migration story from interview

7/30/2019 Migration Story from interview

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Hua Shao

UNIV190

Migration Narrative Paper

04/23/2012

Undocumented Migration

Introduction

In this semester, our service and social justice class focuses on migration which

is important and popular issue in U.S. Thus, the undocumented immigrants are

discussed a lot in my class. Illegal immigration is the migration into a state in

violation of the immigration laws and sovereignty of that nation. Because illegal

immigration raises many political, economic and social issues and has become a

source of major controversy in U.S.There was also one service on interviewing illegalimmigrants at Chicago. It is a great experience for me to know one person who I have

not had any familiarity before. Thanks for their sharing and support which helps me to

have deeper insight of the illegal immigration. There is a big lovely community where

people have similar experiences and help each other. For this paper, First part, I am

going to share my experience of interview which influenced on me. Then, I will tell

you the story of one illegal person. Finally, there are some related stories which I

experienced with migration.


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Interview

It was a sunny day. I really like the weather which can make me feel so happy.

However, it is Sunday morning. I usually sleep until noon. When my friend knocked

my door, I was still sleeping. She burst in my room to wake me up. Thanks for doing

that I can go to train station on time. But at that time, I just wanted more sleep, so I

felt a little bit sleepy and complained. Why do I need to wake up so early at Sunday

morning? The feeling changed when I arrived at there.

The XX is very nice. He picked us up at the end station. He introduced a lot about

the community and what we were going to do on the road. When we arrived there, it

was almost 10:30, the mass began at that time. It was a huge church which I did not

see before. I am an international student. Actually I did not have wide knowledge

about church and religion. But when I came here, I was effected by friends around me,

also I have more interest at Jesus. I have gone to some church in U.S. They are

different building styles, whereas this church makes me so surprise that I want to walk

into it and try to see it clearly.

There were so many people here who are almost Mexican. It was hard to find a seat.

When I finally sat down, the mass began. They all spoke Spanish which I did not

understand. I was so carefully to see what happened and what I need to do. First, the

churchs decorations are awesome which make me fix eyes on them. This is a


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tradition and old church. The decorations are telling me about the life of Jesus. It tells

us the importance of the spiritual side of life. Also, some traditional pictures show the

history of the church. There is a beautiful church which has a big influence on this

community. Church is like a bridge which lets members communicate and build good

relationship.Secondly, the people are almost Mexican and they seem very easy to get

long. We had known that the community members go to church every Sunday. It is a

good opportunity to know each other and express their thinking. I found that they all

came here with whole family members. From their dress I can tell that most of them

are not rich. But they looked happy and content. The church gives them a feeling of

satisfaction and a sense of belonging. Some kids were singing and some were playing

the instruments. I cannot imagine their families which may have illegal member in

their family. It is a heavy issue for them, also it is really hard for me to relate the

wordillegal with the naive children.

After the mass, I feel awake and satisfied. I was thinking that it is a valuable

experience for me. It was much better than just sleep at my dorm. I like new

experience, also I like to meet new people.

XX leaded us to another building where we were going to meet our interviewees. I

took my recorder and camera which can make me feel more confident and

professional. This was my first time to interview. I took out all the paper we prepared

on class. I tried to make me clam down and not nervous.


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We did a lot of preparation on class. I have received several pages of paper which lists

a lot of questions we are going to ask the interviewee. I still remembered one of the

class, our professor match us in different groups to do interview. It is really hard for

me to continue a long time interview, because I tried to catch the information from my

classmate, also I need to come up with the following questions. I still remember our

embarrassing situation when I did not have questions to ask. So for this real interview,

I feel nervous.

Summer and I were partners. We are all from China. So this will be easy to

communicate with each other, on the other side, it is hard to interview because of our

English level is not really good enough to catch all the information from the speaker.

But I told her and me: we can do it. And when we began to interview, I found it was

just free communication which each other open heart to share. I am so glad to

interview him. He is so nice that answer our every question clearly and patiently. I

even can feel he is more nervous than me at the beginning of the interview. Our

communication lasted 100 minute which is really longer than I thought before. From

him, I not only learn the undocumented issue, but the way how to deal with difficuties

in life and how to live positively and happy. This following is a story about our

interviewee.


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An undocumented immigrants life

He has two names: one Mexican is XX but in America, they call him XX. He is

nineteen year old now. When we first met, he looked a little shy. He is not very tall,

around five point seven feet. He has dark tan skin color which makes him look strong.

xXX has thick eyebrows and a pair of shining eyes. His thin beard makes him look

old than his real age. He wore a plain T-shirt and a pair of jeans which are ordinary

wear at U.S. He studies at Harold Washington College now.

XX was born at Mexico at 1992. He came to America when he was just 5 month with

his parents and grandmother. He cannot remember the the stories at the journey and

their families at Mexico, but his parent are really patient to tell him their experiences.

There was one funny story on their journey. When they were on the road of the

journey, one time his parents pulled him down to the ground, when they worried him,

he was laughing and splashing the water on the ground.

