Wikipedia, 2015 480 Education in Guangxi versus the United States Um, so what kind of education, um, did you have back in China? Fu says that the schools in China were very big, and you could get lost very easily. There weren't a lot of people to help you in the school, which made things scary for her. Fu describes how she had to be pushed back to first grade when she got to the United States because she she didn't know the amount of information needed for the second grade. She was scared at first because she didn't know English, but she was able to make her way through the day by looking at signs and making friends through the class's buddy system. Despite these difficulties, she made the most out of her transition from Chinese education to American education. Education ; English language ; First day of school ; Friendships ; Guangxi (China) ; Language acquisition ; Mathematics ; Primary schools ; Teachers Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/193d85b577826cfeecc298760b14b93c.png This image is the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China. This group is an agency of the State Council of the People's Republic of China that regulates all aspects of the educational system in mainland China. This institution would have overseen Annie's education while she was in China. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. 649 Finding friendship And did you make any close friends when you started going to school here? Fu shares that she was shy when she started school in the United States and describes the story of how she made her first friend, even though she did not understand what she was saying. She helped her new friend with math, while her friend helped her learn English. Fu explains her belief that friendships are much more genuine here in the United States compared to her homeland. Friendships ; Guangxi (China) ; High schools ; Language acquisition ; Language barriers ; Mathematics Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants 17 808 Background behind Fu's immigration to the United States China to America, that sounds like an incredible story. Fu recalls the reasons why she and her mother immigrated to the United States. She explains how her relationship with her father was one of the main reasons why they came, but how the relationship between them was a lot different than what she had anticipated. Fu says that her mother was also another big reason as to why they moved to Philadelphia (due to the fact that she thought the jobs would be better here). Guangxi (China) ; Immigration journey ; Job hunting ; Opportunities ; Transitioning ; Transitions Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 934 Journey to the United States Um, and was that an easy transition for you? Although she was young, Fu recalls her parents having to go through a lot of work (paperwork and checks) in order for them to come to America. She notes that her father was constantly pushed back if the paperwork was not correct or if they needed more paperwork from him, which set the whole family back. Once in America, Fu tells of how she lived in South Philadelphia up until high school, and how she was able to travel to some places outside of Philadelphia such as China, Canada, and California. Documentation ; Guangxi (China) ; Immigration journey ; Immigration process ; Obstacles ; South Philadelphia ; Traveling Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.925414, -75.169490 14 South Philadelphia, the area where Annie Fu first lived upon arriving in Philadelphia, before moving to Northeast Philadelphia. 1119 Attending Central High School in Philadelphia What high school did you go to? Fu describes her high school, Central High School, as a college prep school. She notes that school here was hard for her at first due to the language barrier, but she got used to it and did just fine. Fu says that back home she failed miserably, but after coming to the United States, she started to excel in her classes. She says that there was a lot of homework here, and she had to teach herself sometimes. She says that school wasn't really that hard here if she tried ; back home even if she did try, she says she wouldn't have succeeded. Central High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Education ; Guangxi (China) ; Learning difficulties ; YouTube Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.037410, -75.150318 17 This is the location of Central High School where Annie Fu attended school. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d0cbb1a81b4cb09a6a8ada5075d739a4.jpg Annie Fu's high school, &quot ; Central High School, Philadelphia, PA&quot ; , Wikipedia. 1222 First day in the United States So back to the immigration, um, so do you remember what your first day in the country looked like or what you had done that first day? Fu recalls her first day in Philadelphia. She describes how she arrived late at night, and she was welcomed by family with a lot of food. She talks about the odd things she encountered, such as American food (which included pizza). She notes the preconceived ideas she had about American people before arriving here, such as politeness (and impoliteness) of people, the manners of people here, and how genuine people were in the United States. American food ; First day ; Perceptions ; Preconceived ideas Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1359 Visiting China As I got older, I went back to China to visit for like two months. Fu shares the two experiences she had when going back to China (the first on a class trip, the second to her hometown). She explains that she isn't used to the culture anymore in China, which is why she would stay in the United States if given the opportunity to go back. Fu goes on to say that she took a plane with her mother while traveling to the United States. Family ; Going home ; Guangxi (China) ; High schools ; Homeland ; The Great Wall of China ; Transportation Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants 40.432095, 116.570386 15 Great Wall of China. Fu visited China with a group of students from her school. She talks about how people from China treated her peers like celebrities. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/da08ab4055a6ad657c11ae7be7f0fbaf.jpg Great Wall of China. In this interview, Fu recalls when she and her classmates in high school went on a trip to China. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. 1525 New experiences and tastes in the United States Was it kind of weird, like the housing situation? Fu reminisces on all the oddities she experienced her first night in America, such as the new toilets she had to use, and cereal, which grew to be her favorite food when she got here. She explains that food here was always frozen, and back home that wasn't the case. She was used to eating fresh food and once she got here it was quite an odd experience for her. Food ; Guangxi (China) ; Living arrangements ; New experiences Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Food habits ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants 17 1638 Preparations for the move / Making it work So how did you prepare to come to the U.S.? Fu describes what most treasured items she brought with her to the United States from Guangxi, including a small Ferris wheel with animals, to which she had sentimental attachment. She also goes on to explain who was in Philadelphia at the time to help them with their preparations. She describes how she and her mother relied on family rather than government or church help to get settled. When asked if she would leave, Fu recounts all the positive experiences she has had in Philadelphia and how that would influence her decision. Assistance ; Churches ; Government ; Guangxi (China) ; Personal belongings ; Preparation Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1874 Life now in Philadelphia What had you heard about Philly in advance to coming here? Fu shares that she knew Philadelphia was historically significant before she arrived and was eager to see monuments and historical sites. In South Philadelphia she felt very comfortable, and she liked that neighbors were out on the street and everyone was friendly. She found living in the Northeast much quieter and finds that the neighborhood is not as friendly or bustling. She likes to go to Reading Terminal Market for fresh foods and because it is far away from her parents. She used to work in Chinatown, but wishes it was larger. She enjoys the food, even though it is not as authentic as in China. She particularly likes a cake available in Chinatown and seeks it out for her birthday. Overall, she feels like Philadelphia has met her expectations. Chinatown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Pessimism ; Prior expectations ; Prior knowledge of the area ; Reading Terminal Market ; South Philadelphia Community ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.955532, -75.153022 17 Chinatown, Philadelphia 2162 Facing challenges head on What challenges did you personally face, um, when coming here, in like the first six months coming to Philadelphia? Fu recalls the many challenges she and her mother experienced when transitioning from life in Guangxi to life in the United States, including transportation and language barriers. Back in China, she recalls being able to go out by herself without feeling uncomfortable. She even remembers that she didn't have to use transportation in China like she does here to get around. Language was another issue she feels as though she dealt with. She says that she had to learn not only English (which was completely new for her), but also the language her father's side of the family used. Challenges ; Guangxi (China) ; Language barriers ; Transportation ; Unfamiliar places Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2315 Life as a college student Um, so tell me about your community here. Fu describes college life at Temple University as very welcoming and diverse. She explains that she toured and applied to many colleges (University of the Sciences, Penn State Main, Drexel) before she found her new home, which ended up being Temple. She also talks about how she has changed as a person since going to college. She says that she has fallen away from her family tradition of Chinese New Year due to the craziness of college life, and she decided that she did not want to follow her family's religion. College students ; Diversity ; Drexel University ; Hobbies ; Lasalle University ; Penn State University ; Religious practices ; Temple University ; Traditions ; University of the Sciences College choice ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 39.981171, -75.155355 17 Temple University (Main Campus) where Annie Fu attends school. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d351baae801ae85fae468b12880e3c4a.jpg Alumni Circle on Temple University's main campus, where Annie Fu attends school. The Owl (mascot) and the Bell Tower can be seen in the image. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. 2615 Life in Philadelphia today So how would you describe America today, um, to people back home in your country? Fu describes how she would explain her life to people back home. She explains that she currently works at the Independence Library in Philadelphia as well as the Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia (where she helps to manage patient records, and transfers them from paper to computer). She also shares that waking up early and making sure she doesn't miss the SEPTA bus are some of the difficulties she faces while being a commuter student in Philadelphia. Free Library of Philadelphia ; Health information management ; Independence Library ; Magee Rehabilitation Center ; SEPTA ; Temple University College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.956847, -75.165425 18 Magee Rehabilitation Center, where Fu works part time. 2970 Benefits of living in the United States What are the, uh, greatest differences between, you know, your culture back home, do you feel, and Americans? Fu describes how she sees herself as an American citizen and all the great things that come from it. She says that she has more opportunities here, compared to back home where she felt that there were more people who were more qualified than her. She also feels as though the government is a big help here. She describes how she utilizes every tool she can get, such as Linkedin, to making the most of her time here in the United States. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; China ; Equality ; Friendships ; Government assistance ; Government help ; Guangxi (China) ; Immigration status ; Linkedin ; Opportunities Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3198 Philadelphia: A comfortable place to live So do you intend--I think we might have touched on this a little bit--um, you know, you said you might want to go to Florida or L.A. Fu says that she plans on staying in Philadelphia for quite some time. She says that she does plan on traveling to a few places around the country. Comfort ; Traveling Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3285 Final reflections on her immigration experience Um, so just a couple more questions. Fu describes that the thing she dislikes the most is that people just move to different places and leave everything behind. If given the opportunity to change her migration story, Fu says she really wouldn't change a lot, maybe just alter some things. She does say that she wishes she could have come to the United States at an older age, and maybe taken a few different stops to see new things before arriving here. She says that she is hopeful for her future, and the future of America as well. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; &quot ; American Spirit&quot ; ; Dislikes ; Exploring the world ; Immigrants ; Immigration journey ; Looking into the future ; Social media Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f11ac445a1389c6c93be2586d4c3912f.jpeg Portrait of interviewee, Annie Fu, Independence Library, Free Library of Philadelphia interview In a riveting interview about life in China, coming to America, and now life in Philadelphia, Annie Fu tells her life story. Life wasn’t always easy for Fu, but when given the opportunity to come to America for a better way of life, Fu and her mother courageously traveled to Philadelphia in hopes of the “American Dream”. With many ups and downs, she paints a picture of the experiences she had while coming to Philadelphia, the challenges she has faced both in China and in Philadelphia, and tells about her favorite parts of the place she now calls home. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0143_irw0074_fu_ohm.xml 2019oh0143_irw0074_fu_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Courtney Richards Sort Priority 0019 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Bangde "Annie" Fu Description An account of the resource Bangde "Annie" Fu (b. 1998) grew up in a small town in Guangxi, China. In search of a better life, Fu moved with her mother to the United States to join her father. Once in Philadelphia, Annie was immersed in a whole new world, which she welcomed with open arms. In this interview Fu discusses how she overcame many obstacles, including language barriers, new forms of education, life amongst people who were very different from people back home, and the everyday struggles of growing up. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0143_irw0074 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (China) Employment Occupations Education College students--Social conditions Families. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 6, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3618ab07e236230377085178d9c5f168.jpeg 81b6e208f1cce6ce9e074492c78235a5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Nicole Strunk Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Isatu Kallon OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0142_irw0073_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Childhood trauma Civil wars Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rebel War, Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, West Africa Trauma War crimes OHMS Object Text 5.2 2019oh0142_irw0073 Interview with Isatu Kallon, February 25, 2019 2019oh0142_irw0073 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Education Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Emigration and immigration. Sierra Leone. Childhood Families. College students--Social conditions Employment Occupations Civil war Politics and government Guinea. Childhood trauma Civil wars Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rebel War, Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, West Africa Trauma War crimes Isatu Kallon Nicole Strunk 2019oh0142_irw0073_kallon_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0142_irw0073_kallon_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 2 Introduction Okay, this is Nicole Strunk, um, on February 25, 2019. Kallon briefly explains where she where she was born, and where she was before coming to West Chester University to pursue a degree in social work. Childhood ; Citizenship ; Delaware County Community College ; Delaware County, Pennsylvania ; Sierra Leone, West Africa ; Social work ; West Chester University of Pennsylvania ; West Chester, Pennsylvania College students--Social conditions ; Delaware County (Pa.) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sierra Leone. ; Universities and colleges. ; West Chester (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/06ec1a5fd6f5ef2b6c27d9939e702cb0.jpg Isatu Kallon after receiving United States citizenship on February 28, 2019. 