Friday, September 19, 2008
I agree...
Derrick's friend Saad makes a good point. Indians do emphasis more on Educations. Their education system is alot harder than here. My parents, aunts, uncles, and every relative or family friend that came from overseas is always so amazed as to how easy the education system is here. In India all the students HAVE to memorize all the times tables, so they are really good at mental math. Thats why you'll notice that most of the doctors, engineers, and even accountants are Indian/Pakistani. They don't have the system of multiple choice there, so they have to answer all the questions in full complete senteces. So all the students HAVE to study really hard for all tests, and exams. The teachers there never slow down or repeat what they said to any student who is falling behind. So the students have really good listening and writing skills. On top of all of this there is no type of financial aid or discount in tuition. So those kids really work hard to get their education.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Oral History Project
Derrick Reed
09- 17- 2008
Oral History Project
The person I choose to interview on this oral history project is my friend Saad. Saad is a really smart person who has a lot to say about everything. I choose Saad because I felt that he will cover the issues that was related to our IMY. I asked him several questions that I felt would raise a certain issue, and then I took what I wanted to keep and took out what things I felt were too board or unnecessary.
Saad can you start by stating your nationality and where you were was born please?
I am Indian, and I was born here in America.
Describe to me the lifestyle of an Indian person living in India vs. an American?
Well, India is completely different from America. I feel that Americans are spoiled compared to everyone else in the world. In India, which is over populated people really suffer. Over here people may struggle, but they can get by in life. There are people in India who are happy if they get two meals a day. There are people in India who are literally living off a $1. One Indian dollar is like forty-three rupees . Just to give you an idea a can of pop maybe like 25 rupees.
What are some other differences?
There is no welfare or health care assistance. People don’t get anything free. You know how in America take a trade and become like a construction worker.?
Yeah
Well in India a construction worker don’t make shit. At the most a construction worker brings in $3.75 a day. People in India, are either real rich or real poor. there is no middle class. Another difference is we don’t really separate the rich from the poor when it comes to the poor. The poor works for the rich, so therefore they must live near the rich.
How are some of these people rich?
Their rich because of their parents or they work hard. India is a third world country, but the people aren’t dumb. We value education to extreme. In fact most people in India who have some type of wealth deals with technology, telemarketing, and medical. Families push their kids to achieve.
Now because India is a 3rd world country obliviously there are poor people. Do you feel these people have to be poor. Can they obtain riches?
Yeah, they can, but it’s almost impossible. A struggling person from in India works for cheap labor. The pay is only enough to survive off of. there is no luxuries in this salary. My boss give me small shelter and pays me little. How can I afford the finer things in life.
And the main reason why poor people can’t see riches is because of education. Education is what really trap these people. Education is what sets the rich from the poor. Education in India is not free. It’s cost a lot of money. These kids are not easily accepted into colleges and on top of it, it’s really expensive. These college before even one is paying tuition must donate money to the college. The schools are private schools and these kids students don’t know anything about a scholarship or financial aid. As, result of college being so high, these kids are forced into a role that don’t want to play. They must face reality and accept that they will work for cheap labor for the rest of their lives. This is why in India we have the most Juvenile workers in the world. Now this show you how these people are Trapped!
09- 17- 2008
Oral History Project
The person I choose to interview on this oral history project is my friend Saad. Saad is a really smart person who has a lot to say about everything. I choose Saad because I felt that he will cover the issues that was related to our IMY. I asked him several questions that I felt would raise a certain issue, and then I took what I wanted to keep and took out what things I felt were too board or unnecessary.
Saad can you start by stating your nationality and where you were was born please?
I am Indian, and I was born here in America.
Describe to me the lifestyle of an Indian person living in India vs. an American?
Well, India is completely different from America. I feel that Americans are spoiled compared to everyone else in the world. In India, which is over populated people really suffer. Over here people may struggle, but they can get by in life. There are people in India who are happy if they get two meals a day. There are people in India who are literally living off a $1. One Indian dollar is like forty-three rupees . Just to give you an idea a can of pop maybe like 25 rupees.
What are some other differences?
There is no welfare or health care assistance. People don’t get anything free. You know how in America take a trade and become like a construction worker.?
Yeah
Well in India a construction worker don’t make shit. At the most a construction worker brings in $3.75 a day. People in India, are either real rich or real poor. there is no middle class. Another difference is we don’t really separate the rich from the poor when it comes to the poor. The poor works for the rich, so therefore they must live near the rich.
How are some of these people rich?
Their rich because of their parents or they work hard. India is a third world country, but the people aren’t dumb. We value education to extreme. In fact most people in India who have some type of wealth deals with technology, telemarketing, and medical. Families push their kids to achieve.
Now because India is a 3rd world country obliviously there are poor people. Do you feel these people have to be poor. Can they obtain riches?
Yeah, they can, but it’s almost impossible. A struggling person from in India works for cheap labor. The pay is only enough to survive off of. there is no luxuries in this salary. My boss give me small shelter and pays me little. How can I afford the finer things in life.
And the main reason why poor people can’t see riches is because of education. Education is what really trap these people. Education is what sets the rich from the poor. Education in India is not free. It’s cost a lot of money. These kids are not easily accepted into colleges and on top of it, it’s really expensive. These college before even one is paying tuition must donate money to the college. The schools are private schools and these kids students don’t know anything about a scholarship or financial aid. As, result of college being so high, these kids are forced into a role that don’t want to play. They must face reality and accept that they will work for cheap labor for the rest of their lives. This is why in India we have the most Juvenile workers in the world. Now this show you how these people are Trapped!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Oral History By Chintan Patel
Chintan Patel
ENG 102
If we now think about 90 or 95 years ago, about life style, difficulties, entertainments we could say that that time people were living in a night and now we are living in a daytime. However, that time their they tried to come to daytime and they did. Now we are living in very bright time that might change to night time. I met my grandfather a week ago and I had discussion about his life. He is 92 years old. He was born in a small village in a West side of India. At that time women were giving birth at home, there were no hospitals or anything like that. Therefore, during her first pregnancy because of not having enough materials and smart people, no one could save her she died after five minutes of his birth. After that because he was too young his father remarried to another women and she gave birth to three girls. However, by that time he was five years old. However one day his stepmother had a heart attack and she died. Then his father decided to not marry any other women, because kids were good enough to take their selves. As my grandfather was the oldest kids from three sisters he got to take care his step sisters. Study or anything like that was just not an option for him. He had to go to farm, make food at home and take care of his sister that’s what he did till age of 11. After that his sisters were able to do house work and he start job at someone’s office as a servant. He was getting paid 5 cent per a day. He did work as a servant till age of 18 then he starts his own store with his friend. At an age of 19 he got marry with a girl who was three years younger than him. He worked very hard, because that time economy of India was very down. It was not even increasing because British government took over it. My grandfather says “sometimes we feel that we were doing business only for British.” At the end of month had to pay 75% earning money to British and take home money only 25%. I asked him some questions about it his life and at the end I had tears in my eyes.
I asked him what kind of entertainment you had that time? What you were doing in your free time?
His answer first that “there was not a word free time exist at all.” He said when I don’t have to go to work I have to repair my house. Everyday something was broking. In India we have three seasons’ winter, summer and Monsoon. Therefore, he said every time we have to be ready for next season. There was not electricity at all. In order to fresh my mind I go out and sit with my neighbors that was kind of entertainment. He said I love to travel around the world, but that time it was impossible for me to go. We had no money and there were many risks of security. British might caught you and put you in a jail. However he said everyday till he came to USA, he was wishing for a bright future. He said he does get tired of life, but there was no any option. He said if I even think about to not do work, second image was coming in his head was his 5 kids. Therefore, there was not an any other option.
How you were doing everything without electricity? How did you feel when you saw it first time?
He said “the Sun was our light and candles were light for night.” We always have to finish our work before dusk time. If we don’t then we have to wait for a next day to sun comes out. In summer we have to use hand fans. We cannot even sleep in summer because of warm weather. Have to sleep outside of home because inside we feel like lava. During monsoon if its heavy rain then always has to be prepared might have to move for some days to another village. He said when he saw first time, he felt so amazing that how does it happen? He felt so relax to himself. During first days he always forgets to use light because he used to not use electricity. He was happy because at least his children do not have to suffer same as he suffered.
Which life you liked better? Would you wish you to live in this kind of life that we are living now?
His answer was that he would live in these days life. He said now we don’t have to do anything. These all became very simply now for us to live. Now a human can be independent at certain age. These technology help us lot. However, everyone can do what their like for entertainments. They could hang out or play station, watch TV. Now we can live our lives as we wish for it. However, at the end he said that now we have to be so secure in life anytime anything could happen.
After his interview I thought that they came out in day light from night. However in these days we are living in a daytime very bright future world, at a same time there is also a dark night future too if things will go worse.
Mrs. Felix
86 years old and still kicking. Mrs. Felix owns an apartment building, where she lives only a couple blocks away from me. In her cozy little apartment, the first thing one notices are the enormous amount of bookshelves that almost encompass the room. Bookshelves embedded into the walls are covered with books; every surface area of the apartment is scattered with them. All these books, both fiction and nonfiction, are about World War II. Mrs. Felix served in WWII and still regales her family and friends with tales of the war.
As told to me by her grandson, Alex:
Mrs. Felix is 86 years old and still remembers everything that happened in the War. According to her grandson, every little detail that comes up in conversation triggers a memory of the War that she recounts. Mrs. Felix was stationed in the United States, on the East side of the country, working as a nurse. She did not patch up the soldiers; that job was left to the field doctors and nurses overseas. Instead, her job leaned more toward physical therapy and mental recovery.
She hated her time served in the war. Every memory she tells is apt to bring tears springing to her eyes. They continually fall as she goes on.
She remembers mostly the expressions on the multitudes of faces she saw almost on an assembly line. “These kids were really broken,” she says sadly. “And it wasn’t just in their bodies, either. Their minds were muddled with pain and fear. They killed. It wasn’t natural for these kids to kill on instinct, without thinking anymore. Because if you cared about who you killed, then the war really gets to you, and you’re liable to go nuts.”
Mrs. Felix recalls a moment when she was helping a soldier onto a cot. His leg was fresh out of a cast, and he was being wheeled around on a wheelchair. This man had a family to go home to, a wife and children, and a suburban home. This man was also suicidal. He had not a care in the world, not for his family, friends, home, or work. He lost his other leg and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
There are not only bad and horrible memories that Mrs. Felix remembers. Her grandson’s favorite story is how his grandparents met.
They met in a horrible time, and for that the memory is bittersweet. For all that she hates her time served, she cannot hold back the teary-eyed smile when she tells the story of how she and her husband met and fell in love.
She and her husband were both on the medical field, she a nurse, and he, a doctor. They often worked together fixing up patients and helping to mend them before they were shipped home. It was a slow courtship, filled with longing glances and short dates between shifts. He wooed her with flowers picked from the hospital garden, and stole kisses between file cabinets.
As told to me by her grandson, Alex:
Mrs. Felix is 86 years old and still remembers everything that happened in the War. According to her grandson, every little detail that comes up in conversation triggers a memory of the War that she recounts. Mrs. Felix was stationed in the United States, on the East side of the country, working as a nurse. She did not patch up the soldiers; that job was left to the field doctors and nurses overseas. Instead, her job leaned more toward physical therapy and mental recovery.
She hated her time served in the war. Every memory she tells is apt to bring tears springing to her eyes. They continually fall as she goes on.
She remembers mostly the expressions on the multitudes of faces she saw almost on an assembly line. “These kids were really broken,” she says sadly. “And it wasn’t just in their bodies, either. Their minds were muddled with pain and fear. They killed. It wasn’t natural for these kids to kill on instinct, without thinking anymore. Because if you cared about who you killed, then the war really gets to you, and you’re liable to go nuts.”
Mrs. Felix recalls a moment when she was helping a soldier onto a cot. His leg was fresh out of a cast, and he was being wheeled around on a wheelchair. This man had a family to go home to, a wife and children, and a suburban home. This man was also suicidal. He had not a care in the world, not for his family, friends, home, or work. He lost his other leg and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
There are not only bad and horrible memories that Mrs. Felix remembers. Her grandson’s favorite story is how his grandparents met.
They met in a horrible time, and for that the memory is bittersweet. For all that she hates her time served, she cannot hold back the teary-eyed smile when she tells the story of how she and her husband met and fell in love.
She and her husband were both on the medical field, she a nurse, and he, a doctor. They often worked together fixing up patients and helping to mend them before they were shipped home. It was a slow courtship, filled with longing glances and short dates between shifts. He wooed her with flowers picked from the hospital garden, and stole kisses between file cabinets.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Oral History...Joshua Gonzales
Joshua Gonzales, 23
Joshua is a student at West wood college. He is a part of the Criminal Justice Program that is offered there. Soon he will graduate and hopes to find employment as a Chicago police officer. He was raised as and still is a die-hard White Sox fan. He has been in the same happy relationship with his girlfriend for nearly five years. As of right now, Joshua lives at home with his parents in a basement apartment.
If there were one thing about the world that you were able to change what would it be and why?
Honestly...Money. Let me explain, i truly believe that money is the root of all evil. Without money, or society's dependence on money, so many of society's problems would not exist. You know, if everyone had to fend for themselves there wouldn't be as much crime as there is in the world...or even separate social classes. Everyone would be equal.
So, you feel that money is the only thing that is keeping all people from being equal?
No, but, Money divides society and create classifications for people. If we didn't have money we wouldn't have social classes. Without social classification people would have more equality than they do with it. So, even though diminishing social class differences doesn't make the world equal, it is a start. To accomplish anything you need to start somewhere don't you.
(laugh) Ya i guess so.
Besides money, what are some of the major problems in society today?
Other than money? Well, the government is a big problem. The government is so sneaky and they all lie. Well i can't really exclude money from the major problems because they all revolve around money. The government lies because of or for money. People fight and die for money. Unemployment is a big problem in today's society. That revolves around money. Crime happens because of money too. Today's society is also to dependent on the media. That is pretty much it. The world is too dependent on money and media. That and... there are to many cubs fans in this world.
What logical solution would you suggest to solve these problems?
Whoa...(light laugh) Its to late to solve the worlds dependence on money. There is no solution to these problems. Our world as we know it is coming to an end. Our past leaders have ruined everything for us. The rest of the world hates America, and soon, there will be a nuclear war. That will be the end of man kind, a war. Wait, there is one problem we can stop worrying about. (light laugh) the cubs, that problem will solve itself. We can just take down wriggle field and build a giant bar, that's all it is anyway.
