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Frisch10 Immigrant Profiles

NC students: Please review your assigned profile in the discussion tab above. Identify yourself by your first name, and name the person to whom you are responding. Use the questions provided in the peer review guide below to help you.

toc =Eugene=
 * __The Journey for Freedom__**

Me: Hello dad, can I ask you several questions about your journey to America?

Dad: Sure, what would you like to know?

Me: Let’s start with where and when you were born.

Dad: I was born in Moscow, Russia on July 30, 1965.

Me: How was life like growing up in Russia when you were young?

Dad: It was a pretty hard life, nothing like it is here in America. When I was only nine years old, I already started going to the store and cooking a little for my parents. Once a week, right after school, I would walk to the store and buy whatever my parents asked me to buy and bring it home. Even when it was snowing, I still had to go because my parents always got home late and we needed the food for the week. I even cooked soup sometimes when my parents didn’t have time. It was especially hard since we are Jewish. If you were a Jew in Russia, you made sure no one knew or else you couldn’t get any good jobs. I didn’t even find out I was Jewish until I was around eight years old. That is how secretive my parents were about it.

Me: How did you react when your parents told you that you were Jewish?

Dad: They didn’t tell me. I found out in a very unpleasant way. When I was taking the elevator to my apartment, there was a drunken guy inside screaming out anything that came to his mind. Then he started to scream at me and called me dirty names such as a dirty Jew. That is how I found out that I was Jewish.

Me: How was it in school knowing that you are a Jew? Did you have any Jewish friends?

Dad: School was pretty normal because I never let anyone know I was Jewish. I just didn’t think about it too much and acted normal. I don’t know if I had any Jewish friends because no one ever mentioned in public if they were Jewish. I’m sure I did have some Jewish friends, but we never talked about it with each other. Being Jewish was something no one wanted to be during my childhood in Russia. However, there was one boy that always wore a hat wherever he went, and everyone would wonder why. No one knew that he was Jewish, but it turned out that his family was very religious. Now he is a big rabbi in Ukraine and there is a big Jewish community where he lives.

Me: Did you have any Jewish knowledge while living in Russia?

Dad: I knew about Pesach, Simchat Torah, and Chanukah but that’s about it. Every year on Simchat Torah, there were hundreds of people dancing outside the shul with Torahs, so the government couldn’t do anything about it. They just let it go for that one day of the year. Also on Pesach we would go to the shul and buy matza, but we didn’t do it publicly. Other than those three holidays, I was pretty much clueless about anything else that had to do with Judaism.

Me: What made you decide to move to America when you got older?

Dad: Life in Russia was very hard. Even if you weren’t a Jew, making money was a big problem. We decided we had had enough, so our whole family decided to move to America together. Not to mention the problems of being a Jew in Russia. I didn’t even know what Yom Kippur was until we moved to America! Russia was just not the place to live, so we packed up what we had and moved to Brooklyn.

Me: Once you got to America, how did you adjust to the completely different life style?

Dad: It was very hard. I barely knew English, only what they taught me in school, and finding a good job took me a while. However, over time it got better. Once I learned enough English to have a normal conversation, life became much easier. I found myself a job and we settled in. After all the hard parts were out of the way, it just took time to get used to the completely different culture. I learned much more about Judaism and life was just much better here. Once we really got settled in, we moved to Fair Lawn so we could give you and your sister a better education. Both your mom and me had good jobs, and we wanted to get out of the city life because we were tired of it in Moscow. Ever since then, it’s been a much better life here and I am enjoying every bit of it.

Me: How did your knowledge of Judaism increase when you moved to America?

Dad: Well it wasn’t until we moved to Fair Lawn that I started to get a better education about Judaism. There is a great Jewish community here and I made many friends. Over time, I started to learn more and more. My friends got me into a few classes, and from then on, my knowledge kept increasing. The kind of freedom we have in America could not be found in any spot of Russia. Even the religious families were always scared to learn Torah or celebrate the holidays. Some even had dogs outside their doors to alert them when someone was coming. However, in America, there is none of that, and I’m just glad that I can be a Jew without worrying about getting arrested.

Me: All right, thank you for your time. ​

Sean =Eric= 10H2

I interviewed Sean, the husband of a co-worker of my mother. Sean came to America in 1991 from Seoul, South Korea as a seventeen-year-old young adult. Sean had relatives, an aunt and her husband, in Queens, New York, who sponsored him to come to America. Because of Sean’s relative’s sponsorship he was able to receive a green card. His relatives were living in America for a long time and along with Sean they also sponsored two other families to come to America. Unlike the rest of his family, Sean was the only one in his family that could be sponsored by his relatives because he was not yet eighteen years old. His parents came with him and stayed at his Aunt’s house for a month to help him adjust to life in America.

Sean immigrated to America after finishing high school in order to pursue a better education. He was very studious and he took his education seriously. His philosophy was always to work hard in order to achieve his goals. He thought that he would be better educated in America than in Korea so he chose to come to America to fulfill his intellectual pursuits.

When Sean first came to America he changed his name from Hee Kwang, which means bright and wide respectively, to Sean after a Korean singer. He attended a language school where he learned the English language. Soon he was able to graduate because his mother, an English teacher in South Korea, had taught him English before he came. After language school Sean went on to Queens College. He now works at Chase as a financial adviser.

Sean lived in Seoul, South Korea but he says Seoul was different from a city like New York. He describes Seoul as much cleaner and less crowded. He now enjoys Central Park because he likes the grass and open space and because Central Park reminds him of home.

Sean is youngest child in his family. Because he is the youngest he was very spoiled when he lived in South Korea. His mother took care of everything for him. He did not know how to do everyday things like shopping, laundry, and taking care of himself. When Sean first came to America he had to learn how to do everything for himself. Sean only did laundry once every once a month for about a year because he did not know how to take care of himself properly and it took him a while to learn.

At first life was very hard for Sean in America because of his loneliness. He didn’t have any friends and barely even knew the relatives who he was staying at. He missed home a lot and even cried. Even though he knew English decently he was still uncomfortable speaking. He was able to overcome his loneliness by going to a Korean church where he met fellow Koreans like him and people his age. Sean said that being part of he Korean church allowed him to belong to a community.

Sean told two stories, that happened to him or people he knew, about how different lifestyle of America is as compared to South Korea. The first story is about a when he was told to mail a letter in a mailbox. In South Korea there is a small slot to put the mail in the mailbox unlike in America where you open the mailbox and drop the mail in. One day he was told to mail a letter and he did not know what to do. He tried looking for a slot but did not find one. He could not figure out how to mail the letter and ended up having to wait until someone else mailed something. He then saw how to open the mailbox and he finally mailed the letter. Sean said that he even had friends who thought that the mailbox was a garbage can and they threw garbage into the mailbox.

