Immigrating to Princeton, NJ:

Stories of Survival and Success


Francisco Joseph Salazar

Marlene Serrata Gomez

Final Draft

Sociology 338

Special Project Report

Professor M.A. Centeno

Princeton University

May 13th, 1997


We swear on our honor that this project was completed and this paper was written in accordance with Princeton University policy.


Project Summary

This project is compromised of two different case studies. Each case study focuses on specific themes that are illustrated by the personal narratives of several Hispanic immigrant families in Princeton NJ. The focus of the study is on the differences in opinions and experiences of the differing generations within the immigrant families studied. The project is intended to provide interviews that lead to tremendously interesting and informative narratives that promise to provide a great addition to the current knowledge available on the Immigrant community in and around the town of Princeton, NJ.

The first case study in this project is intended to provide the narratives of a family in order to demonstrate the specific similarities and differences between the generations within the family. This process is intended to observe the effects of assimilation, in an effort to identify a trend in the time it takes and the processes involved in going form an immigrant status, to that of an "American." The second phase of this project is an effort intended to provide narratives of another immigrant family. The unconventional family made up of cousins and friends is intended to show the networking involved in the migratory experience, and to provide some opinions of immigrants on the assimilation and integration processes.

Case Study I

Differing Experiences of Multiple Generations:

A Comparison

Francisco Joseph Salazar

Description of Analysis

The premise behind this endeavor is simple; a narrative of an immigrant family, focusing on the specific attitudes and experiences of the different generations within the family. A seemingly simple project that has yielded some extraordinarily dynamic and interesting opinions and experiences that definitely shed some light on the specific opinions and views fostered by Hispanic immigrants in the Princeton, NJ area. The specific intention of this proposal was to observe the distinct similarities and differences between the experiences and attitudes of different generations of Mexican immigrants towards the entry, integration and reaffirmation of theses different generations. Is there a difference in attitude depending on age of entry? A difference in specific experiences? Are there universal similarities that transcend generational differences within the Immigrant community? If so what are these similarities?

The willingness of the interviewed family to share their personal experiences have led to a tremendously successful project, one that definitely provided a basis on which to understand the Mexican immigrant experience and it's impact on the immigrants themselves. As one reads through the interviews, descriptions and commentaries contained within this analysis, more and more differences and similarities between the experiences of the different generations within the family will become more and more evident. Do keep in mind one very important fact. The information contained in this project only depicts the experiences and opinions of the members of one family. It is not a universal experience that all or even most of the immigrants in the area have undergone. This is not an attempt to define a common immigrant experience, rather it is an attempt to provide the extensive narrative of a single families experiences in order to provide more information on the growing Hispanic immigrant community in and around Princeton, NJ.

Background Information

In an attempt to avoid clarification throughout the paper, this description is intended to provide some basic information of the family that will clarify much of what they say throughout their interviews. Keep in mind that I have chosen not to include many of the specifics on their entry in order to protect the family. The names have also been altered in order to protect the anonymity of the subjects, although the ages and occupations of the individuals will be described (with consent of the interviewees) because this information is vital to the specific inquiries of this sociological endeavor.

The interviewed family is made up of four distinct generations, and all of these varied generations have a different age of entry into the United States. The eldest family member is a 72 year old woman we will call Feliz. Feliz recently immigrated, quite literally against her will, and is a perfect example of an immigrant who has strong ties still remaining to her Mexican homeland. Feliz is the only member of the oldest generation studied in this sociological narrative. Next was Santiago and Teodora, a married couple that forms the basis for the family being studied. The immigration of the family began with Santiago when he immigrated to the United States in 1969, and moved to Princeton, NJ in 1971. Teodora immigrated to Princeton in 1972. Teodora and Santiago comprise the second generation in this family. Next is the third generation, the children of Santiago and Teodora. They had four children; the eldest, Maria, was born in Mexico, and immigrated with her mother at the age of 9. Next is Estrella, who was also born in Mexico and immigrated with her mother at the age of 4. Once Santiago and Teodora established their home in Princeton, NJ, they had their last two children, Lourdes and Enrique, both American citizens. The last generation to be studied is made up of Maria's eldest child, her son named Juan, a 9 year old student in the Trenton area. Just as Feliz has turned out to a great example of an immigrant with strong ties to her homeland, Juan is a good example of an almost completly assimilated American citizen of Mexican heritage. By analyzing all of these family members, a comprehensive narritive is formed that vary vividly describes the immigration experiences of a Mexican American family that has made their home in Princeton, NJ.