86 Growing up in Sierra Leone Can you describe where you grew up? Kallon talks about the beautiful natural features and fresh food available in her native Sierra Leone. She then gives an overview of her childhood ; she lost her father when she was an infant which left her mother to support her and her siblings. Kallon spent most of her childhood being raised by her grandmother so that her mother could travel for work to be able to pay for her children's education. Businesswoman ; Childhood ; Civil war ; Death of a parent ; Education ; Family ; Grandmothers ; Grandparents ; Rebel War, Sierra Leone ; Secondary schools ; Sierra Leone, West Africa ; Trade ; Travel for work ; Wars Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Sierra Leone. 8.582456, -11.925142 7 Sierra Leone, West Africa 205 Kallon's relationship with her grandmother Could you tell me more about your grandma? Kallon, named after her grandmother, describes her relationship with her and how it changed as she grew up, especially after moving to the United States. Bonga Fish (Ethmalosa fimbriata) ; Childhood memories ; Cooking ; Death of a family member ; Family ; Family relationships ; Family tensions ; Folk medicine ; Food ; Grandchildren ; Granddaughters ; Grandmothers ; Grandparents ; Home remedies ; Illnesses ; Traditional food ; Traditional medicine ; Traditions Childhood ; Families. ; Sierra Leone. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f0a8f25519ee81037957ae2015b87435.jpg &quot ; Traditional Sierra Leone Pepper Soup recipe&quot ; c. 2018. Isatu Kallon. 360 Kallon's extended family What about the other grandkids? Who else is in your family? Kallon describes her extended family, including her father’s side, which she never learned to know as well as her mother’s side. Her mother's father married three wives and had twenty one children. Kallon speaks to how large her family is and how they all do their best to stay in touch with their &quot ; Grandkids of Pa Bari&quot ; cousins club ; Kallon was instrumental in keeping in touch with her cousins while she still lived in Sierra Leone. She has a close cousin who lives in Boston, and has over 70 cousins overall. Boston (Mass.) ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Cousins ; Death of a parent ; Extended family ; Family ; Family events ; Family relationships ; Family structures ; Family tensions ; Grandkids of Pa Bari ; Large family ; Matriarchal family structures ; Siblings ; Sierra Leone, West Africa ; Sisters Childhood ; Families. ; Sierra Leone. 17 554 Kallon's mother Can you tell me about the work that your mom did? Kallon describes her mother and some of the jobs that she held back in Sierra Leone. She worked as a traveling businesswoman during the country's civil war and as a certified nursing assistant after moving to Philadelphia in the late 1990s. Kallon is also a caregiver, working full-time at Royer Greaves Home for the Blind while attending school. Businesswoman ; Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ; Civil wars ; Education ; Family structures ; Guinea, West Africa ; Matriarchal family structures ; Mothers ; Rebel War, Sierra Leone ; Royer Greaves Home for the Blind, Paoli (Pa.) ; Small business owners ; Travel ; Visas Childhood ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Guinea. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sierra Leone. 39.940435, -75.233514 17 58th Street, where Kallon settled in Philadelphia with her mother. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/157c032d1564c8ea99dac9f859b20513.jpg Isatu Kallon with her sister and mother in traditional clothing from Sierra Leone. c. 2019. Isatu Kallon. 779 Growing up during the civil war in Sierra Leone So you've mentioned the civil war a couple times. Kallon gives a brief description of what she remembers from growing up during the civil war in Sierra Leone. She remembers not being able to consistently attend school, hearing people being burned to death in the streets, and living in a constant state of vigilance. She speaks to the trauma and panic that people in the community experienced, including her own mother, who she explained almost left Kallon behind trying to escape one of the rebel groups. Amputations ; Childhood ; Childhood trauma ; Civil wars ; Education ; Guns ; Kamajors militia ; Murders ; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ; Privileges ; Rebel War, Sierra Leone ; Sierra Leone, West Africa ; Street violence ; Trauma ; War crimes Childhood ; Civil war ; Education ; Families. ; Sierra Leone. 17 1059 Education during the war / Transition to democracy And you managed to go to school during that? Kallon explains the lack of consistent education within Sierra Leone during the time of the war, as well as the transition to democracy in the early 2000s. She talks about the involvement of the United Nations in the transition, following peacekeeping efforts, and the election of the new president Kabbah. Abidjan Peace Accord ; Crimes against humanity ; Democracy ; Democratic ; Education ; Human rights ; Human rights violations ; Lomé Peace Agreement ; Peace ; Peace and Reconciliation Council ; President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah ; Rape ; Sexual assault ; Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) ; Transition to civilian ; Truth and Reconciliation Commission ; United Nations ; United Nations Mission to Sierra Leone ; United Nations Peacekeepers ; War crimes Childhood ; Civil war ; Education ; Families. ; Politics and government ; Sierra Leone. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6e8e246d7b72565b708387e89a5f4e86.jpg &quot ; School destroyed in Sierra Leone during the civil war&quot ; c. 2001-05. Laura Lartigue. 