Chef Johnny Hernandez was introduced to the food industry since he was little. He grew up surrounded of the food and restaurant environment. His father owned a restaurant in San Antonio. He and his father oversaw the food preparation, and back of the house operations, while his sister took care of the front of the house operations. As he started to work with his father he grew a passion for the food industry.
When talking to a student at Roosevelt Elementary in Hanford, CA he explained the reason his family moved to California. He said, “My father wanted me and my brother to have a better life than him.” This book can help immigrant children make a connection because they see their families, working hard, trying to achieve this better life for
During 1942-1964 many Mexican immigrants were “given” the “opportunity” to enter the United States in order to labor and help the United States economic industry. For many immigrants the bordering country was seen as an exceptional place that offered great opportunities but at the same time many family difficulties. The Bracero Program during the 20th century for many Mexicans was seen as an exceptional deal that offered immigrants and infinite amount of opportunities to succeed; however, in Ejemplar y sin igual we realize that the Bracero Program in reality was not the “exceptional program” everyone thought. In Ejemplar y sin igual, Elizabeth Rosas mentions that “an entire generation of children experienced uniquely difficult childhoods because
By all means; the Imperfect Mexican-American When I was younger, I couldn't fathom what my parents meant when they said ‘‘Cruce la frontera para que tengan una mejor vida,’’ In other words, I crossed the border for my children to have the future they longed for; their American dream. I understood the troubles and sacrifices they went through and felt the pain they carried for leaving their motherland, yet I didn't understand what life they were looking for me and my sisters. Years later, one afternoon, my sister greets us with the news that she got accepted to college, I thought this is it, the better life my parents wished for us, the sacrifices they made are paying off, yet to my surprise what was suppose to be proudness turned out to be
There was once a boy living in south McAllen which was often referred to as La Balboa, and a sweet loving young girl living in North McAllen, these two individuals were unaware to the event that would soon be taking place that would change both of their lives forever. These two individuals were my mom and dad mom was usually refers to as La Prieta while dad was called Willi. It was the year 1995 where Willi’s friend Ray and La Prieta’s friend Cristina begged and begged for them to go on double dates with them, both Willi and La Prieta always refused. After begging for so long they finally but reluctantly agreed to go out with them. They weren’t expecting much but to go out and hopefully have some fun along the way, little did they know the
Being a Cuban immigrant has provided me with a unique bicultural perspective that has become my support system in the United States. For the first eleven years of my life, my culture was composed of music and dancing. In every street corner of my hometown, there was a group of seniors playing domino and close by, their grandchildren dancing to the Salsa music being played on the radio to pass the time. The hardships created by the communist regime are overshadowed by memories of my mother teaching me how to sew and by my paternal grandmother teaching me how to enjoy a strong Cuban coffee. Those precious memories of home became a source of pain when I migrated to the United States.
My interviewee’s father did not immigrant to the USA until ten years later, which caused a lot of trauma in Akadina’s life because she did not have a father figure during her most difficult time, which was her teenage years. While hearing Akadina speak about the structure of her family, it allowed me to see the differences between our families. Akadina was raised for a couple of years in a traditional home were there were a father and a mother. On the other hand, I was raised by a single mother and I have four siblings. I did not meet my father until I was 21 years old.
From as early as I could remember I noticed I was not like the others kids. I had an interest for things most kids would not be interested in. I liked interacting with people, knowing about people and their life stories; I wanted to help in anyway that I could when I would hear everyone’s problems. I thought outside the box throughout my whole childhood and I wanted to make the most out of my knowledge. I told myself that I was going to dedicate my life to helping my community.
The injustice that occurred to the farmers awoke very different feelings in me, ranging from anger to pride. Anger from seeing just another way that people are oppressed, thrown to the side and invalidated in the eyes of white supremacy. Yet I was proud of my Latino community because in the face of this abuse they fought for their rights as people and did not let the oppressor just do what they always do with no resistance. This situation with the garden and the farmers is a very specific example of the way a group of people of color trying to advance and better themselves and their community, but is again being stopped and cannot grow and develop in this country, which has happened to numerous communities and population the moment these land
Hispanics in the United States............ In the late 1900’s, many immigrants moved from around the world to seek a better life in the United States. Nowadays, though many Hispanics move here for many reasons. They like the US but, also for better jobs and pay for their family. Sometimes, we have to overcome challenges.
Other than that, he is fond of the U.S. because he is on the road of achieving the American Dream; Rafael has an excellent job and place and his family is given the opportunity to strive for success. Rafael desires to go to his homeland to see how his family and friends have changed and what he has missed out on, especially since it has been at least. Not only does he want to see his family and friends, but he wants to visit his favorite childhood places. Even though he wants to go to Guadalajara, he is nervous for his family to see how he has changed over the years with the extended knowledge of different cultures he has gained. To see his family that he left behind, he has filed documents to become a U.S. citizen, but he does not consider himself an American; he will always be Mexican because it is where he grew up, where he is from, and where his family
Through the significant struggles I have witness from my parents I have learned and adapted that if you want something you have to work for it, as much as they did in order to fully provide my siblings and myself with the basic necessities. Having immigrant parents who were only eligible to work in the agriculture business was a bit overwhelming. Since they only spoke one language, Spanish, there wasn’t many job opportunities for them. Getting paid minimum wage and be living as a low income family we were faced with many struggles. I can say that coming from immigrant parents and foreseeing their struggles, immigrants of Hispanic descent have overcome many adversities especially discrimination because the way they dress, not being able to speak the English language fluently or because of their cultural beliefs.
For this paper I decided to interview my father. The first thing I asked him was where he was born and he said he was born in California, but he and his family moved many times. After this I asked him what the social class of his community was and he said lower class because they lived in mobile houses and at one point they lived in a tent which in my opinion was really shocking because his parents had to lie to other people saying that they were camping so that the authorities didn’t take away him and his sisters from his parents. When I asked him how his household supported itself he said it was his father doing plumbing work and my dad doing work and giving the money he earned to his parents and when his family was homeless his father had to do multiple jobs
Going into this interview project I was curious to learn more about the experiences that immigrants had to go through. My interviewee, Mario, is an 18 year old immigrant that migrated to America from Bolivia at the age of 10. I have known Mario since middle school and we’ve been friends since then. We have grown up around the same area too and now we both attend the University of Maryland.
For six years I have known my friend “Annie Valentin” from a community college, the second generation of Filipino Americans. Although I never knew much about her family immigration background and experiences. Her parents born in Manila, Philippines, Mr. Valentin was born in the 1940s and Mrs. Valentin was born in the 1950s. They immigrated to the United States in the 1970s for jobs offered. Like countless first generations of Filipino American from the post-1965 wave, they have achieved a high educational level.
