1 10 30 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/b75157859347211a88b4e00f48317f69.jpg?Expires=1779321600&Signature=ufnj5rzmD1xvQ2Kwov8yBZIMZgxUDK1umHKYyO5mlhNxV7NWUkQufa%7E4vN-X-SwDz%7EfzyXXpofvDqdiJVjw2%7EqO%7EOGUI9dZtQc2CU6nKwWIkrBKsN%7E9S8NIDoHEsUIHFLiBkP21JNNlQ6xAsryE-rKOkgVt8P74Rg2xbqmUJBHc9nlC8jBEPySoF4OoL4h0Bj3lcu0EgGpaVVcUQXsQU5hIHTUiNS0O4n1tMlO37KF87qx1dceAFo9pMUN5LWdlDtRU-isTuH1Tva343rpHp7e8NDIc3j4QCDFigD2%7E6ZsZQ6eam3r41zie5dNoyCn5XZBF36aDQ8kAnaWVuPdjskw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM a14e5a1892a0433accaca5adb9450281 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/f5c46392158f1786b9cf07adc785369b.m4a?Expires=1779321600&Signature=SNyqXaNw-qYHeVXfFwWZ45Ry6heFMvBSegaqtVl9FFmLJZyJpkR5ktSUyqlkg9gHsb1V6F0ocFAImNmBr2ti55QbAgnz2UMDgZJhY3N3qk1xB1V1F83l-rj1WU56QhmDCjRaLCRhZr%7E23ARyZtqad5cBXJId7mSDtTJM-81n3BbZaQHwI5FosAlZHKMm-6IZ5c32yiJcQHSCuK508Ii6XJxGLGUZW43W8ftFgbhVqIOtMFMfTS2KIhPcQC2zG5WSkZDiiLs9XX61HgW9HaLUY2LzysF1icpK9PHsf9fLkUbb3Py6uWXK22iPGaEpILkJ6FkPEmJ6Bs1RZoLVFpINQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 7b3e2f5c8b415fd4c2e7b75533a8eadf https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/3b09602dfb88354faf6296cf3c836db4.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=QbwA9%7EFey48aoQiknaWIlaj2DzzXl-p7YQix4b3Zlr63x9%7EgyJbd4Hg5Jim7NlGENijq75ZkIvmOTC0aYLSryF3SnLlQB5FrTRHQehk7YuRS5RKjHpa3x9Bh0w-Qf3mZzALTHJ7Qd38q6LUo6J8oaQjE9EQ0j0APwK9vTYzBEEa55hWCKrwRfGmH8n9IYXj3wnk24hSdyvuns20dPaVEQRjpTJPDnxh7WAa0TpsCAwY7HhdvxGiAMNgW%7EFz3S1iFf2Yy0gEjKHqmctEy2Y9A6xHVWwPR7k8Wlwf0SACgPy0gOPlBOtioXY8Ro9WUNA4k4p7javQYs%7EWUGHtSuM2sMg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 0d550c1b8aa2b70fceceb2b0af80a7e0 PDF Text Text Transcript of Oral History Interview Conducted for University of Maryland HIST428M- Spring 2021 Instructor: Dr. Anne S. Rush Interviewer’s Name: Duany S. Philip Interviewee’s Name: Betty Junianti Simarmata Interviewee’s Country of Origin: Indonesia Interviewee’s current residence: Perry Hall, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States Date of Interview: March 9, 2021 Place of Interview: In Person, Perry Hall, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States [via Voice Memo] Introduction: This interview between Duany Philip and Betty Simarmata goes into the experiences of Betty, an Indonesian immigrant that has lived in the United States ever since 2004. Although Betty had to overcome challenges when coming to the United States, her experiences in Indonesia gave her the strength to move despite the major differences in culture, people, and lifestyle. Her upbringing in plantation farms, living in the city of Medan, Bandung, and even Jakarta have shaped her identity as a proud Indonesian to this day. Her story emphasizes how culture is important to an immigrant’s life because it gives a sense of identity of who you are and where you come from. Keywords: Indonesia, North Sumatra, Christian, culture, adapt, friends, family, Baltimore Duany: Hi everybody, my name is Duany Philip, and I am interviewing Betty Junianti Simarmata. And today's date is March 9th, 2021. And the location of this interview is Perry Hall, Maryland, in the suburbs in our townhome. So, Betty, how are you today? Betty: I'm good. Thank you. Duany: Great. So, can you tell me where you were born? Betty: I was born in Bah Jambi. It's a very small town in North Sumatra. Duany: Can you explain a little bit more? Where exactly Bah Jambi is? Betty: Bah Jambi, so north Sumatra, the capital city of North Sumatra is Medan. And Bah Jambi, I think it's like three or four hours from Medan. It's a small town belong to one company called BTPN 4. It’s a plantation, uh what is— Duany: Plantation area? Betty: Yeah. Duany: Palm oil plantation. Betty: Palm oil plantation, yeah, palm plantation. �Duany: So, I can assume that you grew up in a palm oil plantation area, correct? Betty: Yes. Duany: Can you tell me a little bit how your early childhood was in a palm oil plantation area? Betty: Yes. So, uh, plantation area so they have their own uh, perumahan, what is it? Duany: Housing. Betty: Estate, yeah, housing, their own housing, so, we live there and they have their own school. So, everything pretty much in there, school, housing, so we make friends with uh with neighbors that have their parents, the same job with my parents, something like that. And it's very, very nice childhood because the housing is pretty nice. They have pretty big yard and we can play in there. It's nice. It's very different with uh city living. Duany: So just to clarify, the friends that you met in Bah Jambi, this palm oil plantation area, your friends who are mostly people whose parents also worked in the same company as your parents? Betty: Yes. And also, uh actually, I was born in Bah Jambi, but I grew up in Mayang. So, because in that uh company, the staff is moving around, so from this uh place move to another place. So, uh after I was born in Bah Jambi, my parents moved to Doloksinumbah and then moved again to Mayang. So, but, the place that I mostly remember was Mayang. Duany: Interesting. Betty: Yup. Duany: So, you—how did that work? You moved to Mayang, back to Bah Jambi, or, was—how was the routine like? Betty: Uh. Actually, with the place is pretty much the same. So, the—and the environment is pretty much the same also. So, just, yeah, just the place different but the environment and the feeling it's pretty much the same, yeah. But we have new friends of course. Duany: Hmm. Betty: Every time my family moved, yeah, we have to make new friends, something like that. Duany: How did it feel for you when you had to constantly make new friends and never have um friends that were long term? �Betty: Yeah, for the first time always feeling sad because I have to leave everything that I loved: uh the—the house, the environment and my friend. But, after a while I have new friends and yeah, I feel happy again. Duany: That’s great. Betty: Yep. Duany: So what age did you—were—so, you said you're around Bah Jambi and Mayang, but I know that in your life you move to another city after that. Betty: Yeah, because when I was in middle school, my dad moved to another island called pop—I mean Borneo. That's uh pretty far away from Medan because Borneo is another island. And because of that, my—my dad uh told us to just stay in Medan, so only him and my mom moved to Borneo, but me and my siblings live in Medan and we went to school in Medan. [Editor’s note: Their mother lived in Medan with them, only their father stayed in other islands.] Duany: So, how’s your family like growing up? Especially with your father in a far location? Betty: Yeah, of course, that's not the ideal situation. But my uh dad thinks that's the best for us because in Borneo, at the time, Borneo, not really very developed yet. So, for school, he thinks Medan is better than Borneo. That's why, even though that's not the ideal situation, but he thinks for our education uh so much better if we just live—stay in Medan. Duany: I see. Interesting. So just for clarification, you moved to Medan at what age? Betty: I think uh either 12 or 13, something like that. Duany: 12 or 13. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: So, keep in mind, my interviewee was born in 1971, 12 to 13. She spent around 12 to 13 years in Borneo and Mayang, and around 1983-ish, early 1980s, she was in Medan. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: So, in Medan 12 and 13 years old, you obviously also had to make new friends as well. Betty: Yeah. Duany: Can you tell me a little bit of your experiences from a plantation area to a big city? Betty: Yeah, uh for this time, move to Medan is very big changes for me because Medan, it's not uh like uh small town plantation. It's very different, Medan is capital city. And yeah, everything so different. So, the environment, the situation, the school because uh school in plantation, you �know, it's in the small town. So, the school the quality is like, yeah, not really good. But in Medan, I went to, I think, at a time in the best school in Medan [laughs], so it's like very challenging for me to—to understand the subject because, you know, I like—hmm yeah, it's very advanced. The—the material is very diff—advanced compared to what I learned in small town. So, it's difficult for me to adapt for the uh for study at school. And—and friend because now uh my friend came from a different background. It's not like in—in plantation, in plantation, we have the same background, our parents works in the same company. We grew up in small town. So, it's like, we have the same background. But now in Medan, my friends came from every situation, their family is different than mine. Yeah, so that's very challenging for me, actually. And I don't like it. Duany: [Laughs.] Betty: For the first time, I think not just for the—it takes—it took like, a few years, maybe until I really like uh can uh really— Duany: Adapt. Betty: Yeah, adapt with that situation. Duany: So, knowing that you have how many siblings total at the time? Betty: Six. So, with me, we are seven siblings. Duany: Seven. Betty: Including me. Duany: Oh, so six siblings of yours. Betty: Six siblings, yeah. Duany: So due to this, at first when you arrive to Medan and how you said it was hard to adapt to the life— Betty: Mm-hm, yup. Duany: Did you—did this—did you spend more time with family and just people that you recognized? Or like people that were just similar to you? Basically, did you just spend more time with your family than trying to adapt to the new life in Medan when you first arrived? Betty: Yeah. Because I feel like more comfortable with my family than uh with my new friends, so I just spend more time with my family. �Duany: So, when you say that your relationship with your family improved after you moved to Medan compared to when you were in the palm oil plantation because you inevitably had to spend more time with them? Betty: Yeah, it could be. But I think I always have a good relationship, my siblings, even though I have a lot of friends, when back in uh plantation, but yeah, I—oh uh I always have a good relationship with my siblings. Duany: Interesting. So, you mentioned before how it took you multiple years to adapt to the new life in Medan. I can't imagine coming from a plantation life moving to the third most populated city in Indonesia. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: When did exactly did you start adapting to life in Medan and thinking, Okay, this is my life and I'm just going to make the best out of it? Betty: Uh I think uh maybe when I—after I was in high school, I'm more uh comfortable with the—with my life in Medan. I think that whenever I was in middle school. And also, maybe because, you know, at that age, I uh from childhood goes to teenager I think that that itself already makes something complicated. So, uh and adding with the moving to Medan, that's why it's hard for me to adapt. But after I was in high school, I—I already enjoy everything. So, I think that uh the things that made me more uh it's harder for me to adapt because I was in transition from childhood to teenager, I think something like that also. Duany: That makes perfect sense. Betty: Yeah. Duany: Wow, so back to the topic of family for a little bit. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: How did your siblings feel moving to Medan? Of course, you said before, you know, you had a strong relationship with them even before Medan. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: But how did they cope with Medan? Do you remember by any chance? Betty: Hmm I don't—I don't really remember. But as long as I remember, I don't think they have a hard time to adapt. Yeah. [Both laugh] Duany: Oh, you believe that you actually had the hardest experience moving to Medan? Betty: I think so but I never asked them but uh from what I saw, it's—it's not a problem for them. �Duany: [Laughs] That's cool. So, once you, you know, you finally matured a little bit you entered high school and you started to adapt. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You have probably made like some new friends, right? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: How were—and now you're not like traveling anywhere for like to Mayang or Bah Jambi. Betty: Mm-hm yeah. Duany: Now you have some established friends— Betty: Yeah. Duany: —like for once in your life, how did that feel for you? Betty: I was happy. Yeah. And also, I still uh make a good friend from my best friend from high school. That's how strong our relationship are. Duany: Wow. Betty: I’m still best friend with them until now. Duany: That's really cool. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Great. Okay, moving on to our next topic. So around what year did you graduate high school? Betty: ’90. Duany: 1990? Betty: 1990. Duany: I'm assuming you're around 17 or 18? Betty: Yup, 17 maybe. Duany: So, after high school, grad— �Betty: Or 18 yeah. Duany:18 years old? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: After you graduated high school in Medan— Betty: Mm-hm Duany: —what college did you attend? Betty: Hmm, Institute Technology of Bandung, in Bandung. Duany: Interesting. So, can you tell me a little bit more about that school? I heard rumors from you before in the past, it was kind of like the MIT of Indonesia, but in Indonesia. [Both laugh] Betty: Yeah, so ITB is one of the best school in Indonesia. So, and it's uh technology school. So, I think it's more like MIT in here. So, for uh School of Technology, ITB is the best, it’s number one in Indonesia. That's why I compare it with MIT in here. Duany: Cool. Betty: Yep. Duany: So, sorry to backtrack a little bit. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Back to your life in Medan. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Despite all the challenging uh issues you've had to face such as adaptation and like how you said the education was much more advanced. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You still had the ability to perform well to get into the quote unquote MIT of Indonesia. How is that possible? Betty: Yeah, because it's challenging just for—for me for the uh about the hmm study is challenging just for a few months, but after that, I can catch up with the uh with the— Duany: Material. �Betty: The material, yeah. It’s just challenging for like maybe like three or two or three months, but after that, I can catch up with the material. Duany: Interesting, so very on—very early in your life— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —you were born in Bah Jambi, sorry to trackback a little bit. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: But you were born in Bah Jambi. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You moved to different plantations. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Such as Mayang, and then you moved to Medan, and now, still very early in your life really in the grand scheme of things at the age of 18— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —you are now technically at one of the best schools in Indonesia. How does that feel for you at such a young age, already experiencing a lot in your life? Betty: Hmm I think that’s just uh common. I mean, not for everybody of course, but because uh I have a lot of friends from plantation, so they have the same life with me. So, I think my thinking myself think that, yeah, that's common not just me experienced that thing but a lot of my friends experience that thing also. And because like uh we in Medan, the university not really good, the quality—the grade is not very good. So most of the students in my high school at a time uh we aim for better university in Java Island like to uh University of Indonesia, that’s that one of the best also, or to university in Jogja. So that's why I don't feel like that's very special. I think that's—that's it's common. Duany: [Laughs] So could you say that it was kind of like the—your environment? Betty: Yeah. Duany: You're, for example, when you were in Medan, it was kind of like your high school friends that pushed you and each other to aim for higher education rather than like, your family, parents pushing you or your multiple siblings pushing you? Or was it a mixture of both? �Betty: Yeah, a mix of both, so in my family, also, uh told us, my parents also told us to, yeah, aim high. Something like that. And because like my school—I went to the best high school in Medan. That's why all of my friends like they hmm all of them like try to get into the best university in Indonesia. That's why it's like, dragging me to—to go high also, that’s why, I think. Duany: That's cool. Did your siblings also achieve any high education after high school of any sort? Betty: Yeah, all—uh, yeah, all of my—not all, uh, my siblings, uh, went to university also and my sister went to ITB. And that's from her I—because of her I think about to go ITB also. She influenced me to go there. Duany: [To the listener:] So she's referring to her sister, and my aunt, Elby. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Older sister— Betty: Yeah. Duany: —that also went to the same college as her before my mother attended. So, you could say that she was like—was she your biggest role model at the time? Betty: Hmm, for school yeah, because she’s very smart. [Both laugh] Duany: That's cool. So okay. So now, right, you're 18 years old, you arrive to the Institute Technology of Bandung. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: It’s 1990. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Around 1990. Um. You said in the past that in Medan, it was already hard to adapt. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You know, because the people there were not all parents—uh sons and daughters of plantation workers. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Now, how is it even different now the culture in Bandung compared to Medan, knowing that in Medan, for example, probably one of the highest Christian populations in Indonesia right now to Bandung an area with a lot of different ethnicities and religions such as Islam. �Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: How is the culture in Bandung compared to Medan or and even Bah Jambi? Betty: Yes, so the challenging mostly because of the culture, if it's about religion. Because in Medan, even though the Christian is like high percentage, but not really higher, it's like 50/50. So, when in Bandung it’s not about—the challenging not because of the religion, but because of the culture. Bandung is in West Java, so mostly the student in there is Sundanese. And because this is the best school, so the student came from all of our in Indonesia from middle—middle Java, East Java, and from another Island. So, it's like, we almost like every part in Indonesia came to ITB. Uh yeah, so it's another challenging, it's a different culture. And also the—yeah because this—I have to study hard in there, because it's not easy. Duany: [Laughs] That's very interesting. I like how you mentioned that. I always forget that the best schools means the best students from everywhere. So, it's such a diverse pool of people. Betty: Yeah. Duany: So, for you having to overcome diversity already in the past— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —such as in Medan, were you kind of used to it at this point, or was it still just even more challenging because the diversity was literally everybody from all parts of Indonesia? Betty: Hmm, I think uh—I think like just the same thing. I—I knew that I can handle it; that I can overcome all the challenging so I uh I knew that I just need some time. After that I know I will be okay, something like that. Duany: That’s cool. Betty: Yeah. Duany: But because of there's so many people— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —of all types, how, in ITB, how did you find your community or your friends? Betty: Uh, for the first, of course, the closest friends come from—my friends in the same major, because in, in ITB, if we are in the same major, so we have the same classes every day, so easy for—for us to make friends and to build up friendship. Because we meet every day, we study together, so we have fun together, so easy to uh build up a friendship in there. �Duany: So, if you wanted to make friends with other people outside your major, or even maybe people outside your graduating class, how was that possible? Betty: Uh we have like student club in here, we have something like that also in ITB. So, in that club, we can make friends with people from another major. So, for example, for—for me, I join uh the name of the club is Unit Kasiniyan Sumatra Utara so it's like, uh called art culture from uh North Sumatra. So—so the base is North Sumatra culture. And in that club, I met people from another major. And also, I join uh Christian organization we call Navigator. So, in that club, I met people from another major. So that's how I make friends with uh people outside from my major. Duany: Interesting. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: So, for example—oh, sorry, just to clarify the cultural club for North Sumatra? Betty: Mm-hm, Duany: North Sumatra is the province where—Medan is located in North Sumatra. Betty: Mm-hm, Duany: And as we know, my interviewee grew up in Medan. Betty: Yeah. Duany: So, it's kind of like a cultural art club related to some things she has probably done in Medan and other—and other cities in North Sumatra. And I was going to ask, umm, what activities did you guys do in that club that related back to, you know, your roots back in Medan or North Sumatra? Betty: So, in that club, we—we learn and also promote the North Sumatra culture. So, in North Sumatra, we have like Batak, uh Malayu, and like, six or seven, or maybe seven ethnic [groups] in North Sumatra, so we learn about that, their culture, and we promote that. So, it’s like we have a performance to—to show people our culture through dance, music, and uh everything that we can. From art, uh painting, something like that. Duany: Cool. Betty: Yeah. Duany: That’s really cool. Betty: Mm-hm. �Duany: And the other club, the Christian club, Navigators? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Can you explain like, what activities you do at that club or what events? Betty: Yeah, the regular activity is bible study, and sometimes we have picnic together, or we have uh sport, it’s like uh, we call it mini Olympics. So, we—we compete in athletic and everything, just for fun, and to know each other, something like that. Duany: That’s cool. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: I find it really cool how you adapt to ITB. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: One of the hardest places to adapt that you've experienced in your life so far— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —at this point, because it was just so diverse. You made new friends, you joined new clubs. Now, when did you meet your boyfriend that after soon became your husband? Betty: I met him in those two clubs in North Sumatra club and in Navigators. And yeah. [Both laugh] Duany: So, I guess um, what major was your boyfriend at the time? Betty: Yeah, he was in architecture. Duany: That’s cool. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: So, he was actually involved in both clubs? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: That must be pretty interesting. So, it's like, oh, for you, you must have been—he related to your roots. Betty: Yeah. Duany: But at the same time, also a big fact that he was the same religion as you. �Betty: Yeah. Duany: Which is very interesting. Just a statistic: um Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country with around 89 to 90% being a Muslim, and the rest of the 8% are divided into religions such as Hindu, Christianity. So, you can just imagine how small the population of Christians are in Indonesia. So, you—he became your boyfriend. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You guys graduated the same year? Betty: Yeah. Duany: What year was that? Betty: 1995. Duany: 1995. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: 1995, you were 18 when you entered. Betty: Yes, so it’s like 23. Duany: So now, at this point in your life, you are 23 years old. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: So, after graduation, congratulations, by the way. Betty: Thank you. [Laughs] Duany: After graduation, um when did you marry your boyfriend? That is now your husband to this day? Betty: It’s 1997, December 1997. Duany: Interesting. So, during those two years, did you have a job or what were you doing? Betty: Yeah. Duany: After graduation basically. Betty: I worked in the consultant company related to environmental engineering. �Duany: Cool. Betty: Yeah, my major was environmental engineering. Duany: Nice, so, when you married— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —your hus—your now husband, in 1997 where did you guys live? Betty: In, oh, it's kind of interesting because before we married uh my boyfriend then [laughs] he was, uh got internship in Baltimore. So, before we married he went to—he came to Baltimore and he worked like six months and then he came back to Jakarta and we got married in Medan. And right after we got married we—together we came here to Baltimore and stay in Baltimore for one more year and after that we came back to Jakarta and we live in Jakarta until 2004. Duany: So, your husband—well, boyfriend at the time went to the United States in 1995? Betty: No, 1997. Duany: Oh, seven. Betty: Yeah, so we married on December, right? Duany: Right. Betty: So, he came here got internship uh on June, came back in December we got married and right after that we came together to United States for one more year. Duany: Oh. Betty: Yeah so we came back again to Indonesia in 1998, oh, 1999. Duany: Interesting. Betty: Yeah. Duany: So, when you first went to the United States, can you tell me how that process was like at the time? Betty: What kind of process? Duany: Uh for example, your husband had a internship. Betty: Yeah. �Duany: Right? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: But how was he allowed to bring you? Betty: Oh yeah, we just uh applied for uh so for internship my husband have a H, no, J, J1 visa so, for the spouse the visa is J4, or J2, something like that. So, yeah I just apply for that kind of visa. Duany: And you got it? Betty: Yeah. Duany: Wow, I see. [Laughs] Betty: I think for the spouse is not as difficult as the—like my husband to get the J1 visa that’s difficult because it has to uh company or organization to uh apa nama nya, to give to sponsor that visa but for the spouse yeah as long as—it's not that difficult something like that. Duany: So, did your husband have to apply to the internship in Bal—to the one in Baltimore or was he received the opportunity? Betty: Uh, yeah so anytime uh the consultant that he got intern to, they have project in Indonesia, uh the project that uh from the company that—my husband’s name is Kurnia, that Kurnia work with and then because of the partnership and Kurnia got the chance that got a opportunity to intern to this company in US. That's how he got the opportunity. Duany: Oh, that's really cool. So, can you clarify again, after you were married in 1997— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: You went to the US for one year, nine—so, 1997 to 1998. Betty: Yeah. Duany: And I know that my older brother, my—which is my—also my only sibling. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: He was also born in— Betty: In here. Duany: Baltimore. �Betty: Yeah. Duany: And he was a US citizen because of that. Betty: Yeah. Duany: Even though— Betty: Even though— Duany: —shortly after, you guys went back to Jakarta? Betty: Yeah. Because uh—Ame—United States they, uh what is it called? Like, sanc—there's a term for it that people who was born in here, automatically they—they have uh US citizenship. There's a term for that kind of things. [Birth Right Citizenship] Duany: Hmm. Betty: So that's why even though we are Indonesian, but because Mesakh was born in here, automatically, he has a US citizenship. Duany: Oh, I see, Mesakh, uh is the name of the—my older brother that was born here. Betty: Yep. Duany: Which is also my only sibling. So, when you guys moved back to Jakarta it was 1999? Betty: Yeah. Duany: And how long were you guys there for? Betty: Uh until 2004. So, it’s like five years? Duany: Okay, so five years in Jakarta, right? Betty: Yeah. Duany: Now, you’ve been to—you’ve been from Bah Jambi, Mayang, very small plantation areas, to Medan— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —a big city— Betty: Mm-hm. �Duany: And then college in— Betty: Bandung. Duany: Bandung, and now you’re at Jakarta. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany; Which is not only the capital city of Indonesia, but you could also call it as like the New York City in terms of center of trade, right? Betty: Yeah, commercial. Duany: And also, not having to mention already experiencing a little bit of United States. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: How did that feel for you at the time at a relatively young age already experiencing so much? Betty: [Laughs] Uh, I don't really think of it. So, I just maybe because I am kind of people who like, yeah just go with the flow. [Laughs] So, I don't really think much about it. So yeah. So, whenever there’s opportunity just grab it. And then yeah, just try to adapt and just try to love it. Yeah, for me, yeah, it’s something like that. Duany: So, you weren't—so you—I'm guessing it was very quick for you to adapt to Jakarta’s very busy lifestyle. Lots of traffic. Betty: Yeah, but because even though we live in Jakarta, but we live in area, uh, that it's like, it's not really crowded. So, and because I'm—I wasn't working at the time, so I'm a full time uh housewife. Just full-time mother. So, I don't have to face the all the crowd, crowdness, all the traffic jam in Jakarta. So, for me at the time, it was okay. Because I just stay at home and everything in our—near my—our house, everything in there. So, if I need to go to hospital, or to market, or school, everything in there just close by so I don't need to go outside. Uh outside to downtown, something like that. So, I don't have to face traffic jam and all the crowdness, something like that. Duany: [Laughs] That’s cool. And in 2001, you gave birth to your second son— Betty: Yaaay! Duany: —in Jakarta, which is me. Betty: [Laughs] �Duany: So—but I am Indonesian citizen. Betty: Yup. Duany: How did it make you feel when you had one son that's a US citizen, but living in Indonesia and having another son as an Indonesian citizen living in Indonesia? Betty: Hmm, yeah. Yeah because we live in Indonesia so it doesn't matter, I think. Duany: [Laughs]. Betty: And even though like even Mesakh is a US citizen, but because uh we’re the parents is are Indonesian so—so I think it doesn't matter because I'm Indonesian, even though Mesakh a US citizen, and we live in Indonesia. But as long as I'm Indonesian, I think that's fine. So, the uh the challenging is when we come—come back to US because we are not US citizen so uh I think that's the challenge. But when we live in Indonesia, it's not a pob—a problem. Duany: Hmm, so when did you officially move to the United States? Betty: 2004. Duany: Your—how did the process of that work? Betty: Yes, so Kurnia, my husband, got opportunity to come back to here, to United States. So— Duany: Baltimore? Betty: Baltimore. And at that time, he came here with H1 Visa; that’s a visa for work. And then after he settle like a few months after he got apartment for us, and then he came to Baltimore, to join him. Duany: You came to Baltimore. Betty: Yeah. With you too. Duany: Oh yeah. Betty: And Mesakh. Duany: So, we were living under, at that point, it was called the H1 Visa— Betty: H1. Duany: —but then it got converted to— Betty: To permanent resident. �Duany: —Permanent Green Card Resident? Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Okay, interesting. So, why did you come to United States despite having a comfortable life in Jakarta? Why did Kurnia, your husband, my father, take the opportunity? Betty: Yeah, because uh we think that uh America has a better opportunity for uh better life, better education, especially for you and Mesakh. That's why we take that opportunity because, mostly because, yeah, in here, everything better. So, like the environment, the school, the education, and health system. That's why, especially like at the time Mesakh was in the treatment for leukemia. So that's why this uh to came to America it's like uh very best opportunity for us to get best uh health system for Mesakh, best treatment for Mesakh. That's why we took that opportunity. Duany: Wow very inspiring. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: And now he's a healthy— Betty: Yup. Duany: —guy. [Laughs] Cool. So, how did your family and your friends, such as like you said in Medan your long—your best friend— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —and then friends from college, how did they feel when you announced you're coming to the United States? Betty: Yeah, they, uh, I think they—I don't really—I never asked them how they feel about that. But I think uh they happy for me? Duany: [Laughs] Cool. So now that you're in the United States— Betty: Yeah. Duany: —you start fresh again. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Just like how you have in Medan. Betty: Yeah. �Duany: And just like how you have in Bandung. And even in Jakarta a little bit. Betty: Yeah. Duany: How did you accommodate to this new lifestyle? Betty: Mm, for the second time came to US is, of course, much easier than for—from the first time because for the second time, I already knew about United States. I knew about the culture and yeah so it's uh I've—I think at that time, I feel so excited about everything in here so I don't feel is I don't think it's difficult to adjust. I feel excited. Duany: Cool. Betty: Yeah, no, everything, [laughs] yeah, I don't feel any fear or—or difficulties. Even though there's—there was challenging, of course, but I was excited! Duany: Wow. Betty: Yeah. Duany: That’s really cool. It seems like you have matured and just grew to be a stronger person. Betty: I think so, yeah. Duany: Cool, umm, of course coming from Indonesia, you spoke Bahasa Indonesian. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Were there any language barriers of any sort when you move to the United States? Betty: Of course, uh language is the—the most difficult uh to adopt, to make friends, to—yeah to everything. But I feel like I don't really care about it because I’m I think, Yeah, of course I don't have uh good English or I cannot speak English fluently because I'm not brought with that language so I don't really care about it. [Laughs] As long as I can understand and people can understand me. So yeah, that's what I think. If maybe peep—people uh feel like uh put—no, looked down on me because of that, but I don't really care because— Duany: [Laughs] Betty: —because I think, yeah, it doesn't matter. Can you speak Indonesian? Duany: [Laughs] Betty: No. Right? Yeah. So that's the same thing. �Duany: Can you explain again clarify when and where you learn to speak English? Betty: Uh I learn English back from middle school? Duany: Wow. So, you took the little English you learned in middle school all the way to the United States? Betty: Yeah, but, you know, in school, even though you learn new language, like years and years— Duany: Mm-hm. Betty: —but it's not really help, actually. But yeah, at least I know the uh yeah, at least, I know a little bit even though it's not enough to—to, what? To make you— Duany: Yeah. Betty: —to help you make conversation with someone from another language, something like that. Duany: So, did a lot of learning just come from— Betty: After I live in here. Duany: Coming, watching shows— Betty: Yeah watching, yes. Duany: —in English? Betty: Yeah and reading books. Duany: Reading books in English, talking to people in English? Betty: Yeah. Duany: Okay, that’s really cool. So, when you first arrived to the United States— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —you said you were living in an apartment, right? Betty: Yeah. Duany: What jobs did you work? �Betty: Uh, for the first time I just stay home, and then after a few years, I work in uh dry cleaners. Laundromat dry cleaners. Duany: And, at the time, it was a walking distance of— Betty: Yeah, it's like across the street. Duany: [Laughs] Less than two minutes. Betty: Yeah. Duany: Something like that. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: That's kind of incredible. So, when you first um came to the United States, you did not have a personal vehicle or you did? Betty: For the first time? Of course not. We have uh to use public transportation. Because we don't have driver license yet. Duany: And even when you officially moved in 2004 you still did not have a car for how long? Betty: Hmm, I don't remember, either six months or a year, something like that. Duany: Wow, so how was life like without, you know, any private vehicle and having to rely on public transportations, like bus routes? Was it difficult at the time? Betty: Yeah, of course, it's difficult. That's why we live in city, so we can uh use public transportation. So, it's just like we need to walk to uh bus station. And then yeah, it's not really difficult, but it's not easy too but it was okay. Duany: [Laughs] Betty: We can enjoy even though at the time we don't have a car, but I remember we went to uh places that far away. Maybe we have to spend like, one hour—one—almost two hours in the bus, just for to go to shopping center, or to Annapolis, but we went. We still go everywhere. I mean, we don't want to just stay at home because we don't have car. Duany: Mm-hm. Betty: That's why I told you even though it's not easy, but we're—we were very excited. So, we just go everywhere we just do everything we want to do. Duany: [Laughs] �Betty: [Laughing] So nothing can stop us at that time. Duany: I really praise your ability to adapt and utilize and maximize the best out of your time. Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: Not—and using your disadvantages as advantages, kind of— Betty: Mm-hm. Duany: —to still do what you really want to do. Betty: Yeah. Duany: That's really cool. Umm so of course you know, your whole life you’ve been moving everywhere, you've been meeting new friends. Betty: Mm-hm Duany: How in the United States did you meet new people or find a community? Betty: Of course, the first community we went to is a Indonesian community, so we made friends from Indonesia, we are all Indonesian. And then we went to church and this is new community for us, church, and we went to Indonesian community but in another city from our— the same ethnic, it's Batak ethnic we went to that community. Yeah so pretty much we try to make a lot of friends in here so we can feel like at home because we have friends. Duany: Nice. But despite having all these new communities did you ever have a—a longing, like you miss home, you miss family, you miss your friends back in Indonesia? Betty: Yeah, of course, uh, especially family because friends cannot replace family, you know? Even though we have a lot of friends in here we are happy in here, but still we—we miss our family because like I said friends cannot replace family. So, and uh not just the family itself but also the—the place like because I grew up in Indonesia, so I miss Indonesia a lot. I like miss the food even though I can have that kind of food in here also, but, yeah, the situation is different so that—that things still I miss. That's why uh I try to go home every year, go to Indonesia every year so I can meet family, I can uh feel uh the sit—Indonesian situation again, not just the food but the feeling, you know? And yeah everything in Indonesia, that's why I tried to go to Indonesia go home every year. Duany: Nice. In the summer, right? Betty: In the summer. Duany: So, me and my brother could come. �Betty: Yup. Duany: So just to clarify, we—we go home every summer? Betty: Yeah. Duany: Around ever since 2010 it was almost every summer and we've just still became much deeply rooted in our Indonesian cultures while also still being raised in the United States. So, it's very interesting and I'm thankful that you allow us to experience the Indonesian life despite having a normal American upbringing. So, thank you for that, and um yeah that's awesome! So, you—you found a new community, you took advantage of every opportunity you could in America, and eventually over time, just like the past um 17 years you've been here— Betty: Mm-hm Duany: —you've kind—you just became used to it, you still make new friends, can you just tell me how your experiences are now after these years of being in the United States? Betty: Hmm. Yeah, uh I love United States, I like being here, I love the—yeah, everything in here. All the—all the, yeah, culture and pretty much everything. It's like my home. Not like, but it is my home here in America. So, I think I'm a lucky person because I have two home, Indonesia and America. Duany: Mm-hm. Betty: So yeah, I'm lucky. I—I uh have uh experience to live in Indonesia and United States. And I'm happy, and I'm rich in experience, that's what I say. Duany: That's beautiful. Great. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us before we finish? Betty: Hmm. Thank you for interviewing me. Duany: [Laughs] Betty: Because before you ask me this kind of question, sometimes I don't think about it. But when you asked me and then I think and that's makes me—uh that's a reminder for me that I am a lucky person that I have a lot of blessing in my life. Thank you. Duany: Yep, no problem. And thank you for being my interviewee, that concludes it. Thank you. Betty: Yaaay! � 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 Spring 2021 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Duany Philip Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Betty Junianti Simarmata 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 of Betty Simarmata Description An account of the resource This interview between Duany Philip and Betty Simarmata goes into the experiences of Betty, an Indonesian immigrant that has lived in the United States ever since 2004. Although Betty had to overcome challenges when coming to the United States, her experiences in Indonesia gave her the strength to move despite the major differences in culture, people, and lifestyle. Her upbringing in plantation farms, living in the city of Medan, Bandung, and even Jakarta have shaped her identity as a proud Indonesian to this day. Her story emphasizes how culture is important to an immigrant’s life because it gives a sense of identity of who you are and where you come from. 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Duany Philip Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 9, 2021 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF, M4A, jpg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Christianity culture family friendship Indonesia religion https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/6829b79f89b459ee9e1010e658e83a7e.png?Expires=1779321600&Signature=DN9jGjLD%7EQ8wJVaqUrSMsognp%7Erec4o7%7ECH0NlN6Red2VhSw-V7l7XfICIm7v8WjU0dUs1Kuf67tyJ99uLgHgm-qdI3Zb7bKKDIfnCG1sUCAdGj2olpWN-34BXrUt7Et88u%7ERdWZ21DsoY99eoHDFvPppJX4Ebf2LzXdWb5xFPAtqnd374pwfU4Yaun88dMfoWcwBuels7rC3B%7EwuUcCsCDbUESSYIkpyAY3FwJWAt2RHy8d1bgtg7RZCIm%7ETLXgteg17XMVY0Dc5zUcyD2pK3efLDjc2SQfaescQyY8cVcny1bZhmzLFjV2OPmGoqKRw--Nmz6XxpFheOPvVRiqqg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 7c1eeaf73a7efd1528441acae023166e https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/f7a6274b6a1a29a6ee9ba75e20f34831.mp4?Expires=1779321600&Signature=MQqeSJL-N5e5gC-iQqBvXdugQ3-aUNm2TCU8UIIelJ30oMPH27cWwe1l6LIXucrld8a58MRE4xMzX51VkfqVRxPjws06o-d7bTfM0-epmzsXVIfYdoNJav5yLNwnC2NR3H4BnoAR64%7EfHRWs1ORWoBPAgrjk3JNHzzzTN6TCC%7EpnG2r5FEOs1S58gyvqw-V4m7X9uPftfU5f4bhJHz7sQGDhDpqPK2nsp8F3JjK-9GvUz2NQs8B0lKJoDYPAo31k9iJlFXWW0XWyMFVDBoqHpThQ3tXl2O%7EME0N%7EeIKK5EK6r9k1imhKYn2BNU1jnFjCmhzjcuuyUZijuGsZ00WmQw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM db5e11d1f53b9e3b9cc9506c95f58b8c https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/b563224e7cb3596dac001089046ed20e.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=sV-hZUwuy4ju11lmQTDF13E3Psj7KKgyuiZCVxFeAVSY1TcikeITmEtgrBD3yLRvb1VpuAKE9FCOHPeXgP-rSbgoX0em%7Ed0GYbuuky-qvWysvbAF5KpgbiesCbiBONRgBZc5XHRXD2xQEpXEcsxgT4tFd-yrKnHfN-UBdBatixAH1wVUWLHaZl2zwTBkalXF39yeqLAp9eBYsk%7EDqha9XXA0zy1eOZ1tLLWjWvW9BnccBIBpYMOqdtJIWqakpYFhlJlp2eQEpefo3xXAyO2NFmA7IRrwdIYFTzuFaIph7Bjqq-kSYTU-JYGrELJEmVqnapmqGJTqGFJelEgzh8qHOg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM d60fee254a710facb8f85f7633392f03 PDF Text Text Transcript for Oral History Interview Conducted for University of Maryland Course IMMR400 — Spring 2020 Instructor: Dr. Robert Chiles Interviewer’s name: Abel Dereje Interviewee’s name: Tegest Kebede Interviewee’s Country of Origin: Ethiopia Introduction: This is an interview with Tegest Kebede conducted by Abel Dereje. In this interview, Tegest describes living in Ethiopia as a child and her personal experiences with the Derg, the military junta that ruled the country from 1974 to 1991. Tegest also speaks about her education in Ethiopia, the ways that her family helped her move to the United States, and how she learned English. Key Words: Ethiopia, Derg, school, politics, religion, language, family, visa Abel: Hi, I'm Abel Dereje and this is my mother, Tegest Kebede. Tegest: Hi. Abel: Um so, mom, I'm going to be interviewing you on uh your experiences of coming from Ethiopia to America. Tegest: Okay. Abel: Uh, so first of all, what kinds of things did you hear about America growing up? Tegest: Oh yeah, um I heard a lot of good things. Um, so um, my two—my aunt—my aunt’s two daughters and one of her son lived here, and they live a good life. Um I’m seeing picture but, uh you know, it was nice and I really wanted to come here after I finish my school. Abel: Okay. Uh, did you already—oh, well so you already had family in America, uh and did uh they help you out when you were here? Tegest: Yes, they help me. Uh, even to come [to the US] they help me. Abel: Okay. Tegest: Yeah, they pay my ticket, they—they help me with the process to come here. Yeah. �Abel: Okay. Um and were you allowed to practice your religion when you were in Ethiopia without any problems? Tegest: Yes. Abel: Okay. Tegest: But the—the only problem is um we can’t—um, we don’t have to be in trouble like in the politics [tried not to get in trouble for political reasons]. Other than that, all Ethiopian people, most of them, are Christian. We can practice our religion. Abel: Okay. Well, that's good. Ah, well, so um going more about the Derg, did they take away anything from your family while, uh, while you were there? Tegest: Yes, they did. So, um my—my father was uh working. He used to work in the bank. Uh, the—the bank director was, uh, he was—I was a kid, I don’t know what’s going on, but um he was in jail. Because of that, my father was out of the job, and then the Derg took uh my, um, my grandparents’ land, um. And um they took my father's house too because he's out of the job. So, so much—so much change happened to me especially. Abel: Wow. Tegest: Yeah. Abel: Okay um. And uh so when—how was your family doing more like financially when the Derg were around? Like, you know, how were you guys? Tegest: So, um, so what uh—after the—the everything gone, my father lost job and um we were devastated. So, we don’t have any support, and because of all that my dad has left, left the town, and we don’t know where he was. So, we was—my mom was struggling a lot. I was the only kid at the time, and um. So, uh my dad’s family uh was [doing] better. They have uh, you know, they were rich, I mean not rich-rich, but they have that better than my mom, so um my mom asked for help. So, what she can do, maybe if they can help me and my aunt said, you know, “If you don’t mind, uh can she stay with me.” So, she have her own like one—three kids, so I was went there and I was the fourth kid and um it was okay for a moment, but at the time, until I get to middle school, so. It was okay, sometimes I go visit my mom, my mom was always struggling, and in the middle uh she marry—she marry to my, um, my stepdad, so she have—she started another family after that. Abel: Okay. Wow. Um, well, so, when you were uh—while you were growing up and, you know, aside from what the Derg were doing to you, were you witnessing other bad things that were happening to people while you were there? Tegest: Yeah, just so many things happening. Um my aunt, always um she’s like, uh, she’s so afraid and everything, so she was always telling us, “If anybody go to jail, I’m not going to bring �you anything. You’re going to be starving to death and I don’t want any kids to be in trouble in this house!” (Abel laughing sounding shocked) Uh, you know, I don’t know much but—but outside it’s happening, there’s teenager, kids, and this—this like under-twenty-years-old kids they get to