Sean told a second story about supermarkets. He was overwhelmed by the amount and types of food found in American supermarkets. In America supermarkets have everything ranging from the normal to the abnormal. In South Korea most items in a supermarket are fresh and not sold in bulk. Sean knows someone who bought and ate dog food because he could not read English and he didn’t realize the can was dog food. In South Korea there was no such thing as dog food because dogs would just get left over human food. The person in the story did not even think about worrying what the food was because in a Korean supermarket every item in the supermarket was for people.

Sean told me about a few more things that were different about America and South Korea. He said that in South Korea there is a lot of seafood, vegetables, rice, and fresh unprocessed food. In South Korea is also a different alphabet. Interestingly, in South Korea, they go by the lunar year so the calendar year is different. Korean customs are very different too. Such as, Koreans celebrate a 100th day anniversary after they meet as a couple. Sean also said that working in South Korea is like belonging to a family. The job where one is employed has a monthly dinner in order to get to know one’s co-workers better. In South Korea they take great pride in where they work, being Korean and “belonging to the family”. In America Sean found it difficult to find a job in a Korean company located in America because to them he was an American citizen and they would rather have hired a Korean.

Sean says that he was able to adapt to American culture by learning the language, dressing like an America, watching television to see what Americans do and trying hard to fit in.

When asked if life in America is what he expected, Sean said American life was what he thought it would be like. Sean became better educated and independent in America. He was able to lose his accent and get a job. He also married a fellow Korean immigrant, giving birth to an American citizen. However, Sean is still connected to his Korean roots. Sean and his fiancée went back to South Korean to get married. He also speaks to his wife in Korean and even dreams in Korean. He speaks to his daughter in Korean and English so she would not be as lonely as he was. Sean returns to Korea yearly for two to three weeks to visit his family, but he has fostered a relationship with his wife’s family who has become his “family away from home”.

When looking back Sean said that he made the right decision to immigrate to America. He was able to receive a better education, get a job, get married, and start a family.

=Danielle=

Anna’s Immigration Journey

Anna was born in a displaced persons camp in Austria. Anna’s parents, who were both survivors of the Holocaust returned to Hungary after the holocaust. Later, because of the dangers from the Hungarian Revolution, they were forced to flee Hungary when Anna’s mother was nine months pregnant with Anna. When Anna was just a baby, her parents brought her and immigrated to Montreal, Canada. The move to Canada was just the beginning of the Anna’s journey. Being an orthodox Jew in Canada was not very difficult because anti semitism was not a major issue. However, Canadian English speakers often felt oppressed by language restrictions. While working in a business or office, a person had to answer the phone first in French and only after could they speak in English. The primarily English speaking Canadians lived in constant fear that the French would completely take over and act prejudice against the English speakers. Already practicing as an occupational therapist, and about twenty five years old, Anna decided to leave Canada, the country she grew up in. Anna moved to the United States seeking a life partner, and greater independence for herself. With an eager desire to fulfill her dreams, find a husband, and gain more independence, Anna moved to the heart of the orthodox singles scene, Manhattan. Anna got through difficult times throughout her move by expanding her horizons and gaining independence. Anna’s hope to accomplish her goals was reassured by her aunt. While Anna was dating a tall redhead, Anna’s aunt had a dream that Anna would marry a tall red head. Anna’s aunt didn’t even know that Anna was at that time already dating a tall red head. The dream reenforced Anna’s goals and dreams she hoped to accomplish in America. After moving to the United States, Anna continued to practice as an occupational therapist, and continued building up her career. Anna married Mark Freilich and had two splendid children, Erin and Ethan. In regard to her her expectations of the United Sates, Anna feels as through she was given many great opportunities. America enabled Anna to meet her husband, build a life, and be a part of the Jewish community. Today, Anna lives on the upper West side and is happily married to Mark. Her children both attend Yeshivot in New York. In addition to her commitment to bettering the lives of children through being a professional occupational therapist, Anna is actively involved in her synagogue, Lincoln Square. Anna also works for the chevra kidisha, assisting with the Jewish custom of preparing Jewish dead bodies for burial. Anna is ecstatic that she is able to continue practicing as an O.T. and help children have more independent lives through therapy. Anna exclaimed in reference to the United States, “this really is the country of opportunity and limitless possibilities.”

=Michaela=

For my immigrant interview, I talked to Tzvi, an immigrant from Russia. At the time, Russia was going through major changes. Mikhael Gorbachev was the president and he opened up Russian society and Russian government for the first time and ended all the repressiveness of the regime. So Russian society was in turmoil because people didn't know how to deal with it. Even though it was a big improvement it doesn't happen overnight and the social institutions weren't ready to cope with this change. Russia was also very anti-Semitic. Even officially because the government made life very difficult for Jews.

ME: Where did you immigrate from? TB: I immigrated from Russia.

ME: Why did you leave Russia? TB: I came for a better life. I was leaving in 1990 and it was a time of a lot of change in Russia so I didn't want to stay there. I wanted to have opportunities that weren't available to be in Russia.

ME: Why did you choose to come to America? TB: For better religious opportunities and better economic opportunities.

ME: What were your expectations of America before coming here? TB: The reality was better than my expectations. It's hard to imagine things in lot of detail when your going into another world. I didn't expect it to be as dirty as I found out it was in America but other than that,when your an immigrant in a different country it's hard to imagine things in a lot of detail but it was very positive. People were extremely good to me. I think people were much better than I thought they would be.

ME: How was America different from the place you immigrated from? TB: There was religious freedom, civilized democracy, opportunity. America has a functioning government with law and order which was much different from Russia at the time.

ME: What is your job here? TB: I was a high school student in Russia and I came here to go to college.

ME: What helped you get here? TB: I got a scholarship to YU

ME: What are some of your accomplishments in America that maybe you feel you wouldn't have been able to accomplish in Russia? TB: I built a religious family which would have been hard to do in Russia. It would have been almost impossible actually.

ME: Overall do you feel you made the right decision in coming to America? TB: Yes. I definitely feel I made the right decision in coming to America.

=David B=

My grandmother, Fernande, and my great uncle, Norbert, were living in Belgium during the time of the occupation. In 1941, my great-grandmother, Esther Berthe Richter (my Nani), who was widowed, realized she needed to get Fernande and Norbert out of Belgium and send them to her brother in Tulle, France. Nani knew a nurse in Belgium who was a worker in the underground, and she wanted the nurse to take Fernande and Norbert from Belgium to France. So, Nani got Fernande and Norbert false identification papers, which said that the children had Tuberculosis. The nurse, in addition to being a worker in the underground, was a courier. When she took them in the train to Tulle, she was carrying secret documents with her and she had Fernande and Norbert sit on the documents in order to hide them. The Germans came onto each train to do inspections and catch illegal transporters. When the Germans came onto their train, the nurse talked them away by saying that she was a nurse and these two children had Tuberculosis. So, they didn’t come into that compartment of the train. When they all arrived in Tulle, France, unfortunately Fernande and Norbert had been registered as Jews and they had to wear armbands as a result. Nani knew her children had gotten there safe and sound, and in 1943 she wanted to come to Tulle as well to live with them. Unfortunately, it became more difficult for her to escape Belgium than it was for her children – she couldn’t get papers. The only way to escape was to go by foot. She went to the border between Vichy and Free France and she mixed with the townspeople there in order to observe how they got over the border. As she watched, she noticed that those who tried to escape in groups were shot. So, she decided to go alone. She got advice from the townspeople about how the Germans guarded the border. And she went in the forest by herself and slowly made her way to Tulle without any papers. When she arrived in Tulle, she saw that Fernande and Norbert were wearing armbands and she quickly took them off. There were instances where the non-Jews were willing to help the Jews because of their struggling situation. Firstly, the non-Jewish mayor of Tulle knew that Fernande and Norbert were Jewish, but he promised to help to protect them as best as he could. Also, across the street from their apartment was a park that was next to a church. Norbert used to play in the park with other children, and the High Priest of the church came up to Norbert and told him that the church was on the other side of the wall, and if he ever needs help he can climb over the wall. It is no surprise that after this ordeal, my great uncle, Norbert, was quick to move to the United States. He was hoping for a life without struggle and he wanted to forget his past and move on with his life. Norbert quickly packed up what was left of his belongings and left. He had high hopes and nothing fell short to his expectations. Norbert loved it in America. The sense of freedom and free will was nothing he had ever tasted before. This is why now, he takes trips around the country, and the world, to express his freedom. He lives by the code to live each day to the fullest, like it was his last. This is why he does what he does. Norbert never had this life in Europe and says he is making up for lost time. At 83, he still believes he has time to make up. He is going on a cruise in 2 days.
 * Introduction:** It is nothing short of a surprise that if one asks a Holocaust Survivor for his story and immigration into the United State, the interviewer will get a long story with every last detail. I promised my Great Uncle that if I interview him, I have to share his whole story, details and all. He told me **his** story, and wants me to share **his entire** story; I am living up to his expectations.

David B

=Student X=

The person I chose to interview is someone very close to my heart: Hilary M, my mother. She was born and raised in South Africa, but at the age of 26, decided to leave her family and friends behind her. She moved to Israel for a few years, and from there came to America, her home ever since. My mother’s reason for coming to America was not a common one of most immigrants; in fact, she did not plan on staying here for more than six months. Mrs. M took a short leave of absence from her job in Israel to visit her great-aunt in Texas. Before arriving, my mother already had a preconceived notion of what America and her peoples would be like: loud, rude, uncaring individuals. Since she was raised in a tiny, suburban city, Mrs. M did not expect to make any friends or enjoy her time here. However, she soon was invited to a wedding in New York, where she met my father, and consequently decided to officially live here. Despite having a major incentive to stay, Mrs. M consistently found it difficult to continue to stay and live in this new country. Her hometown of South Africa had a tight knit community; everyone knew one another, and they were all caring, soft-spoken, gentle individuals. In New York, however, she found most of her neighbors to be rude and loud. Luckily, because of the years she had spent in Israel, my mother had become accustomed to external toughness and haughtiness. She knew how to peel off people’s facades, and slowly she gained many friends. Additionally, South Africa was warm and sunny year round, and there was always a picturesque beach within a few short steps. Brooklyn, where she was living in a dilapidated, putrid apartment, was dirty and pungent everywhere, with extreme weather year round. My mother somehow managed to adapt to this major change; she was willing to take a chilly, snowy day over the racism she witness in her childhood country. Life in America was much more than my mother ever expected. She came in thinking that she would not stay, but now, many years later, she has a happy family and a job as a medical technologist. America is completely different than the environment she was raised in, but she has come to enjoy America, along with its many flaws. My mother, despite having experienced hardships in the beginning, has come to enjoy being a citizen of this country, and is grateful for being able to live the American dream.

=Rachel Ro= I chose to interview my neighbor, Greg. Having lived across the street from Greg for years, I had always known that he had come from Russia. It was interesting for me to hear his story. Greg came from Russia during a time of extreme anti-Semitism. His family moved from Moscow to seek a better, freer life in America. He and his family are now living comfortably in America, with a great appreciation for the Jewish community they live in. Q: Where were you born? A: I was born in Moscow, Russia. Q: What’s your current occupation? A: I work in a bank. Q: When did you decide to immigrate? A: I came with my parents in 1981. Q: Did you immigrate with your family or by yourself? A: See above. Q: Why did you decide to immigrate? A: Because at the time in Russia, Jewish people were discriminated against, and at the same time, they were not allowed to have Jewish culture or religion. As a Jewish family, we sought out a place where we would be free to practice our religion freely. Q: What was the hardest thing about leaving? A: Leaving my grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and the rest of the family behind. I knew I would miss them terribly, and did not know if I would ever see them again. Q: Was the transition difficult? A: It was. I had to learn not just a new language, but a whole new culture. I also had to find new friends, and make do without family that was left behind. Moving to another town is difficult, but moving to another country proved to be even harder. Q: Is your life in America very different than before? Please explain. A: Absolutely different. From a religious perspective, a place like America, where Jews can live together, have many shuls, schools where every kid is Jewish, would have been unheard of. It is truly amazing to see such communities so prevalent all over America. Educationally, I was able to attend a much better university than I ever would have been able to do in Russia. Economically, America is a more affluent country with many more opportunities. Q: If given the option would you ever return to your native country? A: Never. In fact, even though I travel extensively, I did not even visit Russia once since 1981. I have no interest in returning. Q: Is your move to America all you envisioned it to be? A: Absolutely. America still is a unique place, a beacon of freedom and a land of opportunity for those willing to work for it. No other place is like it.