1340 Fleeing to Guinea What was that like for you as a child? Kallon describes fleeing at less than 10 years old by boat for three days to Guinea from Sierra Leone with her aunt and cousins where they spent a year waiting for the war to end. Her mother and siblings had already arrived in Guinea with help from a cousin who acquired them visas. She talks about how none of her family members on the boat with her were able to swim and feared ending up in the water. Kallon had very little to do in Guinea and did not attend school there. Bo Town, Sierra Leone ; Boats ; Childhood ; Cousins ; Drowning ; Education ; Family ; Free education ; Freetown, Sierra Leone ; French language ; Guinea, West Africa ; Kenema, Sierra Leone ; Liberia, West Africa ; Primary schools ; Refugees ; Swimming ; Visas Bo Town (Sierra Leone) ; Childhood ; Civil war ; Education ; Families. ; Freetown (Sierra Leone) ; Guinea. ; Kenema (Sierra Leone) ; Liberia. ; Politics and government ; Sierra Leone. 7.862728, -11.191977 10 Kenema, Sierra Leone where Kallon was with her aunt and cousins when they decided to escape the violence of the war and seek refuge in Guinea. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/24/world/guinea-in-crisis-as-area-s-refugees-pour-in.html &quot ; Guinea in Crisis as Area's Refugees Pour In&quot ; New York Times. April 24, 2001. 1697 Typical day in Sierra Leone / Immigrating to the United States Can you tell me about a typical day in Sierra Leone? Kallon describes some of the activities that she participated in and a regular routine she held as a child in Sierra Leone during more peaceful times. She remembers running and competing in track events and always going straight home after school to get her homework done. She also mentions enjoying cooking when she was younger. She talks about why she left Sierra Leone and discusses why she has immigrated but her siblings have not yet gotten their papers. Cooking ; Education ; Homework ; Immigration journey ; Immigration law ; Lifestyle changes ; Running ; Track and field ; Traditional cooking ; Visas Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Recreation ; Sierra Leone. 17 1907 Coming to the United States for the first time / Differences between Sierra Leone and the United States So you came by yourself? Kallon recalls coming to the United States with her mother for the first time and landing in New York City in April, after her first ever airplane flight. She remembers how cold it was and the several aspects of North American culture that she found to be different and sometimes overwhelming to her. She specifically mentions the large highways and the fact that there was always electricity when you needed it. She remembers being confused in Philadelphia because all of the rowhouses looked alike, and she worried she would not remember which house was hers. Her mother taught her how to ride the bus, which was foreign to her. She found her new life boring, with less interaction with her community members. She also missed her siblings and wanted to return to Sierra Leone. After arriving in the United States, she spent months waiting for her paperwork to be approved, meaning that she was not yet able to work or go to school, which Kallon remembers being a very lonely time for her. 69th Street Transportation Center ; Airports ; American culture ; Americanization ; Boston (Mass.) ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Buses ; Changes in weather ; Culture shock ; Electricity ; Free time ; Freetown (Sierra Leone) ; Freetown, Sierra Leone ; Hobbies ; Homesick ; Immigration law ; Immigration papers ; Move to the United States ; New York City (N.Y.) ; New York City, New York ; North Carolina ; Public transportation ; Visas ; West Philadelphia ; Western movies Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Recreation ; Sierra Leone. 39.962340, -75.259489 15 69th Street Transportation Center in Philadelphia, where Kallon learned to use the city's public transportation system. interview In this interview, Isatu Kallon, born in 1991, speaks about her experiences growing up in Kenema, Sierra Leone, her family, and what it was like growing up during the Rebel War. She begins by introducing her relationship to her grandmother, the woman who raised her most of the time as her mother worked to send Kallon and her two sisters to school. She moves on to speak about her large family ; Kallon says she has more than seventy cousins. Kallon speaks about the horrors she witnessed growing up during the Rebel War in Sierra Leone and her eventual boat trip to Guinea to take refuge from the violence in Sierra Leone when she was about nine years old. She remembers coming to the United States for the first time, to New York City in April of 2013. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0142_irw0073_kallon_ohm.xml 2019oh0142_irw0073_kallon_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicole Strunk Sort Priority 0024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Isatu Kallon Description An account of the resource In this interview, Isatu Kallon, born in 1991, speaks about her experiences growing up in Kenema, Sierra Leone, her family, and what it was like growing up during the Rebel War. She begins by introducing her relationship to her grandmother, the woman who raised her most of the time as her mother worked to send Kallon and her two sisters to school. She moves on to speak about her large family; Kallon says she has more than seventy cousins. Kallon speaks about the horrors she witnessed growing up during the Rebel War in Sierra Leone and her eventual boat trip to Guinea to take refuge from the violence in Sierra Leone when she was about nine years old. She remembers coming to the United States for the first time, to New York City in April of 2013. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0142_irw0073 Subject The topic of the resource Education Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Emigration and immigration. Sierra Leone. Childhood Families. College students--Social conditions Employment Occupations Civil war Politics and government Guinea. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 25, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/isatu-kallon/civil-war-to-social-work" title="Isatu exhibit">Explore an exhibit about Isatu's life.</a>