Oral History done by: Samantha Dati
Joshua is a student at West wood college. He is a part of the Criminal Justice Program that is offered there. Soon he will graduate and hopes to find employment as a Chicago police officer. He was raised as and still is a die-hard White Sox fan. He has been in the same happy relationship with his girlfriend for nearly five years. As of right now, Joshua lives at home with his parents in a basement apartment.
If there were one thing about the world that you were able to change what would it be and why?
Honestly...Money. Let me explain, i truly believe that money is the root of all evil. Without money, or society's dependence on money, so many of society's problems would not exist. You know, if everyone had to fend for themselves there wouldn't be as much crime as there is in the world...or even separate social classes. Everyone would be equal.
So, you feel that money is the only thing that is keeping all people from being equal?
No, but, Money divides society and create classifications for people. If we didn't have money we wouldn't have social classes. Without social classification people would have more equality than they do with it. So, even though diminishing social class differences doesn't make the world equal, it is a start. To accomplish anything you need to start somewhere don't you.
(laugh) Ya i guess so.
Besides money, what are some of the major problems in society today?
Other than money? Well, the government is a big problem. The government is so sneaky and they all lie. Well i can't really exclude money from the major problems because they all revolve around money. The government lies because of or for money. People fight and die for money. Unemployment is a big problem in today's society. That revolves around money. Crime happens because of money too. Today's society is also to dependent on the media. That is pretty much it. The world is too dependent on money and media. That and... there are to many cubs fans in this world.
What logical solution would you suggest to solve these problems?
Whoa...(light laugh) Its to late to solve the worlds dependence on money. There is no solution to these problems. Our world as we know it is coming to an end. Our past leaders have ruined everything for us. The rest of the world hates America, and soon, there will be a nuclear war. That will be the end of man kind, a war. Wait, there is one problem we can stop worrying about. (light laugh) the cubs, that problem will solve itself. We can just take down wriggle field and build a giant bar, that's all it is anyway.
Oral History done by: Samantha Dati
oral history.... my father
Christine Olson
Oral History
September 17, 2008
My father, Robert Olson, joined the police force in June of 1966. He was a Chicago Policemen for Thirty-seven years. A loyal man who served and protected his city, not because of the benefits, but because he wanted to help make the society a safer place. His duties consisted of answering service calls, patrolling the streets of Chicago, handling domestic disputes between husbands and wives, and children and their parents. After 20 years of being on the police force, he took on parking enforcement, serving warrants, and dealing with abandoned cars. Little did he know what he was up against…. He retired in March of 2003.
How were you treated as a policeman?
“When I had to arrive at houses of domestic disputes, the parents wanted me to straighten out their children who were rebelling and misbehaving. The children feared not only me, but policemen in general. Children are not supposed to fear us; they are supposed to trust us to help them. We are not here to harm anyone, rather, we are here to protect them from any harm. Minorities stared me down and gave me dirty looks. They made me feel as if they hated me.”
Have you ever been shot at? Why?
“Yes I have. My partner and I we called to a scene because of shots fired. It took place in an alley, and as we arrived we heard the shots. We realized then, that we were being shot at. The bullets were hitting the ground directly in front of us. Luckily, no one was harmed! The building was then surrounded with backup police officers, and the individual who was doing the shooting was finally apprehended.”
Did you ever receive a promotion?
“Unfortunately, I didn’t. Promotions were only received by how much clout you had and who you knew.”
Are the benefits good?
“Well, while I was on the police force I had good medical, dental, and optical insurance for myself and my family, but as soon as I retired, my salary was cut by ¼ and I still had to pay all my bills and support my family, I had no more dental and optical insurance, and my pension was not what I had hoped for after 37 years. Legally I could have stayed on the police force longer, but I was so burnt out emotionally and physically.”
Have you ever experienced any situations that were horrifying for you?
“On a below 0 degree winter day, my partner Henry Pena and I were called to a traffic accident at Western and Granville. As we arrived, there was an Oldsmobile with steam rising from the engine, and we see the car wedged underneath a semi trailer truck. The entire car was crushed all the way to the top of the windshield. We pulled up along side of the car, but we didn’t see anyone in the driver’s seat. However, we saw steam coming from the passenger seat. As I got out to look, I saw a man’s torso in the seat, and steam coming from the neck, and his head in the back seat. I could smell the blood. Another incident that I had to experience was when I was called to an apartment for a ‘suspicious odor’ coming from the apartment. We got the manager to let us in, and the manager informed us that it was an elderly man that lived there by himself. We entered the apartment and found what appeared to be a male, obviously deceased, and severely decomposed. The poor man was blown up to 4 times his normal size. The man was deceased for a week already before he was found and the smell was unbearable. We had to put the man on the stretcher, with no elevators in the building and carry him down 3 flights of stairs. Then take him to the hospital were the doctor pronounced him D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival). Lastly we took him to the Cook County Morgue.”
How do you feel the City of Chicago treats the police department?
“It is a very thankless job, where people consider you as just a ticket writer and someone to fear, until they need your help. The things I had to endure as a Chicago Policeman, you would think that I would have better and greater benefits. The Mayor himself, is an unappreciative politician and the Alderman are all concerned about their own gains and don’t care about the interest of its city employees!”
How have you been affected by your job?
“Well for starters, the emotional affect is torture for me. To have to see the things I have seen, obviously not everyday, but it was hard to go home and put it behind me. I would come home and it would affect my family life. The physical aspect of it was my health was slowly deteriorating. I had open heart surgery in May of 1987, had extensive rehab and returned to work 4 months later. Then I had a second heart attack in November of 2000, with extensive rehab again and returned to work 3 months later. The stress from the job helped contribute to the clogging of my arteries.
During the job, were there any positive experiences besides the negatives?
“The one event that will always bring a smile to my face is the day I was directing a school crossing, I had my arms out making sure the children did not cross. When a young African American girl grabbed my hand and walked with me across the street. That made my day!”
The bottom line is, Robert Olson gave his life to his job. Almost lost his life many times for different reasons, but kept on pulling for 37 years. To me, this man is a man of greatness.
Oral History
September 17, 2008
My father, Robert Olson, joined the police force in June of 1966. He was a Chicago Policemen for Thirty-seven years. A loyal man who served and protected his city, not because of the benefits, but because he wanted to help make the society a safer place. His duties consisted of answering service calls, patrolling the streets of Chicago, handling domestic disputes between husbands and wives, and children and their parents. After 20 years of being on the police force, he took on parking enforcement, serving warrants, and dealing with abandoned cars. Little did he know what he was up against…. He retired in March of 2003.
How were you treated as a policeman?
“When I had to arrive at houses of domestic disputes, the parents wanted me to straighten out their children who were rebelling and misbehaving. The children feared not only me, but policemen in general. Children are not supposed to fear us; they are supposed to trust us to help them. We are not here to harm anyone, rather, we are here to protect them from any harm. Minorities stared me down and gave me dirty looks. They made me feel as if they hated me.”
Have you ever been shot at? Why?
“Yes I have. My partner and I we called to a scene because of shots fired. It took place in an alley, and as we arrived we heard the shots. We realized then, that we were being shot at. The bullets were hitting the ground directly in front of us. Luckily, no one was harmed! The building was then surrounded with backup police officers, and the individual who was doing the shooting was finally apprehended.”
Did you ever receive a promotion?
“Unfortunately, I didn’t. Promotions were only received by how much clout you had and who you knew.”
Are the benefits good?
“Well, while I was on the police force I had good medical, dental, and optical insurance for myself and my family, but as soon as I retired, my salary was cut by ¼ and I still had to pay all my bills and support my family, I had no more dental and optical insurance, and my pension was not what I had hoped for after 37 years. Legally I could have stayed on the police force longer, but I was so burnt out emotionally and physically.”
Have you ever experienced any situations that were horrifying for you?
“On a below 0 degree winter day, my partner Henry Pena and I were called to a traffic accident at Western and Granville. As we arrived, there was an Oldsmobile with steam rising from the engine, and we see the car wedged underneath a semi trailer truck. The entire car was crushed all the way to the top of the windshield. We pulled up along side of the car, but we didn’t see anyone in the driver’s seat. However, we saw steam coming from the passenger seat. As I got out to look, I saw a man’s torso in the seat, and steam coming from the neck, and his head in the back seat. I could smell the blood. Another incident that I had to experience was when I was called to an apartment for a ‘suspicious odor’ coming from the apartment. We got the manager to let us in, and the manager informed us that it was an elderly man that lived there by himself. We entered the apartment and found what appeared to be a male, obviously deceased, and severely decomposed. The poor man was blown up to 4 times his normal size. The man was deceased for a week already before he was found and the smell was unbearable. We had to put the man on the stretcher, with no elevators in the building and carry him down 3 flights of stairs. Then take him to the hospital were the doctor pronounced him D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival). Lastly we took him to the Cook County Morgue.”
How do you feel the City of Chicago treats the police department?
“It is a very thankless job, where people consider you as just a ticket writer and someone to fear, until they need your help. The things I had to endure as a Chicago Policeman, you would think that I would have better and greater benefits. The Mayor himself, is an unappreciative politician and the Alderman are all concerned about their own gains and don’t care about the interest of its city employees!”
How have you been affected by your job?
“Well for starters, the emotional affect is torture for me. To have to see the things I have seen, obviously not everyday, but it was hard to go home and put it behind me. I would come home and it would affect my family life. The physical aspect of it was my health was slowly deteriorating. I had open heart surgery in May of 1987, had extensive rehab and returned to work 4 months later. Then I had a second heart attack in November of 2000, with extensive rehab again and returned to work 3 months later. The stress from the job helped contribute to the clogging of my arteries.
During the job, were there any positive experiences besides the negatives?
“The one event that will always bring a smile to my face is the day I was directing a school crossing, I had my arms out making sure the children did not cross. When a young African American girl grabbed my hand and walked with me across the street. That made my day!”
The bottom line is, Robert Olson gave his life to his job. Almost lost his life many times for different reasons, but kept on pulling for 37 years. To me, this man is a man of greatness.
Coming To America
How my grandparents came to America
Leticia and Renaldo Dychangco were married in a small village near Manila, Philippines in 1956. After 13 years, they had 7 children: six girls and one boy. She wanted to provide more opportunities for them as they grew older and felt the need for her and her husband to find better paying jobs. So, in 1969 they applied to immigrate to the United States via the Philippine Embassy.
At the embassy, they were probed with many personal questions. They asked them reasons for wanting to immigrate to the US, complete background checks were made that the embassy called “Bio-Data.” This was a complete socioeconomic, medical, and criminal background check. They were also asked to choose the top three US cities they would like to reside in once they got settled. Leticia’s first choice was Philadelphia, choosing it for its historic roots. Her second and third came as Chicago and Los Angeles. Due to the high volume of applicants, immigration regulation, and what she described as “red tape”, the couple’s application at the embassy took 7 years to process.
The embassy ended up giving them the okay in 1975 to immigrate to Chicago. Leticia was relieved they were granted with their second city choice. She decided after she applied it would have been a better choice to make her first choice Chicago because it was a larger city that grew quickly. She knew that there would be many job opportunities.
They moved into an apartment in what is now modern day Lincoln Park. As soon as she and her husband got jobs as dental assistants, something they already were familiar with back home, they prompted for the rest of their children to apply to come to America as well. This would provide enough time for them to save and prepare for their arrival. . Finally, in 1982, all their children arrived and with their help after a few years, they all moved into a reasonably sized home together. It was very exciting for them, as it was a Philippine dream come true-they were now pursuing what immigrants coveted the most, a shot at their now American dream.
Leticia and Renaldo Dychangco were married in a small village near Manila, Philippines in 1956. After 13 years, they had 7 children: six girls and one boy. She wanted to provide more opportunities for them as they grew older and felt the need for her and her husband to find better paying jobs. So, in 1969 they applied to immigrate to the United States via the Philippine Embassy.
At the embassy, they were probed with many personal questions. They asked them reasons for wanting to immigrate to the US, complete background checks were made that the embassy called “Bio-Data.” This was a complete socioeconomic, medical, and criminal background check. They were also asked to choose the top three US cities they would like to reside in once they got settled. Leticia’s first choice was Philadelphia, choosing it for its historic roots. Her second and third came as Chicago and Los Angeles. Due to the high volume of applicants, immigration regulation, and what she described as “red tape”, the couple’s application at the embassy took 7 years to process.
The embassy ended up giving them the okay in 1975 to immigrate to Chicago. Leticia was relieved they were granted with their second city choice. She decided after she applied it would have been a better choice to make her first choice Chicago because it was a larger city that grew quickly. She knew that there would be many job opportunities.
They moved into an apartment in what is now modern day Lincoln Park. As soon as she and her husband got jobs as dental assistants, something they already were familiar with back home, they prompted for the rest of their children to apply to come to America as well. This would provide enough time for them to save and prepare for their arrival. . Finally, in 1982, all their children arrived and with their help after a few years, they all moved into a reasonably sized home together. It was very exciting for them, as it was a Philippine dream come true-they were now pursuing what immigrants coveted the most, a shot at their now American dream.
Mr. and Mrs. Biabani
Mr. and Mrs. Biabani are my parents. They have been happily married for 26 years, with 4 children. 3 of which are in college and one in highschool. My father came to America because of better job opportunity. His father passed away when he was very young and he had 9 other siblings and a mother to support, educate, and get them married. My mother came to America because she married my father.
So I understand that when you were a little child India was ruled by a Muslim king, how was that like?
Mr. Biabani: Well...there were all kinds of expectations of the people when the king was passing through. Stuff like you were not allowed to be on the roads when the king is passing by. You were never allowed to look at the king, you always had to look down, and the guards would never face the king, they would always face the opposite way. The streets would be sweeped, cleaned and washed. All the pedestrians and people who were riding their bicycles and all types of vehicles were not allowed on the streets when the caravan is moving. The streets were always empty.
Mrs Biabani: You could not look at the king in his eyes, you had to look down and talk. The guards were like lower level people so they couldn't even face the king.
Mr. Biabani: It was like that even when the other rule came too.
Who was ruling when Pakistan separated?
Mr. Biabani: British
Mrs. Biabani: Yea not the Hindus, it was the British.
Mr. Biabani : Muslims were ruling India when the British came. The British came and fought with the Muslims and took over. they came as merchants and ended up taking over. I'm not talking about India though I'm talking about Hyderabad, where i was born and came from. Right after Pakistan was separated, Hyderabad was also raided and the military was deputed and the military took over Hyderabad.
So after that there was the Hindu ruler?
Mr. Biabani: Yea. Well...that is not actually called Hindu rule, it was called independence and democracy but majority was Hindu so the Hindu was really ruling.
Ahan, and how long did you stay in there while Hindus were ruling?
Mr. Biabani: Until then, when i migrated. I left India in 1969,
Mrs. Biabani: About 19 years.
And then after you left India you went to Saudi Arabia, where obviously there were Arab rulers. but the Arab ruling was obviously different than Indian ruling right? How was that difference?
Mr. Biabani: Well Indian tradition is different than Arab tradition. Indian traditions were more Mughal and Iranian cultures.
Mrs. Biabani: It was the difference of cultures, not religions.
Mr. Biabani: Basically monarchy is monarchy, when there is a monarch there is a monarch, whether its in India or in Saudi.
So you stayed in Saudi for about two years?
Mr. Biabani: almost, yea.
And then you came to America, and that was American government, and so how was that change from mainly Muslim or Hindu rule?
Mr. Biabani: Actually when i was in Saudi i didn't feel the monarchy presence there. The king lived in Riyadh and i mainly stayed in Jeddah, Makkah and Madina so i never saw the king's presence where we had to observe all sorts of traditions. In India we had to be very respectful, and careful, and traditional. You could not go in front of the kings palace it was heavily guarded. and all sorts of things were in Hyderabad... in Saudi Arabia where ever the king was it was fine, we were living in our home...
Mrs. Biabani: It was pretty much like he lived in his palace and we lived in our own house.
I see, but like when you came to America, did you really feel the difference?
Mr. Biabani: same thing, actually this is a different country, different traditions, different culture, different standard of life, the seasons are different, the dressing is different. In Saudi we wore long robes...
Mrs. Biabani: Daddy never had pant shirt in his life until he left India and went to Saudi. when he was traveling to Saudi he then went to a tailor and got a pant shirt outfit.
Mr. Biabani: I never even wore it until i reached Saudi.
Mrs. Biabani: and when he came here that's all he had to wear.
Mr. Biabani: and when i wore it it felt like i don't know what I'm wearing. it felt so awkward.
So Ammi, when you were younger than my age, you never even had like the slightest idea that you would ever marry someone from America and come here right?
Mrs. Biabani: I wished too ( laughs out loud)
Mr. Biabani: You mean I desperately wanted too (Laughs)
Mrs. Biabani: I really wanted to come to America, when i was in high school i used to study economics, history, and commerce, and geography, and in all these subject America was mentions alot, so it was like a dream place.
So when you found out you were going to marry someone in America what was going on in your head?
Mr. Biabani: She was jumping with joy. (laughs)
Mrs. Biabani: No, i used to only think, that far, alone....first of all i didn't get a chance to pay attention to the fact that I'm going to America, everything happened so fast.
So when you actually realized that you married someone from America and that you were soon going to be coming here too, leaving your whole life behind, how did you feel?
Mrs. Biabani: at that time i never knew i wasn't going to be going back for 20 years. i thought i would be going back every year or every other year.
So how did you feel coming from a foreign country? Daddy kinda went through a couple changes before he came, so he was able to adjust easily.
Mr. Biabani: There was an obvious change in culture, language, and way of life. it was obvious. we are coming from east to west, there is a big difference from east to west, its two different kinds of life styles. we noticed the change, and the change was obvious, but it took some time to adjust to it.
Mrs. Biabani: for example when we lived in India there was no phone system, so no one would ever call before they came, they would just stop by as they were passing by. so anyone could come at anytime. here you have to make sure you call before you go to someones house because you don't want to go there and waste gas and be inconvenient for the person whose house you are going to. so you have to make sure they are available. and there ladies stayed at home.
Mr. Biabani: every week we had to detail clean our house, and washrooms. and vacuum.
Mrs. Biabani: here whenever you want to make any plans you have to wait for the weekend, for example if you want to have a get together, or go somewhere you have to wait for the weekend and make plans. over there there was no concept of weekday or weekend. people would even come over in the middle of the week, and no one had a problem with that, everyone would sit around and laugh and just chill. who ever wanted to stay longer would stay longer and who ever wanted to go would leave. they would probably just tell the kids who go to school to go to bed because then they'd have a problem to wake up for school. there the women stayed home so no one had a problem, you could go anytime to any one's house. here women work too, so if i couldn't even call anyone even if i wanted to, all the women we knew here used to work. people are not available, you can't just talk to anyone and for as long as you want because no one has the time. there when you get out of the house all you had to do was walk until the end of the block and yell for a rickshaw (a man pulling a cart where people sit and travel) and just go wherever you want to, and then came autos. here you couldn't leave without a man with you.
Mr. Biabani: there in India everyone can walk in the middle of the night, it used to be very safe. and here when we came here we were told not to go anywhere at night, and to certain areas.
Mrs. Biabani: here there is no such thing as auto, rickshaw so you can't leave without your husband coming and taking you. there we used to come home at like 2:30-3 am WITH rickshaws ! sometimes if we used to go to the later showing of a movie we would get out at around 12 am so we used to take some guys with us so that there aren't a bunch of girls coming home alone so late at night. It used to be like that like 25 years ago...now i hear its getting more dangerous.
also there everyone had the fear of being caught by someone, so kids would think twice about doing something wrong. if a kid was to go to the corner store and smoke, and someone was to see them there they would go up to them and yell at them or tell their parents and make sure that they don't do anything like that again. everyone cared about each other, so if anyone was caught doing something wrong the whole neighborhood would know about it. even if a neighbor saw you doing something they would make sure you don't do it again. its not like that here, whatever you do you have to do it in front of your parents. its the culture difference here, its like the difference between the ground and the sky.
So I understand that when you were a little child India was ruled by a Muslim king, how was that like?
Mr. Biabani: Well...there were all kinds of expectations of the people when the king was passing through. Stuff like you were not allowed to be on the roads when the king is passing by. You were never allowed to look at the king, you always had to look down, and the guards would never face the king, they would always face the opposite way. The streets would be sweeped, cleaned and washed. All the pedestrians and people who were riding their bicycles and all types of vehicles were not allowed on the streets when the caravan is moving. The streets were always empty.
Mrs Biabani: You could not look at the king in his eyes, you had to look down and talk. The guards were like lower level people so they couldn't even face the king.
Mr. Biabani: It was like that even when the other rule came too.
Who was ruling when Pakistan separated?
Mr. Biabani: British
Mrs. Biabani: Yea not the Hindus, it was the British.
Mr. Biabani : Muslims were ruling India when the British came. The British came and fought with the Muslims and took over. they came as merchants and ended up taking over. I'm not talking about India though I'm talking about Hyderabad, where i was born and came from. Right after Pakistan was separated, Hyderabad was also raided and the military was deputed and the military took over Hyderabad.
So after that there was the Hindu ruler?
Mr. Biabani: Yea. Well...that is not actually called Hindu rule, it was called independence and democracy but majority was Hindu so the Hindu was really ruling.
Ahan, and how long did you stay in there while Hindus were ruling?
Mr. Biabani: Until then, when i migrated. I left India in 1969,
Mrs. Biabani: About 19 years.
And then after you left India you went to Saudi Arabia, where obviously there were Arab rulers. but the Arab ruling was obviously different than Indian ruling right? How was that difference?
Mr. Biabani: Well Indian tradition is different than Arab tradition. Indian traditions were more Mughal and Iranian cultures.
Mrs. Biabani: It was the difference of cultures, not religions.
Mr. Biabani: Basically monarchy is monarchy, when there is a monarch there is a monarch, whether its in India or in Saudi.
So you stayed in Saudi for about two years?
Mr. Biabani: almost, yea.
And then you came to America, and that was American government, and so how was that change from mainly Muslim or Hindu rule?
Mr. Biabani: Actually when i was in Saudi i didn't feel the monarchy presence there. The king lived in Riyadh and i mainly stayed in Jeddah, Makkah and Madina so i never saw the king's presence where we had to observe all sorts of traditions. In India we had to be very respectful, and careful, and traditional. You could not go in front of the kings palace it was heavily guarded. and all sorts of things were in Hyderabad... in Saudi Arabia where ever the king was it was fine, we were living in our home...
Mrs. Biabani: It was pretty much like he lived in his palace and we lived in our own house.
I see, but like when you came to America, did you really feel the difference?
Mr. Biabani: same thing, actually this is a different country, different traditions, different culture, different standard of life, the seasons are different, the dressing is different. In Saudi we wore long robes...
Mrs. Biabani: Daddy never had pant shirt in his life until he left India and went to Saudi. when he was traveling to Saudi he then went to a tailor and got a pant shirt outfit.
Mr. Biabani: I never even wore it until i reached Saudi.
Mrs. Biabani: and when he came here that's all he had to wear.
Mr. Biabani: and when i wore it it felt like i don't know what I'm wearing. it felt so awkward.
So Ammi, when you were younger than my age, you never even had like the slightest idea that you would ever marry someone from America and come here right?
Mrs. Biabani: I wished too ( laughs out loud)
Mr. Biabani: You mean I desperately wanted too (Laughs)
Mrs. Biabani: I really wanted to come to America, when i was in high school i used to study economics, history, and commerce, and geography, and in all these subject America was mentions alot, so it was like a dream place.
So when you found out you were going to marry someone in America what was going on in your head?
Mr. Biabani: She was jumping with joy. (laughs)
Mrs. Biabani: No, i used to only think, that far, alone....first of all i didn't get a chance to pay attention to the fact that I'm going to America, everything happened so fast.
So when you actually realized that you married someone from America and that you were soon going to be coming here too, leaving your whole life behind, how did you feel?
Mrs. Biabani: at that time i never knew i wasn't going to be going back for 20 years. i thought i would be going back every year or every other year.
So how did you feel coming from a foreign country? Daddy kinda went through a couple changes before he came, so he was able to adjust easily.
Mr. Biabani: There was an obvious change in culture, language, and way of life. it was obvious. we are coming from east to west, there is a big difference from east to west, its two different kinds of life styles. we noticed the change, and the change was obvious, but it took some time to adjust to it.
Mrs. Biabani: for example when we lived in India there was no phone system, so no one would ever call before they came, they would just stop by as they were passing by. so anyone could come at anytime. here you have to make sure you call before you go to someones house because you don't want to go there and waste gas and be inconvenient for the person whose house you are going to. so you have to make sure they are available. and there ladies stayed at home.
Mr. Biabani: every week we had to detail clean our house, and washrooms. and vacuum.
Mrs. Biabani: here whenever you want to make any plans you have to wait for the weekend, for example if you want to have a get together, or go somewhere you have to wait for the weekend and make plans. over there there was no concept of weekday or weekend. people would even come over in the middle of the week, and no one had a problem with that, everyone would sit around and laugh and just chill. who ever wanted to stay longer would stay longer and who ever wanted to go would leave. they would probably just tell the kids who go to school to go to bed because then they'd have a problem to wake up for school. there the women stayed home so no one had a problem, you could go anytime to any one's house. here women work too, so if i couldn't even call anyone even if i wanted to, all the women we knew here used to work. people are not available, you can't just talk to anyone and for as long as you want because no one has the time. there when you get out of the house all you had to do was walk until the end of the block and yell for a rickshaw (a man pulling a cart where people sit and travel) and just go wherever you want to, and then came autos. here you couldn't leave without a man with you.
Mr. Biabani: there in India everyone can walk in the middle of the night, it used to be very safe. and here when we came here we were told not to go anywhere at night, and to certain areas.
Mrs. Biabani: here there is no such thing as auto, rickshaw so you can't leave without your husband coming and taking you. there we used to come home at like 2:30-3 am WITH rickshaws ! sometimes if we used to go to the later showing of a movie we would get out at around 12 am so we used to take some guys with us so that there aren't a bunch of girls coming home alone so late at night. It used to be like that like 25 years ago...now i hear its getting more dangerous.
also there everyone had the fear of being caught by someone, so kids would think twice about doing something wrong. if a kid was to go to the corner store and smoke, and someone was to see them there they would go up to them and yell at them or tell their parents and make sure that they don't do anything like that again. everyone cared about each other, so if anyone was caught doing something wrong the whole neighborhood would know about it. even if a neighbor saw you doing something they would make sure you don't do it again. its not like that here, whatever you do you have to do it in front of your parents. its the culture difference here, its like the difference between the ground and the sky.
Diego Lamas
Diego Lamas is 18 years old and was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He came to the United States when he was about 8. He is currently attending Triton College for his associates in science. Diego plans to transfer to a four year university and major in chemical engineering.
I came to America when I was around ten years old. In Argentina, where I lived, was a quiet place, unless it was a day of festivity. I didn’t live in the city but in a place aside from the city, kind of like a suburb. It was called “Lomas de Zamora.” It was a place where you could hang out every day. There was rarely any crime. A kid could walk to the store and not get robbed. Now, I think it’s a different story. You had that at-home feeling. It was a pretty nice place.
My sister came to visit Chicago in 1988. Originally she just came to visit but she ended up liking it. She found a job, got a car and decided to stay. Her boyfriend came to visit and also decided to stay. In 2000, my sister invited my parents and myself to visit. We also ended up staying. I started going to school and getting involved in the American culture. I got sucked into the American culture. I wouldn’t say that I got sucked in, more like integrated into the American ways. So, we decided to stay here. Going back to Argentina is not a possibility. We are here for a reason. Our lives are better. We are accustomed to the culture here. We have a stable life now. Maybe in the future we’ll visit.
The hardships for me in America didn’t last very long. I think the biggest hardship was the social aspect of it. It was mostly the language barrier and the fact that I wasn’t Mexican. The kids looked down at me differently because I came from a way different culture than they did and because of the way I spoke. All the kids were Mexican so they didn’t know where I came from or how different it was from their cultures. That had to be the only negative factor. It was hard to make trustworthy friends.
Things in Chicago move too fast. Everyone is in a hurry and wanting to finish things quickly. Everyone is just trying to get through the day. They don’t appreciate and enjoy their life. In Argentina, people stopped and enjoyed. They sat down and spent time reading. This also transcends into the educational system. In America, they teach their students to be like soldiers. They don’t teach how to ask questions but just feed you the information. They teach you the way things have to be done but they don’t explain why. This applies to every discipline, not just math. In Argentina, if you buy a desk, it doesn’t come with a manual or directions. They figure it out on themselves.
I came without a purpose. I don’t think I’ve ever thought until I came here and saw people. I never thought of society and never paid attention. I think it was probably because of immaturity. There is peer pressure in everyone. Peer pressure leads people to do and act a certain way. You don’t see gangs or organized crimes in Argentina. You see that a lot here with young people. My initial purpose here was to not be like that. I knew you could choose a certain path and you could tell where you were going. I wanted good grades and I wanted to be better. I liked being in fun competition with others. I wanted to be at the top of the food chain when it came to knowledge and intelligence. Partly, it was because I have a thick pride. In high school, the ambition to learn became natural. Now, I’m not happy with an A unless I learned something. Not learning anything is frustrating.
--Vanessa Munoz
I came to America when I was around ten years old. In Argentina, where I lived, was a quiet place, unless it was a day of festivity. I didn’t live in the city but in a place aside from the city, kind of like a suburb. It was called “Lomas de Zamora.” It was a place where you could hang out every day. There was rarely any crime. A kid could walk to the store and not get robbed. Now, I think it’s a different story. You had that at-home feeling. It was a pretty nice place.
My sister came to visit Chicago in 1988. Originally she just came to visit but she ended up liking it. She found a job, got a car and decided to stay. Her boyfriend came to visit and also decided to stay. In 2000, my sister invited my parents and myself to visit. We also ended up staying. I started going to school and getting involved in the American culture. I got sucked into the American culture. I wouldn’t say that I got sucked in, more like integrated into the American ways. So, we decided to stay here. Going back to Argentina is not a possibility. We are here for a reason. Our lives are better. We are accustomed to the culture here. We have a stable life now. Maybe in the future we’ll visit.
The hardships for me in America didn’t last very long. I think the biggest hardship was the social aspect of it. It was mostly the language barrier and the fact that I wasn’t Mexican. The kids looked down at me differently because I came from a way different culture than they did and because of the way I spoke. All the kids were Mexican so they didn’t know where I came from or how different it was from their cultures. That had to be the only negative factor. It was hard to make trustworthy friends.
Things in Chicago move too fast. Everyone is in a hurry and wanting to finish things quickly. Everyone is just trying to get through the day. They don’t appreciate and enjoy their life. In Argentina, people stopped and enjoyed. They sat down and spent time reading. This also transcends into the educational system. In America, they teach their students to be like soldiers. They don’t teach how to ask questions but just feed you the information. They teach you the way things have to be done but they don’t explain why. This applies to every discipline, not just math. In Argentina, if you buy a desk, it doesn’t come with a manual or directions. They figure it out on themselves.
I came without a purpose. I don’t think I’ve ever thought until I came here and saw people. I never thought of society and never paid attention. I think it was probably because of immaturity. There is peer pressure in everyone. Peer pressure leads people to do and act a certain way. You don’t see gangs or organized crimes in Argentina. You see that a lot here with young people. My initial purpose here was to not be like that. I knew you could choose a certain path and you could tell where you were going. I wanted good grades and I wanted to be better. I liked being in fun competition with others. I wanted to be at the top of the food chain when it came to knowledge and intelligence. Partly, it was because I have a thick pride. In high school, the ambition to learn became natural. Now, I’m not happy with an A unless I learned something. Not learning anything is frustrating.
--Vanessa Munoz
Oral History: My Brother
Ivan Flores is my older brother. He is a brother, a son and a father of two. Spent his first couple of years in Mexico, but was born and raised in Chicago. After dropping out college a while back he is currently taking online courses. Loves being a father, also enjoys consuming large amounts of alcohol. Ironically we are in our parents’ house drinking beers before going to a Cubs game where we will more than likely drink more beers. My brother and I are very similar in some ways and yet so different in others.
I really don’t remember spending like two years in Mexico, but we have always laughed about that’s where I learned to love spicy food and hot peppers. I remember you would hate anything spicy, but I was going around eating everything because they taught me or forced me at a young age to eat the stuff. I don’t know if I’m glad I came back though. I love Mexican culture, food, clothes, music; it’s in my blood. However, I also know that we got it good here in the States, because life can get pretty tough out there. Especially these days, our uncle owned that butcher shop as far back as I can remember now he wants to close it down and come over here, for what? To get some crappy job with some crappy pay? It’s a damn shame. The war? The way I see it, if they want to hurt us and this country my two kids will gorw up in then kill them all. The bad guys that is. Kill them before they kill us. Since you, my brother, went to war you know I will never speak one bad word about it. What needs to be done needs to be done. War is fucked up, but necessary sometimes and I'm glad you came back in one piece. Thinking about that makes me want to drink some more. It seems as though drinking is a big part of everyone's life. What do people do for fun? What do people do to relax? What do people do when they go out dancing or while they watch the game? Drinking its everywhere and I fucking love it. I know damn well you do too. I do regret times where I drank way too much and acted a fool, but what am I supposed to do, stop drinking? Yeah right, don’t hold your breath. Hey I’m trying, I have a job, I take care of my kids, and I’m now trying to go back to this school thing. If I want to get drunk, you better believe I am. Yeah we grew up poor and in bad neighborhoods, but thank god our parents tried their hardest to keep us doing good. I mean I know we fuck up, but without them we could've ended up reald bad. I remember they would allow us to only hang out in our alley, and not any farther. What they didn't know was that our back alley supplied everything we needed even at a young age. Girls, alcohol, drugs, fights, and all that fun stuff. I mean we didn't spend all our time getting wasted just most (laughs). We put a crate up on the light pole to play basketball, we would put two garbage cans at each end to mark as goals for soccer, and you remember we loved our football. Then we had the bad games we made up. Catch and kill where we beat the crap out of each other. Then side wars, which was pretty much training us for the gangster life. Ah the good old days, right? My kids, damn I love my kids. If it weren’t for them, my life would really have no meaning or purpose. God knows what kind of shit I would be in if I didn’t have my little boy and girl. My name is Ivan Flores, I was born and raised in this city, and I’ve been there and done that. Whether you like it or not, I really don’t care. Oral history? Man I hope you get in trouble for this shit.
I really don’t remember spending like two years in Mexico, but we have always laughed about that’s where I learned to love spicy food and hot peppers. I remember you would hate anything spicy, but I was going around eating everything because they taught me or forced me at a young age to eat the stuff. I don’t know if I’m glad I came back though. I love Mexican culture, food, clothes, music; it’s in my blood. However, I also know that we got it good here in the States, because life can get pretty tough out there. Especially these days, our uncle owned that butcher shop as far back as I can remember now he wants to close it down and come over here, for what? To get some crappy job with some crappy pay? It’s a damn shame. The war? The way I see it, if they want to hurt us and this country my two kids will gorw up in then kill them all. The bad guys that is. Kill them before they kill us. Since you, my brother, went to war you know I will never speak one bad word about it. What needs to be done needs to be done. War is fucked up, but necessary sometimes and I'm glad you came back in one piece. Thinking about that makes me want to drink some more. It seems as though drinking is a big part of everyone's life. What do people do for fun? What do people do to relax? What do people do when they go out dancing or while they watch the game? Drinking its everywhere and I fucking love it. I know damn well you do too. I do regret times where I drank way too much and acted a fool, but what am I supposed to do, stop drinking? Yeah right, don’t hold your breath. Hey I’m trying, I have a job, I take care of my kids, and I’m now trying to go back to this school thing. If I want to get drunk, you better believe I am. Yeah we grew up poor and in bad neighborhoods, but thank god our parents tried their hardest to keep us doing good. I mean I know we fuck up, but without them we could've ended up reald bad. I remember they would allow us to only hang out in our alley, and not any farther. What they didn't know was that our back alley supplied everything we needed even at a young age. Girls, alcohol, drugs, fights, and all that fun stuff. I mean we didn't spend all our time getting wasted just most (laughs). We put a crate up on the light pole to play basketball, we would put two garbage cans at each end to mark as goals for soccer, and you remember we loved our football. Then we had the bad games we made up. Catch and kill where we beat the crap out of each other. Then side wars, which was pretty much training us for the gangster life. Ah the good old days, right? My kids, damn I love my kids. If it weren’t for them, my life would really have no meaning or purpose. God knows what kind of shit I would be in if I didn’t have my little boy and girl. My name is Ivan Flores, I was born and raised in this city, and I’ve been there and done that. Whether you like it or not, I really don’t care. Oral history? Man I hope you get in trouble for this shit.
Oral History
Oral History Project
Subject: Raul S.
Topic: Marriage
Has the value of marriage decreased or increased in the last 10 years?
Decreased.
Have you seen more successful or unsuccessful marriages?
Unsuccessful.
What is a good range of time between dating and marriage?
1½ to 2 years.
What do you believe are key components in a good marriage?
Honesty, respect, and trust. Willingness to talk things out using honesty, respect, and trust. That the idea or concept of marriage is more important than having any actual wedding or legal written document. When people think marriage, very often they think, weddings, pre-nups, commitment, finances, buying a home, and such. While these are all indeed side effects, or issues that can or do come up and have to be considered, it's not really what a marriage is all about.
Do you believe there is such a thing as a soul mate? Why?
It’s up to the people in the relationship. I believe in the concept. A soul mate is someone who is perfect for you. Vast people don’t find them. Many people are too quick to settle and make do in a relationship. A soul mate is like a diamond. So why would you pick a rock? I’d rather be single than go into an unhappy marriage.
Have you found your soul mate?
Yes.
Do you believe marriage is for everyone?
No. Marriage is for everyone who finds their soul mate or someone who they’re compatible with. A marriage is a serious commitment between two people who want nothing more in life but to be with the person whom they love, and that's really just it.
Everything else is secondary. Not everyone remembers this, because people have diminished it's significance by taking marriage for granted, failing to take it as seriously as they should, and hence a few years into their marriage, they have regrets.
It's like I've always said, these days, marriage has just become another phase of dating.
And that's unfortunate.
What is your opinion about same sex marriage?
Why not? They want the same legal rights and equality as an opposite sex marriage in the eyes of the law.
What do you think of inter-racial marriage?
Sure why not. I draw the line at inter-species marriage.
What is an appropriate age/range to marry?
At least twenty-one so they can drink on their wedding day. Maturity level is key. Maturity level and intelligence is main criteria for a marriage. Don’t marry someone 3 months after starting to date.
What is your opinion of a divorce?
It happens a lot. It’s a stage of a relationship. People don’t take marriage seriously. Divorce is being abused. Necessary unfortunate that happens when people don’t get their head on straight. People are afraid to break-up. We can work it out, but after a point it’s time to split. You can have two fantastic people, but that doesn’t mean they are compatible.
When you’re an old man, what advice are you going to give to your children?
Be honest. If there is no spark, be choosy.
Monday, September 15, 2008
L.K. Golden Child
L.K. has asked me to keep his identity secret so I named him Golden Child in sad sarcasm. His mother has died from cancer when he was six and his father worked for CPS as elementary grade teacher. Since than their life has been struggle.
Where do you work L.?
I don't.
So how do you pay tuition if you don't mind me asking?
My mother has left me college fund, shortly after she died.
I am sorry to hear that.
Yes, I was about five when my parents divorced and shortly after that my mother became sick. It was cancer that killed her. My father can't spend a day without his medication, otherwise he becomes very sick. He was a teacher here in Chicago, teaching kids in elementary school. He tells me that most of teachers don't really care about their students.
Why?
Because they are under paid and schools receive smaller budget. They don't care about us man. In suburbs schools get five to six times bigger budget than here in Chicago. We are strongest world power and we have easiest school grading and testing system. This is all government fault and lets not forget our President Bush. He is biggest idiot. Bush polices are insane.
Insane? Where did you get that? Really?
(laughs) So we are fighting terrorist with high tech weapons and spending all the money in our budget in order to fight the people who live in caves. This is crazy. Bush polices have created more terrorists. We have turned masses of Muslim people into terrorists. What are we doing in their countries? Sadam did not have nuclear weapons, but our president lied to us and we followed him blindly into this endless war.
What will happen as outcome of this war? What are your thoughts?
Where do you work L.?
I don't.
So how do you pay tuition if you don't mind me asking?
My mother has left me college fund, shortly after she died.
I am sorry to hear that.
Yes, I was about five when my parents divorced and shortly after that my mother became sick. It was cancer that killed her. My father can't spend a day without his medication, otherwise he becomes very sick. He was a teacher here in Chicago, teaching kids in elementary school. He tells me that most of teachers don't really care about their students.
Why?
Because they are under paid and schools receive smaller budget. They don't care about us man. In suburbs schools get five to six times bigger budget than here in Chicago. We are strongest world power and we have easiest school grading and testing system. This is all government fault and lets not forget our President Bush. He is biggest idiot. Bush polices are insane.
Insane? Where did you get that? Really?
(laughs) So we are fighting terrorist with high tech weapons and spending all the money in our budget in order to fight the people who live in caves. This is crazy. Bush polices have created more terrorists. We have turned masses of Muslim people into terrorists. What are we doing in their countries? Sadam did not have nuclear weapons, but our president lied to us and we followed him blindly into this endless war.
What will happen as outcome of this war? What are your thoughts?
Ten years ago me and my father made enough to pay the rent and 250 dollars for food. We were struggling and barely making ends. When he was about to go to pension principal in the school was giving him hard times. After long time he finally got the pension. I have good grades and I am smart but no one helped us financially at the time. Now is little better. I am working in grocery store so we are able to afford the Internet and the cable. Father and I had no one to turn or ask for help. We almost ended up on street. I pray to God that Obama wins at leas he has ability to use his brains and not his emotions. I hope government takes better care of homeless people too. I can see the world leaders congratulate to US for having Obama as president of this country. We need to listen other countries needs in order to have better diplomacy with the world man.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Letter to Elizabeth Chapin
Janette Villegas wrote her response letter to Elizabeth Chapin. Villegas agrees with Chapin that the city should remain intact. She and Chapin oppose the destruction of buildings, landmarks and trees to create things that people will not benefit from. Villegas gives the example of O'Hare and the harm the proposed expansion will cause to the many families that live in the area.
I agree with both Villegas and Chapin when they speak about violence. Both think that violence is not the solution to problems, but an addition to the problem. "Why is it so difficult to live in peace?" is the question Villegas concludes with. It is a question that I ask as well. I know that others ask that too.
--Vanessa Munoz
I agree with both Villegas and Chapin when they speak about violence. Both think that violence is not the solution to problems, but an addition to the problem. "Why is it so difficult to live in peace?" is the question Villegas concludes with. It is a question that I ask as well. I know that others ask that too.
--Vanessa Munoz
Response letter #1 Analyzation
This letter to Kid Pharoah was written by Sanel Karic. Sanel makes good points about how Kid Pharoah marginalizes a whole society with very little information that is stereo typical of that society. He got right to the point to why Kid Pharoah behaves in such manner, which was due to illiteracy and mingling of the street alley gangs or hoodlums. I think Sanels letter definitely would tell the facts about Kid's life straight to his face. How ever i also feel like sanel might be coming on too harsh with his tone and words. I mean he comments "your neices are dating five different black guys at the same time" in the end. That is a bit on a personal level and if he really wants Kid Pharoah to take his advice and self educate himself through books, then some would have to help Kid through this process instead of insulting, which i found a bit humorous. But over all i think this letter is just as direct as Kid Pharoah's story.
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