=Yael F = . – 10H2 - Immigrant Interview I interviewed my mother who is of English origins. She and my father moved from England to Israel. After living in Israel for quite a while they picked up me and my siblings and moved us to America. In this interview I questioned my mother about the transition from Israel to America. Yael F: What is your name, current job and home town? Debbie F: My name is Debbie F. I live in Teaneck, New Jersey. I work as a teacher in Ben Porat Yosef (A Jewish Day School in Paramus) YF: In what year did you immigrate to America and from where? DF: In October 1997 my family and I emigrated from Ra’anana, Israel. YF: You said you were living in Israel, for how long exactly? DF: For 13 years we lived in Israel. I was born and got married in England. We moved to Israel from England in 1984. YF: What were your jobs in both England and Israel before moving to the United States? DF: In England I worked as an elementary school teacher and in Israel I taught English to both children and adults in schools and offices. YF: Had you and your husband not found work in the States, do you believe you would have stayed in Israel? DF: We did not come to live in the US until my husband had secured a job here and once here I then began to look for work. You are not able to legally live and work here without a sponsor therefore my husband’s company sponsored us. YF: Had you been to America before you moved here? If so, what did you expect from your travels to America? Did it live up to your expectations? DF: We had visited Canada and the US once before planning to come and live here. We had no expectations except for needing to make a living and to be able to support our family and that we successfully did. YF: Why did you specifically move to American and not England, where you are originally from? DF: It was purely a matter of where we could find work and in England at that time there was certain unemployment. Also my sister already lived here so we were coming to family. YF: Were you upset about leaving Israel or were you excited to establish a new life in another country? DF: I was very sad to leave Israel, our very good friends who became like our family, and the way of life that I had become very accustomed to. It was certainly a challenge to begin a new life in another country. YF: During your first few months of arrival, what were a few of the differences that you noticed between America and Israel? DF: I noticed that people’s houses were never open, there was not so much of the outdoor living that I was used to and the economy was much more stable in America than in Israel – THEN! YF: You mentioned that you left behind lots of friends and family. Was there one thing that made it easier for you to take your family to live in a totally new environment? DF: Our children were fully accepted into their new schools and made new friends very easily which made it very much easier for everyone in the family. YF: How were your experiences with having to adapt to a totally new lifestyle in America? Did you find it to be totally different or similar in some ways? DF: It took time to adapt to a totally new lifestyle but having my sister already living here helped make my adjustment easier. When both my husband and I both had full time employment we began to feel part of the country and were happy to give. YF: Was it simple to deal with the American government in terms of paper work and becoming American citizens? DF: For quite a while we had been living in the country on working Visas. Unfortunately we applied for green cards after the attacks on 9/11 so it took a long time for us to receive the green cards. We are currently green card holders and intend on applying to be citizens in the near future. YF: So you’ve been living in the states for 13 years now. How does it feel different now that you’ve established a whole life here? DF: We all feel extremely fulfilled and grateful that all has turned out so well. We had not anticipated that everyone would be so welcoming and the transformation be so easy. Thankfully all has been such a blessing.

=Rachel Bl= Andres N. was born, raised, and lived much of his adult life in Venezuela. As a young boy, school and education were emphasized in his household, as well as in other wealthy households. His grandparents were immigrants from Europe and had merchant type jobs. They worked hard to create a better life for their children; the only way they saw a better life was through education. In the 1950s, Andres’s father received a scholarship from Kellogg’s® and went to Cornell Medical School to became a doctor. Andres’s brother was born in America but after his father’s education was completed, they returned to Venezuela, where Andres and his sister were born. The generation of Andres’s parents had jobs as professionals, like lawyers, doctors, engineers, and architects.

Andres’s childhood focus was on education and school, but he wanted to further his schooling in America. In 1979, after marrying Beatriz, he moved to Palo Alto, California to attend graduate school at Stanford University. While he was studying there, Beatriz completed her undergraduate degree in a small school near Stanford University. Surprisingly enough, they knew very little English. In the four years they lived in California, they learned the language and fell in love with the country.

However, in 1983, Andres and Beatriz moved back to Venezuela and began working. Andres worked for the company Raychem, which is a California based company, and Beatriz worked for an American bank. At the time, the economy was booming and life was good in Venezuela. In 1988, their oldest daughter Esther was born. At this time, the family was living in Caracas, the nation’s capital, with three housekeepers, a cook, and a baby nurse. In 1990, their second daughter Ilana was born.

By 1990, the streets of Venezuela were becoming unsafe. The country was suffering from an economic downturn and the gap was widening between the rich and the poor. “You would have to leave your house with money,” said Andres, “if you didn’t, the assailants would shoot you.” The judicial system, which was never reliable in Venezuela, was now losing all its power over the people and it could not stop the poor from attacking the wealthier class. Even though the streets were unsafe, businesses and homes were doing well.

Nevertheless, the family knew they needed to leave Venezuela. Without much thought or consideration, they packed all of their belongings, and in the summer of 1996, moved to New York using their tourist visas. They told Esther and Ilana that they were going for summer vacation and that it would extend into the winter. For them, the hardest adjustments were the weather and the culture. Venezuelan weather is constantly warm and their daughters refused to wear coats, even in below freezing weather. Culturally, Venezuelans are more conservative than Americans, and Venezuelans have a stronger familial structure. Andres and Beatriz were expecting the “best country in the world,” and when they arrived here, they felt they had made it into the “best country in the world.”

The family is happy about their move to America. Because of the poor economy in Venezuela, Andres and Beatriz are still not able to sell their house in Caracas. Most of their friends have left but very few, including Beatriz’s mother and youngest sister, have stayed. Although they are happy about the move, the family hurts to see their native country fail. On a recent visit to Venezuela, Beatriz said, “if I were to take my daughters back there today, they would remember everything: Nothing has changed.”

