1 10 735 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/51071326598691bce831bbfb657d543b.jpg 33f5a62c19f8311cebed194a333ec1f1 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 Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh1478_irw0093_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Refugees Nationalities Service Center Healthcare Husbands Family Citizenship Relationships Marriage OHMS Object Text 5.4 2019oh1478_irw0093 Interview with Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar, March 23, 2019 2019oh1478_irw0093 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. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Iraq Jordan Iraq War, 2003-2011. Careers. Baghdad (Iraq) Refugees Nationalities Service Center Healthcare Husbands Family Citizenship Relationships Marriage Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar Janneken Smucker 2019oh1478_irw0093_abduqdar_acc001.mp3 0 https://nunncenter.aviaryplatform.com/embed/media/104646 Aviary audio 1 Introductions / Immigration to the United States This is Janneken Smucker and today is, uh--what is today? The interviewer and narrator discuss the time, place, participants of the interview session, and pronunciation of each other's names. Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls leaving Iraq with her husband, Bajhat Abdulwahed, adult daughter, Rawnak, and her two grandchildren, Elaf and Aya, in 2005 to Jordan, escaping the Iraq War that started in 2003. After fleeing Iraq, the family heard that the United Nations offered asylum to Iraqi refugees while the United States accepted their immigration. Her daughter told Ibrahem Abdulqadar to apply for refugee status. As a result, Ibrahem Abdulqadar and her husband provided information on their jobs as a television news announcer and anchor and their experience in Iraq to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees interviewers. Asylum ; Iraq ; Iraq War ; Iraqi immigration ; Jordan ; Names ; Refugees ; United Nations Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 0 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6b43de1413da75b93f3de9b366aec0d3.jpg Portrait of Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar in her apartment in Philadelphia after having a meal with Janneken Smucker on April 15, 2019. 249 Accepted as refugees / Arriving in the United States Uh, as I remember, in, uh, in, oh, August--not, not in August, in, uh, December--in November, in November we have the telephone ring. Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers that on November 17, 2009, her husband took a call announcing that they may move to the United States as refugees within two days. She expresses how important the day was because they had waited for five years for this news. The couple gathered their belongings as quickly as they could and left to an airport in Jordan to await transport to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City where they traveled to their assigned housing in Philadelphia with the help of immigration service movers. Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls her husband's surprise that the movers provided him a working oxygen machine due to his respiratory problem. After arriving in Philadelphia three hours later, the movers welcomed the family to their new home as Americans. Immigration journey ; John F. Kennedy Airport ; Jordan ; New York City (N.Y.) ; Refugees Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 0 540 New home, new garden, new neighbors So, what was your new home like? Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls, when exploring her new home in Philadelphia, she found a patch of land for gardening and neighbors speaking Arabic languages. Abdulwahed questioned if they were truly in Philadelphia because of the similar features to Jordan and Iraq, such as the garden and language. After reviewing their new furniture, the immigration service workers explained the couple will receive food stamps as they become acquainted with their new lifestyle in Philadelphia. Arabic ; Arrival ; Community ; Foodstamps ; Gardening ; Housing ; Nationalities Service Center ; Neighbors ; Settlement Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 677 A trip to the supermarket / A new house So did you go to a supermarket-- Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls going to the supermarket for the first time to buy foodstuffs. After eating their cooked meal, they met one of their neighbors who explained to them there are many stores around where they live and will tell them more information later. On their second day living in Philadelphia, Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers that immigration service workers drove by to taxi her to governmental buildings to obtain social security numbers, passports, and prepare for interviews. The pair lived in their first house in Philadelphia for a year, supplied with oxygen tanks and medicine for her husband. Looking for a spacious house for her husband to live comfortably in, they moved to Bustleton Avenue with their furniture and declared it their new home. She recalls informing their daughter, who was still in Jordan, that they were happy in Philadelphia. Cooking ; Food ; Foodstamps ; Supermarkets Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 952 Her husband's declining health And, uh, uh, after that, my husband's li--health been less and less. Not so good. Ibrahem Abdulqadar recounts that, after moving into her new home on Bustleton Ave, her husband's health declined. Later admitted to Doylestown Hospital, Abdulwahed's doctor told Ibrahem Abdulqadar that he had to stay. Although Bajhat was optimistic as he saw immediate medical care, he still wanted her beside him as he didn't want to be alone. She stayed with him, learning more about his declining health and helping him communicate through writing. He wrote on a chalk board that he wanted his daughter in Jordan to to be with him. With help from his doctor, she was able to visit her father. Bajhat Abdulwahed ; Death ; Doylestown Hospital ; Healthcare Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.305753, -75.146227 13 Doylestown Hospital http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d62e058b5dc3d8e7f3464a323624a2df.jpg Portrait of Rawnak, Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's daughter in her mother's apartment in Philadelphia. 1430 Visiting her husband in the hospital / Daughter visits from Jordan After that, we returned home and we say--she stayed--the first time she came she stayed around one month. Although Abdulwahed's health stabilized during his daughter's one month stay, he was later admitted to immediate medical care prompting his daughter to return to the United States over the course of two weeks for his passing. Before this, she tried to bring her two daughters with her, but, due to travel laws in Jordan, they were unable to travel with her mother. Bajhat Abdulwahed ; Jordan ; Travel restrictions Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/59408416b98c192f28ecf03ba9fe7ab7.jpg Portrait of Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's with her grandaughters. From left to right: Hayfaa, Aya, and Elaf. 1615 Her husband's voice and Walter Cronkite We were happy really, our life it was nice. Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls Abdulwahed and she having many friendships while in Philadelphia. One of these friends was the artist Michael Rakowitz who they met during the &quot ; Radio Silence&quot ; event in Philadelphia in April 2018 where narrative, poetry, and music, in English and Arabic explores the diaspora felt by Iraqi refugees and immigrants. In the radio broadcast, Rakowitz commented that Abdulwahed's voice was similar to Walter Cronkite, an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years during the 1960s and '70s. Even when her husband passed in 2016, she reassured her friends that Abdulwahed was happy and never alone in Philadelphia. Michael Rakowitz ; Mural Arts Philadelphia ; Philadelphia Broadcast ; Radio Silence ; Radios ; Relationships ; Walter Cronkite Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Radio broadcasters 0 https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/radio-silence/ &quot ; Radio Silence: A soundscape of the Iraqi diaspora in Philadelphia,&quot ; Mural Arts Philadelphia. Artist Michael Rakowitz and curator Elizabeth Thomas launched a seven-episode radio broadcast which involved Bajhat and Hayfaa. 1756 Road to citizenship before her husband's hospitalization And we have our citizenship. Ibrahem Abdulqadar recounts, before her husband's health declined severely, she and her husband obtaining their United States citizenship. Bajhat wanted to experience the process of gaining citizenship, and so Ibrahem Abdulqadar studied for the citizenship test with him. During the citizenship interview when their teacher called Ibrahem Abdulqadar and her husband's names, she received instructions to answer 7 of 10 questions on the citizenship test correctly to pass. Both Hayfaa and her husband passed the test, elated that they now were United States citizens. Citizenship ; Citizenship ceremony ; Citizenship tests ; Studying Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 1983 The importance of citizenship Why, why was it important for you to become an American citizen? Ibrahem Abdulqadar notes that citizenship was important to her husband and her as they found kinship and pride in living in the United States and socializing with their neighbors. Although Abdulwahed died without fulfilling his goal of establishing a new career in Philadelphia, Ibrahem Abdulqadar notes he was nonetheless happy he achieved citizenship. &quot ; The American Dream&quot ; ; Citizenship ; Reasons for citizenship ; Relationships Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 2112 Meeting and making new friends in Philadelphia So, you've said that you have made many friends since you came to Philadelphia. Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers making her first friend, Susan, through the Nationalities Service Center. She turned to Susan for help settling in Philadelphia, and developed a lasting, familial friendship. Whenever Ibrahem Abdulqadar invites Susan over, she implores her to bring her two sons, who she treats as her own grandchildren, playing and laughing with them. In both her first and second Philadelphia homes, she and her husband quickly made friends with their neighbors who shared Middle Eastern heritage. Ibrahem Abdulqadar also explains that she wants her daughter and her children to move to the United States to live with her, but her daughter wants her children to learn and speak English in school before they immigrate. Friendships ; Immigration services ; Middle Eastern ; Nationalities Service Center (NSC) ; Relationships ; Susan Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 2367 Childhood and family in Iraq Can I ask you some questions about your life in Iraq before you came here? Ibrahem Abdulqadar believes that moving to the United States completed her life, finding peace in the United States. Born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers small bits of her childhood, typically triggered by meeting old friends from Baghdad whenever they visit her. She remembers that her school was nearby her childhood home. Her family consisted of her parents, four girls, and one boy who later became a lawyer and pianist. After living in the United States for two years, she received a phone call from her older sister telling her that their brother had died. Her older sister then passed after moving to Egypt, while the rest of her family stayed in Jordan. Baghdad, Iraq ; Death in the family ; Egypt ; Family ; Growing up ; Jordan ; Migrating ; Siblings Baghdad (Iraq) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 2821 Nothing left in Iraq / Life during wartime All the family left-- Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls that most of her family left Iraq because of the violence and civil turmoil seen throughout the Gulf War, Iraq War, and insurgence/religious conflicts. Although her brother stayed to retain his job as a lawyer, the rest of the family left while thieves stole their belongings. She recounts the desolation of Baghdad during wartime, with many citizens killed. This contrasted to her peaceful childhood in the city she loves. Gulf War ; Iraq ; Iraq War ; Migration journey ; Wartime Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Persian Gulf War, 1991 33.3263617660652, 44.37923513242956 11 Baghdad, Iraq 2969 Secondary education in Iraq When you were young, did you--after you--you recalled primary school, did you go to, uh, secondary school also? Ibrahem Abdulqadar recounts attending a secretary school during her secondary education, learning how to speak English, type, and organize books and files. After secondary school and marriage to Abdulwahed, she went on to work as a news announcer with her husband as news anchor. Their daughter followed her mother's career and works as a news announcer in Jordan. Baghdad, Iraq ; Education ; Secondary education ; Secondary language ; Secretary schools ; Typing Baghdad (Iraq) ; Careers. ; Education, Higher ; Occupations. ; Professions. 0 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2f1b0f8af9ed004c775c805881689833.jpg A crystal microphone award celebrating 73 years of Iraqi broadcasting at the Iraqi embassy in Washington DC given to Bajhat. Photo by Janneken Smucker. 3243 Meeting her husband / Daughter's marriage Can you tell me how you met your husband? Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers meeting her husband for the first time while working at a news broadcasting studio. While they were married, they read the news together, having their friends tease them about their professional and personal relationship. Together, she and her husband raised their daughter, Rawnak, born in 1968, while Hayfaa continued to work in journalism. When their daughter finished college as a business and administration major, a neighbor asked Ibrahem Abdulqadar and Abdulwahed to marry their her ; at first she refused as she was only age 19. After two years, their neighbor approached them again, and Rawnak agreed to marry him. Dating ; Marriage ; News broadcasting ; Relationships Careers. ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Marriage ; Occupations. ; Professions. 0 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/68e14daf7c8970e37aba7a5b5e0b5555.jpg Wedding photo of Hayfaa Ibrahem Bajhat and Bajhat Abdulwahed circa 1960. 3656 The Iraq wartime experience So, I know be--I've, I've studied history that then there was a lot of conflict, beginning in the 1980s with, uh, the Iran-Iraq war. Ibrahem Abdulqadar recalls leaving Iraq for Jordan before the start of the Iraq War during the summertime in 2006, taking and selling her belongings during the move. Renting a house, they waited out the war. While the war continued in 2009, they filed for refugee status with the United Nations to immigrate to the United States. Her daughter moved to Jordan first for a new job as a news announcer. They brought with them clothing, food, blankets, and other smaller items, leaving everything in Baghdad, Iraq. Drives ; GNC ; Jordan ; Migration ; Moving Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. 0 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/698510fc75df41c9daa855b4abc67408.jpg Painting of Amman, Jordan, by unknown artist, hanging in Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's Northeast Philadelphia apartment. 3948 Life in Jordan What was your life like in Jordan? What do you remember about living in Jordan? Ibrahem Abdulqadar recounts having a case of homesickness while living in an apartment in Jordan. Although enjoying the peace while living there until 2009, she and her husband made plans for immigrating to the United States under refugee status. Apartments ; Homesickness ; Jordan ; Paperwork ; Refugee status Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 31.868115285971054, 35.92975227554181 11 Amman, Jordan 4032 Arriving in Philadelphia / The familiarity and hospitality of Philadelphia When you arrived in Philadelphia, um, did the, did the people from NSC help you? Ibrahem Abdulqadar remembers workers from the Nationalities Service Center helping her move into her new house in Philadelphia, surprised to find food in the refrigerator and cooking implements in the cabinets. What she loves about Philadelphia when she arrived was the familiar lifestyle. For example, the courtesy of Philadelphians led to a kind stranger giving his seat to Abdulwahed when his health declined. Later on, a car stopped by and the driver offered them a ride to their home, which they accepted. Arrival ; Hospitality ; Nationalities Service Center ; Settlement Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 4346 To feel American / Learning English And you feel that you, you--you feel like an American now? When Ibrahem Abdulqadar was young and attending her English classes in school, she loved to speak English. Her brother drew her to learn American English in a class with fellow Iraqis. Her teachers noted that her pronunciation was sublime and wanted her to study the meaning behind her words. Her love of English furthered itself when she immigrated to the United States where she proudly proclaims herself as an American, speaking with other fellow Americans and forming friendships with them whether speaking English or Arabic. Finally, her bilingualism with English helped her husband receive the care he needed while in the hospital as she translated from Arabic to English. Arabic ; Bilingualism ; Education ; English as a second language ; Learning English Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 interview Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar shares her experiences as a refugee who fled from Baghdad, Iraq in 2005, first to Jordan, then to Philadelphia in 2009. She came to Jordan with her husband, Bajhat Abdulwahed, and her adult daughter, who is now a news announcer in Jordan. Both Hayfaa and Bajhat had worked in broadcast journalism in Baghdad. She describes their arrival in Philadelphia and how they got settled with the help of Nationalities Services Center. She recalls her husband’s illness and death. She shares some details from her life in Iraq in the 1960s and '70s, when she worked as a news announcer, was first married, and was a new mother. 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=2019oh1478_irw0093_abdulqdar_ohm.xml 2019oh1478_irw0093_abdulqdar_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicholas Heydeman 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: Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar Description An account of the resource Hayfaa Ibrahem Abdulqadar shares her experiences as a refugee who fled from Baghdad, Iraq in 2005, first to Jordan, then to Philadelphia in 2009. She came to Jordan with her husband, Bajhat Abdulwahed, and her adult daughter, who is now a news announcer in Jordan. Both Hayfaa and Bajhat had worked in broadcast journalism in Baghdad. She describes their arrival in Philadelphia and how they got settled with the help of Nationalities Services Center. She recalls her husband’s illness and death. She shares some details from her life in Iraq in the 1960s and '70s, when she worked as a news announcer, was first married, and was a new mother. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh1478_irw0093 Subject The topic of the resource Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Iraq Jordan Iraq War, 2003-2011. Careers. Baghdad (Iraq) 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 23, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Janneken Smucker https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e01e7a78cd872c2b323a11098159f973.jpg 9b504502ee9cf6ed1752252d8c10cd46 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 Laura Gomez OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh1469_irw0092_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Family Expectations Idealism "American Dream" Education Language barriers College environment College students--Social conditions OHMS Object Text 5.4 2019oh1469_irw0092 Interview with Laura Gomez, February 21, 2019 2019oh1469_irw0092 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Bogotá (Colombia) Childhood Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) College choice Universities and colleges. College students. West Chester University Family Expectations Idealism &quot ; American Dream&quot ; Education Language barriers College environment College students--Social conditions Laura Gomez Colleen Dougherty 2019oh1469_irw0092_gomez_acc001.mp3 0 https://nunncenter.aviaryplatform.com/embed/media/104647 Aviary audio 4 Introductions / Childhood My name is Colleen Dougherty. I'm here with Laura Gomez at her apartment in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The interviewer introduces herself to Laura Gomez and states the location and purpose of the interview. The interviewer thanks Laura Gomez for the invitation to her apartment in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Gomez recalls growing up in the city of Bogota, Columbia for ten years before moving to the United States. During the ten years, she lived with her paternal grandparents while her father was in the United States, having a poor relationship with her biological mother. Bogota, Columbia ; Childhood ; Early life ; Grandparents ; Migration ; Parents ; West Chester, Pennsylvania Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 0 84 Colombian traditions during childhood / Reasons to leave Columbia And what were some of the traditions you celebrated back home in Columbia? Gomez recounts the traditions she grew up with while in Columbia, such as celebrating Christmas on the 24th of December and Asado, a barbecue festivity celebrated in South America on December 25th. Also, Gomez notes that she left Columbia because her father wanted her to live in the United States and experience &quot ; The American Dream,&quot ; a cultural notion in the United States that hard work and study will grant success, with him. He believed that going to the United States will make him a responsible father as a United States resident and thus moved to Philadelphia where part of his family resided. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Asado ; Christmas ; Fathers ; Immigration ; New Years ; Traditions Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 4.640081382617693, -74.12154165805782 11 Bogota, Colombia 232 Father's first days in Philadelphia / Gomez arriving to the United States And when he moved here, he moved directly to Philadelphia? Was there any place else he considered moving? Gomez remembers that her father moved directly to Philadelphia where parts of his family resided. During his first days, he didn't know much about living in the United States, including how to drive. Gomez comments that cars in Colombia were for the wealthier individuals and so her father never learned until coming to the United States. Gomez arrived to the United State alone, with only the &quot ; azafata&quot ; or flight attendant supervising and caring for her. Adjustments ; Driving ; Family ; Migration Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 320 Expectations of the United States So, you travel by yourself, you're getting ready to go to America at a very young age. Um, what were some of your expectations of America? Gomez, when she arrived in the United States, expected the nation or &quot ; USA&quot ; as a kingdom where anybody can go find wealth and prosperity. She imagined her life in the United States to be beautiful, not the townhouse her father lived in. She wanted to live in a house disconnected from others, thus she found living in the United States as initially disappointing. However, the United States met Gomez' expectations with its sizable living standards, such as larger living spaces and cleanliness, and diverse population including Mexicans and Vietnamese-Americans, which felt strange. She also comments that the traffic in the United States cuts driving time from an hour and a half to twenty minutes. Diversity ; Expectations ; Idealism ; Immigration ; National advantages ; Traffic Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 527 First day in the United States So, you mentioned it a little bit, when you got off the plane you wanted to see your dad's house. Gomez remembers her first day in the United States and meeting her father and his new family. Despite her nervousness, the family embraced her and accepted her into the group. Gomez notes that her step-mother advised Gomez in adjusting to the United States, easing her into Philadelphia life. Later that day, the family went to a Chinese buffet restaurant, surprising Gomez with a cuisine she had no knowledge of. This stimulating venture into new cuisines provoked Gomez into a &quot ; culture shock&quot ; or realization of how different East Asian culture was to her own Colombian culture. After the meal, the family went to their townhouse then to an aunt's house to celebrate her brother's birthday. Arrival ; Family ; First day ; Half-siblings ; Marriage ; Step-mothers Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 667 Parental occupations / Adjusting to the United States So, you mentioned your parents, what do they do now? Gomez explains that her father owns a restaurant in Malvern, Pennsylvania, selling Colombian cuisine, while her mother is a government worker. She notes that, in the interview, she will refer to her step-mother as her mother as she helped the most in her adjustment to living in the United States, never expecting her step-mother's friendship. For example, she sat down with Gomez, helping with her homework, helping her understand how education works in the United States, including general information on topics like financial aid. Even in 2019, Gomez calls her for help whenever she needs it. Adjustment ; Jobs ; Maryland ; Mi Pais ; Occupations Careers. ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Professions. 0 773 Early education in Columbia and the United States You mentioned it a little bit so I'm going to kind of switch gears into the education system. Gomez recounts that despite her attendance in a private school, she never retained information from her education in Colombia, commenting that she never was taught simple mathematics like addition and subtraction. She found difficulty adjusting to her lessons in the United States as her education in Columbia never prepared her for learning a new language quickly while balancing other school subjects. Gomez notes how, initially, she wasn't able to write a paragraph in Spanish. Childhood ; Education ; Language barriers ; Private schooling ; Spanish (Language) Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 869 Strategies for learning English and math So you mentioned a little bit with your mom, but, um, can you tell me about some of the strategies you losed when try--you used while trying to learn English? Gomez recalls that, whenever she went home after school, she reviewed her written copies of her daily lessons with her mother. With a dictionary nearby, they worked together, accelerating Gomez' comprehension and writing skills in English by translating and re-translating the copied English words. Alongside reading books and listening to music from &quot ; P!NK&quot ; or &quot ; Lady Gaga&quot ; she had partial assistance from Dominican and Puerto Rican Spanish speakers ; although they spoke Spanish, their translations were different due to cultural differences. When learning mathematics, Gomez had to teach herself to solve issues or called her mother for help. Education ; English (Language) ; English as a second language ; Lady Gaga (Artist) ; Language barriers ; Mathematics ; P!nk (Artist) ; Spanish (Language) Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 994 Moving from one grade school to another So, where did you go to grade school and high school? Gomez remembers attending multiple grade schools in both Colombia and the United States. In Colombia, Gomez attended a new school each year. In the United States, she first attended a bilingual school in the March of the same year she came. However, both