Generation One: Yearning for Mexico

Feliz is seated in her bedroom, a plethora of religious paraphernalia that gives the room the strange aura of a small Catholic monastery. A colorful fabric covers the window, making the room dark and dismal, and one focuses on the religious candle burning on a small shrine built to Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, a popular Mexican Catholic representation of the Virgin Mary. She is dressed in a simple dress, her hair tied up neatly. Her face is one of stern endurance, always radiating dignity, but sometimes showing signs of weakness. I sit down, and tell her "Hello." She smiles and returns the greeting. Before I can say anything else, she asks me, "Do you speak any Spanish?" and I respond in Spanish by saying "just a little." She smiles and says, "that is what my grandson always says. I will talk in English then, but my English is not very good so sometimes I will say something in Spanish instead." I nod and accept her proposal. Without delay, she tells me that she is impressed at the fact a person with a Hispanic name is at Princeton, "porque es por los gringos." We then start talking about her life.

To begin, I ask her how she feels about my visit, and the fact that I am using her story as part of my project. She thinks for a few seconds and then says, "actually I don't see why you would care about my life, but it is nice to know that someone is interested and cares about me." I take her comment with a smile and continue. "How do you like it here?" I ask. She lets out a sigh as she responds, "It is fine. I am with my son and my grandchildren, and I love them." Because it seemed as if she was avoiding the question. I then ask her if she likes America, and with the question she gives me a stern look that makes me wonder what she is going to say. "Yes. People here do not suffer. Everyone has a good life, but the families are not as close. No one cares about respecting other people. There is no tradition, and I wish there was farms and mountains instead of buildings." I then ask what I really want to know, "do you like it here more than Mexico?" Without hesitation, Feliz sternly says "No." I press the issue and ask for specifics. Feliz answers, "This is not my home. All I have is my son and his wife and my grandchildren. My husband is gone, and I had no choice but to move here. It is what God desires of me, but every night I dream of my home. I see the hacienda de mi padre en Aguascalientes, where I lived all my life, and my friends, and the fields. It is not like that here. I do not go outside for there is nothing to see. I wish we could be home, but I would be alone, and I would not see my grandchildren." "I see," is all I can think to say in response. "What made you come here if you like Mexico better?" I ask. "My husband died six years ago. We were the only ones left in the house after the kids grew up. When he died, I could not stay there. Santiago y Teodora were the only ones that I could move with because I did not want to burden anyone. I had to come, but it was not an easy choice. My husbands brother took over the house in Mexico and I came to America a year after he died," she replies. "Why did you not stay with family in Mexico instead of coming here?" I ask. She remarked by saying, "I am old and I would not burden anyone but my children because it is their duty. My other children have no money and no room to keep me with them. Santiago is the oldest and asked for me to live with him. It is tradition. I came to be with my son and my grandchildren. Teodora went and got me and brought me here. This is their home now."

It becomes obvious to me that Feliz still yearns for her homeland. When describing her home, her face lights up with a happiness that is not present at any other time during our conversations. There is a small pause while I think about what to ask Feliz next. Finally, I say, "Was it easy for you to adjust to Princeton once you arrived here?" She responded, "Well, it was pretty easy, but there was no reason for it to be hard. I almost never leave the house, only sometimes to see my grandsons baseball games or to go to the grocery store with Teodora. My life is simple. I did have to learn English though. Teodora taught me and I learned from the television." I am pretty astonished at the amount English that Feliz knows and how well she can speak for learning the language fairly recently. I then ask her, "Can you describe any strange experiences you have had while you were here, or any experiences with the other people of the community besides your family?" "Well," she says, "Not really, people are very polite to me. I am old, so people treat me with respect. That is good, but young people have no respect for each other. You see then killing each other on the news all the time, for stupid things. It is very sad. It makes me sad."

Finally, I ask Feliz, "If you had to do it all over again, would you still come to Princeton, NJ?" She thought for a few seconds and then responded, "I would because there was no choice. I had to come, there was no other thing to do. I am grateful to Santiago y Teodora for taking me into their home. It is were I have to be. I miss Mexico, but that is in the past. I had no choice, but I live very nicely here." I thank Feliz for her cooperation and excuse my self with a friendly words and a kind gesture. As I leave, I realize how much Feliz misses her home, but how strong and unwavering she is in her principles.

Generation Two: Strength and Survival

Santiago has still not arrived home for the evening from work, so Teodora is interviewed as she prepares the evening's meal. She is very young looking for her age. You can see how she puts tremendous care in her food preparation, and by the extra effort, that she cares about the happiness with her family. As I look around each room, I notice the wonderful decorating and care that Teodora has put into making this small apartment a home. She finally finishes most of her preparation and sits with me at the kitchen table to talk.

"Do you like America?" I ask to begin with. Teodora thinks for a while, and finally responds, "Of course I like America. This is my home. I have been here for almost twenty five years. Almost half my life. This is my home. This is my family's home. We came here to make a better life for our family, and we have been very successful." "What do you mean by "successful," in what ways?" is my next question. She answers by saying "Well, we have raised all our kids. The all behave, our two eldest daughters are gone and on their own, Maria even went to college. We have a nice little place to live, and have all that we need to live happily." I am satisfied with her answer. Next I ask, "do you like it here better than Mexico?" "Well," she says, "I love Mexico. It is where I come from, but not where I live. It is not my home. When I returned to get Feliz, it was very strange. I felt like I was a visitor, which I was, I guess. I do love the tradition and culture, though. I have tried to teach my children, even though it is hard for Enrique and Lourdes because they have never even been to Mexico. I hope we will be able to take them one day, though." Next, I say, "So, I guess I would be right if I said that you would not want to return to Mexico?" Without hesitation, Teodora answered "Only as a visitor," then smiled. "I am an American now. This is my home. We will never go back."

For lack of a better approach, my next question was straight forward, "Tell me the story of how you got here." She thought for a little while, then started explaining, "Me and Santiago had our first two children in Mexico, when we were still living with his mother. There wasn't much work. Santiago had a cousin in New York City that would send money home to his aunt and uncle every month. Santiago told me he wanted to come to the United States to make money and send it to me. He left a year after our second child was born. He was gone for three years. While he was gone he would write me and tell me how much wealth there was here, and how he wanted me to come. I applied for the proper papers to come to the US, it took me almost two years. Finally, Santiago had sent me enough and me and my two daughters got on an airplane and came to Princeton to be with Santiago. It was wonderful, we were a family again. Just as I had dreamed and hoped for so long. Then we have been here ever since."

Once the basis Teodora's entry had been discussed, I moved on to her and her family's integration into their new society. "How did you guys fit in once you were here?" Teodora responded by saying, "It was very strange when we first arrived here. There were not that many immigrants then. We were some of the first. No one wanted to rent us an apartment, and now our entire apartment building is occupied by immigrants. People pretty much left us alone, ignored us. We made a pretty good living. Santiago has always been in construction, and I work on and off working for families, watching kids, or cleaning. A lot of times I feel weird because this is our home, but people sometimes treat us like outsiders. They act as if we don't belong here. Most of the time though, we have no trouble." Because of her last comment, I ask her, "Has anybody done anything blatantly racist towards you or your family?" Teodora thought for a while, then replied "Not really, just little things like comments, or little fights at school. One time, though, one of Santiago's bosses did not pay him after two weeks of work, he said that there was nothing Santiago could do about it. That was a very cruel thing to do. Our family suffered for a week because of that missing money." I am amazed at the fact that Teodora does not seem very mad or contemptuous at these acts of ignorance that she and her family have experienced. Almost as if she thought it was commonplace.

As our conversation came closer to an end, I asked Teodora one last question about her feelings towards her and her families current situation. She answered, "I think we are doing great. The kids are almost all grown up. They will all be gone in a year or two. I hope that Enrique goes to college like Maria did. Me and Santiago and Feliz will stay here. It is a cozy little apartment. We wanted a house, but they are too expensive. My family is raised, and off on their own. That was our goal when we moved here. To give our children all the opportunity that we could. I think me and Santiago have done that." The sincerity of Teodora's response absolutely amazed me. All that she and her husband had been through they did for their children. Teodora never concentrated on her and her husbands suffering, but on their success.