jail and they [the Derg] just get to somebody’s house in the middle of the night, grabbing them, put them in jail, and by—by two days, after three days, they kill them. And then it was too much trouble. And then even one time um me and my aunt’s family, all of us, we try—we went to go—it was a holiday, we trying to go out of—out of town. It was like around four o’clock in the morning, and we saw someone is dead on the ground and my aunt get out of the car and start crying and screaming and her husband is like trying to pull her to back to the car. But (sighs) it was traumatize life. And I'll never forget. So, I—I was sick of that. But, I mean, I know it’s passed now. Abel: I'm sorry to hear that. Um, okay. So obviously there was no lack—or there was no um free speech um when you were growing up there. Uh so how did this affect, Ethiopia or, you know, even just people from your experiences? Tegest: Yes. Um, it effect um Ethiopian people still—I think still now. There is [was] no freedom of speech. If someone said something about Derg, about, uh, about anything about the economy, you can’t ask any kind of question, anything, even uh sometimes uh people are jail if you, you know, ask any kind of question in front of police anything. You know, you got to jail yourself. After that, nobody can see you. I don’t know what they do to them sometimes. So, what I remember, um, it was like too much. Abel: Okay. Okay. Um so, on a different note how was your education, you know, while you were growing up when the Derg were there? Uh, would you send us to school in Ethiopia? Your children. Tegest: Uh, no, not at that time, I don’t think there’s nobody to go to Ethiopian school. Um, to know the culture, yes. But to educate, uh even for myself, um I had a poor education, you know? There is no—right now there is computer and everything, but back—back then, no, there is no help. You just someone—you know? It’s not good in general. Abel: Okay. Tegest: It wasn’t good. Abel: So, uh what like there was—how was the teachers, like did they—were they helping you even inside and outside of the classroom? Or, yeah. Tegest: Not outside. But inside, um you know, they’ll just try to teach us. There is uh—uh, you know, well-educated teachers, and then the [other] teacher doesn’t have enough education, and then he can’t even help us. Just they do whatever they want. I mean, (Abel: “Wow”) it was very hard. Abel: So, some are educated and some were not, but they just became teachers. �Tegest: Not really. They just being teacher and then get—get, you know, salary. Abel: Oh wow, okay. Tegest: That's all, they don’t—they’re a not experienced teacher. Abel: And you guys, did you have textbooks and other things like that? Tegest: No, not much there, we don’t. I mean um sometimes—the only thing I remember, we have English book, and then if I have that book, it’s not—I can’t own it. [Books were shared] between maybe two people or three people were allowed to own. Before I eat my lunch, I have to do my homework and then I pass it to the second person. One book for three people, that was English. That's the only book I have, I remember it was English book. The rest [of the classes] is like um no, we just lecture, uh the teacher lecture in the class and then he have to—we don’t have like, example, like biology book, I don’t have biology book. But the teacher have to write it on the chalkboard, it’s like we need to copy through chalkboard. Abel: Okay. Tegest: I mean like a notebook! We need to make notebook! (claps hands for emphasis) Abel: Okay. Tegest: Ourself, yeah. Abel: But was there—did they—you know, was there enough materials like notebooks and things like that or was that even hard to come by? Tegest: No, we don’t have—we don’t have any, uh enough notebook. I mean, notebook to buy notebook to write it down? Abel: Yeah. Tegest: Yeah! We have it. It was a little expensive, but yeah, we have pencil, we have, I remember, there is a small [area to buy] uh stationery. We used to go in and we’d buy exercise book, pencil, and pen. Abel: Okay. Tegest: Yeah. Abel: Interesting. So that means that learning was hard without the textbook, because when you got home you didn't have anything else to continue studying, right? Tegest: No but I have notes anyway. We need to copy the notes and sometimes I understand it, sometimes I don’t. �Abel: Oh, okay. Tegest: Well, we can’t uh go back to the school and ask the teacher, and you know, it—it was very hard. Abel: And there were no tutors, right? Tegest: No tutors. Um, no. Abel: Okay. Tegest: Nobody can tutor you; you have to tutor yourself. Abel: (laughs) Okay, um. All right, uh so, how did you get to America? Um and uh how hard was it to come here from start to finish, in the whole process? Tegest: Okay, um, to come here, uh to start from—from Ethiopia, it was a little bit—very difficult, you know? At the time, it was like age limited. So, um a family friend, um, a family friend asking somebody else [to help me], you know, through—through people, you go through people if you have—if you know somebody. If you don’t, you can’t [do the process]. So, we go through people and finally I got my passport, and after the passport is this process, you have to go here and there, you know, by—by a bus, or you can walk and—but the thing is, um, what I like about that, uh after you get your passport, it’s not really—I didn’t see it very difficult, but it takes time and you have to back and forth. But after that, uh I need to go to American embassy to get visa. And then by the first time when I go, I didn't get the visa. I went—I think I went two times or three times. So, you line up outside and you wait, when you get your turn, they will interview um whatever they feel like. They can see your face and they say no. They deny you. I don’t know the reason, but after that, you know, from what I did, what I did in the beginning, by the end. And um still family help me, you know. Through family member, you know, he had business back home, uh you know? A family member, and because of that he talk to the—the embassy who work here and then, you know? It was very hard, but I made it. Abel: Ha, congratulations. Tegest: Thank God! Abel: Right, thank God. Tegest: Yeah. Abel: Ah, okay. So, when you came here to America, what did you leave behind in Ethiopia and what or who did you intend to bring over someday? �Tegest: So, I, by my father’s side, they're good and, you know, they can—they can take care of themself, but, uh, the part I left there, my—my mom’s side, my mom have, um, my mom have like two children and um. But if I bring them, it would be nice. I have two sister and one brother. But unfortunately, right now my mom is passed away, but if I bring those [siblings] it will be nice. I'll be happy. Abel: Okay. Um so, what was it like getting settled into America? Did you have trouble getting used to the culture when you were first here or for the first few years or anything like that? Tegest: Hmm, not really. Um, what um was trouble me is the language. Abel: Okay. Tegest: So, I have a little difficult to understand. Some of the people speak louder, some of like they speak faster. But, um, I catch up real good, real in a—in a short time. In about a year. And, which—which really help me is um watching TV! Abel: Oh, okay. Tegest: My—my aunt's daughter have a baby, uh and I used to—I use to help them to take care of her. So— Abel: Leila. Tegest: Yeah, her name is Leila. So, it's really help me talking to her, watching TV, watching cartoon. I think that’s—that’s the thing that help me to catch up and understand English quick. Abel: Okay, so you didn't have, uh, like some kind of—nobody gave you a book of English terms or something and said this is what you need to know, like you just picked it up by conversation. Or what did you— Tegest: I pick it up by conversation, (Abel: “Okay”) really. Yeah, conversation and, um, and watching my TV. Abel: Oh, and was that difficult still? Tegest: Yeah, it was difficult. Yeah. Abel: Okay. Tegest: It was. Abel: Okay. Tegest: Not easy, so. �Abel: But you learned anyway. (laughs) Tegest: I learn it anyway. And um by—by that time, it was like, uh I miss Ethiopia, uh I was lonely here. Um even though, uh this—this my family members around, but I missing that [inaudible] back home. Abel: The experience of being with other Ethiopians? Tegest: Uh, yeah. I guess, let me see, it like make me cry for two years? And after that, you know, I felt comfortable here. Abel: Ha, aww. Tegest: I’m the one telling people, “It's okay you'll get used to it. When you get here it’s a little difficult, but you can do it. You will manage to escape this lonely and, you know, uh homesick and everything.” So. Abel: Wow, man. You lived very—you lived very different than I did. Tegest: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you guys are lucky you were born here, liji [child]. Abel: (laughs) We are. Um, and finally, uh do you consider yourself an American or are you really just Ethiopian? Tegest: No, I’m um, I live here long enough. When I came here, I was 24? 20, no—23 or 24. Abel: Only a couple of years older than me. Tegest: Yeah, and I don’t have anything there [in Ethiopia]. I mean, even my children, my oldest son is 22 now. Yeah, I'm considering I’m American. Abel: Okay. Tegest: And I'm proud of it! Abel: Well, congrats on being American. Tegest: Thank you! (both laugh) Abel: All right, thanks mom. Tegest: You’re welcome. � 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 Spring 2020 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Abel Dereje Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Tegest Kebede Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data docx, MP4 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 of Tegest Kebede Description An account of the resource This is an interview with Tegest Kebede conducted by Abel Dereje. In this interview, Tegest describes living in Ethiopia as a child and her personal experiences with the Derg, the military junta that ruled the country from 1974 to 1991. Tegest also speaks about her education in Ethiopia, the ways that her family helped her move to the United States, and how she learned English. This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course IMMR 400 (Spring 2020). 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Abel Dereje Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 2020 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF, MP4 Language A language of the resource English, Amharic Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Ethiopia family language politics religion school visa https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/2afb55194e41888619be4911c6fff390.png?Expires=1779321600&Signature=k5sDNEGi74m%7E9qqAWJyzzaDB7Jr%7EBgHCW0I3ih-hK0NLwn8SaTMRaoaaQubv1hAnGurpkfOs6b4967ZLnJga9ssA0iFo6TBmVe4%7EGbJT8Eqezl2FJ5gV30tb9%7Eu3rHvLuIsLUrMR1Wv8dj2tDSCNhhYBY9GV%7EYJWULctVRaoQaNngpYrN4mtVHXKkur%7E9wV0yUbHWNbO70JniYR8eJoXQsyzMBQEhwSfE0itN47OGhKPjugVHd24KBU8ALxad36FyE8qDOfcd-rDXtCpfrQiqq8ryI6Ib3vs-BExRTn9yKY7DcWte3dnmKbJk2lboZWliXvXC6q2nnazBMTyyf2w6g__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 7c1eeaf73a7efd1528441acae023166e https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/85ae08b2d392e0fed779629135804027.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=EjH3YLI4z3QfFS298GMIB6bRwc-KiiJfb0iXX0Z5lheySdqr9WKCztvbdmxR9DdrfYt6Gn2YQNw0LKM7jz1qnrOT8P7zKKbz1QSlqDjwUCPSqkHVOSYKk-EAv8TZgy-wG4vOOiT8Dut%7Ee6gqRrOFpK6yY%7EE5Fw4JLYWcP8eRjjnOGLt0%7Eh1AYqFjLtMBnyU%7EVM6H6LJeJ7Exy3os15n7cuohQSeJx6XEHv8Ze%7E8olWlRszyhVeX3tlPhpC2y7UxdbJvIUsevw5Thv%7Ewl7sjCg-SvJfx5%7EWDM3kJz5vRzJh8xTpG2rp8x6miE78Fvz2-3-7P7Pj%7EuJQ9yuxnmKrLcGA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM ec72638c2569014fe6fe748bcac6bfc5 PDF Text Text 1 Transcript for Oral History Interview Conducted for University of Maryland Course HIST428M – Spring 2020 Instructor: Dr. Anne S. Rush Interviewer’s Name: Adam Flesher Interviewee’s Name: Gloria-Inés Acosta Interviewee’s Country of Origin: Colombia Interviewee’s Current Residence: White Marsh, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.A. Date of Interview: March 7, 2020 Place of Interview: White Marsh, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.A. Introduction: 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. When her father moved her family to the US to give his children more opportunities in life, Mrs. Acosta did not understand the move at first. In the interview she discusses how she came to terms with this decision and what it meant for her not only as a child at that time, but also as she transitioned into adulthood later in life. Her interview touches on Mrs. Acosta’s search for her identity as a Colombian American and how religion was something that her family held onto throughout the entire immigration process. She finishes by sharing how she currently uses her experiences as an immigrant in her occupation and why that is important to her. Keywords: Colombia, immigration, opportunity, religion, Barranquilla, identity, Baltimore Flesher: Uh my name is Adam Flesher. Um, I'm interviewing Gloria Ines-Acosta. Um, uh we are in White Marsh, Maryland um and it is March 7th, 2020. Uh so how are you doing today Mrs. Gloria? Acosta: I'm doing well. Flesher: Good, I'm glad. Uh could I just have your date of birth, please? Acosta: Sure. 6-11-71. Uh June 11th. Flesher: Thank you. Um yeah so, could you tell me a little bit about your home country where you're from, what things were like? Acosta: Sure. Um, I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia which is just on the southern tip of South America and I, um, don't remember much about it because of the fact that I came at such a young age um, but all of our history and all of our stories um, you know, I see pictures and— and they tell me, you know, um, we lived in a very um busy um cos—the—the—the area of �2 Barranquilla, which is where I was born, is very uh heavily populated and um now it's known from singers like Shakira is from Barranquilla— Flesher: Oh wow. Acosta: —um and so it's exciting to—to know that, you know, from my little small, um, little city, there is now um famous artists like Shakira and Gloria [Sofia] Vergara from Modern Family— Flesher: Ok. Acosta: —were also born there. So, it's exciting to know that, you know— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —that's where they were born as well, so. Flesher: Uh, what were um—what was it like when you—when you were growing up there? Um. Acosta: Well, we lived in a very um close knit family. My aunts and uncles lived all relatively um close by. So, we grew up in a very um strong family centered, um, household. My grandfather um lived with us, my grandmother had um already passed but my grandfather lived with us, um, it was and one other aunt on my mom's side lived. So, the houses, typically in a Latin household there are large number of um family members, close knit, you know, family that lived with you. Flesher: Um-hm. Okay. Um so growing up in, um, in a small—in a small town like you said, were you able to travel anywhere within the country often? Acosta: We would go, because we have on my mom's side, she, um, is one of three, but my aunt, um, her younger sister, had several um children that lived nearby so we would travel to Cartagena. We would travel to Medellin which is where my father's side of the family lived. Um Medellin is in the interior so we did do a lot of travelling um, Cartagena, Medellin, Santa Marta is another um town that's within an hour and a half distance from where we lived. So, we did a lot of traveling within Colombia— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —um but just regionally, it was not outside of Colombia. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Prior to arriving to the United States. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: So, um within the country we uh—within the country of Colombia, um those places that I mentioned: Medellin, Cartagena, Santa Marta, um and we would go to Bogota, which is the capital, only when we would need um important documents like our visa um papers. We �3 would—that's when we would travel to um Bogota the capital to, um, process all of those payments. And again, we had family members there. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Yeah. Flesher: Um, okay so uh can you describe sort of like a typical day um uh when—what it would be like while you were there? Acosta: Sure, um uh I know, again, it would revolve around um the family, so my mother she would um cook for the local schools. Um so, um uh I just—the bits of um memory and the bit— all of the—the, um, not traditions, but the—the—all the stories regarding my youth all centered around my family in the house, um, my mother cooking, she would make the potato chips that they would sell for the snacks during school. She would make um cakes uh out of the house, so just you know my—my recollection was just that there was always people coming in and out of the house, you know, it was just a close family where everybody was warm, their like, "Okay I'm here for um today’s shipment of potato chips," that she would individually bag, and you know, and provide for the schools. Flesher: Wow. Acosta: So yeah just—that's my—my memories were always revolved around lots of people coming in and out of the house, so. Flesher: Wow, that's really nice. Acosta: Yeah! Flesher: So, you would say family was a pretty big, um, pretty big part in your childhood? Acosta: Yes, yes. Um, they were the ones who, you know, when we came, uh when we were deciding to come to the United States, my memories were, you know, which aunt is going to bring me um uh all those, um, all those memories were just you know like it's my extended family if you will. That's what, you know, I remember, you know, just everyone's like who—who was this person? She is your great aunt, your cousin, somebody else was always coming in and out of the house so it's just very busy— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —normal— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —I'd say normal childhood, but a happy childhood, always revolved—uh um surrounded by people. Flesher: Yeah, that's nice. Um. So, you said you had—that family members like lived around the area. Acosta: Yes. �4 Flesher: How many—who—who was it that lived like in your house with you? Acosta: Um, I know (coughs) I know my grandfather, a cousin Nora lived there as well and she, I believe was on my dad's side, um and then we had, in and out, we had one of my aunts or cousins, like older cousin, from my dad's—from my mom's side of the family that also lived there. Um, so just extended family. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: That would be the— Flesher: Makes sense. Acosta: —correct answer. Flesher: Okay. Um, so what was education like for you back home? Did you go to school um while you there? Acosta: I did. What I can remember about my education there was that it was a lot more advanced. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: I remember coming to the United States um knowing that I could add, um subtract, multiply, and divide, and then when I came here, I was put in a class where they were just adding. Flesher: Oh. Acosta: So, what I can um deduct from that was that it was a little bit more advanced. I mean the—the education there, I don't remember the ELA [English Language Arts] or the reading part of it, but you know what I can, um, remember was just that the math, they’re like, "Well, what do you mean we're just adding?" Or, "What do you mean we're just, you know, adding and subtracting?” When I've already done this. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So as a young person I didn't rememb—I mean I didn't, um, I thought of—that was something that I came to the realization afterwards like realizing like why didn't they just put me in third, fourth grade when I knew we were just, um, that I was advanced in the math part. The problem was that because I didn't speak the language, I didn't speak English, then that's why they're like, “No, this is where you belong.” Flesher: Right. Acosta: Um, because you need—you know, it took me a while to—to learn the—a brand-new language. Flesher: Right, yeah. �5 Acosta: Yeah. But I do know like, for example, um my older brother and my older sister, they were in a class where they were learning, even back in 1979, they were learning English there [Colombia]. So, although I don't remember that as—at the age of 8, I can, um, know that for my older siblings they were already in English classes before coming here. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: And they were 15 and 16—15 and 18—15 and 17. 15 and 17 at that age. At that time. Flesher: When they were beginning to learn English? Acosta: Well, when we left Colombia— Flesher: Oh okay! Acosta: —so, this is all like it—in—in my time that I was there that I—that I can recall, which was about 2nd grade, that was um—I know that my sister was 15, um and she was already in English classes. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So, I wasn't in English classes, but she was, during that time. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: So, kind of answers the question about education there. That they— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —they valued, you know, learning another language even back then, you know. Even more—now it's even more prevalent but back then— Flesher: Hm. Acosta: —in 1979 that they were already taking English classes. Flesher: Hm, yeah. Wow. So, uh, so, what kind of work did your parents do while they were in Colombia? Acosta: Um interesting, my dad was an accountant um and then he was—he worked for a hotel um, el Prado, Hotel el Prado um, which is a famous hotel in Barranquilla. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Um. And then my mom was the, like I said, not a local bakery, she just—she ran it out of our house, but she helped provide for the family. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: Um, which again in hindsight I'm like, wow my mom was strong even back then, you know? Flesher: Yeah. �6 Acosta: That—that she contributed to the family— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —income— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —by—by, um, making the snacks and the desserts. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: Cause she’s always been a good baker. Flesher: What was—what was some of your, uh, your favorite foods that she made? If you remember. Acosta: Um yeah, the—the, cakes she makes. She still to this day makes cakes um, but um uh it's like a bocadillo, it's uh guava, we have a fruit called guava and so from that she would like um boil it and make like a bocadillo to put in the cakes, it was very good. Flesher: Mm that sounds good. Acosta: Yeah. Flesher: I've heard of that before. Acosta: Yeah, yeah guava is like—now again, I'm—I'm excited to know that nowadays you can find guava, or you can find like passionfruit. Passionfruit is a um—maracuya, is it's a fruit that we would eat in Colombia and again make desserts out of it, and then nowadays you can find it at the grocery store. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: You know, Dole has mango and um passionfruit juice or you know mango and orange juice and so it's all the things that I grew up with. Flesher: Right. Acosta: So, it's exciting to like—like taste that and remember it, you know, that's what I was saying before, that it—it's like even though I was only 8 years old, it was like the memories come back. Like being with my family members, being at—at the beach drinking a um jugo de tamarindo for example. Tamarindo's another um fruit that um—it—it's uh—the fruit is um— it's—it's a little bitter, but it's like tamarind. I don't know if you've ever heard of a tamarind. But nowadays you can find it at like, um, international markets here. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: So, it's—it's like I can just taste, you know, the, I don't know, the memories, that doesn't make sense but— Flesher: No [inaudible] yeah, yeah. �7 Acosta: You know what I mean, like just it brings you back like a smell would bring you back, or—or, you know, if you—like music would bring you back. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: That—that kind of idea where just you know what you were doing. If I drink a jugo de tamarindo which is a—a juice, like I can remember sitting on my grandfather's, you know, lap while we're at the beach drinking— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —you know this tamarind juice. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So, it—it's just wonderful memories. Flesher: Yeah, sounds like it. Um, have you actually ever been able to go back to Colombia? Acosta: I went back in 1990—uh, 1989 when I graduated from high school, um and then I was able to go in '91 I believe. What happens is that I married um, Ken, my husband works for the Department of Defense— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —and that's just one of the places where he was told that he can't visit. Flesher: Mm. Acosta: So unfortunately, I have not been back since I uh was married uh to my husband, but prior to that, um, I had gone two previous times. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Yeah, so before—before marriage, yes, I was able to go back. Flesher: Mm. Do you hope to be able to go back one day? Acosta: I do! Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: I hope that, you know, things um improve and—and that, you know, it's sad that the only thing people know about Colombia are, you know, coffee and cocaine, you know? Because there is so much more beauty, and I'd like to be able to, you know, have my kids go and, you know, see my birthland. To go, and I mean there's just—at a young age, like I can only speak so much wonderful things about Colombia, I’d like for them to be able to experience it themselves. Flesher: Yeah, yeah. Acosta: So. Flesher: That makes sense. �8 Acosta: You know, and it's again, going back to—to the fact that, you know, it's—it's good that Shakira and—and Sofia Vergara and these—um there's um a racecar, Formula 1 racecar, that's from Colombia too. Flesher: Right. Acosta: Um there's a bicyclist um that is, you know, from Colombia, like all these wonderful things but it's like I need m—I feel like I want them to see that firsthand rather than just hear all these wonderful, you know, stories of these um exemplary Colombians— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —that, you know, I try to, um, teach them about. Flesher: Uh-hm. Acosta: I want them to experience it themselves. Flesher: Yeah. Well, I hope—I hope they're able to. Acosta: I do too. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: I do too, I really do. Flesher: Um, so you said you were 7 when you moved to the— Acosta: Yeah um, it's like I turned 8 here. Flesher: Oh okay. Um and who was it who came with you, um, when you moved? Acosta: Um my uh cousin um came um we were supposed to all come in October, my siblings which are um Carlos, Emma, and Elmer. We were all supposed to come—and myself, we were all supposed to come in October. But then we found out that a cousin was coming in September, so I was able to surprise my parents, if you will, by coming a month earlier. Flesher: Okay. What—were your parents here already? Acosta: Yes— Flesher: Oh. Acosta: —so my parents were here, yeah. They came and bought the house just so that we could transfer everybody— Flesher: Okay, so— Acosta: —and have a place to go. So, my mom—my mother and my father lived—uh had just arrived like in 1978. So, a year prior. They bought the house and they, you know, they were able to get it started and then the rest of the um children came, so I came in September and then my siblings came in October. �9 Flesher: Okay. So, you came in September with your cousin and then— Acosta: Yes, exactly. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Yeah, my cousin was coming to visit um family members here as well. Flesher: Okay. Um, and uh, was—were your mom and dad, were they the only two that had originally moved here? Acosta: N—no. So, it came—they came because my uncle um Carlos um lived here. So that was during the time, uh I believe it was Jimmy Carter had the, um, the (sighs) law that family members could um ask for their siblings to come. So then, they—my uncle who was living here and had a job with Western Electric during back then that—that's like the new AT&T. It used to be called Western, Western Electric. So, he was here. He petitioned for my father to come. My father came, he found a job working for Baltimore Spice Company. Um Baltimore Spice—uh, Spice Company was the originator of Old Bay seasoning. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: And so, they—yeah so, he had an, at that time, a secure job. So, once he was able to, you know, have that secure job he was able to bring my mother. When my mother came, then we started—they started the paperwork, so that the children could also arrive. So, my parents, it hadn't been that they lived here for long time. They—it was like uh I think a ye—a year prior when my father—when my mother came [pause] and so slowly we brought the family back— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —here to the United States. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: So first it was my uncle; he petitioned my father, my father came, got the job, then my mother followed, and then I did, and then my three siblings did. Flesher: Okay. Um. So, in t—in total like how—like how—what—what parts of your family are here today— [inaudible] Acosta: So, my immediate family is here. So, my mother, my father, and my siblings are in the United States. Um, I have two aunts, um Maria and Olga, that live also in Maryland. Then I have one uncle that lives—the one that came here that worked at um Western Electric, he has since moved to Arizona. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: So, three of the siblings, my dad's siblings, are here. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: No one from my mom's side. They're still all in Colombia— �10 Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —which is when we go to visit, that's who we stay with— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —because they're all still there. So, three of my father's siblings live here. Flesher: Okay. Makes sense, I was just trying to get a better— [inaudible] Acosta: Yeah, it's— Flesher: Like— (laughs) Acosta: Yeah, like draw—I could draw you a, you know, a map. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: (laughs) Flesher: Yeah. Um, so in t—in terms of like the steps that you took to get here, were you old enough to like understand everything that was going on, or do you remember? Acosta: No— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —and that's part of it um, you know, I—I didn't understand, you know, why I was moving from a beautiful climate because Colombia, especially where I'm from which is the coast um, we have two seasons; we have the really, really hot season and then the cool season, but that's it like there—I had never seen snow, I had never um, you know, experienced uh four seasons. Um like I—like we were not forced, but like—like we were immersed into um coming here, so I didn't understand why were—why were we living—leaving a place where all of my mom's family was there. Um, you know, good weather and then we c—I came in September so it was um fall, which was pretty, but then my—it was like my f—I came and then within three months I was seeing snow for the first time. Flesher: Wow. Acosta: You know? So, it was just like I didn't understand why we were, you know, moving when I thought I have my family, you know, and at that time, you know, nice weather, nice— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —you know, just the comfort of my own home in Colombia, to come here. Yes, I was gonna see my fam—my immediate family but I didn't—I didn’t know that this was gonna be my future home rather than, you know, we're just coming for a visit. Flesher: Hm yeah. Um and you said you went to—your family would go to Bogota um for like— like documents. Um— �11 Acosta: Yes. Yes, so in Barranquilla they didn’t—like the since it's kinda like going to an embassy. That's what the embassy was. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: So, like um anyone in—in the country of Colombia who needs immigration papers or any kind of like, you know, you could get your passport picture done in Barranquilla, but then you'd have to go pick up the passport or pick up the rest of the documents in—in Bogota, the capital. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So, most of the people have to go— Flesher: Go— Acosta: —to—yeah, that's where the embassy was. Flesher: Okay, that makes sense. Acosta: Yeah. Flesher: Um, and do you remember if it was fairly easy uh for you to get those things or was it— Acosta: I—see, that's—that's where I don't remember. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Like, you know—you know, you—you hear stories like my mom would always say it's like yeah, um you know yes you wait your line—you wait your turn in line. But it also helped that she always brought goodies so— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —those are the kind of um, you know, stories that, you know, have been passed down. Like yes, "Oh do you remember when we came? When we were getting the pa—the documentation to come to the United States," and so my mom's like, "Yeah! How many times did I have to make some extra desserts to take and, you know, persuade someone to take, you know, to—to get a, you know, ahead of the line, because you had to fly back the next day?" Flesher: Mm. Acosta: You know, so not in a bad way, but it was just like you know to be grateful, "Here, I brought you something." You know. "Here's my family. We need all these documentations and I have to be back by, you know, by tomorrow afternoon. Whatever you can do to, you know, t — um, you know, to—to get our paperwork done." We were still in line— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —we would still follow through, but the—the cake always um brought a smile to their faces— �12 Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —and they would be more than happy to—to (laughs) receive the—the sweets and get moving on your paperwork. Flesher: Mm. That's really cool. (laughs) Acosta: Yeah. I mean it was just it's not a—I don't want it—I don't want it to be like, "Oh and then they were able to, uh, to um—” see the word escapes me but—to um. What is that word where it's like when you're like, "I'm gonna give you a cake where you," um or "I'm gonna give you something." Flesher: Like bribe? Acosta: Bribe. Flesher: Oh yeah. Acosta: See? Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: See there's certain—so it wasn't a bribe. Flesher: Right. Acosta: Like we were definitely in line but it—it helped the deal. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: Helped the paperwork through quicker. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: But it was not a bribe, like we were—we were in line— Flesher: Yeah, yeah. Acosta: —we were doing—we had our appointment too, they just stuck to the appointment time when it came to us because my mom brought goodies, you know. I think it shows and she always says, "Oh remember the cakes and—” Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So, I don't know some kind of sweets that she brought like, you know, desserts or something to make a process go faster. Flesher: Right. Acosta: That's all it was. Flesher: Yeah, yeah. It shows like a little kindness goes a long way. Acosta: Yes exactly! Kindness and a smile went—it definitely goes a long way. �13 Flesher: Yeah, that’s really cool. Um, so do you—did you have expectations of what the—what the US was gonna be like before you arrived? Acosta: At that age no, but you know thinking back it's like I know that, um, it was scary. You know, I—I can remember feeling scared of why—why we were coming. So, like is this going— the same question—is this going to be? How long will we be here? Flesher: Mm. Acosta: You know, because I didn't know at that time— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —that this was going to be, you know. My parents made the sacrifice to come here for their children. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: And yes, we had a good education there, but it was the dual uh languages, it was, you know, what we could um work hard to achieve here was important to my parents. And my dad had a really good job in Colombia, but he came here and, you know, um, we—we say "obrero." Obrero is like a hard worker. I mean he worked for Baltimore Spice Company where he knew very little English, but um Baltimore Spice Company makes, in addition to Old Bay, they make all of the seasoning um for like Kraft or for, um, um, you know, those kinds of, um, companies that need spices mixed together. Flesher: Right. Acosta: Okay? So then for example, let's say its Italian dressing. So, my dad worked, you know, and I'm not talking about a pound of salt, and a pound of pepper, and a pound of paprika to make the salad dressing, I'm talking about like tons and tons. And so, it was very hard work for him. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: But he was punctual. In his 35 years, he never missed a day, you know. I think he—he, you know, he worked his—by the brow the sweat— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —you know? The sweat of his brow. I don't know what the saying is in English but, you know, he worked really hard, you know, where he had a comfy job, where he worked, you know, in a place where he wore a tie, to come here to you know, work at a place where it was hard labor. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: Hard labor. Because we're talking about, you know, mixing these, you know, tons of different spices together— Flesher: Um-hm. �14 Acosta: —and bottling it up and you know, he—he worked and he said for those first couple years he worked any overtime. He didn't care. He worked any overtime that they'd give him— Flesher: Wow. Acosta: —because he was the sole provider. So, we went from living in a place where my mom contributed to the household um as I mentioned by doing uh snacks and—and sweet um desserts for the schools, snacks, to coming here and my mom, you know, I—I can imagine, you know, just her feeling, you know, not worthless, but just not being able to help. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: You know, because she didn't speak the language, she didn't work um, uh, you know, she—she was without her kids for a year, and then my dad working so hard to—to raise a family of six because it was four—my—myself and my three siblings, then mom and dad, so it was a family of six. We had the little Volkswagen, you know, that we bought second hand and uh, you know, we all fit in a tiny little Volkswagen bug because that's all we could afford. Flesher: Right. Acosta: And my dad worked lots of—lots of overtimes. Lots and lots of overtimes for those, you know, first couple years. Flesher: Um-hm. Hm. Acosta: So, you know. Flesher: So, I'm—I’m just curious, what were some of like the driving factors for like the move? Like why did you—why did your family want to move from Columbia to— Acosta: Well, he's—he's always told us that he's like, " I came to give you a better life." Flesher: Hm. Acosta: Um not that you wouldn't be able to have um a good life there, but he just saw it as more opportunities. So, more opportunities. The fact that his kids could, if they worked hard, they would be able to succeed. And he selfishly [selflessly] did that for us and, you know, I didn't agree, I didn't you know, um, agree with that decision as a teenager. I was like, "Why'd you have to move me?" You know? I could be—when I would visit my family members there, it's like they’ll all look happier than I am and here I am like—but as an adult, you know, you realize that, you know, you'd do anything for your kids. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: You know, and having two children of my own like I—I have a different relationship with my parents now than I did. Because I—I saw myself as different. People couldn't speak— they couldn't—not a lot of people spoke Spanish. Um I looked different than them, than—than my—than my school mates. I—they couldn't say my name, they couldn't, you know—so, you know, for the first year, sure everybody wants to be friends with the little Latin girl because �15 she's different, but then you realize as you—as you, you know, hit your adolescent years like, "No, I don't wanna be your friend, you're different than me." Flesher: Mm. Acosta: So, it was hard. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So, you know you—you asked about what kind of challenges or, you know, what—what made us move here? Like I—I don't appreciate those, um those um—I appreciate them now more. Flesher: Right. Acosta: Those obstacles because, you know, I didn't—I knew that there were many, but I didn't see them. I just saw the anger that I had towards, you know, my parents. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: Um because I was different and because I felt like I didn't belong, you can, um, with hindsight— Flesher: Um-hm, yeah and I think— Acosta: —you can—you can appreciate everything that they do for you— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —more. Flesher: Yeah, and they— Acosta: That just comes with majority. I'm sorry, what were you going to say? Flesher: No, you're good. I was just going to say like, um, like you said like having like kids of your own—like understanding that now, I’m sure. Acosta: Yeah, exactly. Now I'm able to say wow, you know, my parents sacrificed a lot. I mean I don't know if I would just, you know—I'm—I'm at the age where I'm 48 [pause] and they came at this—like for me to be able to pick up my kids and just take them into another country where they don't speak the language like I don't know if I would be as brave as my parents were. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: Being—being, you know, in the stage of my life that I am. Like I don't know if I could do what they did. Flesher: Yeah, it's hard. Acosta: Yeah, it was hard. Flesher: Hm. �16 Acosta: And you don't—and again, that maturity, you don't get that maturity until you—I—for me it was until I had kids of my own that, you know, and as—as I age, I realize just how much they did for us. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: That I kinda take for granted—I took for granted. I took for granted, you know, when I—those early years. Flesher: Um-hm. Yeah, it's understandable. Um, do you know what made them choose Maryland out of—of the rest of the country? Acosta: Just the fact that my uncle lived here— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —and he was working for Western Electric and he said, you know, "You're gonna like it here.” And so, is the—the family um tie with the, you know, the fact that I had—that we had somebody here already— Flesher: Um-hm, yeah. Acosta: —is what made us choose Maryland— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —over Florida. Flesher: Right, yeah. Um, so you said that when you first got here it was—it was definitely very rough like a rough transition, um— Acosta: Well, like I said, the first year was fun, um, because I felt like I had lots of people willing to help. Flesher: Oh okay. Acosta: You know, like it was—what they—what they would do at Oakleigh Elementary which is the school that I attended um when I came. What they would do would—um they would have uh like a little desk outside and every half hour or every hour a different student would come out and meet with me and teach me the colors, teach me the days of the week so that I was learning amongst my peers rather than like a—a one on one or a ESOL teacher which is what you would have now. Um, and so that first—those first—I don't want to say the first year, but the first couple years it was fun because like I, you know, they were getting to meet the new girl and, you know, they had time where they would go outside and—and it was fun to teach someone, you know, the colors, the numbers, the days of the week, whatever it was that they were teaching me was fun for them too. And I had lots of, you know, lots of friends and like people willing to help. Um, it wasn't until, you know, couple years later, you know, like when you get to the 5th grade, you know, middle school was Pine Grove Middle School, then that's when you hit adolescence and then you start realizing, "Oh well you're different than me. I �17 don't want to hang out with you anymore." So, were there challenges? Yes, but I—I—as—as um the years progressed, to me it was like that's when it would get harder. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: But you know it's kind of like—I don't want to say everyone, but like it's just, you know, there—there's a lot more um things that are happening during that time anyway. You got the emotions, you got the—the—not the hormones, but, you know, you're growing up, you're finding who you are, um, in addition to being in a country where you don't know everyone. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: You know? Flesher: Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. Um, how would you say the, uh, like the culture was compared to—to back where you were home? Acosta: Um it—it was um the culture. What? Flesher: Yeah, sorry, it's like very broad. Acosta: It’s like—yeah, like um what in specifics? Like I don't— Flesher: Um I guess just like how people—when I think of culture, I'm thinking of how people interact with each other. Um, so like uh for example, like on the east coast, I notice that people are all like very busy and can be like a little more harsh to each other than like over on the west coast for example. Acosta: Yeah, where things are laid back? Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: Yeah, it—it's just that you—you know, you start realizing that you're—you’re um—I'm trying to remember during that time, it's just like middle school like all the kids would be trying out for sports because that's usu—I remember that in particular, like they—they all wanna be doing something else, whereas my fam—and then I would go back home. So here I am, sixth grade, seventh grade at Pine Grove Middle School and they're all trying out for sports and then I would go home after, um, the school day and my, you know, and in my home, we were talking about how family is the most important thing, it doesn't you know—there was no such thing as real friends. Because in a sense that, um, in a sense that, you know, all—all of my friends were like, "Oh I'm going with this um friend of mine to try out for uh a sport." And I would say "Well," I would come home, and I would say, "Mom, I want to try out for this sport my friend is doing." Like "No, you—you stay at home, you focus." So, it's like I was—I always say I'm a product of two cultures. In addition to being bilingual, I am bicultural. And that means—like to me that means like, you know, I'm really—I felt like trapped in two worlds, like I wanted to be cool and try out for sports and, you know, hang out with my friends and then I would come home and then my mom would say, you know, "These are people who come and go in your life." You know, "The only real friends you have are—is your immediate circle," which is like my mom, my dad, like my aunts, and uncles, and cousins. "So, what are you looking to try out for the sport �18 for?" You know, it's more of like, you know, it’s, "Stay within your family. Let's—let's um—” so it's more, not controlled, but it’s—they—they were just trying to teach me the value of being close with the family, whereas at that age my friends were all about trying new things, being independent, you know, my—you know, they would just drop you off, "Mom why can't, you know, my dad just drop me off at my friend’s house?" It’s like, well, first of all, she didn't drive so she couldn't do it and my dad was working, you know, extra um shift so he couldn't, so it's like there was like, "Well what else do you want us to do? Like we—we only have one car. We only have this." So basically my—my, um, decision was: “Well, then I guess I can't be like everyone else. I—I don't have access to um, you know, transportation,” like—like I do now for my kids, like I drive them everywhere, where they—they di—we didn't have that, so it was just my culture, my—it was very small circle— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —that I stayed with. My cousins, um, and my aunts because I wasn't able to go out with, you know, my friends like when they wanted to go out. They wanted to go out and then I remember like back then Skateland was like the big hype and it’s like, "Well why can't I go skating like my friends would go?" And it’s like, "Well cause we only have one car." And so, I don't want to say I’m—I was sheltered, but because of the situation that we were in, I didn't get to do all the fun things that teenagers my age were doing. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So, now, you know, looking back I was like okay, and I survived so it's okay that, you know, that they didn't go to every—that I didn't get a chance to go to every single birthday party that I was invited to or um, you know, or every single Skateland every weekend like the rest of my friends. I'm okay, I turned out okay. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So. Flesher: Yeah. Um, so would you say like the culture here was like not as focu—not as revolved around family as it was back in Colombia? Acosta: That's what I was realizing. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So yes— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —to answer your question— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —which I—you started a while ago. Um, yes like I just realized that my priorities were not the same as my friends my age. Flesher: Okay. �19 Acosta: You know, because mine revolved around family and they revolved around trying— trying new things, going out, and being with their friends whereas mine was just, I stayed a lot—I stayed many, many evenings at home. Flesher: Hm yeah. Acosta: But again, I'm okay! Flesher: Yeah, right—right. It's nice to—to have those—those times with family. Acosta: Yeah, yeah! It's just I—I appreciate it so much more. Flesher: Hm. Yeah. Acosta: You know? The closeness that my family— Flesher: That's good. Um, would you say that when you were adjusting to that it created any tension within your family of—of realizing that the culture here like was different than— Acosta: Yes, yes, because we, um, we—we wanted to—to be like everybody else. But based on our economic situation we weren't able to. Flesher: Hm, yeah. Um, would you mind talking a little bit about um the—your religion, um, is that something you're comfortable talking about? Acosta: Sure, sure. Um so because we grew up in the Parkville area, it's like where we lived right on—well we—they still they still live there in the same house. So, it's off of Putty Hill and Loch Raven, so because we were um close proximity to, um, a particular church called Immaculate Heart of Mary, that's where, like that's where all of my memories, you know, revolve around. We were, and still are, very um practicing Catholic family. We um would go to church because it was close to our house even when it was—we had problems with the car. We could walk to our church. So, like that was always important to my parents, like I can remember them saying, "Yeah and—and you know we got a church close by. We got a 7-11 close by. So worst case scenario, if we're snowed in, we can still access this." Um, you know, are—the things that are important to us. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So, anything that we might need like milk or bread, we could get at the, um, at the 7-11 and then again reinforcing our faith, um, our Catholic faith at Immaculate Heart of Mary was just a perfect um, you know, perfect location for them, um, that we would have a church nearby. And um we would go, we would sit in the fifth pew back on the right and to this day, I have attended um Saint Joseph's Parish which is right up the street from where I live and it's not the same, like it's not—it—I don't feel at home like I do at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: So, my kids, um, unfortunately we weren't able to um go to a private school, um—but they attended CCD [The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine] now it's called Faith Formation but it's CCD, um, since they were you know, um in first grade. So, CCD every Sunday we would go, �20 um, and they would learn the Good News and then we would go to church right afterwards. So, this is something that, you know, I did as a child and then I was able to instill with my kids now. Um, nowadays as well that, you know, that's our parish, it's our community. Flesher: Right. Acosta: So, we still leave early if we have to, because we get a couple fights [or lights?] from here or there, but that is, you know, that's our home like that's where we feel— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —um our connection. Flesher: Yeah, I can definitely understand that. Acosta: And that's our, yeah. Yeah, and it's—and—and they, you know, sometimes they, you know, they're teenagers so sometimes they fight me on it, but they know that this is not an option and it's something that we do. We go to mass, we—they're both altar servers. They're both um, when Father Mike needs something, you know, they know that they can count on them to go and help, you know, trim the bushes um, for the—the um the church because that's what, you know, that's what we do. So— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —you know. So yes, we're practicing Catholic and we you know, we attend Immaculate Heart of Mary. Flesher: Okay. My mom actually went to school there. Acosta: Yeah, so yeah, it's a—I—I love it. I love the school. Flesher: Um, is Catholicism something that is practiced um in—in Colombia? Acosta: Yes. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Yeah, and I would say—I mean I don't know about now, but, you know, when I came here, like Colombia was like um—the—the area that we lived in, Barranquilla, was like 99% Catholic, Roman Catholic. So, it was um very important that, you know, we were able to find the church that same denomination. I mean Christians, we're all Christians, but that it was a Roman Catholic church. Flesher: Right. Acosta: So, it was important to them— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —to—you know, and I'm grateful for it. �21 Flesher: Um-hm. Um, so your parents practiced—they—they practiced Catholicism back in Colombia? Acosta: In in Colombia as well, yes. So, they—um we practiced, uh, we would go to church in Colombia and then we came here, and we were able to continue. Flesher: Would you say your parents had a pretty big impact on your faith when you were growing up? Acosta: Yes, yes, I mean and they instilled that in us. I mean it's just um—and I'm very grateful for it because they continue to teach my kids. Um, I would—I would say that just coming here um [pauses] it—it takes a lot, I mean you have to just know that you're in God's hands like— Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: —we came here, we didn't know anyone um. Then we prayed about it, we prayed before um dinner. We you know, it's just something that I saw growing up. I always saw it in them, and I am grateful that they did. Flesher: Yeah, yeah that's really cool. Um, would—uh so in terms of like the immigration experience, did that have an impact on your guys’ faith at all or was that something that really strengthened that, um, as you guys moved to the US? Acosta: Um, like what—what do you mean? Like— Flesher: So, like um, that you said that you prayed, do—do you mean you prayed before you came to— Acosta: Yes. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: We prayed that the, you know, that it was a big decision for them. Um, and then once we were here, we give thanks. So not only do you pray before, but we gave thanks every single weekend for just allowing us to survive another—you know? Because everything was just so new to us. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: You know and— [trails off] Flesher: Um-hm. Um, and did you—did you all—have you always gone to Immaculate Heart of Mary, like when— Acosta: Yes, yeah. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: So that's been our parish, you know, for 30 years. Flesher: Okay, um. And um— �22 Acosta: Over 30 years. Flesher: What was that? Acosta: I said over 30. Flesher: Oh, okay. Acosta: I keep saying like 30 years like you know like 1980—oh my gosh 40. Flesher: Mm yeah. Um, and you said that—that your parents have—have helped some in passing—in passing that down to your—to your children also? [Acosta's husband and son walk in the front door] Acosta: Right because my parents are um, they— Flesher: It’s okay. [Acosta's son laughs in background] Acosta: Ay Dios. Acosta’s Son: Hey! (laughs) Acosta: He just waked in, my son just walked in by the way. And so, um, my parents, they are bilingual, so they um speak Spanish at home and so that was important to me, because if they [Acosta’s children] didn't speak Spanish at home, they wouldn't be able to communicate with my parents. That being said, that when they spend the night at their house, it's—it's something that she [Acosta’s mother] chooses—she uses that time to talk to them about her faith and about yeah so. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: You know, and they do, they—they need to be able to communicate with them so that was why it was important for me to— Flesher: Right. Acosta: —make sure they spoke Spanish. Flesher: Um-hm. And have they been able to also pass down some of the—the Colombian culture as well? Acosta: Yes, exactly. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: Yeah, the culture, the food, the, um, the stories, she—she [Acosta’s mother] has like the little book of sayings that, um, that, you know, she kind of teaches so that we're keeping those stories alive, you know? So that they know where they came from. Flesher: Hm. Yeah, that's nice. �23 Acosta: You know? Flesher: Right. Um, I guess uh I'm just curious um like have—have your children expressed interest in—in going to Colombia with you, um, one day? Acosta: They have um, it's just we're—we're waiting for—for them to be a little bit older, I guess, so that they can, I guess, um, fend for themselves and uh it’s something that we would like for them. They’ve—they have asked. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: Um, it's—it’s difficult at the age they're in, right? Currently um I have a fourteen-yearold and a fifteen-year-old, so they're all about their friends right now, but I know that the time will come when they will, you know, ask more about their roots, so they were very anxious to go right before their teenage years. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: And right now, we're—we're probably at a lull because— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —friends are more important. But I know that they will, you know, they—they have shown interest in wanting to go. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: And—and in that time, because my husband's from Puerto Rico, we have attended—uh have visited um Puerto Rico several times. Flesher: Okay. Acosta: So, like they do, you know, when they go there because they're—we’re able to go with, um, without a passport— Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: —it's easier for them to at least see their—their family on their dad's side. Flesher: Yeah. Have you been able to meet—meet up with any of your family in Puerto Rico when you went down there then? Acosta: No, no. Not with my immediate family, no. But they have come here, and when they come here—they—they have come to visit yeah. Flesher: Nice. Um, yeah, I guess is there—is there anything else you would uh want to share? Um before we kinda finish? Acosta: I— Flesher: Any—any interesting stories? �24 Acosta: I just um, you know, one in particular that we talked about, um, when I was signing my name on the permission slip it's just that, you know, we’ve talked about the fact that during my adolescence um years I—even though I was proud to be Colombian, I was, um, I was not scared, but I was ashamed of my last name, for example. And so, I would say when they would ask me what my name was and I would say "Gloria Jah-rah-vah" and, but it's not really my name, my name is Gloria Jarava and it's one of those things where it wasn't until, you know, a couple years in that I'm like well why am I trying to just be part of the group? Like I'm—I'm proud of being Colombian, why don't I teach someone how to say it correctly? So then that because very important to me that it's like, "No, my name is Gloria-Ines Jarava," and if somebody doesn't know how to say it then I'll teach you how to say it. Flesher: Right. Acosta: But I'm proud of where I—where I am now as a person and I'm going to teach you how to say it, so then I would say, "Jarava like hooray Jarava," and I would say, "J-a-r-a-v-a," and I would say, "the J is like an h" Jarava and I would break it down. So, you know, it—it was important to me that although I spent so many years trying to fit in, now I was proud of who I was and I can teach someone the correct way to say my name. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: And the same thing now that I'm married it's "Acosta." "Oh well I can't really say that. Can I just call you Mrs. Gloria?" "No, my name is Acosta." Flesher: Right. Acosta: And so, it's just that, that, you know, I feel like I've come full circle um because now I'm currently um an Additional Assistant at um Perry Hall Elementary, and there are lots of um students from different ethnic, um, eth—ethnicities and so with different ethnic backgrounds, and they'll say, "Well you can just call me um Rita," but her name is Riti. Flesher: Hm. Acosta: And she doesn't want—she's like, "Well, people don't know how to say Riti," and so it's—I've come full circle I'm like, "Well here's what we need to do, we need to teach them how to say that." So, it's really, um, it's—it’s really fulfilling for me now that I came here, I felt different and I had lots of friends, then I was shunned because I was different. Then I came to, you know, appreciate and admire my parents’, um, sacrifices to now be working in the school where I'm able to help someone else just be proud of who you are, you know, at a young age so that you don't have to go through this whole, um, circle. So, she's like, "You're right! You're right! And so, I'm Riti! Riti!" And so, they're just—and they're—they're so full of life and I want them to be as excited about being different rather than just trying to fit in and—and being like everybody else. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So that's my only, you know, fun story that it has come full circle for me. You know, but that’s it. �25 Flesher: That's really cool! Acosta: Yeah, and—and there are many different ethnicities there, and so I look back and I'm like wow, I’m—I'm in first grade, and so what happens is that I'm able to see myself in these kids, if you will. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: Um, coming here um from India and um just all these different places, and I just say India because of this, um, particular girl, but, you know, and just being in a class with other students and just I can see myself in them and it's—just it's beautiful, it is beautiful. Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: So— Flesher: Especially since it made such a big impact on you, that you were able to do the same for these children. Acosta: Exactly, exactly. And so then, you know, they're learning English for the first time. They are um, you know, they're—so it's—I—that's—that was me. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: That was me in 1979. So, it's—it was very powerful. Flesher: Yeah, that really is amazing. Acosta: And—and again if you—it's like God is good, you know? It's like, "Wow! This is a full circle for me." Flesher: Yeah, that's really fulfilling. It's cool to see the way he uses us. Acosta: Yes exactly! Flesher: Yeah. Acosta: You know, and I'm here to help them. Flesher: Um-hm. Acosta: Because I'm an assistant, so I'm—I'm not their teacher, I'm there to assist them. Flesher: Um-mm. Acosta: So, I'm working with the ESOL teachers and I'm working with, you know, um, the—the speech teachers. And helping them as well. Flesher: Yeah. That’s really nice. Acosta: So, yeah. That's my story. Flesher: Thank you. Uh, is there anything else you wanted to talk about? �26 Acosta: No, just know that you can always contact me if there's something that you need— Flesher: Okay. Acosta: —um, to further share my story with you. Flesher: Yeah, thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to—to tell your story and share about it—it's really fascinating and cool to hear! Acosta: I'm glad to hear it. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Spring 2020 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adam Flesher Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Gloria-Ines Acosta Location The location of the interview White Marsh, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.A. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data docx, JPG, MP3 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 of Gloria-Ines Acosta Description An account of the resource 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Adam Flesher Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 7, 2020 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF, JPG, MP3 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Catholicism Children Colombia education family identity Opportunity religion https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/a309dc39a3fbaea5c63aacb7f97db1f3.png?Expires=1779321600&Signature=mTWI9h7z2JDzqgp2ERYqavmPq8wHI%7EG2EfEysFVkFf7ePv1IjeoziQIkZj268Z3OKrOdVMH-6nbe95Hp3r9GMHtSa%7EfWzYWRj-2u6ND0C3%7ErQWqj8gAdy8ZtuN5ESp44rR5FAXM4KH0qBF9C9uxNDL686ZzXGpy%7EeFvuilFDeUYkHxdLssab63Tfx2JeclmJo1AFFhGDGXj9v3alnm3y7hpW9rAiaXwP7zyUwT8Djyt146GLDIPuiZyHSCkAue3dkxE8jGsSD3AeGOxc4ixTO6kL3OY06CA1F%7EqOJOeUdXRcT-F39fotCulgRFX3kulx%7EM1v4hbW2dl1fKd1v%7E1pxA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 0851b7e908d10385d03e23e683f25175 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/9cf88ecbc6a2690a4dcd6ab33a6d40b0.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=n5EoKL4ISYI3b2DQLCBiQnMQeC%7ElHbQhXewxLguF-FF13NdGUj2yjsDYpwhlKF-Uy6R9mgTLeh2f69PjsOlER1yC2pe9zTaXy8bKZIm%7EzShztISbWbqmnb15GO%7EmxJwsKJiZM69%7EYnNvN3x4wmQqXH3lQAVdi-eaeCfik10o6fxlZ-Lf5PiQ-tDdNBahBHgP6VUUCyCqZq791uz5Kb3l8hEvzAZr3%7EIE5qQlhGF016pZQyroHH0-Yr3J0m2dPqH-dyLJfIVzn92-A9LWb8BVTYRUY3EplYMf95MzUpOMdHI2%7E848niclsupRRK4pE%7E2cLRB2mDzusU1aamkWdgYVtA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 1741cab77432833b621a43dada4e3450 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 Spring 2019 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Austin Kleber Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed "Monica Geller" Location The location of the interview Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data PDF 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 of "Monica Geller" Description An account of the resource 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Austin Kleber Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 27, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History assimilation childhood childhood migration class Communication community cultural differences culture Culture Shock driving education employment England expectations family food gender roles higher education holidays India Iraq marriage Middle East Opportunity race racism religion safety South Asia technology television Transportation travel visa https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/688c29b754ed323f69d0f1d26d855865.jpg?Expires=1779321600&Signature=nDP8-j43XD59u4o8JRZQX6Q0wc-Gc5sA5B3Tng%7Eqgy5GKBOde6FntL9NQztB0KMIqGW7yEXGrtot8VKnhrWXDrhPKVmXacEy812MXmfUOlv0XSdNsFNPLNiSSE%7EiwmFM9SzqPiluTqLX7Os4tAC3ccm1rAP2rv1U6QwBLRc4e7auBbzmyJ7MjmhjuR9Ih6cDJ-MHuGWqj-3Pwk5-9qa4G%7EQFyHUTniRnVjV4VBz7s8Rm4hFx79hgKtQmWtY531SOq9UoAV9JMtnWCkGxz93-e0NK3ztugxHxA53EtN2P7jmFRUymOZKiCCaY9XU2PZEob8BT-6RJxDNitN8uOK2irA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 304db8a7852e4f4390d69d3fcadee785 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/b361d9b32bc59b673ac6f99fde30dff7.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=C6wKtEjv9nvPnpvmfQqIXkirM1QkeSsXKbMBLEJQlYGJNxH02Y47yLam5lY7qMiz4H8hIClZQWvitYKtkyains4RpPg0cuf8-OGzyxyvNMHuVql5CSHQWbTl-AxQ1UiFanbeEqHiksas-JoYb6tGkii6Q3rsX397C7Pd0qbZCrubhwum5SsvqEMY6G1I5J%7EOQdeWUJvB8f5lFzGPlk-zga2xcVwj4fwiYJncSuIXny8GFoUC0l4hrituMleR7HtTlDJwBn9UOmdWTrJYa4rxdvqMEQhIwtW4wX-0U6Um3Zi29TwAwDyp4%7EYz2zHHaSL3rILoDRfISzSUqT44fCEnWA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 391e7ea9aab29d6fa8d1582334f59aa7 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/b0519eb4d6481ca2d234f8132ecebeee.mp3?Expires=1779321600&Signature=ag9VrKtyJ4apwFUaaS6gBODfkLXXXMGTDjjayV5tNIJxWArWsFB8-pVZ6izOxb59o8WUf9MUc92LB9G0o5oqGBe9c3OGxHDAfeznZFf1R-F8tA80zxEILmC1NTmtkwNBWbYjQgtdUvWS78eMay%7E8PrO-c3gYu7E0DZ1pAPEOkyh2NT3ojZ9-%7Ebk47A1ZZRSIv2oubUt5F%7E0pc9Y4MTSTTifeIvcNt%7E2bhppcJikES2LmQ8M0uL-zpVHqTLtXsU0XD%7EiqIhF10ncIwnixWEwwsHeAb0bqdCKCkEh2dD35sdj9qvgZrAN9z1klKw1zysioxXd5TcFl51Jld8-z-c007w__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 40006e0e3712f2e8d9c00f12765e63ad 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 Spring 2019 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Ivonne Gonzales Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Blanca Henriquez Location The location of the interview Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data MP3, PDF, JPG 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 of Blanca Henriquez Description An account of the resource 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ivonne Gonzalez Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 11, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource MP3, PDF, JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History American Dream Catholicism Central America childhood childhood migration Children civil war culture education El Salvador employment family family reunification gender roles grandparents Green Card higher education immigration process jobs language Language Barrier motherhood religion safety Salvadoran Civil War siblings traditions visa https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/3018b4159191fb26f04c854ae6fec73b.JPG?Expires=1779321600&Signature=JfjCJHB0ArNV%7E0Gw1upgez-WTNvEl3HcQVYjJpF3-PBU1PAWSMdT8ggNh2cRYuKZCec%7Efzwh01lrRVRadWRycN0jnxwev0fVymicA2hFvdNVRLybqBry8qXHTZ5JB0V38PevzjavKLQrzw5XESWR%7EVoEbK5owZFmd6BWWFwpNbpjJBIb0gThscFw2nhm4T-BmLOWnMuu0TgFOn0UnZIQIQj54lFl%7EO8kf2qYdEnlFGatTbX74iAkNgWUSL%7EsWO54t3h3b9gCLY-l8qwCVdGvwDkTbI4oAiGMwgjH8zF-kkO3dxA9dsmQItqvj6kDJfCETo8cFM3lOl3vo9ytzITlxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 4448378b538b68ef8d2af865ab07850b https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/dece9271922a4e445e70896a3ff38364.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=mSKFCkhqeQnkLjIY%7EW1XrmgX%7EzrOWmGbPEIE1HWLGdbYzL9D13evtrvam5-pUPY033u3%7EJd-XIeoUKjAtZnLyIM4jyh%7EylMX7Vo3S7rbE4P8IqSP8g%7EMk10UfwMsm3X0GfDomr1RosM0vdODIQDkTLqLbS1PJVNVBlVFjnbXy4qbDbvsTeEwq%7EG0DYqFX01dMbcThz25YwOUcZhsjwQ9M6dq%7Et%7Em9lAiOHlmL9zCx4xOeq0i0EVNjsx6c%7EE8IMAMDYVfQlGfWMq6VzlcS%7EsgI9oMC64Sda6KcJhJW-krSfB7Iq3pwLQRMjr0Rj71bz9DnYwy0C%7E0RgQVuvfP4XGZ6g__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 2a5eea3548e3a03d2e7d8321de43b6ac https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/946cc8208be09929f007037084d53d8b.mp3?Expires=1779321600&Signature=uUIjlmpsX-WetDaa0Ei%7EPnaGcLP0zCGRfLfXRc6lK9XJHbBOpGBB3si1%7EoGc%7EzwVcv-0i2mAJA0d9iBN0kwvCwDqE%7E8eLjZZKWCpK1LY7DZFQbDiILXFL8bBndRpjAt%7E6klub1kLh6iaRp6WhqlIu%7ES%7E4U7lFiXBGScZM4AHZjtI0jwlt3FqFKF9zfptJLoAnBG%7EV-KuYbCZ-dwra2DrReWUvdpsQWt5hV59K9ZTv-Sw1dIPr0nbKCKa2bnXaDPBE4r99vJWsaLVbMOluxetGIAewjJXgASEdGxOkCetBLbe9VoirHHu1zRRLwiV5s9J4hCu2LTKj5h1PtU4iceRfw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 746a148909cbe29565f816e750c447c7 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 African and African Diaspora Immigrant Oral Histories Subject The topic of the resource Description An account of the resource This collection contains oral histories of migrants from Africa and the African Diaspora (drawn largely from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America). In April 2020, the Center for Global Migration Studies, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture, will hold a symposium entitled “Making African America: Immigration and the Changing Dynamics of Blackness.” The stories in this collection demonstrate some of the key themes of the symposium: transnational ties to homeland countries; the intersectional experience of being an immigrant and black in the United States; and migrants’ influences on U.S. culture, politics, and society. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF, JPG, MP3, M4A Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Hannah Fields Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Bebe Lila Spooner Melville Location The location of the interview Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data MP3, PDF, JPG 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 of Bebe Lila Spooner Melville Description An account of the resource This interview between Bebe Lila Spooner Melville and Hannah Fields explores Melville's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Guyana. As a teacher and government employee, Lila witnessed the racial and political conflict that enveloped her country and eventually forced her to leave as part of a mass exodus in the early 1980s. 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hannah Fields Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 8, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource MP3, PDF, JPG Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History brain drain British Guiana childhood Children Citizenship colonialism Corruption discrimination education employment family family reunification government employment grandchildren grandparents Green Card Guyana Health higher education immigration process jobs marriage politics postcolonialism racism religion siblings South America sponsorship teacher US politics https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/4e46ef26f95be3066d3ee52df48ddc71.jpg?Expires=1779321600&Signature=NMAvGtW0mIBHUUn7xxLFVFpJABIW37r5Oe4w0ladXPpPBOl1IdNOHBFH3xdcSm11rNtc5P8YjkDQZv8C1Yt2ya5-xBB1vmIJRh7k%7E3%7E8SpcOtKO1NKVHGrB5sdCzWLnnxAgSOo8dyVWmFjK5mVrUQ911w9DtpnVjOikaa%7E17DxxG4vvgl2xq1ji8ehGJkmK3qreWSR7rWKLQhkR7T5qSGrn2P5sdCcj-dw5tYbKQBsToPg4FU6VTAdytbzYkjnZPbEvf8QF3c4cF6qH4N8XDQLz11a77ljDp4BYzylBDvu-lIEi9bxVwxyL1XImFacqAk42I22BTP0EdXwNeeFWsrw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM d264268db2fba458f4e177840696ac07 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/f5b347dfec7f208637de855855d68066.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=BZQkJ6x7%7EoX080d5G563LqgdnMUrCpjRxszmYcqRM5H0eMMaooDskp%7EsEXJlIxfwQx1lFlK1SLo00fsnkwjbILDdt-NO63hmUhwz50FOH3bzBEjb5mAU%7EbzpmvneSU2xkYGT07bs4ynwnhp4CrIwMhZv5713r688PbsGhwG6uuLhipB47PB1Ef3Qy%7ESgE9mOqfUH3E6Ha%7ExlO9WeehKKprsbpq3KdTN45qKdn5BV8o5Nd9fRvfBrnn9fVa5a67r1PTDuEdZadhALtfAP-wkhJXvI6C0QWaOM-UKvH8jibeYjjqYEGf2gsEgtMXQN0U3oB6OZvsdxR4RY2qHc8oWJAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM c0a904b4a16e33f966a7aaff97139583 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/16159/archive/files/e230250bc2d742052da30ff9535ccda7.mp3?Expires=1779321600&Signature=h4F9zEF8hycShjzWT6u%7E6rJKyAs7YrCiefwVpz9bXRVY4JMmwNkIgD3pcyeksWQQa95Wj1yXcazIM%7EnKz-5I9WYG%7ETSCbyiq%7EkeNuRW6LXleQ0DW3HUIhRvY4Uqf9GNgxYacDBwwQnAGKssfHkowxamkUWoX4NFNAOkEkDHkAzJs2PFXe3sJqeF2wtafCeAt9KfLFWTchiYDurpYmeRJGp4X4Q0iNgF2lflShrRQV5z7MR4p4G6aJv1MkeFxv8Q5p28qmf9clvejKRZ5Y5E9q-G02dFt43FVgB6T5C8d9ss5VmZM%7EfORFCYdLZzZIfFOFFQ8JkIKaQZCqt6JPoMxmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 1b333211efc54781e560e04a83975ce2 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 Spring 2019 Interviews Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Nicholas Banai Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed John Zhang Location The location of the interview College Park, Maryland, USA Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data PDF, MP3, JPG 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 of John Zhang Description An account of the resource This interview between Nicholas Banai and John Zhang explores John's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from China. At 18 years old, John traveled from Zhuhai to the University of California, Davis to get his bachelor's degree. Now a graduate student at the University of Maryland, John discusses his conversion to Christianity and the differences between China and the United States. This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course HIST428M (Spring 2019). 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nicholas Banai Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 6, 2019 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource The full rights of this oral history interview were given by the interviewee to the University of Maryland, College Park. This interview may be quoted from, published, or broadcast in any medium that the University of Maryland, College Park shall deem appropriate. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Spring 2018 Interviews Description An account of the resource These interviews were conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park courses THET489V (Spring 2018) and HIST428M (Spring 2018). THET489V was led by Professor Esther Lee of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, HIST428M was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities. Both courses were sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Dolma Gazan Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Tenzin Dolma (pseudonym) Location The location of the interview Maryland, USA Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data PDF, MP3 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 of Tenzin Dolma Description An account of the resource This interview between Dolma Gazan and Tenzin Dolma explores Tenzin's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from Tibet. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Spring 2017 Interviews Description An account of the resource These interviews were conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park courses THET428I (Spring 2017) and HIST428M (Spring 2017). THET428I was led by Professor Esther Lee of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, HIST428M was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities. Both courses were sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Shuping Yang Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Kerstin Harper Location The location of the interview Maryland, USA Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound PDF Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data PDF, M4A, JPG 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 of Kerstin Harper Description An account of the resource This interview between Shuping Yang and Kerstin Harper explores Harper's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from West Germany. This interview was conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park course THET428I (Spring 2017). 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shuping Yang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 23, 2017 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF, M4A, JPG Language A language of the resource English American Dream border crossing child rearing childhood Children Citizenship Communication communism cultural differences driving education Europe family food Green Card higher education language marriage naturalization refugee religion technology traditions Transportation travel visa 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 Spring 2017 Interviews Description An account of the resource These interviews were conducted as part of an undergraduate final project for the University of Maryland, College Park courses THET428I (Spring 2017) and HIST428M (Spring 2017). THET428I was led by Professor Esther Lee of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, HIST428M was led by Professor Anne Rush of the Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities. Both courses were sponsored by the Center for Global Migration Studies. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Eunji Jang Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Seo-yeon (pseudonym) 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 of Seo-yeon Description An account of the resource This interview between Eunji Jang and Seo-yeon explores Seo-yeon's experiences as an immigrant to the United States from South Korea. ***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 THET428I (Spring 2017). 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. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Eunji Jang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Center for Global Migration Studies Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 31, 2017 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 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). Language A language of the resource Korean, English discrimination education family Language Barrier marriage prejudice religion South Korea