Gomez and her family didn't like that she was not learning or speaking English. After the school year ended, she went to Mayfair Elementary School for two years and learned how to speak English. In eighth grade, she attended Great Valley Middle School and graduated at Great Valley High School. Bilingualism ; Colombia ; Education ; Great Valley High School ; Great Valley Middle School ; Mayfair Elementary School ; Moving ; Schools ; Social life Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 1086 Picking a college And then, of course, senior year comes around, it's time to pick a, a college. Gomez recounts that picking out a college was difficult as growing up learning a new language led to her education lagging behind her peers. This prevented access to classes in high school in advanced placement and honor classes like math. Gomez saw this as unfair as the school never tested her and thus removed her from pursuing advanced classes. As a result, Gomez picked out a college with a handicapped grade, applying to Lehigh, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore under the advisement of her mother. These schools did not accept Gomez because she lacked experience with advanced classes, despite excelling in her grades and swimming experience in high school. She instead decided on West Chester University, an affordable school with a good computer science program. Advanced Placement ; Bryn Mawr College ; Colleges ; Education ; Honors programs ; Language barriers ; Lehigh University ; Swarthmore College ; West Chester University Childhood ; College choice ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 39.95240764092936, -75.59782550137048 13 West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania 1225 Reasons to study computer science / Choosing a major and career path Uh, you just mentioned computer science. Can you tell me how you came to decide that you wanted to study computer science? Gomez decided to enter college as a psychology major, but changed her major due to the amount of reading and writing involved with the subject. She thought of majoring in Special Education, but refused due to the amount of work required in the career. Gomez wanted to pursue her &quot ; American Dream,&quot ; finding a trade that pays her enough to enjoy life. She also tried to attend the Coast Guard Academy, but couldn't due her lack of American citizenship. One day, Gomez encountered the Code Academy, a free code programming education website, pushing her interest in computer programs like Python, an open source code accessible to the public domain. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Aversion ; Citizenship ; Coast Guard ; Coast Guard Academy ; Code Academy ; Computer languages ; Computer science ; Psychology ; Python (Programming language) ; Special education ; West Chester University ; Writing College majors ; College students. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 0 1380 Choosing a different major / Reasons for choosing West Chester University So, if you could pick any other major, what would it be? Gomez explains that she would choose to practice medicine over computer science or another high paying profession that will achieve her &quot ; American Dream.&quot ; Gomez never chose West Chester University as her first college pick, but because she came from a low income family, she applied to Ursinus College as she couldn't afford other colleges. Accepted into its computer science program, Gomez received a $25,000 scholarship, covering most of the tuition and room and board. When financial aid retracted her scholarship, Gomez applied to West Chester as a second option, which accepted her quickly, allowing her to pay its state tuition rates. Affordability ; Computer science ; Education ; Financial aid ; Lower class ; Medicine ; Programming ; Scholarships ; Ursinus College ; West Chester University College majors ; College students. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 40.19409060974804, -75.45646267622998 13 Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 1571 Expectations of West Chester University So, what were your--since West Chester wasn't your first school, what were some of your expectations about West Chester? Gomez notes that going to West Chester University ruined the pursuit of her &quot ; American Dream&quot ; and thus she had to rebuild a new &quot ; American Dream.&quot ; Overall, her expectations of the university were as a place where she will quickly get her computer science degree and leave. After spending time in West Chester University, her expectations were still not met as she had to attend large, general education classes over advanced curriculum courses found in Ursinus College's honors program. She learned to like West Chester University through her adjustment to the university. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Expectations ; Goals ; West Chester University College students. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 39.95240764092936, -75.59782550137048 13 West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania 1712 Challenges at West Chester University So, what were some of the challenges you faced your first year in West Chester? Gomez recounts the challenges she met while attending West Chester University. As a commuter from Malvern, Gomez sees the parking at the university as a detriment, as she has to arrive early in the morning to get a spot. This affected her course schedule as she considered her parking time with her job and courses. Adjusting to college life also provoked change in Gomez' lifestyle as she had to fit her schedule as effectively as possible. Challenges ; Commuting ; West Chester University College students. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 0 1797 The first person that helped her at West Chester University So, who was the first person you met and helped you at West Chester? Gomez explains that she had high school friends that went to West Chester University who helped her adjust to college life. Her adviser also helped Gomez whenever she didn't understand an aspect of the university. Although she didn't talk to many people on the campus in her first two years, she developed friendships during her stay at West Chester University. Help ; Public transportation ; West Chester University College students. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 0 1853 Campus diversity and activities And with those friends, were there any activities maybe you joined to help you become accustomed? Gomez remembers attending West Chester University and recognizing the diversity found on the campus. From Central and South Americans to Asian Americans, she found clubs dedicated to each culture and joined the Latino American Student Organization, a student advocate group that strives to maintain a supportive atmosphere on the West Chester campus. As a part of their dance team, she organized and practiced Latin dance routines to perform in front of audiences. Art ; Culture ; Culture clubs ; Diversity ; Latin dance ; Latinos American Student Organization (LASO) ; West Chester University College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; College students. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 0 https://lasowcupa.weebly.com/ Latino American Student Organization, West Chester University 1915 Differences between Colombian and United States school cultures So, what did you--I would say, what did you--what's the cultural difference between where you maybe went to grade school and high school and then West Chester? Gomez recounts attending school in Colombia as a time where she wore a uniform, with the school year starting in February, and ending in November. She had mandatory classes in religion due to the country's strong Catholic values. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gomez had to adjust to an entirely new education system. Although the city and schools were diverse, Gomez thought that the quality of education in the city was less than the Malvern suburb's Great Valley Middle and High Schools, despite needing to adjust to a new school system for the second time. Colombia ; Cultural norms ; Education ; Great Valley High School ; Great Valley Middle School ; Malvern, Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; Schooling ; Suburbs Bogotá (Colombia) ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 0 2041 Choosing a different university / How West Chester University influenced her career If you could choose any other school, what would it be? Gomez explains that she wanted to enter Lehigh University due to its computer science program and swimming team/club opportunities, however, she was not accepted. Despite never attending Ursinus College, Gomez recognizes that she still gained experience in computer science in West Chester University. She knows that the time spent attending WCU shaped her to live independently from her parents and manage her own time. Now, her &quot ; American Dream&quot ; is to finish college and get a high paying job to financially provide her future family more than what her parents were able to, noting her &quot ; American Dream&quot ; changed to a realistic plan rather than ideal. &quot ; American Dream&quot ; ; Clubs ; Computer science ; Idealism ; Influences ; Lehigh University ; Realism ; Swimming ; Ursinus College ; West Chester University College choice ; College students. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 0 2242 West Chester as home / Traveling in Colombia And how do you view West Chester in terms of home? Gomez views West Chester as her home after living in the municipality for two years. However, her view of Colombia has never changed and she desires to return to the country when she is old and retired with money earned from her job. When living in Colombia, Gomez wants to travel the country, experiencing the cultures, foods, and customs of its regions. Colombia ; Home ; Homeland ; Malvern, Pennsylvania ; West Chester, Pennsylvania Bogotá (Colombia) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Malvern (Pa.) ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; West Chester (Pa.) 0 2375 Looking ahead / Interview conclusion So, you're, you're a junior, graduate soon. Where do you--what do you see yourself doing in the future? Gomez sees herself graduating with her master's degree in the next two years. Afterwards, she will accept a job with anyone willing to hire her and pay what she deems appropriate. She plans to work her remaining time at West Chester University to achieve that goal to have secure finances and pursue happiness. The interviewer thanks Gomez and ends the recording. Computer science ; Employment ; Future opportunities ; Graduation ; Jobs ; Master's degree in computer science ; Plans ; West Chester University Careers. ; College students. ; Occupations. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Professions. ; Universities and colleges. 0 interview In this interview, Gomez discusses her move from Colombia to the United States and enrolling at West Chester University. She talks about the cultural differences between the two countries and her transition into the U.S. educational system. Gomez highlights the struggles she faced when she first moved to America and what she did to overcome those challenges. 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=2019oh1469_irw0092_gomez_ohm.xml 2019oh1469_irw0092_gomez_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicholas Heydeman 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: Laura Gomez Description An account of the resource In this interview, Gomez discusses her move from Colombia to the United States and enrolling at West Chester University. She talks about the cultural differences between the two countries and her transition into the U.S. educational system. Gomez highlights the struggles she faced when she first moved to America and what she did to overcome those challenges. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh1469_irw0092 Subject The topic of the resource Bogotá (Colombia) Childhood Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) College choice Universities and colleges. College students. West Chester University 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 21, 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/698510fc75df41c9daa855b4abc67408.jpg 93948eeeb35d8c8719a8a6638c1c95d8 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 Amman, Jordan Subject The topic of the resource Painting of Amman, Jordan Description An account of the resource Painting of Amman, Jordan, hanging in Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's Northeast Philadelphia apartment Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown 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 c. 2008 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Janneken Smucker https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b3c993de1609fe64b9e4f6f7174a4bbb.jpg c2955af7682b18d5d2cb40c5a3441cfa 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 Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. 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 Strike sympathizers outside the Apex Hosiery Company Plant, Philadelphia, PA. Subject The topic of the resource Striking workers and sympathizers pulling down trolley poles outside the the Apex Hosiery Company plant in Philadelphia. Description An account of the resource Striking workers and sympathizers pulling down trolley poles outside the the Apex Hosiery Company plant in Philadelphia. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Philadlephia Bulletin Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Social Collections, Temple University Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 480/HON 451 Immigration and Digital Storytelling, Spring 2018 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May, 1937 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles Hardy Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Courtesy of Temple University Special Collections Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpg Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/408f6ed7cf7f473e4e572703b1853030.jpg b794470cd7fb32f8e71b398a059aa121 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 Victor Record Shop, then and now Subject The topic of the resource Victor Record Shop 1300 1/2 Dickinson Street Philadelphia, PA Description An account of the resource Historical photo of Dominic Di Stefano, his nephew Harry, Victor founder John Di Stefano, and unidentified woman in front of the Victor Record Shop in Philadelphia, PA, superimposed on recent photo of the same location. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rob Di Stefano Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rob Di Stefano Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available WCU, HIS 480/HON 451 Immigration and Digital Storytelling, Spring 2018 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource c. 1950 and c. 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles Hardy Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Courtesy of Rob Di Stefano Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpg Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/07b5de2bb4f33d9b1020867043b9783d.jpg b00791c1c4cec7889ed2312b9638eb37 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 Charles Hardy, III Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Mutaz Al Mudaris OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh1443_irw0090_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Freedom of religion Religion Occupations. Professions. Work. Delaware River Tigris River OHMS Object Text 5.3 2019oh1443_irw0090 Interview with Mutaz Al Mudaris, April 6, 2019 2019oh1443_irw0090 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Baghdad (Iraq) Kut (Iraq) Childhood Education, Higher Higher education Persian Gulf War, 1991. Politics and government Philadelphia (Pa.) Iraq War, 2003-2011. Freedom of religion Religion Occupations. Professions. Work. Delaware River Tigris River Mutaz Al Mudaris Charles Hardy, III 2019oh1443_irw0090_almudaris_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh1443_irw0090_almudaris_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 90 Introduction Good afternoon, this is Mutaz Al Mudaris, we're in Philadelphia. Mutaz Al Mudaris states his name. Charles Hardy explains that the interview is part of the Philadelphia Immigration Project and part two of an oral history. Free Library of Philadelphia ; Mutaz Al Mudaris ; Northeast Regional Library ; West Chester University Library 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c81f8fc5021e4122b6d5eba56439842b.jpg Photo of Mutaz Al Mudaris 145 Al Mudaris' childhood What I'd like to do is, sort of, if you can, run us through your life from your childhood through, um, what Iraq was like when you were young. Al Mudaris speaks of his birth in Baghdad, Iraq, in the upscale Al Karrada district to Malka Al Saadi and her husband in 1973. He was born in a hospital called &quot ; Avicenna&quot ; or Abu Ali Sina, named after a famous Arabic doctor during the Islamic Golden Age. Al Mudaris came to take pride in being born in this hospital since becoming a medical interpreter. Although Al Mudaris cannot remember his first three years in Baghdad, he does remember his childhood in the United Kingdom, where the family moved in 1976. As a child, Al Mudaris never understood his parents' struggles with balancing their finances, studies, and family time with their four children. However, with time, Al Mudaris, alongside his siblings, learned more about his parents and their life struggles. Abu Ali Sina ; Baghdad, Iraq ; Child's perspective ; Ibn Sina Hospital ; Islamic Golden Age (7th-14th cent.) ; United Kingdom Baghdad (Iraq) ; Childhood 33.312846, 44.406524 17 Ibn Sina Hospital, where Al Mudaris was born 272 The move from the United Kingdom to Iraq So, I remember we moved, uh, in--from U.K. to Iraq in 1981. That was like one year after the Iraq-Iran war broke. Al Mudaris recounts his family's move from the United Kingdom to Iraq. There, his father tried to make the move appealing by playing on Al Mudaris' passion for animals and aspiration to become a zookeeper by explaining that Iraq had a plethora of animals and plants, including fish and water buffalo. Al Mudaris had trouble understanding Iraqi housing and that, because roofs are flat, it was customary for the family to sleep on the roof at night under the stars and cool breeze. Because of this, he had a dream in which he was sleeping and slipped on the sloped roof of a British style house. They first lived in Kut, in the Wasit Governate. Baghdad, Iraq ; Child's perspective ; Iran-Iraq war ; United Kingdom ; Zoology Baghdad (Iraq) ; Childhood ; Kut (Iraq) 32.519389, 45.814423 17 Kut, Iraq, where Al Mudaris's family lived. 465 Life in the city of Kut, Iraq, and its &quot ; gift culture&quot ; And so, life was very different over there, because, uh, uh, um, it's more like people were--they had the rural-- Al Mudaris comments on the rural setting of Kut, Iraq, and its non-metropolitan customs and cultures, such as the city's gift giving culture. When one of his parents conducted a successful surgery, they received livestock from the client or client's family to express their appreciation. So Al Mudaris' household had sheep named after fruits, two dogs, and nine roosters, ducks, and hens. Looking back, he shares how kindness, generosity, and transparency unified the community. Animals ; Culture ; Customs ; Gifts ; Kut, Iraq ; Livestock ; Rural ; Surgery ; Wasit Governate Childhood ; Kut (Iraq) 17 590 His struggles to learn Arabic in Kut And then came the, the time when, when my brother moved to, uh, Baghdad College. Al Mudaris talks about how he struggled to learn Arabic, how neighbors advised watching Arabic Sesame Street to help him, how a teacher who mistook his poor language skills as arrogance hit him, and how he then learned Arabic under a teacher who was a strict disciplinarian. Arabic ; Baghdad, Iraq ; Education ; Kut, Iraq ; Languages ; Moving ; Sesame Street (Television program) ; University of Baghdad Baghdad (Iraq) ; Childhood ; Kut (Iraq) 32.519449, 45.815312 15 Kut, Iraq. 887 Moving to Baghdad and education at the elite University of Baghdad I remember then my brother had to move to Baghdad, um, to my grandparents'. Al Mudaris talks about moving to Baghdad and finding a new, fast-paced lifestyle in the city. When attending the University of Baghdad, he maintained a low profile among the elite sons of ministers and other political officials and excelled in his studies. Al Mudaris recalls how often one classmate showed off his wealth by arriving in the family limo in front of the class. During the first Gulf War in 1991, he took the national exam. Because his classmates achieved high scores from their access to a stolen exam, Al Mudaris did not score high enough to get into medical school, so he could not become a dentist like his father and instead went into agricultural engineering. Alumni ; Ba'athism ; Elites ; Gulf War ; Kut, Iraq ; Life pacing ; Mannerisms ; National Exams ; Uday Hussein ; University of Baghdad Baghdad (Iraq) ; Education, Higher ; Higher education ; Kut (Iraq) 17 1159 Attitudes towards Americans before the Gulf War I've got a question for you before we get to the college of agriculture. Leading up to the Gulf War, Al Mudaris knew the United States may be invading from hearing reports on the BBC. Initially, he felt fine and somewhat excited with the war before experiencing the death, destruction, and chaos it wrought. He shares that a majority of Iraqis respected Americans, although the Baathist Party did not like Americans. He comments on how Iraqis perceived British and American accents. Al Mudaris recounts visiting the Baghdad International Fair with his family where they saw photos of American products. Reflecting now, he sees that the United States has pros and cons, and is not the perfect place he imagined during his youth and pictured in Hollywood movies. Awareness ; Baathist Party ; Baghdad International Fair ; Beliefs ; Consumerism ; Foreign perspective of the United States ; President George H.W. Bush ; Products ; The Gulf War ; United States ; Wars Bush, George, 1924-2018. ; Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 1701 Experiencing the Gulf War--Part I Okay, so let's get back then to, um, uh, '90, '90-'91. Al Mudaris remembers fortifying the family's house before the U.S. led coalition forces invaded Iraq to avoid broken glass during the attack. During the night, Al Mudaris listened to the bombardments, realizing the imminent danger they faced. He remembers watching an interview conducted with six American prisoners of war. During the broadcast, Al Mudaris came to respect one soldier's composure during the questioning. Adulthood ; High school graduation ; Prisoners of War ; Teenage years ; The Gulf War ; Wars ; Wartime Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 1954 Experiencing the Gulf War--Part II And the bombing didn't stop. Like it was nonstop on that day. Al Mudaris explains that, due to living next to the Muhammara intelligence agency across the Tigris river, the family was worried that a bombardment may accidentally miss the building, hit their home, and kill them. Similarly, in the 2003 Iraq War, a nearby neighbor, Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, a doctor who worked on the Iraqi biological weapons program known also by the name &quot ; Mrs. Anthrax&quot ; was also a target that may lead to the family's demise. Al Mudaris remembers that, during the waning months of the Gulf War, looters started to steal and destroy things while Iraqi and foreign rebels rose to contest with Saddam Hussein's regime. Worried that paratroopers may take Baghdad, Al Mudaris' family left to Karbala to stay at their aunt's father's hotel until the end of the war alongside other escapees on a packed highway. After some time, the family returned to their home, only to learn the hotel was destroyed the same day they left the hotel, and later living off of dried foods like fruits and legumes. Adamiyah, Iraq ; Anthrax ; Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash ; Iraq War ; Iraqi Biological Weapons Program ; Kadhimiya, Iraq ; Karbala, Iraq ; Shi'a ; Sunni ; The Gulf War ; Wars ; Wartime Adamiyah (Iraq) ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Kadhimiya (Iraq) ; Karbala (Iraq) ; Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 2369 On state control of the media coverage of the war But y'all recovered from the war? Al Mudaris recounts how the Iraqi media presented homages to Saddam Hussein and patriotic songs, but provided no coverage of civilian casualties or damage to the nation's infrastructure. He shares how he had to study for the national exams by candlelight, since there was no electricity. Casualties ; Education ; News media ; Patriotism ; Post-war ; Propaganda ; Saddam Hussein Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 2499 Mosquito bites and the blockade of foreign products Just as a quick aside... Al Mudaris remembers applying a German brand bug spray called &quot ; Kicks&quot ; when his family slept on the roof. However, after the United Nations placed sanctions on foreign trade into Iraq after the First Gulf War, foreign products were no longer available, so Al Mudaris and his family got lots of bug bites. Despite this, he still preferred to sleep on the roof with the cool breeze and night sky. Bug repellant ; Cy-Kicks ; Domestic products ; Mosquitoes ; Sanctions on Iraq ; Sleep Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 2588 On studying agricultural engineering So, you go to agricultural--you don't get into dental school? Al Mudaris shares how he did poorly during his first semester in agricultural engineering school due to the shame he felt for not getting into medical school, which was expected of children of doctors. He applied himself to his studies, however, after he recognized the importance of plant pathology, the disease vectors of insects, and the life cycles of cows. He felt pride in what he was learning as it was close to his parents' professions in medicine as they had to study the life cycle of an insect-born disease. Agricultural engineering ; Colleges ; Culture ; Education ; Etymology ; Family traditions ; Medicine Education, Higher ; Higher education 17 2766 Exemption from military service and work at the Iraqi Federation of Industries So, you graduate from school and you got a job--what's your, your profession? Al Mudaris talks about the impact that post-war corruption had upon his life after the first Gulf War. After he graduated from college, his parents paid one million dinar as a bribe to exempt him from military service, and he got a job through the intercession of a powerful uncle at the Iraqi Federation of Industries as an agricultural engineer. There, he soon got in trouble when he voiced his concerns about corruption in the Purchasing Committee. Corruption ; Iraqi Federation of Industries ; Military exemption ; Post-college ; Preliminary Military Exercise ; Professions ; Purchasing Committee Persian Gulf War, 1991. ; Politics and government 17 2985 Religious and ethnic diversity and intolerance So, um, where--how do we get there from--from there to, um, to the, uh, the second Iraq War? Al Mudaris recalls going to inspect machines at the Bobi chewing gum factory, a famous chewing gum with a black and white dog as a logo. Al Mudaris saw that one of the chewing gum wrappers, imported from Germany, featured a Star of David. The Iraqi &quot ; Economic Police&quot ; told the factory owner to destroy the wrappers and packaging. The German company understood the situation, and agreed to compensate the owner for the destroyed wrappers. Al Mudaris notes that he grew up in a very diverse Iraq, in which divisions among religious groups were not significant, but the differences became more prominent as the government promoted religious division, especially against Jews. He reflects on how he learned to appreciate diversity from his own experiences, despite the growing religious intolerance. Bobi ; Chewing gum ; Diversity ; Engineering ; Inspections ; Islam ; Jobs ; Judaism ; Machinery ; Religious