Browse Items (14 total)
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Interview with Lizzett Contreras
This interview between Daniela Lopez and Lizzett Contreras explores Lizzett’s experiences growing up in El Salvador, her family dynamics, and the reasons behind their immigration to the United States. Contreras provides vivid insights into her childhood, education, and the challenges her family faced due to the political unrest in their home country.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST 465 (Spring 2024). 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.
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Interview of Rima Assake
This interview between Maya Assaker and Rima Assaker discusses her life as a child and into adulthood, regarding her experiences in Beirut, Lebanon before and during their civil war in 1975. When she was eight years old, her family finally left their country and immigrated to the DMV in the United States. Rima focuses a lot on her perspective as a child in war, and later shares what it is like to try and assimilate to US culture as an obvious foreigner. She describes how her two cultures clashed. She highlights the importance of finding a sense of community and being proud of one’s culture.
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 Jeannette Gasca
This interview between Diego Plazas and Jeannette Gasca discusses Jeannette’s experience immigration from Columbia to the US in the 90s amidst a civil war. Jeannette talks about her career path and how she had to change careers due to the language barrier in the US. Jeannette also talks about life in Columbia when she was a child and what Columbia is like for her family still there now. Jeannette emphasizes the importance of education for everyone.
This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course IMMR 400 (Spring 2022). This course was led by Professor Robert Chiles of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, and was sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. -
Interview of Faizah Haddad
This interview between Anthony Hassan and Faizah Haddad follows the life of Faizah as she grew up as a Catholic girl in apredominantly Islamic nation of Jordan and her immigration to the United States.
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 Malindi Lankatilleke
This interview between Mavishka Lankatilleke and Malindi Lankatilleke explores her twenty-year long journey as an immigrant from Sri Lanka to the United States. Malindi emphasizes how the constant changes and leaving instilled in her a “temporary lifestyle” where she never felt like she belonged to one place.
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 Blanca Henriquez
This interview between Blanca Henriquez and Ivonne Gonzalez explores Blanca's experiences growing up during the Salvadoran Civil War and how she came to the United States. Blanca and her family were able to immigrate due to her father's work visa.
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. -
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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. -
Interview of Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe
This interview between Katie Evans and Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe explores Cline-Smythe's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Sierra Leone. Pastor Gloria Cline-Smythe talks about her life before she left Sierra Leone in 1991. She rose through local government and eventually became city manager of Freetown, the capital Sierra Leone. Family plays a major role throughout her story. She talks about her younger siblings as if they were her own. Later on, her son and future grandson were the reasons why she came to the United States. Another major theme throughout her interview was the role of religion in her life. Religion was a key part of her life growing up, and this is something she continues as a local Lutheran pastor. Pastor Gloria’s story is an enthralling journey told through themes like religion, family, and African culture.
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 2017). 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. -
Interview of Murali
This interview between Erin Durham and Murali (pseudonym) explores Murali's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Sri Lanka. This oral history documents the experiences of Murali (pseudonym), a Sri Lankan Tamil, who sought asylum in the United States in 2001. Murali recounts his experiences of growing up in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the civil war, and experiencing bomb threats on a weekly basis. He discusses his experience traveling to Miami and applying for asylum. Murali describes the discrimination and challenges he faced after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the six-year legal process of gaining permanent residency in the United States. Murali discusses the Sri Lankan conflict, Tamil and Sinhalese identities, the role of religion in his life, his thoughts about receiving American citizenship, and his experience volunteering in Sri Lanka in 2011. Murali’s interview touches on themes of ethnic identity, and the intrinsic worth of every individual. He emphasizes the importance of not labeling or isolating refugees, but giving them the respect deserved by every human being.
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 2017). 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.