Browse Items (15 total)
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Interview with Victoria Truong
This interview between Victoria Truong and Kaitlyn Kim explore Truong’s personal experiences and perspectives on immigration, highlighting the adversity of leaving a communist country in search of a better life. Truong discussed her experiences as a Vietnamese refugee in the US throughout her childhood, young adulthood, and adult life. She shares stories about her family dynamics and her difficult upbringing due to her socioeconomic status. Her strong belief in freedom and opportunity explains her appreciativeness for America, and throughout the interview Truong reiterates how she is grateful for where she is today, despite all the hardships she has faced.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course IMMR400 (Spring 2024). This course was led by Professor Colleen Woods of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies.
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Interview with Oleg Obolensky
This interview between Claire O’Donnell and Oleg Obolensky discusses Oleg’s journey from Russia to the United States in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to complete postdoc research for one year on a J-1 visa. After he returned back to Russia, Oleg then traveled back to Pittsburgh to continue his research with an NSF NATO funded grant opportunity. In Pittsburgh, Oleg had his first son; then, he returned to Russia after one and a half years after his grant expired. After four months in Russia, Oleg moved to Frankfurt, Germany to work at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies. After remaining in Germany for a few years and having his second child, once Oleg’s first son reached school age, his family moved to permanently settle in Rockville, Maryland, where he currently works at the National Institute of Health. By mapping and sharing his immigration journey, Oleg describes assimilation into the United States compared to Germany and living through the collapse of the Soviet Union. Throughout this discussion, Oleg discusses how he received each work opportunity as being based on “luck”, presenting a theme of things happening to him by chance. Oleg’s story offers insights into how after the Fall of the Soviet Union, scientific collaboration between scientists in Russia, the United States, and Germany worked together to bridge research. In turn, these insights reveal how each scientific endeavor influenced Oleg’s immigration story.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course IMMR400 (Spring 2024). This course was led by Professor Colleen Woods of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Fucheng Li
This interview with Fucheng Li goes over his life experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Guangdong, China. Fucheng immigrated to the U.S. in 2012 at the age of 12, after his father immigrated to the U.S. 25 years prior due to a work opportunity. A major part of Fucheng’s life has been schooling, so he discusses the differences in education between China and the U.S. In addition, his past life in China allows him to comment on cultural and societal norms/practices surrounding his community in China. His experiences as an immigrant may be applicable to and even assist other immigrant children adapting to life in the United States, especially those who do not have a comprehensive grasp on English.
***This interview is restricted to the University of Maryland College Park's campus. For more information, contact the Center for Global Migration Studies (globalmigration@umd.edu).***
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2021). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Long Van Le and Tuyet Phoung Thi Ha
Presented here are the transcripts of two interviews. The first is between David Le and his father Long Van Le and the second is between David Le and his mother, Tuyet Phuong Thi Ha. David interviews each of his parents about their experiences in Vietnam and the United States, exploring childhood, family, feelings, adjustment, and how they got to America. They demonstrate how two people from the same place can experience their journeys as immigrants quite differently.
***This interview is restricted to the University of Maryland College Park's campus. For more information, contact the Center for Global Migration Studies (globalmigration@umd.edu).***
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2021). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Gloria-Ines Acosta
This interview between Adam Flesher and Gloria-Inés Acosta dives into Mrs. Acosta’s immigration experience from Barranquilla, Colombia to Baltimore, Maryland in 1978 when she was just seven years old.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2020). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of "Monica Geller"
This interview between Austin Kleber and "Monica Geller" (pseudonym) explores Monica's experience as an immigrant in the United States. She speaks about the cultural differences she had to navigate as well as the isolation and sadness that accompanied her move into a new country and new community. -
Interview of Lambert Aryee
This interview between Lambert Aryee and Sebastian Luna explores Lambert's experiences migrating from Ghana to the United States as a child. Lambert discusses the cultural differences, efforts to assimilate, and his blended family structure.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 428M (Spring 2019). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Ilias Eliezer
This interview between William Weihnacht and Ilias Eliezer explores Ilias' experiences moving to the United States from Greece to attend the University of Maryland. Their conversation spans topics like differences in educational styles between countries, cultural norms, and international cuisine. Ilias also delves into the supportive roles that his family members have played in his journey and the inspiration to follow in his father's footsteps.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M (Spring 2018). This course was led by Professor Anne S. Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Adelin Franck Nguimfack
This interview of Adelin Franck Nguimfack, a Cameroon immigrant to the United States, explores his childhood in Cameroon and his immigration to the U.S. as a teenager. Adelin discusses differences in culture between the U.S. and Cameroon, the legacies of colonialism in Cameroon, religion, education, and cultural traditions. [Please note there is no audio file with this interview, only a PDF transcript.]
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course THET489V (Spring 2018). This course was led by Professor Esther Lee of the Theater Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Anto Meliksetian
This interview of Anto Meliksetian, a Syrian immigrant to the United States, explores how Anto copes with the Syrian refugee crisis through performance art. Anto discusses his experiences leaving Aleppo, Syria to come to the United States for college, and reflects upon the continuing crisis in Syria, education, imaginings of America, and cultural differences in food and social practices.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M: "Oral History of Immigration" (Spring 2018). This course was led by Professor Anne Rush of the History Department, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies.