Kenneth Chen, Gowoon Jung
June 6, 2018
... , my child, would fit into the culture here in the U.S. Prior to moving here Louis and I had a relatively stable life. I was teaching in school and he owned a restaurant. We decided to move to the U.S. partly because Louis wanted to start his business, but mostly because we think it is a better arrangement for Eddie. We wanted Eddie to go to the best college and receive world-class education. I also want him to be happy while growing up. We also think growing up in an all-English environment is going to be really helpful for Eddie in the future. I don’t think I can get a teaching job here, so I’m a bit worried at this point. Luckily, one of my cousins immigrate to the U.S. 10 years ago and now lives in New York City. I’m sure he would have some good advice for us once we get there. My preference would be somewhere near a good school district. I also want Eddie to live in a place where there is more ethnic diversity, where he would hopefully be less likely to feel alien from others kids.
· Jessica Huang
All of my friends told me that moving to U.S. is something I should be excited about, but I’m not really feeling it right now. I missed my friends and classmates. And I’m really nervous about what my new school would look like. I heard being Asian means that I will be treated as if I’m good in school. That is not totally true. I’m an average student, I guess from Taiwanese standard. My mom told me that they came to the U.S. because there is a better future life for us here. I do like hip-hop music, which probably is the only exciting thing for me to look forward to moving to U.S. I want to be a musician in the future.I would probably prefer to live somewhere warmer. I heard the weather in the U.S. is really cold—and it snows during the winter! I’m not sure if I would get use to snowing, since I grew up in the tropical zone.
· Eddie Huang
FAMILY NARRATIVES
(STUDENTS)
The Koothrappalis’
I got my medical degree about 18 years ago from the University of British Columbia(UBC), Canada. I went back to New Delhi after I got my degree and met Shashi, my wife, when she was still a college student. I finished my residency in a major hospital in New Delhi and went on to start my own clinic four years afterwards. Shashi helped me ran the clinic and was the only nurse at the clinic as well. Things were going great. I am not going to the U.S. with Shashi and Rajesh. I think it would be best if I stayed in New Delhi to run the clinic. I’m sure getting the permission to practice is going to be difficult in the U.S., let along establishing a small clinic. It would be more practical for me to stay back home and provide for both of them the financial support they need.
We decided that Shashi and Rajesh is going to move to U.S. because we want Rejesh to pursue his college education here in the U.S. It would be really helpful if he could get into the Ivy League, once they decide to return after they both finish with their degree. I would prefer they find somewhere in the East Coast, where both Rajesh and Shashi would have better access to prestige universities. I would also hope they live somewhere where there is more Indian people around and close to Indian communities.
· Dr. Victor. M. Koothrappalis
I grew up in a poor family, and both of my parents had to drop out of high school to work to support their families. So, before you judge, I know too well that it is a vicious cycle of not having an education because you don’t have money, and not having money because you don’t have an education. I supported myself through college and was able to work as a medical staff in my husband’s clinic very soon after I gave birth to Rajesh, our son. Victor was very supportive and provided an affluent life for us back in India. I was a little sad I must left that life behind to come to the U.S. We made the arrangement mainly for our child. In India the pressure at work is very intense. A lot of university graduates cannot find a good job. So we were worried about my child’s future path in life. My main worries are about relocations and the drop of quality of life. Back in India, I held a better job, had an excellent family environment and was surrounded by friends. Upon arriving here, I immediately do not have these safety net anymore. I'm not really sure what to expect.
· Shashi Koothrappalis
Before I left many people asked me, ‘Why are you studying abroad at this age?’ It is expected that if you go study abroad, you would leave at an earlier age. People said that you will be more assimilated to the culture if you went at an earlier age. I have never thought about studying abroad before. I am a science major in high school and would like to continue my study in physics. I heard University of Chicago and University of Texas-Austin both have excellent physics programs.
· Rajesh Koothrappalis
FAMILY NARRATIVES
(STUDENTS)
The Lopez’s
Of course all countries have pros and cons but I still believe US is the land of opportunities. It has all the tools and resources you need to succeed. My mother, father, siblings, and I had been living in a poor part of town in Guadalajara, Mexico. My hometown, although beautiful, is corrupt and lacks education and job opportunities. My father worked as a ranchero and my mother used to waitress at a local pub and restaurant. They both worked very hard but hardly afford to make ends meet. Growing up in a poor neighborhood, I find it only rational to move upward and work hard to achieve better living standard. Therefore, my main concern coming to the U.S. is to find a job that help pay the bills.
My uncle used to work in the U.S. with no paper. I graduated from a technical college the year he was laid off and almost deported. Despite having had that harrowing experience, my uncle explained that he had a rather easy crossing, not suffering nearly as much as many do. He managed to work in the U.S. over the years through the help of friends he met in his local churches. He recommended me to settle in California because the weather was nice and there was a lot of entry-level job opportunities in San Jose.
· Pedro Lopez
My mother was a strong woman. For as long as I can remember, she was the main income earner of the household. My father was a bracero. He suffered a lot. Although he was always convinced a good religious man to build a home for his family, he struggled over the years to find steady job opportunities. My mother, on the other hand, first started working as a nanny for several years, during the meantime she earned her credentials. She then worked as medical assistant over the years. Even though I don’t have a good relationship with my mother and only lived with my father for a few years, I thank them wholeheartedly for their sacrifices.
Since my child was still very young, I want to find a job that grants me more flexible hours for child-care. We couldn’t afford proper child-care so that me and my husband would have to take turns taking care of our 2 years-old. It would be better if we live somewhere easier to commute to work via public transportation.
I would also prefer to live and work in a predominantly Hispanic community, where I could find guidance from veteran neighbors for everyday shores. I hope I could work my way up to become a nurse as my mother did. So, ideally I would also prefer to live somewhere where I could find professional training institution around.
· Paula Lopez
Migration Consultant Activity
As Used By:
Gowoon Jung and Kenneth Han Chen
University at Albany ..."
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Subject Area(s):
- Migration/Immigration
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Resource Type(s):
- Class Activity
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Class Level(s):
- College 300
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Class Size(s):
- Small
- Abstract:
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These lecture and group activities introduce students to theories of international migration, and ways to apply theories to social problems. They will allow students to understand the motivations, which cause people to migrate, the processes through which they make a...