There are some reasons of coming to America. They lived in XXXX, Mexico. His

parents married at their young age. His mother lived at a wealth family; however, his

father family was poor. His grandfather got fired at Mexico, so he came to Texas, U.S

to try to find job. His father cannot support the family by his small salary. Thus his

father came to Texas to find a richer job. When XXs father first came to US, he

worked with XXs grandfather. However, after a couple months later, his father got


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fired, then his fathers uncle worked at Chicago, his father got help from his uncle and

decided to go to work at Chicago. This family has a strong belief, just like XXs father

told him every time Our family number cannot separate no matter what will happen.

His father missed his family member a lot when he was at U.S. Then he decided to

pick xx, xxmother and grandmother up to U.S. They wanted to help each other to get

better life at America. Then they lived with this Mexican community at Chicago until

now.

His father can speak English which he learned when he came to U.S. His mother did

not know English. So he grew up in a Mexican language environment. Actually, his

father and mother experienced a lot of difficulties when they arrived here. They have

language barrier at that time. For his mother, there was harder situation. She did not

know any English at that time, and she needed to take care of home and the little baby.

Also, they needed to adapt the life style at America. It is helpful for them to Live with

this Mexican community. His father was eighteen year old, and his mother was 16

year old. They still were teenagers at that time. So his grandmother was the older

everyone respected her. The families are Catholic. His grandmother has a strong

religion. She was the one could let family members clam down when they faced

something hard. His father got a construction job. The living standard of this family

became better with time going on.

XXs childhood was happy and sunny. He went to elementary school where is really


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near his home. Every day, he just needed to walk two block street. Also, this

elementary school is supported by the community. However, they all have similar

background. But before he went to school, he cannot speak English, he should learn

English first. It is much easier for him a little child to learn a new languge. But until

now, he still has the accent when he speaks English. When he grew up year by year,

there were more members join in this family. He had two sisters and one brother.

Because they were born in U.S, they are all American citizens. His mother got a job as

a group manager at chocolate factory which is near home. But the life for this big

family was still difficult. Therefore, when he was at middle school, he began to work

with his father as a labor at weekend and break days. Although he still studied at a

Middle school with Mexican and Latino, he did not have free time to hang out with

them. Thus he just had few friends at middle school. He did like his job, but he must

do that for his family, then He stopped working at 15 years old. Then at Junior high

school, he got the first formal job for himself as a teacher to teach kids. He really

liked job. He made Christmas party for them. When the kids get some award, he feels

so proud.

This family has strong bond with each other, just like his father usually says: never,

ever leave each other. So they care about their other relatives too. They keep up with

their relatives. Then the following year, his fathers brother moved to America, later

he married with American girl, therefore he became a citizen. On his mother side, her

two sisters moved to here, they all have legal identities now. So XX is the only


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undocumented person at his family. But he did not realize it until his graduation day at

middle school.

That was a really sunny day, he was really happy to graduate from middle school. But

his father and mother looked not happy. Is there something happened at our family?

He just guessed but could not ask them. Later, his father with a strict face asked him

to sit down to talk with him. He was wondering what his father was going to say, may

just say congratulation for him. When his father spoke out that you were

undocumented, he could not believe that. Because he celebrated first birthday at U.S

and he grew up here. However, he also had some confusing that what the meaning of

undocumented identity to his life. And today was still a good day to congratulate his

graduation. His father talked a lot with him, because when he was going to attend

high school where the students came from different family with different races, he

would experience some discrimination. Also, with his growing older, there will be

some limited situation for him to face. Also, his father suggested him what to do when

he was discriminated by others.

There was indeed some discrimination for him in high school. His high school

contained with African American, American and Latino and Mexican American. He

still remembered that someday, three Latino Americas played a joke with him. They

said that jump the broader. Also, when they were eating at dining hall, some guys

were pointing at the beans and said to him: watch your dinner. Then they laugh at him


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together. Because Mexican enjoy eating beans and they have their special ways to

cook beans. His father told him to fight back when someone make fun with his race.

However, when they did not offend him a lot, he did want to get in trouble, thus he

just choose be quiet. This was way for him to protect himself from violence. However,

sometimes he could tolerate the discrimination. One day, African guy beat him at

public, and everyone laugh at him, so he felt so sad and fought back.

Also, he can feel some difference between him and his siblings. They are all born here,

and with their family lived here longer, his little sister and brother speak fluent

English. XX speaks English with them. Also, they have different favor of TV show.

He still likes some Spanish TV programs, but his siblings cannot understand his favor

because their favorite TV shows are all from American TV. Also, he likes learning

some troditional Mexican dance which his sister think it is weird. Also, He is

interested in troditional culture about Mexico. His sister has gone to Mexico, their

hometown one time. They told him their feeling when they came back. They

described their homeland which small village, small city. They felt weird when they

went to back to know about their parents homeland, because they are American

citizen and they grow up here. They treat themselves as Americans. His parents also

told him a lot about their life at Mexico. They told him that he can drink now if he

were at Mexico. His parent try to use relax way to talk about their homeland.