=Haley S=

__Lily’s Immigration Story__ My grandmother, Lily is an American immigrant. She left Cuba for the promised of freedom and liberty in America. She came to America longing for a safer place to live without the troubles of the unstable government she left behind. Fidel Castro had promised change but led the country into becoming a socialist republic while invoking violent out brakes. The desire to prosper and accomplish motivated Lily’s emigration from Cuba. Seeing the poverty of today’s Cuban citizens reminds my grandmother daily of the difficult life she could be living today. Lily went to elementary school in Cuba where she learned Hebrew, Spanish, Yiddish and English. She also went through five years of high school and started to go to college to become an accountant. At that time Batista was in power and things were getting rough. There were large protests and the university was closed down. Her uncle who worked in the fur business sent money to Cuba for visas. In 1957 my grandmother left Cuba with her brother Jack and went to the United States. When she came to America, she first lived in the Bronx with her Uncle David. When asked about her feelings on immigrating, Lily said that she was excited and happy, never nervous. “A lot of American students used to come to Cuba on vacation and I would talk with them. I also belonged to an American club, so I heard many wonderful things about America.” – Lily. My grandmother really wanted to continue her education but her uncle advised her to get married first. Lily’s grades were even sent to New York University but her dream of continuing her education did not materialize. She met my grandfather in 1957, got married, and two years later started their family. When her oldest son began college, he advised her to go back to school. However, juggling school, a family and career was too difficult. My grandmother was determined to live a fulfilling life despite the fact that she had not completed her college education. To help support her family, Lily started to work in a beauty parlor as a hair stylist. To help ease the burden of a career and family, she started to see clients in the basement of her home. My grandmother went on to work as a saleswoman in department stores to support her family until the age of 67, when she retired. When asked about her life in America, Lily said that she had accomplished all the she had hoped to except for one thing. She wanted to continue her education and become an architect. But she feels that she has made up for this loss through family and the friends that she has made in America. America has given my grandmother and so many other immigrants a safe to live and grow. In return, my grandmother has brought culture and diversity, a fundamental aspect on which our country was developed, to the United States. The early centuries of America are characterized by the immigration of all types of nationalities which have combined to become today’s culture as we know it. Lily brought her determination with her from Cuba and became one of the hard working citizens, all of which are vital to the nation’s economy and existence. Her dedication to religion has helped to strengthen Judaism in the Diaspora and especially in the United States. Weather she shows her support by serving as a member on her shul’s board and sisterhood, advocating for Israel or sending her kids to a Jewish school, Lily has undoubtedly helped to spread the livelihood of Judaism. There is no need for monumental events to take place in order to show an immigrants impact in America. It is a culmination of the small details that make immigrants a crucial part of our society.

=Amanda S=

Immigration to a foreign country can be extremely difficult for many reasons. Learning the language, adapting to the new culture, finding work and starting a family are some of the hardships that face a number of people immigrating to America every year. My grandmother Helen had an unusually easy time adapting to the many life changing experiences that a new country brings. She was born in Belgium however at age three her family moved to England due to the hardships of World War II. Helen’s mother had a British passport which allowed her entire family access to an English home due to her previous stay in Palestine, which was under the British mandate at that time. My grandmother recalls her childhood as bittersweet. Her early years were full of much fear because of the constant German air raids on London. The cities were blacked out at night and when a siren alarmed the town of an incoming bomb, the people flocked to the safe shelters in the streets or if unable to make it to the shelter, hiding under the emergency steel table was “plan B”. Helen remembers when her mother threw her under the steel table when a plane flew over the house sounding very low and dangerous. She was only eight years old and remembers the terror in her mother’s eyes for the life of her child. Helen did not attend a yeshiva as a young girl for that type of institution did not exist in her area at the time. She attended a public school in London where she encountered much anti-Semitism. She was spat on and called mean names by her anti-Semitic peers and she did not enjoy learning in the harsh environment. In 1947, after the war, she was able to attend a Yeshiva, rare at the time, which was in a private house on her street. The Hasmeanean Yeshiva provided my grandmother with a happy and supporting environment in which she strived to do her best in her studies and her personal life. She recounts that these years of her childhood were by far the best and the sweetness among the bitterness. At age fourteen, her mother passed away due to terrible illness. As the youngest of eight children, her father had much to deal with. Her two sisters had already immigrated to America and her father had decided to return to his family in Belgium. At nineteen, Helen did not want to learn a new language at that time in her life and have to start over completely. She also missed her dear sisters. In that year of 1956, she decided she would immigrate to the United States to start a fresh life without the depressing feeling of emptiness she had in England and her birthplace, caused by the traumatic death of her mother. She made a deal with her father that he must come to the states to join her if she found she liked her new life. She did like her new life in America so a few years later her father came to join her. However he found it harder to adjust to the foreign land so he moved back to Belgium and met a woman, later to become Helen’s step mother. Before her life changing ship ride across the Atlantic, Helen had some trepidations and fears of moving. Helen wanted desperately to see her sisters again but she feared the cowboys and Indians she heard about and the inevitable adjustment period. However, as soon as the torch of the Statue of Liberty was in her view on the ship deck at five o’ clock in the morning, and she saw the life of the city buzzing ahead she felt instantaneously happy. The colored cars and tall skyscrapers were indicative to her of her new life and how America symbolized a newfound responsibility and independence for her. Despite the similarities she found between English culture and the American lifestyle, Helen found herself loving the States even more. Her fear of a hard adjustment was overcome, for people loved her British accent and she was accepted into society with open arms. Helen was able to find work right away at a Jewelry firm, first as a secretary, then as the receptionist because people felt at home with her lovely accent. Aside from the warm treatment she received by the people, Helen found adjusting to the new scene easier because of her skills and family ties. She is fluent in three languages; English, Flemish and French, and her two sisters were her caretakers for a short period of time. Eventually she found a husband. “I wanted to marry a Yankee”, she told me, and the irony is that my grandfather was a Polish immigrant who had become a “Yankee” shortly before meeting my grandmother. Helen regretted the fact that she missed out on completing high school and missed the opportunity to go to college as well. So while raising two young girls, at age forty, she attended Queens College Night School where she got a degree in accounting and management. Going back to school was a major accomplishment that came as a surprise to her. In England, once your youth was gone and you had a family, going back to school for an education was not done or accepted amongst society. Raising a family in America was wonderful, she said. She and her husband could afford to send their children to a Yeshiva, she had a part time job at Hadassa and every summer the family would spend time at the bungalow colonies in the nearby countryside. Helen is very happy with her decision to immigrate to America because she was able to find herself in developing a successful career and in creating a beautiful family.
 * __Helen's Journey to America__**