and ethnic divisions ; Religious freedom ; United States Politics and government ; Religion 17 3485 Increased religious intolerance after the Iraq War But, back to your question when, when--the significance that happened was after the two thou--2003 war, not after the 1991. Al Mudaris talks about how after the Iraq War, religious parties twisted religion to hate others and used their power over their believers to scramble for control of the nation. As a result, the government of Iraq was divided among the religion of the parties and individuals rather than Iraqis' honesty, patriotism, and education. He says that these religious parties which have nothing to do with religion, were driven by a thirst for power and played upon the ignorance of people. He notes that much of this intolerance came from increased Iranian influence. Ethnicity ; Iranian influence ; Iraq War ; Kurdish ; Lebanon ; Religious and ethnicity divisions ; Religious political parties ; Saddam Hussein ; Secular government ; Secularism ; Shia Islam ; Sunni Islam ; Theocracy Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Politics and government ; Religion 17 3711 Job instability / Finding work as a translator at the U.S. Embassy So, when did you first consider leaving Iraq? Al Mudaris and his family enjoyed a stable life following the Gulf War, and avoided getting tied up in political conflict, until eventually their values were compromised. He shares that tensions between Shi'a and Sunni workers increased at the Iraqi Federation of Industries, leading him to leave this toxic environment despite his parents' disapproval. He also lost his job as a translator at the Ministry of Mass Communication when Paul Bremer dismantled the organization. Eventually he found a job as an interpreter for the U.S. Embassy. Corruption ; Employment ; Honesty ; Immigration ; Interpretation ; Jobs ; Lewis Paul Bremer III ; Medical issues ; Medicine ; Ministry of Mass Communication ; Moral obligations ; Police academy ; Saddam Hussein ; Shi'a ; Sunni ; U.S. Embassy Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 4250 Work as an interpreter for the Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office So, you work your way up from, from a, a series of interpretive jobs until you're, you're working in the Embassy? Al Mudaris talks about his work as a senior interpreter/translator for the Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office, which renovated and re-established sports facilities destroyed during the war, and used Iraqi star athletes to bring people together. For IRMO he 'felt like a superstar' interpreting for the athletes and also translating proposals, wish lists, and formal letters. He then was an interpreter during the first free elections held in 35 years. Elections ; Football (soccer) ; Interpreters ; Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office ; National Olympic Committee of Iraq ; Translators ; U.S. Embassy Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 4387 On working for the U.S. to bring about a better Iraq So, now you're working, um, you're working closely with Americans, you're doing work you enjoy... Al Mudaris recounts how the Ministry of Mass Communication, run by Uday Hussein, had refused to let him resign. He notes that he chose to work for the U.S. to help his home country recover. He hoped that the reconstruction of Iraqi into a strong, democratic nation could have led the nation into prosperity similar to that experienced by Japan and Germany after the end of World War II. Resignation ; Saddam Hussein ; Uday Hussein ; Youth T.V. Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 4527 On the similarities between Baghdad and Philadelphia Last time, you were very eloquent about talking about, um, um, getting from Iraq to Jordan and then how you actually got to the United States and your struggle to find work. When Al Mudaris arrived in Philadelphia, he did not expect the immense amount of diversity, including women wearing head scarves and hearing a variety of languages. Al Mudaris missed seeing the &quot ; immortal&quot ; Tigris River, but considers the Delaware River even more beautiful. Whenever he disembarks the train in University City, he takes a moment to appreciate the beautiful mix of old and new architecture lining the streets of Philadelphia. In contrast to New York City, Philadelphia doesn't suffocate Al Mudaris with its overpopulation and expense, allowing him and his family to enjoy the city, with its mosques, synagogues, and churches, coexisting as they did during his childhood. Amman, Jordan ; Architecture ; Australia ; Churches ; Delaware River ; Diversity ; Euphrates River ; Halal ; History ; Mosques ; New York City ; Slow-paced living ; Synagogues ; Tigris River ; United Kingdom ; University City (Philadelphia neighborhood) Amman (Jordan) ; Childhood ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Religion 17 4787 On his love of the Tigris and Delaware Rivers So I got a question. How does the Tigris?--Compare the Tigris to the Delaware for me. Al Mudaris shares how he views the Tigris River as a symbol of everything that is beautiful and strong, and as a symbol of motherhood ; a motherly body of water open to re-embrace him home whenever he returns to Iraq. He shares how he fell in love with the Delaware River the first time he saw it, and how he felt at home in Philadelphia because the Delaware, like the Tigris, is filled with abundance and beauty. Al Mudaris explains that there is a strong personal and cultural connection to bodies of water in the Middle East, and that the Tigris River divides the city like an artery through a person. The rivers represent a uniting, common force that the diverse populations in Iraq used to connect with each other and maintain harmony within the region. Delaware River ; Motherhood ; Symbolism ; Tigris River Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Rivers. 17 5058 Thoughts on returning to Iraq If, if, um, if the, uh, the politics and, uh, the, the cultural tensions were to stabilize in the Middle East and Iraq... Al Mudaris shares that he has never returned to Iraq, but he would do so if the religious and ethnic tensions and conflicts were to stabilize. He doubts, however, this will take place because of the danger of religious and ethnic groups kidnapping or killing his family or him. After the war many scientists and doctors were targeted. Relatives on his father’s side who returned home and were killed or kidnapped, so it is too risky. Iraq ; Iraqi Reconstruction ; Returning ; Stability Iraq War, 2003-2011. 17 5203 Adjusting to the fast pace of American life Um, so as an Iraqi in Philadelphia, um, what have been, um-- Al Mudaris recounts when he first arrived in the United States that, despite his language skills, he felt a complete sense of loss. The hardest adjustment was to the fast pace of life in the United States. He does not want to replace the American pace of life but does wish for the more relaxed approach he grew up with. He reflects on the nature of productivity among various cultures, noting that a leisurely pace with breaks for tea does not prevent productivity. Adjustments ; Collectivism ; Enjoying life ; Immigration ; Individualism ; Life pacing ; Lost Occupations. ; Professions. ; Work. 17 5484 On the value of diversity and religious tolerance I always like to leave some time at the end of interviews, um, to provide, you, the opportunity to say-- Al Mudaris says that differences should be celebrated, that diversity makes a great nation, and that people should learn to forgive and teach each other to forgive. He encourages Americans to travel and learn by experiencing other cultures. He remembers growing up in a household that taught him religion and encouraged him to adopt values and practices from the religions around him to choose his own path. He takes pride in being a Muslim but does not define himself as one. Instead, he sees himself as a human being praying for all. Advice ; Differences ; Diversity ; Education ; Forgiveness ; Non-domination ; Secularism Freedom of religion ; Religion 17 5838 Final thoughts on pretzels, Children's Hospital, and other Philadelphia bragging rights Have you learned to drink beer in Philadelphia? Al Mudaris shares what he loves about Philadelphia, including its pretzels, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he works as an interpreter. There, he has seen how Saudi children playing with Orthodox Jewish children as their families watched and interacted with each other, can overcome religious teachings and tensions to a point where a Saudi man donated to a Jewish organization. He shares his love of the University of Pennsylvania Museum and its vast array of exhibits from all over the world, including objects from Iraq. Beer ; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ; Delaware River ; Delegations ; Interactions ; Orthodox Jews ; Penn Museum ; Philly cheese steaks ; Pretzels ; Saudi ; Wahhabi Theocracy Freedom of religion ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Religion 39.948949, -75.193822 17 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia interview Al Mudaris talks about his life, beginning with his early childhood in London, his struggles to learn Arabic in school after the family’s return to Iraq ; his high school education at Baghdad College, the most prestigious school in Baghdad ; the 1991 war with the U.S. and how widespread cheating on the college entrance exam prevented his admission to dental school—which was expected of the child of a physician and dentist ; his work experiences as an engineer and the impact of refusal to participate in the corruption ; his work as a translator in Iraq, which culminated in work for the U.S. State Department ; the diversity of Iraq before the second war with the U.S. and the subsequent rise of religious and ethnic divisions ; his love of Philadelphia, preference for Philadelphia over New York, and his deep love of the Delaware River, which reminds him of the Tigris ; his desire to return to Iraq but inability to do so knowing that family members and friends who have attempted to do so have been kidnapped and murdered ; his professional life as a medical translator at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and related topics, including Arab attitudes towards Americans. Mutaz Al Mudaris’s primary employment is as a medical interpreter at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Educated as an agricultural engineer, he worked a number of jobs in Iraq, fled to Jordan after 2003 War, and then immigrated to Philadelphia with his mother in 2009. See his mother’s book, &quot ; Malka Al Saadi, Beyond the Sandstorm: A Woman’s Journey From Bagdad to Philadelphia&quot ; (Author House 2016), for a brief autobiography on p. 227-33. 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=2019oh1443_irw0090_almudaris_ohm.xml 2019oh1443_irw0090_almudaris_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicholas Heydeman 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: Mutaz Al Mudaris Description An account of the resource Al Mudaris talks about his life, beginning with his early childhood in London, his struggles to learn Arabic in school after the family’s return to Iraq; his high school education at Baghdad College, the most prestigious school in Baghdad; the 1991 war with the U.S. and how widespread cheating on the college entrance exam prevented his admission to dental school—which was expected of the child of a physician and dentist; his work experiences as an engineer and the impact of refusal to participate in the corruption; his work as a translator in Iraq, which culminated in work for the U.S. State Department; the diversity of Iraq before the second war with the U.S. and the subsequent rise of religious and ethnic divisions; his love of Philadelphia, preference for Philadelphia over New York, and his deep love of the Delaware River, which reminds him of the Tigris; his desire to return to Iraq but inability to do so knowing that family members and friends who have attempted to do so have been kidnapped and murdered; his professional life as a medical translator at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and related topics, including Arab attitudes towards Americans. Mutaz Al Mudaris’s primary employment is as a medical interpreter at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Educated as an agricultural engineer, he worked a number of jobs in Iraq, fled to Jordan after 2003 War, and then immigrated to Philadelphia with his mother in 2009. See his mother’s book, "Malka Al Saadi, Beyond the Sandstorm: A Woman’s Journey From Bagdad to Philadelphia" (Author House 2016), for a brief autobiography on p. 227-33. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh1443_irw0090 Subject The topic of the resource Baghdad (Iraq) Kut (Iraq) Childhood Education, Higher Higher education Persian Gulf War, 1991. Politics and government Philadelphia (Pa.) Iraq War, 2003-2011. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 6, 2019 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ea2b82c13605b1fd2a024a680664c575.jpg 13b056baf6f96fe982fd595fdaed57fe 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 Charles Hardy, III Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Malka Al Saadi Mutaz Al Mudaris OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh1441_irw0088_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Gynecology Obstetrics Amman (Jordan) Work. Professions. Occupations. OHMS Object Text 5.3 2019oh1441_irw0088 Interview with Malka Al Saadi, Mutaz Al Mudaris, March 16, 2019 2019oh1441_irw0088 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Education, Higher Medical education Medicine. Universities and colleges. Women physicians. Medicine--Study and teaching Politics and government Iraq War, 2003-2011. Religion Freedom of religion Baghdad (Iraq) Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Gynecology Obstetrics Amman (Jordan) Work. Professions. Occupations. Malka Al Saadi Mutaz Al Mudaris Charles Hardy, III 2019oh1441_irw0088_alsaadi_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh1441_irw0088_alsaadi_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 0 Introductions Um, so, why don't you introduce yourselves? Malka Al Saadi and Mutaz Al Mudaris introduce themselves, their professions, country of origin, and when they arrived in Philadelphia. Al Mudaris comments on how he left Amman, Jordan, originally called Philadelphia by the Greeks, for Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. The interviewer mentions the date of the interview and the organization sponsoring the interview session. Amman, Jordan ; Iraq ; Malka Al Saadi ; Mutaz Al Mudaris ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Philadelphia Oral History Project ; Professions ; United Kingdom Amman (Jordan) ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d2ef8a726dace1d21f23af33b27b3624.jpg Photograph of Malka Al Saadi and Mutaz Al Mudaris 94 Al Saadi's medical training and commitment to practice medicine in Iraq Um, tell me about your, your background ; where you all come from. Al Saadi explains that she was born to a middle-class Iraqi family in 1941 and graduated from the Iraqi College of Medicine in 1964. Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, she and the family then moved to the United Kingdom for her to study at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. After she received her degree in 1981, the family returned to Iraq, where she practiced medicine and lived through the war with Iran, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. Despite the damaged infrastructure and an unstable economy and society, they stayed in Iraq so that she could help the people. Culture ; Economy ; Gulf War ; Iran-Iraq War ; Iraq ; Iraq War (2003-2011) ; Iraqi College of Medicine ; Kuwait ; Middle-class ; OB-GYN ; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ; Society ; United Kingdom Education, Higher ; Gynecology ; Medical education ; Medicine--Study and teaching ; Medicine. ; Obstetrics ; Universities and colleges. ; Women physicians. 51.526713, -0.161975 17 The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a professional association based in London, United Kingdom. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0c9e05a6c152fb46770b9d68182aa52a.jpg Al Saadi's graduation 218 On the collapse of civil society during the Second Gulf War and threats on Al Saadi's life We are, we are used--we were used to live in harmony. Al Saadi remembers the time when Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived in a familial harmony in Iraq and how, after 2003, these groups became estranged from each other. She says that newcomers to Baghdad during the Iraq War (also known as Second Gulf War) brought division and terror to Iraqi society and that she received threats on her life. She recounts having a heart attack after she found a dismembered and lacerated doll in her backyard, which she knew was a threat against her life, and how her colleagues advised her to seek medical care in Jordan. Christians ; Iraq War (2003-2011) ; Jews ; Medicine ; Muslims ; Wartime Freedom of religion ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Medicine. ; Politics and government ; Religion ; Women physicians. 17 320 On the move to Jordan, Malaysia, and then the United States So we left Iraq to Jordan, and there I had medical treatment, but I couldn't go back to Iraq. After receiving medical treatment in Jordan, Al Saadi returned to Iraq. After suffering another heart attack in May 2005, she and her family fled to Jordan. In 2007, Al Saadi took a job teaching in a medical school in Malaysia, and after a year and a half rejoined her children who insisted that she immigrate with them to the United States. Children ; immigration ; Iraq ; Iraq War (2001-2011) ; Jobs ; Jordan ; Malaysia ; Philadelphia, PA ; trauma ; United States Education, Higher ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Medical education ; Medicine--Study and teaching ; Medicine. ; Universities and colleges. ; Women physicians. 17 441 On the decision to stay in Iraq through three wars So you actually brought your mother-- Al Mudaris recalls his early childhood in the United Kingdom where his parents studied medicine, and how, in 1981, the family returned to Iraq, lived through the Iran-Iraq war, and then the Gulf War (what he calls the Kuwait War) and Iraq War. Despite the wars, the family stayed to do their duty as citizens and hoped for the best. Baghdad, Iraq ; Child's perspective ; Childhood ; Medicine ; United Kingdom Baghdad (Iraq) ; Childhood ; Education, Higher ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Medical education ; Medicine--Study and teaching ; Medicine. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a111dd7a7b644f8e86a046cc5d4a62ae.jpg Dr. Malka al Saadi in Anah Hospital, 1973. Image courtesy of Mutaz Al Mudaris. 506 Al Mudaris's work as an agricultural engineer and translator for Iraqi Youth TV But the years of the blockade were really hard on everyone... After graduating from college, Al Mudaris says he worked as an agricultural engineer for the Iraqi Federation of Engineers, and at night, in conjunction with his love for languages, as a translator for the Iraqi TV station Youth TV. He recalls in 1991 translating the romantic comedy &quot ; Pretty Woman,&quot ; which was broadcast on Eid-e-Shuja', the Muslim Christmas. He then talks about how the film was censored so as not to offend cultural sensibilities. Agricultural engineering ; Baghdad, Iraq ; Censorship ; Eid-e-Shuja' ; Iraqi Federation of Industries ; Iraqi sanctions ; Linguistics ; Pretty Woman (Motion picture) ; Translators ; Youth TV (Iraq) Baghdad (Iraq) ; Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 https://www.globalpolicy.org/previous-issues-and-debate-on-iraq/sanctions-against-iraq.html Information on the Sanctions placed on Iraq by the United Nations starting in 1990 provided by the Global Policy Forum. 593 On surviving the 2003 Iraq War in Baghdad And then in 2003, uh, you know, the lost war, the Liberation War of Iraq happened... Al Mudaris recounts how the family survived the American bombings during the 2003 Iraq War, what he calls the Liberation War, and how it seemed that, at any minute, he or his family members would die. He remembers the family gathering in one room, hearing the thunder of bombs and missiles, and realizing that life in Baghdad was insecure. He shares that even after the family fortified their house without electricity and running water, the heat from the explosions burnt the family's curtains. Culture ; Family ; Iraq War (2003-2011) ; Stress ; Trauma ; Wartime Families. ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Politics and government 17 668 On widespread looting and insurgents' attempts to rid Iraq of educated people Then another phase came when the war ended. Al Mudaris recalls how looters destroyed and looted everything from money to toilets. Due to Iraq's long borders, &quot ; anti-American&quot ; domestic and foreign fighters also entered Iraq from neighboring nations, causing further turmoil and violence for the Iraqi citizens, including Al Mudaris' mother and father. He says that these groups targeted his parents because they were well-known doctors, alongside scientists, engineers, and high ranking military officials to empty the country of all educated people. &quot ; Brain drain&quot ; ; Borders ; Intellectuals ; Iraq ; Iraq War (2003-2011) ; Terrorism ; United States Education, Higher ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Politics and government 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/fdd266a18c88140026891d17d28fa6c8.jpg As Coalition Forces respond to a car bombing in South Baghdad, Iraq (IRQ), a second car bomb is detonated, targeting those responding to the initial incident. The attack, aimed at the Iraqi police force, resulted in 18 casualties, two of which were police officers, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. 824 Work as a translator for Iraq Reconstruction Management Office / Daily fears of death But, the second reason is, and this, this eventually took a toll on my mother's health is, after the war, the--Paul Bremer, the then like civil governor of Iraq... Al Mudaris explains how after losing his job translating movies, he chose to help rebuild Iraq by working as an interpreter for the U.S. and multinational forces with the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO), which was helping to rebuild youth centers and orphanages. He then describes the precautions he took daily to protect himself from abduction or murder, the loss of many colleagues, and his growing fear of death. Corruption ; Culture ; Interpreting ; Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) ; Lewis Paul Bremer III ; Ministry of Mass Communication ; Reconstruction ; Traitorism ; Translation Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 970 On acquiring refugee status and permission to move to the United States And then when my mother's health situation was really bad, um, we opted to move to Jordan, but only temporarily. Al Mudaris talks about how due to his mother's poor health the family moved to Jordan for five years and then applied for refugee status and immigration to the U.S. He explains the obstacles they faced, including their designation as a &quot ; cold case&quot ; and an interviewer who assumed they were Ba'athist ; the decision to move to Canada ; and the ruling that enabled the family to move to the U.S. because Al Mudaris had worked for the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. Amman, Jordan ; Ba'athism ; Culture ; Immigration journey ; Interrogation ; Interviews ; Racism ; Refugees ; Stereotypes ; United Nations Amman (Jordan) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. 17 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/29/us/refugee-vetting-process.html Haeyoun Park and Larry Buchanan, &quot ; Refugees Entering the U.S. Already Face a Rigorous Vetting Process,&quot ; New York Times, January 29, 2017. 1099 On starting from scratch in Philadelphia So we moved to the U.S. in 2009. Al Mudaris recalls how after arriving in the U.S. in 2009, he had to start from scratch. Despite working as a training and development manager for the largest hotel in Amman, Jordan, he had to walk door to door in Philadelphia to find employment. After two months he landed a job at the &quot ; Fresh Grocer&quot ; grocery store in the midst of regional transit strike. He talks about how difficult it was to adjust to life in the U.S., and how many from the Middle East, unable to adjust, returned home. Adjustment ; Amman, Jordan ; Employment ; Fresh Grocer ; Immigration ; Jobs Amman (Jordan) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 1241 Al Mudaris lands his first jobs in Philadelphia Yeah, so back to my first interview, this person calls me, she says 'Here, I landed you this job interview, um, at Fresh Grocer.' Al Mudaris shares how, because of a transit strike, he had to walk 90 minutes for his first interview at Fresh Grocer, where he was told he was overqualified. Taking the job, he walked three hours to get home. He explains how this job led to his next job, as an interpreter at the University of Pennsylvania, and how he was soon working three jobs, seven days a week. These experiences, he says, made him stronger and proud of what he was able to accomplish. Competition ; Craigslist ; Employment ; Erie-Torresdale (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Fresh Grocer ; Interviews ; Jobs ; North Broad Street ; Overqualification ; Ritz Carlton Hotel ; Stereotypes ; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital of Philadelphia ; Transportation ; University of Pennsylvania ; Volunteers Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Professions. ; Work. 39.976892, -75.157590 17 The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza on 1501 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA. 1460 On how Al Saadi's daughter Afaf and her children were the first to move to the U.S. So, back up a little bit then. Al Mudaris explains how his sister Afaf, an electrical engineer, and her two children were the first to arrive in the U.S. He shares a bit about her educational and personal history, and his concern for his niece and nephew, who had witnessed such horrors in Iraq. He also talks about the growing anti-Iraqi sentiment in Jordan. Afaf ; Child's perspective ; Customs ; Discrimination ; Divorce ; Electrical engineering ; Family ; Immigration ; Jordan ; Liverpool University ; Malaysia ; Refugees ; Saddam Hussein ; United Kingdom ; United Nations Refugee Status ; United States Education, Higher ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 1677 Al Saadi's decision to move to the U.S. and the preference for Philadelphia over New York I've got a question. Why the states? Al Saadi talks about why she moved to the United States and why she is so happy that she did so, even though it was not their first choice. Al Saadi would have preferred at the time to move to Australia, where another son lives. She and Al Mudaris explain why they moved to Philadelphia, rather than settle in New York City, which they found too fast paced, expensive, and crowded. They explain how they feel more at home in Philadelphia because life here is closer to what they loved about life in Baghdad. They also share that many Arabs come to the United States with unrealistically high expectations. Australia ; Chaplain Brown ; Culture ; culture ; David Menchi ; England ; International Organization of Migration (IMO) ; Israel ; Jordan ; Malaysia ; Multiculturalism ; Muslim ; New York city ; Philadelphia ; Remigration ; sponsors ; United States Education, Higher ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Politics and government ; Professions. ; Work. 17 1955 On Afaf's struggle to find employment in Philadelphia So, your sister, w--how did--why did she come to Philadelphia, then? Al Mudaris and Al Saadi explain how Afaf came to Philadelphia through her sponsor, Chaplain Brown, and how despite her experience and degree in electrical engineering, she struggled for more than a year to find a job in her field. Finally, the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service (JEVS) helped her find a job as medical list inspector. She now works as a quality assurance agent for the same company. Chaplain Brown ; Employment ; Immigration ; Jewish Employment and Vocational Service (JEVS) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Professions. ; Work. 17 2177 Financing the move to the U.S. and Al Saadi's decision not to practice medicine When you all are then in Jordan and you're about to move to the States, what kind of financial resources did you have? Al Saadi talks about the financial resources they had when they moved to the U.S. and the help that they received from family in the U.K. and Australia. She then talks about her decision, in her late sixties, not to practice medicine in the United States and how she, with the encouragement of her family, started to write books. Arrival ; Family ; Finances ; Financial support ; Iraqi College of Medicine ; Jordan ; Medical certifications ; Ohio ; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ; United States Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Medicine. ; Occupations. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Professions. ; Women physicians. ; Work. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/240f717ca3d58500b88ceb71dea35437.png Malka Al Saadi receiving letter of appreciation from President of Saddam University, Bagdad, Iraq. Image courtesy of Mutaz Al Mudaris. 2540 First impressions of Philadelphia So, um, I want to go back and, and, uh, ask you all about Iraq... Al Saadi and Al Mudaris share their first impressions of Philadelphia. They talk about their love of the scenery and landscape, and how upset they were with the poor conditions in their first residence in a northeast Philadelphia neighborhood. Al Mudaris shares how much he loved Philadelphia’s architecture, the diversity of its people, and the rights enjoyed by refugees as well as Americans. He then contrasts the experiences of being a refugee in Jordan and the United States. Americanization ; Arrival ; Castor Avenue ; Diversity ; Expectations ; Multiculturalism ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Rights Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2898 The move to far Northeast Philadelphia Have you moved since you-- Al Saadi and Al Mudaris talk about their move to Northeast Philadelphia, which they enjoy because it is family oriented, safe, and has great diversity. Al Mudaris then talks about tensions over privacy, security and personal spaces with their Iraqi neighbors in their first residence in the city. Now in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, they are very comfortable. Baghdad, Iraq ; Center City ; Culture ; Iraqi Immigration ; Moving ; Multiculturalism ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Resettlement Agency ; Security Baghdad (Iraq) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 3136 On other Iraqis on Philadelphia So, this is the question then. Um, you said a number of Iraqis, in fact, came to Philadelphia and that was sort of, um-- Al Saadi talks about the different types of Iraqis in Philadelphia, and how the other family in their first residence in Philadelphia thought badly about Afaf because she was a single mother. In contrast, she recalls another family helped her daughter find a job and improve her living conditions. Community ; Culture ; Iraqi community ; Iraqi immigration ; Multiculturalism ; Northeast Philadelphia ; Settlement Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3264 On the rise of religious divisions in Iraq and the United States From the little I know about Iraq, which is, you know, just as an informed American... Al Mudaris remembers being asked by a fellow student in high school if he was Sunni or Shi'a and being confused by the question because he did not know what these words meant. He shares how when he asked at home if the family was Sunni or Shi'a his father replied, &quot ; You never ask that question because we are all human beings, and we have to respect each other's beliefs.” He talks about growing up in Iraq at a time when Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived in harmony, and how the ethnic and religious division that exploded during the Iraq War are reflected in divisions among Middle Eastern immigrants to the United States. Ethnic divisions ; Gulf War ; Iraq War (2003-2011) ; Religious divisions ; Shi'a Islam ; Socio-cultural immigration ; Sunni Islam Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Freedom of religion ; Immigrants ; Iraq War, 2003-2011. ; Politics and government ; Religion 17 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/demotext.html A PBS &quot ; Global Connections&quot ; page covering the ethnic and religious distribution of each Middle Eastern nation represented in pie charts. 3636 Al Mudaris on his broadening work as an interpreter So, um, working as an interpreter, um, you--what, what type of people do you interpret for in the city? Al Mudaris talks about his work as an interpreter in Philadelphia. He explains why he has diversified his skills from medical interpreter, to a broad range of community, legal, escort, conference, and other interpreting, English and Arabic language instruction, and interpreter training. He never wants to face the kind of struggles finding a job as he first did in Philadelphia, and now has a diversity of skills. Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) ; Interpretation ; Iraq ; Jobs ; Translation ; Translators Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Occupations. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Professions. ; Work. 17 http://cchicertification.org/ The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) website that entails the information and requirements on the CCHI certification recognized by all fifty states in the U.S. 3734 The influx of immigration from Arab countries / Muslim community support In the years since you all arrived in 2009, yes, to Philadelphia? Al Saadi shares that because of where she lives she does not interact with many Iraqis in Philadelphia. Al Mudaris says he has seen a decrease in Middle Eastern refugees in the past few years. Despite this, Philadelphia’s Muslim communities remain sizable and have good support systems. Arabic immigration ; Christian churches ; Immigration ; Mosques ; President Donald Trump ; Support organizations Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Religion 17 interview Moving back and forth between their shared and separate life experiences, Dr. Malka Al Saadi and her son Mutaz Al Mudaris talk about their lives in Iraq ; his education and professional life ; the horrors of the 2003 Gulf War and how it devastated Iraqi life and culture ; their flight to Jordan and her return to her hospital and medical work in Baghdad ; her multiple heart attacks ; the decision to move to the United States and Philadelphia, where one of her daughters was already living ; their love of Philadelphia, which they much prefer to New York because of the slower pace of life, closer resemblance to the housing and landscape of Baghdad, and diversity that reminds them of the diversity of Iraq before the war ; and related topics. Dr. Malka Al Saadi was one of Iraq’s first female gynecologists and a professor at the Sadaam College of Medicine in Baghdad before she was forced to flee Iraq in the wake of the 2003 Gulf War. After living and teaching on Malaysia, in 2009 she immigrated to the United States with her son Mutaz, where they reunited with her daughter Afaf. Today, in Iraqi tradition, the family continues to live together with Afaf’s children. One of Dr. Al Saadi’s four children, Mutaz Al Mudaris’s primary employment is as a medical interpreter at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Educated as an agricultural engineer, he worked a number of jobs in Iraq, fled to Jordan after the 2003 War, and then immigrated to Philadelphia with his mother. Dr. Al Saadi has written an autobiography, &quot ; Beyond the Sandstorm: A Woman’s Journey From Baghdad to Philadelphia&quot ; (Author House 2016), that includes short autobiographies of each of her four children. 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=2019oh1441_irw0088_alsaadi_ohm.xml 2019oh1441_irw0088_alsaadi_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Nicholas Heydeman 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: Malka Al Saadi & Mutaz Al Mudaris, Description An account of the resource Moving back and forth between their shared and separate life experiences, Dr. Malka Al Saadi and her son Mutaz Al Mudaris talk about their lives in Iraq; his education and professional life; the horrors of the 2003 Gulf War and how it devastated Iraqi life and culture; their flight to Jordan and her return to her hospital and medical work in Baghdad; her multiple heart attacks; the decision to move to the United States and Philadelphia, where one of her daughters was already living; their love of Philadelphia, which they much prefer to New York because of the slower pace of life, closer resemblance to the housing and landscape of Baghdad, and diversity that reminds them of the diversity of Iraq before the war; and related topics. Dr. Malka Al Saadi was one of Iraq’s first female gynecologists and a professor at the Sadaam College of Medicine in Baghdad before she was forced to flee Iraq in the wake of the 2003 Gulf War. After living and teaching on Malaysia, in 2009 she immigrated to the United States with her son Mutaz, where they reunited with her daughter Afaf. Today, in Iraqi tradition, the family continues to live together with Afaf’s children. One of Dr. Al Saadi’s four children, Mutaz Al Mudaris’s primary employment is as a medical interpreter at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Educated as an agricultural engineer, he worked a number of jobs in Iraq, fled to Jordan after the 2003 War, and then immigrated to Philadelphia with his mother. Dr. Al Saadi has written an autobiography, "Beyond the Sandstorm: A Woman’s Journey From Baghdad to Philadelphia" (Author House 2016), that includes short autobiographies of each of her four children. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh1441_irw0088 Subject The topic of the resource Education, Higher Medical education Medicine. Universities and colleges. Women physicians. Medicine--Study and teaching Politics and government Iraq War, 2003-2011. Religion Freedom of religion Baghdad (Iraq) Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 16, 2019 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/630d6805e585d1ef15a287d2f8bfa6e7.jpg b9d5bc9e168bd05999d2053164af6cae 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 Bryce Evans Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Ana Maria Roldan OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0153_irw0084_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Children Lawrence (Mass.) Culture Community Food habits Abuse OHMS Object Text 5.3 2019oh0153_irw0084 Interview with Ana Maria Roldan, March 16, 2019 2019oh0153_irw0084 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Philly Immigration Childhood Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Puerto Rico. Santurce (San Juan, P.R.) Education Boston (Mass.) Employment Occupations Children Lawrence (Mass.) Culture Community Food habits Abuse Ana Maria Roldan Bryce Evans 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 6 Introduction / Moving to the mainland United States from Puerto Rico Alright. So I am here with Ana Maria Roldan in the, uh, Lillian Marrero Branch Library in Philadelphia. Roldan explains how she came to the mainland United States after living in Puerto Rico for the first 13 or 14 years of her life. She recalls that she moved all up and down the East Coast, from Boston to South Carolina and then how she finally ended up in Philadelphia for the last 9 years. Boston (Mass.) ; Brothers ; Children ; Fathers ; Grandfathers ; Grandmothers ; Kidnapping ; Marriage ; Mothers ; Moving ; North Carolina ; Parental figures ; Syracuse (N.Y.) ; Uncles Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Puerto Rico. 39.9928, -75.1424 17 Lillian Marrero Branch Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 237 Parent figures and sibling relationships What can you tell me about your grandparents growing up? Roldan discusses the parent figures in her life, her grandma and her grandpa who were very prominent adult figures for her while she was growing up. She talks about some of the most important life lessons that her grandpa taught her, like how to be strong and to not let any man dictate what she does. She also discusses her relationships with all of her siblings on both of her parents' sides and how, as the oldest of them, she protected them and cared for them when they were injured or sick. Asthma ; Handiwork ; Orphans Childhood ; Families. ; Puerto Rico. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/87c62b1911118617486e9660d332975f.png &quot ; Ana Maria Roldan's Grandparents,&quot ; c. 1980s. Courtesy of Ana Maria Roldan 655 Life in rural Puerto Rico Um, so what was a typical day--before you decided to move over to Massachusetts, what was a typical day like in your hometown? Roldan remembers her childhood growing up in the countryside of Puerto Rico. She recalls how she used to pick fresh mangoes and wild berries off of the trees on her land and how it was always warm in Puerto Rico. The weather in Boston was a shock to Roldan since in Puerto Rico, it's mostly warm and she wasn't used to the cold weather. She briefly talks about what school and the education system was like back in Puerto Rico. Mango ; Santurce, Puerto Rico ; Swimming ; Tropical weather Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Puerto Rico. ; Santurce (San Juan, P.R.) 18.4665, -66.1057 17 Santurce, Puerto Rico 1062 High school education in Boston September came. I went to school. I was lost, it was very different, I didn't have no friends. Roldan remembers what her high school experience was like in Boston and how she went to three different high schools until she was finally able to graduate and get her high school diploma, even though it was kind of a bumpy road getting there. She recalls that South Boston High School was a dangerous school, with police needing to escort the children from the school bus, and fights regularly breaking out among students of various racial and ethnic groups. Because of this dangerous environment, she transferred to Madison Park High School. She then talks about a couple of the part time jobs that she held while she was finishing up school, like working in a nursing home on the weekends and then at Harvey Industry where they made windows. She talks about how she met her now-ex-husband and had her two kids, Joanna and Abraham. Boston, Massachusetts ; Children ; Husbands ; Jamaica Plain High School ; Language acquisition ; Madison Park High School ; Marriage ; South Boston High School Boston (Mass.) ; Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants 42.3331, -71.0449 17 South Boston High School https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/mt/2016/03/AP_578859834926/lead_720_405.jpg Bus Segregation, Boston, MA, September 14th, 1974. The Atlantic 1401 Struggles living with a tough mother And when I was raising them, I raise them with love, not like the way my mom used to hit me a lot. Roldan explains how she grew up with her mother who was a very tough person and who would hit and otherwise abuse her children if they acted out. These experiences with her mother are what drew Roldan closer to her grandma as a mother figure because she was treated with respect and kindness from her. Roldan says that even in her mother's old age, it's hard for her to go back to her and stay with her because she knows that her mother will still treat her the same way as she did when she was a child. Abuse ; Accidents ; Butterfly stitches ; Divorce Childhood ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 1680 Dealing with other abuse in her family What can I say? Roldan recalls how she had to intervene in her daughter and her granddaughter's life because of her daughter's abusive boyfriend. She had to go to Lawrence, Massachusetts to make sure that he wasn't a threat to her family and she had to keep them safe, no matter what. Now that he is no longer a threat to her family, her daughter is able to work and try to go to college so that she can financially support her daughter. Abuse ; Billing departments ; Diabetes ; Fathers ; Granddaughters ; Hospitals ; Lawrence, Massachusetts ; Psychology ; Trains Abuse ; Children ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lawrence (Mass.) 42.7070, -71.1631 17 Lawrence, Massachusetts 1976 First time in Philadelphia So what was your first day like in Philadelphia? Roldan recounts her first couple of days in Philadelphia, when she and her partner stayed with her partner's cousin while she was supposed to be visiting Puerto Rico. Roldan describes taking the bus and elevated train in Philadelphia, getting to know the city, learning to call it &quot ; Center City&quot ; instead of &quot ; downtown.&quot ; She remembers going to the PennDot's Drivers License Center to become official residents in Philadelphia. She also talks about some of her favorite places and historical monuments she has seen in Philadelphia so far and what else she wants to go see in the future. &quot ; Partner in life&quot ; ; &quot ; The old city&quot ; ; American History ; Benjamin Franklin ; Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; City Hall (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Concerts ; Drivers License Department ; Drug addiction ; Elevated rail ; Independence Hall ; Liberty Bell ; Marijuana ; Netflix ; Old City (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Orianna St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Parkway Central Library ; Paul Revere ; PennDot ; Rocky Statue ; San Juan, PR. ; Social Security Disability ; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ; Swann Fountain ; Syracuse, New York ; White House Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Puerto Rico. ; San Juan (P.R.) ; Syracuse (N.Y.) 2526 Museums in Philadelphia / Current employment What are--what's the one museum you really want to go see? Roldan talks about some of the places in Philadelphia that she would like to go to soon. Some of these places include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the African American Museum because she loves history and the feeling of &quot ; traveling through time&quot ; when she looks at all the paintings. She explains that she currently collects Social Security Disability Insurance, but also has a part time job at Amazon, directing where packages will be delivered, and describes the work she does in the warehouse. She has made some new friends working at Amazon, which is good for her. She says that as a child she wanted to become a doctor or MP (military police) by joining the military reserve. Amazon, Inc. ; Arch Street and 7th Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bin audits ; Doctors ; Military Police (MP) ; Social Security Disability (SSDI) ; The African American Museum in Philadelphia ; The Philadelphia Museum of Art Employment ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.9656, -75.1810 17 The Philadelphia Museum of Art http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/19ffc0d5e108e57e8ed87019b7740651.jpeg &quot ; Rocky Statue,&quot ; Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia 2776 Living in Philadelphia / Favorite holidays How did--once you finally moved into your own, uh, apartment or house--was it a house? Roldan talks about how Philadelphia looks a lot different than Boston because of the rowhouses in Philadelphia, and that this was a big surprise for her. She also explains a little about where she and her partner hope to move and how her job commute fits in with their current life. She describes her favorite holidays in Puerto Rico and how holidays, such as Three Kings Day, are much different in Puerto Rico compared to other parts of the United States. Boston, Massachusetts ; Conshohocken (Pa.) ; Conshohocken, Pennsylvania ; King of Prussia (Pa.) ; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ; Las Vegas (Nev.) ; Las Vegas, Nevada ; Manayunk (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Mother's Day ; Rowhouses ; The 3 Kings ; Three Kings Day Boston (Mass.) ; Employment ; Holidays ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 3114 How Philadelphia is similar to Puerto Rico You said that living in Philadelphia, it's kind of like Puerto Rico and the States together. Roldan explains how Philadelphia and Puerto Rico are similar, with Puerto Rican culture thriving. She mentions neighbors playing dominoes outside, flying Puerto Rican flags, and the Philadelphia Puerto Rican Parade. She describes walking one block and seeing about 5 Puerto Rican flags waving from houses. She says that a man on 3rd Street cooks and sells barbecue pork on the street in the same way it is prepared in Puerto Rico. The smell of burning wood on the street reminds her of the smell of Puerto Rico. This culture makes her feel proud, and it feels like she never left home. Boston did not have a similar feeling of a strong Puerto Rican culture. Barbecue pork ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Dominoes ; El Barrio (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Independence Day ; Mt. Rushmore ; Philadelphia Puerto Rican Parade ; United States citizenship ; United States Constitution ; Washington Monument ; Yellowstone Park Boston (Mass.) ; Community ; Culture ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/443c0ba1ad77cd483ababb021c28439e.jpg &quot ; Puerto Rican Parade,&quot ; Uwishunu Philadelphia, Sept. 20th, 2015 3518 Staying in touch with family How do you keep in contact with, uh, your family that's still over in Puerto Rico? Roldan reports that she calls her father to keep in touch, and uses Facebook to communicate with other family members. She writes and texts her family still in Arecibo, PR. She mentions a cousin that recently died. She also says she has an aunt in Washington state who passed away. Arecibo, Puerto Rico ; Communication ; Facebook Arecibo (P.R.) ; Families. ; Immigrants 18.4442, -66.6464 17 Arecibo, Puerto Rico 3645 Improvements to Philadelphia / Family staying in Puerto Rico Um, what surprised you the most about Philadelphia when you came here? Roldan was most surprised by the number of Puerto Ricans and the dominance of Puerto Rican culture in Philadelphia. She thinks there are too many bars in Philadelphia. Roldan mentions the current mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, and credits him with improving aspects of the city, including the economy, street cleaning, and drug abuse. She then goes on to talk about her family in Puerto Rico, and while they would love to be closer to her, they are so closely tied to Puerto Rico and can't leave. Bars ; Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Drug addiction ; Higher rates ; HIV/AIDS ; Jim Kenney (Philadelphia mayor, 2015-present) ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Mayors ; Penn's Landing (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Puerto Rican migration Community ; Culture ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) https://www.phila.gov/2018-05-23-mayor-kenney-participates-in-mayor-exchange-program-in-puerto-rico/ Mayor Kenny participates in &quot ; Mayor Exchange,&quot ; City of Philadelphia, zmsy 23rd, 2018 3906 Final reflections on her immigration experience Um, if--is there anything you would change about your, your journey into the States? While Roldan has had a positive experience overall, she says that if she could have done anything different, it would have been to not leave her grandparents behind in Puerto Rico, but she respects that her mother made the best choice for her. Other than that, there isn't much else that Roldan would change about her migrant experience. She has found a home in Philadelphia. Boston, Massachusetts ; Puerto Rican migration ; School systems Boston (Mass.) ; Community ; Culture ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) interview Ana Maria Roldan has been living a life full of love, ambition, and hard work to get to where she is now in Philadelphia. From moving away from Puerto Rico when she was 13 years old to Boston, and then up and down the east coast of the United States, and then most recently settling in Philly, she has worked towards her own education and starting a family. After graduating high school in Massachusetts, she married, had 2 children, divorced, and then met her “partner in life,” with whom she lives with happily. Roldan faced challenges with family court, leaving her beloved scenery and family in Puerto Rico, starting school in a brand-new culture, the death of her grandparents who she was incredibly close to, and then trying to find a community in Philadelphia that she swears is just like Puerto Rico. She has worked to overcome all of her struggles so far in life and is excited to move to another part of Philadelphia in the near 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 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_ohm.xml 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Bryce Evans 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: Ana Maria Roldan Description An account of the resource Ana Maria Roldan has been living a life full of love, ambition, and hard work to get to where she is now in Philadelphia. From moving away from Puerto Rico when she was 13 years old to Boston, and then up and down the east coast of the United States, and then most recently settling in Philly, she has worked towards her own education and starting a family. After graduating high school in Massachusetts, she married, had 2 children, divorced, and then met her “partner in life,” with whom she lives with happily. Roldan faced challenges with family court, leaving her beloved scenery and family in Puerto Rico, starting school in a brand-new culture, the death of her grandparents who she was incredibly close to, and then trying to find a community in Philadelphia that she swears is just like Puerto Rico. She has worked to overcome all of her struggles so far in life and is excited to move to another part of Philadelphia in the near future. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2019oh0153_irw0084 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Puerto Rico. Santurce (San Juan, P.R.) Education Boston (Mass.) Employment Occupations Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio 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/anamaria-roldan/puerto-rico">Explore an exhibit about Ana Maria's life.</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/841c9ff54dbc42f1ad3b73a84eff09f9.jpg b58dacdf4919ecd62d34828951c4307f 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 Malka Al Saadi, Beyond the Sand Storm: A Woman’s Journey From Bagdad to Philadelphia. Author House, 2016. Subject The topic of the resource Dr. Al Saadi's the history of Iraq, her family, and their move from Iraq to the United States. Description An account of the resource Book cover, Malka Al Saadi, Beyond the Sand Storm: A Woman’s Journey From Bagdad to Philadelphia. Author House, 2016 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 2016 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Charles Hardy III Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public domain Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpg Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d62e058b5dc3d8e7f3464a323624a2df.jpg acc405acbdc32bc0c81b8614cea6b538 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photo 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 Portrait of Rawnak, Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's daughter Description An account of the resource Portrait of Rawnak, Hayfaa Ibrahem Abduqdar's daughter in her mother's apartment in Philadelphia Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Janneken Smucker 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 4/15/2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Nicholas Heydeman Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Jordan News Portrait