Sometimes, he imagined what would happen on him, if he were at Mexico. However,

as undocumented person, he cannot come back. Everything about Mexico, he just can


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imagine and hear from others.

Now, he studies general course at Harold Washington College now. He wants to

transfer to another college in the future. There was some helplessness when he applied

college. Actually he got admission from another better college, but it will cost a lot of

money if he studies there. Depending on his situation, he chose Harold Washington

College. As oldest one at Family, he has taken his responsibilities. He has a very busy

schedule every week. On Monday and Wednesday, he goes to school from 11am until

5pm, then he takes CTA rush back to work. He works from 6pm until 9pm for

teaching kids music. On Tuesday and Thursday, he has morning class, then he begins

another work. He said that Friday is relaxing for him, but actually he just does not

have class at that day. He still needs to work from 3pm until 9pm. He has scholar ship

from college. He uses his left scholarship and salary to support his family. Comparing

with me, he is really busy. But he does not have any complain about his life. So the

happiness moment for him is that he can relax on weekends. After one week hard

work, he just want to sleep well and relax himself at weekends. He has some habits,

just like football, soccer, music. Due his busy work, he does not have time to have fun

with his friends.

As a big immigration family, they adapt the American life, at the same time, they still

inherit their own culture and virtue. They celebrate the American holiday, also they

keep their own festival. Their still keep contact with their family members in Mexico.


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Their family has stronger ties than ordinary American family. They respect the older .

XX visits his grandmother every other week. He gives his grandmother roses to let

her feel happy. And he keep his fathers words in mind: never, ever separate with

family. Sometimes he may have angry with family members. Later when he clams

down, he still cares about his family.

Although he experienced kinds of negative things, he has a positive feeling and strong

heart to fight for his life. There are some influences by his family. He is the oldest

child for his parent. He experience the hardest time for his family. His father plays a

strict role at home. He uses his way to protect his children. He give him a lot advice

and told him every situation when he faced and how can he deal with. He did not

agree that people separated groups by different races. He tried to make friends with

different kind of persons. He thinks his identity is Mexican and American. He has

different group of friends. There are some undocumented persons too. Some of them

have similar feelings as him. They have their dreams of life. They want to be a lawyer,

engineer, or computer expert. There are also some people who just look the dark area.

XX has his opinion that life is not easy for everyone, and there are dark everywhere,

there also are light everywhere.

Like other people, he has his own American dream too. He wants to go to University

to pursue higher education. He wants to live in green house. He wants to live with

family forever. And the most important part is that he wants to become legal person at


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this country where he treats as his home. He carries what the difficulty the life gives

him, and he uses his thankful heart to deal with them. He will continue fight for his

rights. If fail, he will never regret, because he will try his best to pursue it. I still

remember finally what he said: there are 80% undocumented people at this

community. There are more stories which are sad and huge. But we born innocently,

we cannot look at the darkness of life. We cannot deny ourselves. We should know

who we are. When we go through out the darkness, there is sunshine at our life

waiting for us.


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Some immigration stories I experienced

From his story, I try to contact with myself. There also some immigration stories

which I experienced.

First, my aunt, a professor at one university at Chicago, moved to America 12 years

ago. At that time, she wanted to study abroad to pursue further education. After more

than 5years study, she adapted American life, and her husband came here for study too.

So, finally, after they all found good job, they decided to live in America. Last year,

they got Greencard. Now, they had a six year old son who was born in America. They

live their happiness life at U.S. I want to say, this is one kind of immigration for more

than half of Chinese peoples way to immigrate.

Last week, I talked with some Chinese workers who work at loyolas dining hall. One

lady told me, she feels hopeless now. She is not good at English. She just can get this

kind of job. And there is no chance for her to get higher position. After work, she go

home, she did have some Chinese friends who can share and talk with each other. She

told me that if she were in China, she will be happier. And the only reason for her to

stay here is her 16 year old son who has adapted American life. She want to her son

get good education at U.S, she sacrifices her own life. In her mind, she want to her

son have a better life which is her best wishes. Also, there is another man, he has the

similar feeling with her. When I asked him the reason he stayed here, he said that his

son was born here, now he is just 3 years old, I want to my kid have a light future here.


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That is one kind of Chinese immigration at U.S. When they came here with their

strong hope of future, they found that American life may not fit them. But there are

reasons of relatives and children, they choose to stay here.

U.S is consisted of immigration. Everyone has their own different story here. On their

road of pursuing their American dream, some success and some failed. Some continue

to fight for their life, some give up. With the more and more people move to America,

the government begins to change their policies to adapt the various situations.

Undocumented people are one of the important society issues for America. After my

interview, I think I will continue to pay attention on immigration policy at U.S.

Finally, I wish his dream come true.

migration story from interview

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