=Rachel Re= Tirtza is a mother of three boys, a graduate of Queens College and an employee of Bank of New York. Unless one heard her speak Spanish, or speak of her childhood, no one would guess that Tirtza immigrated to the United States from Caracas, Venezuela at age eighteen. Yet the eighteen year old moved here, without family in hopes of becoming a dynamic American citizen. As a dynamic American citizen, Tirtza has brought the community together through trials and tribulations. Tirtza's immigration from Caracas to New York was uneventful but life changing. Tirtza's immigration was uneventful because her visa was provided by Queens College, where she attended school. At Queens College Tirtza studied computers. Using her education she became a programmer analyst for Bank of New York. Tirtza's education in the United States has allowed her to progress much further in society than an education in Venezuela would have allowed. Along with education benefits Tirtza's immigration cam with safety benefits. In Caracas Tirtza was mugged multiple times. Her family's home had multiple locks on every door and the locks were constantly locked. In New York Tirtza felt safe and secure. “In New York there is crime” she said, “ but it is nothing like the crime in Caracas.” In New York Tirtza's dorm had only one lock and while she locked it, she did not feel it necessary to constantly check that the lock was locked as she checked the locks in Venezuela. Tirtza left her hometown with high hopes. She hoped for a good education and the American dream. Tirtza achieved the American dream of a car in every garage and a chicken in every pot through hard work. Tirtza's husband, three kids, and lovely house are a testament to that. Her dream of a better education and a good job were achieved through her work in school. Tirtza feels that everyone can achieve their dream through hard work and perseverance. The philosophy that helped Tirtza get through the immigration process was “life in New York is fast paced so adjust.” She didn't concentrate on the bad only the good, the present and the future. Tirtza's forward thinking philosophy allowed her to achieve her goals. Candide, of Voltaire's //Candide,// believed that everything was for the best even when all was bad, and therefore didn't do anything to get out of a bad situation. Tirtza had a realistic expectation of the United States and dealt with what came to her in a positive but not overly optimistic way. While her forward thinking philosophy helped her for the most part Tirtza held onto her sense of humor which helped her deal with the not so great days of being a new immigrant. Once she was traveling and the school had not stamped her visa so she was stopped at customs. The officer asked, “How do I know you aren't surfing in Hawaii?” Tirtza replied, “Do I look like I've been surfing?” Tirtza has achieved much since her immigration to the United States. She achieved a good education, a safer life and the American dream. Through her perseverance, optimism and sense of humor she adjusted to a new life. Tirtza took every opportunity she got, laughed at every mistake and did her best to do her best. Her results have been happiness and joy from her job, family and home. Tirtza is a living embodiment of a dynamic American citizen.

=Alex Y=
 * __Gerardo's Immigrant Story__**

I decided to do my project on my father, Gerardo, because he is an example of someone who came from nothing and who now lives a comfortable life. Gerardo sustained many hardships, and against all odds, became a successful family man with a job that he loves. Anyone who reads this interview should realize the determination it takes to become successful and should be inspired to always live up to their potential.

Gerardo was born in, and grew up in Mexico City, Mexico. His parents, both at the age of 14 migrated from the perils of the Holocaust in their hometown of Poland. Two years after their marriage in Mexico, Gerardo’s mother gave birth to him at a local hospital. Ironically, Gerardo was born on the day known as the three Kings Day in Mexico, //Día de Reyes.// Even though Gerardo was born on the day of the three kings, he certainly did not live the life of a king. His parents both managed a catering business that provided the family with just enough money to get by. Living in poverty, Gerardo can only remember one gift he was ever given in Mexico by his parents. Moreover, Gerardo lived with three younger girls. This definitely wasn’t comfortable for him but as he said, “I learned how to survive.”

Gerardo found his safe heaven, school, at the age of eight. Gerardo thrived as a student, and he certainly loved learning anything he could get his hands on. Gerardo elaborated, “It was unbelievable how many books I was reading every week. Whether it was English, Spanish, or Hebrew, I was reading two or three books a week. Even my parents were surprised. They would tell me, ‘Gerardo, how many books do you need to read?’” It was clear that Gerardo loved school. Gerardo realized at a young age that his success in school would help him start a new life, and he concentrated a lot on all of his studies. Aside from school, he also loved sports. Growing up in Mexico, he learned to love what every other Mexican loves: Soccer. Gerardo was the captain of his team in high school and was a very great goaltender. Everyday during school Gerardo would play soccer. “I remember we would be in the bus going to play another team, and my teammates would laugh at me because I was reading all the time. I couldn’t help myself.”

Once Gerardo reached college, he realized that there was no future for him in Mexico. If he wanted to be successful, he knew he needed to attend a graduate school in the United States. Therefore, Gerardo worked his hardest in school to achieve the best possible grades. During his junior year, Gerardo decided he wanted to become a dentist, and applied to NYU Dental School. He said, “I was very nervous because I had never been to school in America. But I knew that I had good enough grades, and when I got accepted I was very happy for my family.” Gerardo moved in with cousins of his mother in America, and attended his Dental School five blocks away. It was there in Dental School that Gerardo met his wife, Perla. Perla, from Caracas, Venezuela, was born to a wealthy family. Thankfully, Gerardo’s father in law was able to support Gerardo and help him through Dental School. When he graduated, he and Perla opened a dental office in Brooklyn, NY, where they still work today. Gerardo commented that, “It was a dream come true,” for him. Everything that he had worked for starting from his childhood paid off.

Once his career started to thrive, Gerardo now started to concentrate on building a family. Gerardo bought a house in Englewood, NJ, and his wife later gave birth to two girls and one boy. When asked about joining a new community in Englewood, Gerardo said, "I though it would be hard to integrate myself into the community, but thankfully everyone was very welcoming. I felt as if I had never left home." Gerardo made it clear that it was the community in Englewood that helped him settle in. He admitted that he was very scared, because he didn't know how the differences in the Jewish communities in Mexico and America would affect him. However, Gerardo moved in fine and sent his kids to school. He added, “When it was time for my kids to begin school, I remembered how important my schooling was. I made sure to put them in a nice Jewish school that also had good education. Hopefully they will realize how much hard work pays off.”

Overall, there was always one lesson Gerardo wanted people to learn from his life. Gerardo wanted to be a model for others and for his children, for them to see the efforts and hardships that he endured in his life. Many people who were born Jewish in Mexico don't enjoy their life like Gerardo is enjoying his. He attributes that completely to his dedication and persistence in his studies. Gerardo ended the interview with one last statement. “I want people to realize that education is their ticket to success. You see, its not what you come from in life, its what you make of the situation you are put in. Its not money that makes someone happy. It is the satisfaction that you are constantly getting to bigger and better things in life through hard work.”

=Rikki B= = = Edvard is a Russian immigrant who moved to America because he wanted the opportunities America had to offer. When Edvard was fifteen years old he moved to Israel from Russia, to escape Jewish persecution. In Russia, he not only felt persecuted but also was unable to attend the school of his chose due to his religion. Edvard was very courageous young boy that felt strongly for his religious freedom, and would let nothing interfere with his education; therefore he departed to Israel all by himself, with no family or friends. In Israel he lived with relatives and attended high school. After completing high school he joined the Israel Defense Force and was a soldier for three years. To Edvard being in the army was one of the greatest accomplishments he ever achieved. After his three years of service in the army, Edvard attended University where he received a degree in accounting. Edvard worked in Israel as an accountant, and at age thirty Edvard immigrated to America, again by himself. In America, Edvard became at CPA controller at Lucille Roberts, a fitness center for women, where he still works till this day. Edvard came to America with the philosophy of an open mind, a very optimistic feeling of hope. Upon coming to America Edvard was hoping that he would be able to acquire opportunities that America was known for presenting. Coming originally from a communist country, Edvard feels the one major difference between Russia and America is the freedom of religion America has to offer. As Jews in America, we must take a step back and realize how lucky we are to have freedom of religion and be able to worship our G-d freely without persecution, something Edvard was unable to do as a young child. Another difference Edvard feels between Russia and America is the propaganda that takes place in Russia. For Edvard propaganda in Russia was a staring difference between America and Russia, which makes Americas the great place it is today. After living in America for twenty years, Edvard has come a long way. He has learned the English language but still encounters s a language barrier. He continues to work as a CPA controller, and has a Russian wife who also immigrated to America many years ago. Together they have an eleven-year-old daughter, and a home in Brooklyn. To Edvard being married, having a daughter and a home is one of his greatest accomplishments in America. Although for Edvard life in America has been exactly what he expected, he stills regrets immigrating to America. Unfortunately, due to the current economic crisis Edvard is scared of losing his job, and being unemployed. For him specifically, unemployment is extremely terrifying because having a language barrier and looking for a job in America is very difficult. In the back of Edvard mind he sometimes still wishes he never immigrated from Israel. He feels in Israel he would be financially better off and would be living in his homeland. Although Edvard regrets moving to America, at the time being is happy with his job, family, and his life full of American opportunities.
 * Edvard Moves to America**

Rikki B

=Elana= Gustav's Journey to America

Gustav was born in 1890 in Schenklengsfeld, Germany. When he was thirteen, he left Schenklengsfeld and moved to Hersseld, Germany to go to school. After he graduated high school, he volunteered for the German army. He was a Quarter Master in World War I. He dealt with transport of food and supplies. He was based out of Russia and his job was to send live chickens with the soldiers returning to Germany because Germany had a low food supply. He received an Iron Cross, a very impressive honor in the German Army, for all of his service in World War I. While Gustav was fighting in the army, his father sent him a letter saying that he should always be honest, correct, and religious so he wouldn't be considered by other people a "dirty Jew." This letter impacted his life in everything he did. After the war he married Lina and moved to Frankfurt, Germany where they had two daughters, Katie and Inge. He worked for the Board of Trade in Frankfurt and was successful at everything he did with regard to his occupation. He was the Parnus, the leader, of his synagogue. In 1933, when Hitler came to power in Germany, life didn't look too good for the Jews. Gustav had the foresight to realize that he had to leave Germany with his family. Gustav decided to send his father in-law, Anseln, to Kansas City, Missouri to make living plans for Gustav and his family. Anseln made arrangements for Gustav and his family to immigrate to America. In Germany, Gustav had a very important and meaningful conversation with a non-Jewish merchant. The merchant said "I tell you in confidence that you should leave Germany." Gustav said back " I tell you in confidence that I have already made preparations to leave." The merchant replied, "I envy you." In 1936, Gustav and his family left for America. They first traveled from Germany to Lehavre, France. In France, they went on a ship, named the Brittanic, to New York. From New York, Gustav and his family took a train to Kansas City, Missouri where they were going to live. Gustav and his family officially moved to Kansas City. A kind man, Paul, got Gustav a job as a night watcher at a train station despite the fact that there was a depression in America. A few years after Gustav was already living in America, he began to establish his own cleaning supply company. Gustav was very involved in his synagogue and was on the board of rituals. Later on in life, he moved to Toledo, Ohio to be geographically close to his daughter, Inge. He passed away in 1970. Gustav was also very brave to leave Germany. He was very successful in Germany and moved to America, which at the time was suffering from the Great Depression. He had to leave almost all of his possessions back in Germany. He gave his entire life up to move to America in order to allow his ancestors to live a free life in America instead of perishing in the Holocaust. Gustav didn’t expect anything great in America. He knew that he wouldn’t be as successful in America than what he was in Germany. Gustav just hoped for the best in America and prayed that everything will turn out fine. Gustav’s philosophy is in a way similar and not similar to Pangloss’ theory that everything happens for the best. Gustav’s philosophy is similar because Gustav was optimistic about America. In a way Gustav’s philosophy isn’t like Pangloss’. Gustav didn’t think that everything happened for the best. He didn’t think that Hitler came to power for a good reason. Everything did turn out fine in the end in America. Even though he wasn’t as successful in America as he was in Germany, he still got to raise his family in a peaceful and safe country.

Jake Lailah was born in Mexico, but, for financial reasons, she and her family decided to move to America. Her grandmother was sick and they did not have enough money to pay her medical bills. It has been almost two years since they moved and they have slowly been settling into American society and culture. When she moved here, Lailah knew next to no English. However, with much practice and patience, she was able to quickly learn enough to go to school and continue her life in her new country. Most everything she did when she first immigrated took much more work than it would have taken her in Mexico. “Obviously, learning the language was very difficult, but catching up in school, figuring out my new neighborhood, and even making new friends was also very difficult,” Lailah explained. She has actually done a very good job integrating into her new community. In many ways, she is now just like any other student at Frisch. Lailah hangs out with friends, works hard in school, and enjoys a number of extracurricular activities, her favorite being the fashion club. Lailah says living in America is very different from living in Mexico. For starters, she used to live on a farm. Lailah said to me “I used to help out my dad a lot. I did things like feed the goats. I really enjoyed that. Here, we have a very different life. Sometimes I miss my old life, but the only thing to do is to keep on looking forward.” She really does like America, though. There are opportunities here that would have been impossible for her back in Mexico. The education is much better here and her chances for a higher education are greater. However, this does not stop her from missing her old home. “Everything is different here. The food is different. The people talk different. People even seem to move different. Everything is faster in America. Everyone is always in a rush. I don’t like that.” When I asked her if she was happy with her family’s decision to move to America, her response was mixed. She said she likes her new friends and home, but they will never be able to completely replace her old home and friends. “America is a great country, no doubt about it, but it still doesn’t quite feel like my home yet.” When Lailah came to the United States, she needed to work hard. Learning English was no small accomplishment especially since she knew so little to start with. This work ethic permeated every aspect of her life. She worked at school and at home to adapt to her new culture and society. This drive to succeed helped her accomplish even more than she thought she could. “There was a time when I thought I would never be able to learn everything I needed to fit in with everybody else. At some point, though, it just happened. I had figured it all out and everything got easier. I was so happy when I realized I had really managed to come to a new country and had successfully started my life over.” Lailah owns the story of a successful immigrant. While she may miss her old home, she still loves and appreciates her new one. Next summer, she plans to visit Mexico. “I will be sad when we leave, but I will be happy to return to my home in America.” It seems Lailah has accepted America as her country and looks forward to her new life here. =Daniella Goldberg= The person I am interviewing is Shimon Balsam. He is unique because he emigrated from Israel, instead of immigrating to Israel. His reason for immigrating to the United States is purely his compassion for others. After making aliyah to Israel from Germany in 1994, he realized how difficult the aliyah journey truly is. Because of this realization, Shimon decided to move to the United States to help young couples, developed families, and older couples help them accomplish their lifelong dream of moving to the holy land of Israel.

Daniella: What do you do to help these families and individuals immigrate to Israel? Shimon Balsam: Well the process to aliyah is quite difficult. First off, many families in the United States feel that they cannot make immediate aliyah and become Israeli citizens. Instead, they want to move to Israel for a year or two to try out their new homes. After a brief period of time they decide to either move back to their hometowns or stay in Israel and become full-fledged Israeli citizens. I feel that my job in these situations is to help find these people homes, jobs and to introduce them to the surroundings of their new homes.

D: How did you feel about your aliyah journey? SB: It had always been a dream of mine to move to Israel, but the journey took away from some of the specialness. Aliyah should be a once in a lifetime opportunity available to all, but I feel that that pathway to aliyah can be simpler.

D: What were your years in Israel like? SB: My years in Israel were quite difficult. I couldn’t find an occupation as an accountant, so I switched fields to the banking world. I found a job at an American bank, which led to my immigration to America.

D: What is the difference between immigration to Israel and immigration to America? SB: Well I realized my mistakes when I immigrated to Israel and corrected them when I immigrated to America. I didn’t have any knowledge of any family members in Israel, which would’ve made my immigration easier. My mother’s sisters escaped the Holocaust by running to America and my mother found them after her survival. Although my mother remained in Germany, she still kept in touch with her sisters. My mother made sure they knew her sisters and their children knew my family and I was moving to America and they helped us find a home and a job for myself. We lived in an apartment in Israel, which seemed small and cramped after a few weeks with only two children. After moving to America, we found a beautiful home in a suburb in New York.

D: What effect did all of this moving have on your children? SB: Well they were both young at the time, Sarah was two, and Michael was four, so they didn’t fully comprehend the situation. It was a little easier for us because the Jewish schools in Israel are public, while in America they cost a more significant amount.

D: If your children would one day like to make aliyah on their own, would you approve? SB: First, I would make sure my children understand what they are doing. If they really believe in moving to Israel then I would fully approve. My situation in Israel is much different than most, it was just an unfortunate time to move. It should only effect my passion for helping others with their move. It should not effect their opinion of moving. Israel is a beautiful land and everyone should dream to live there. My place in the world was just to help people make aliyah, not make aliyah myself. In Israel, we became close with some of our neighbors and stayed close with them until today. If my children were to one day make their own aliyah, I would help them and so would these families. My efforts to help families ease their aliyah would also be put forth to help my children.

=Ariel A= Me: Hello everybody. My name is Ariel and today I will be interviewing my father, Emanuel, who immigrated to America from Iran. Welcome Father. Tell us about yourself and your life in Iran.

Dad: Certainly. I was born in Iran in 1958, and am the oldest of 9 children. My father sold clothes while my mother stayed at home and took care of me, my seven brothers, and my sister. To be a Jew in Iran was very hard. We were considered second class citizens, and could never really hold any prominent positions in any type of government. From age eleven I had to help my father at work because my family was not doing well economically. At the same time, my mother prepared to fulfill the dream of going to America - which I am proud to say is fulfilled - by teaching me and my brothers the ABC’s.

Me: Wow, I can see your family struggled. If you don’t mind, can you tell me what you thought of America at the time and why you wanted to immigrate?

Dad: Like I said before, we were considered second class citizens, so by the time I came of age I realized that my mother was right and that we should immigrate as soon as possible in order to enjoy a more equal life with a much better education.

Me: I see your family was very determined. Now tell us about what you did when you got to America. I can’t wait to hear.

Dad: I arrived in Massachusetts with a student visa when I was twenty three years old. I only had $500 to my name, and nobody knew me except my other brother who lived in New Jersey. I began to attend Worcester State College, and paid for the tuition as well as the one room apartment I got a hold of by doing many different jobs that I’m not planning on doing again.

Me: So if you were so far away from New Jersey and only had $500 then how did our entire family end up in New Jersey?

Dad: I was getting to that. Thanks to my brother in New Jersey eventually getting a hold of me and the money from the many jobs I worked adding up my brother and I rented an apartment in Wallington, New Jersey. We had to share everything, but it was worth it since I was at least with someone I knew.

Me: And you two managed to remain Jewish while in this desolate neighborhood and terrible financial condition?

Dad: Yes we did. The main reason for such a miracle was that Wallington turned out to be crawling with Jewish immigrants from many different countries, allowing us to all come together and celebrate every holiday properly. So anyways, soon after moving did I remember about my education, and so I enrolled in the New Jersey Institute of Technology in pursue of an engineering degree. And like before, I would work in order to pay for the tuition. A few years later I had earned enough money to send for the rest of my family in Iran, and I did just that. Unfortunately, very few mementoes remain because I got my family out of Iran at the start of the Iranian Revolution, causing almost everything we owned to be left back at Iran, so I barely have any mementoes of back then. But it was worth it, because eventually I graduated, became a legitimate American citizen, got married, and had you and your three siblings. I am now a happy Iranian-American father working as a businessman and living in New Jersey.

Me: Wow so that’s how we all ended up here. I just have one last question. Was America what you expected?

Dad: Honestly, yes. I expected America to be the home of the free, and I am happy to say that regardless of what people say about America, the one undeniable fact is that everyone is free here. In Iran Jews were second class citizens and all women, regardless of religion, could not walk the streets without a covering on their faces. In Iran Moslem men held all the prominent positions, while in America everybody has an equal chance of rising to such a position. To put it briefly, I expected for endless opportunities in America for myself as well as my family, and fortunately, those expectations were met. Me: Thank you for your time, I have learned a great deal from the interview.

Dad: My pleasure, son. toc

= = = PEER REVIEW GUIDE =

// Please relate to some or all of the following questions asked below. They are meant to guide your response – but feel free to add other comments as well. You are not being asked to edit, or comment on the technical aspects of the writing. //


 * How does the writer desribe her/his subject's motivation for immigrating?
 * Does the writer capture the unique qualities of her subject? What are they?
 * How does the background information provided enrich or broaden your understanding of the immigrant profiled above?
 * How has this project influenced your perception of the quintessential immigrant?
 * What have you learned about the responsibility of a citizen to his community?
 * What is/are the project's greatest strength(s)? What are its weakest aspects? Explain.