Santiago finally arrived from work, in his dirty clothes, spotted with paint, cement, and smeared with sawdust and blue chalk. He had a never ending smile from the moment he entered, a surprising trait that you would definitely not expect of a man who obviously had a very challenging occupation, especially at his age. He entered the room, put down his lunch pail and a wooden box, then went directly to his wife, and greeted her with a hug and a kiss. Next went searching for his mother, and greeted her in the same way. He approached me, and introduced himself very heartily and sincerely. He decided to have the interview immediately, so we started with our discussion.

To begin, I started with the same question as everyone else. "What is your opinion on America…Do you like it better than Mexico?" Santiago thought for a while, and then answered, "I love both countries, but this is my home. I grew up in Mexico and I had a wonderful childhood. After me and Teodora married and had our first two children, I wanted to move to provide a more secure and successful future for my family and for my children. That was very important to me. I am grateful to God that he blessed me and my family with all that we have. America has provided me and my family with great wealth and opportunity that we probably would not of had in Mexico." "Do you miss Mexico?" I ask. Santiago replies, "Sometimes, I miss it. I hope to return to visit. It is where I grew up, I have a lot of memories, but I would feel like an outsider now. This is my home." I sit an marvel at the fact that Santiago's answer is so similar to the answer that Teodora gave. Suddenly, Santiago got a phone call and we were interrupted. The interview unfortunately had to come to an abrupt stop.

We continued the interview almost week later, trying to preserve that great interview that was interrupted earlier. This time, Santiago was at home when I arrived, waiting for me. To begin, I continue the line of questioning that I started out with, and asked whether or not Santiago would ever want to return to Mexico. Santiago replied by saying, "Well, it depends on what you mean…if you are talking about moving back for good, my answer is of course not. This is my home. This is the home of my family. If you mean to visit, of course I do. I have always wanted to take Enrique and Lourdes to visit. To understand their heritage. I think that they feel left out because most of their friends are recent immigrants, who talk to other people about how great their countries are, and Lourdes and Enrique don't have that." After his response I move on to the story of his entry. I ask Santiago, "Tell me the story of how you got here." He responds by saying, "Well, I guess I will start from the beginning. Me and Teodora married when we were pretty young. We had our first daughter, Maria after we were married. We lived for a long time, just us three. I worked at for a friend of my fathers, and we lived with my mother. Our life was pretty good, but not great. I resented the fact that I had to live with my mother. I felt like a bad father, a bad husband. I wanted more for my family. I really did not think of coming to America at first. After five years, we had our next daughter, Estrella. That is when I really decided to do something to change our lives. I had a close cousin who had been living in New York City for about five or six years. We would write and tell me about how great it was, how the jobs were everywhere, and about how easy it was to make money. I decided to go to New York City and make a lot of money. At the beginning, I had no intention of staying there or moving my family to America. I wanted to go and live there for a few years, and make enough money to buy us a house back in Mexico. After Estrella was born and everything was settled, I left. Me and one of my friends crossed the border by El Paso. We did not have any money, but my friend had a few acquaintances in Texas. They gave us a ride to Houston. I lived with another family, and got a job. I did not have enough money to get to New York City yet. I was in Houston for about eight months before I finally decided to go to New York City. I bought a bus ticket and went to join my cousin in New York City. I moved in with him, and I got a job working with him. I was in New York for almost two years. I did not want to bring my family to the city. I did not want to raise my family there. After growing up in the rural parts of Mexico, I really did not enjoy the city. I heard form a friend about Princeton. he would talk about all of the jobs, how well they paid, and about how it was a great place. I decided then to move out here. I lived with another friend for a while, and I found two jobs, one in the day and one in the evening. I loved it here. I decided that I wanted to bring my family here. I worked hard for almost a year and saved up enough money for my wife and two daughters to come. Teodora had applied for papers, so it was no problem. Once they got here I finally got a place of my own. We lived there for a couple of years, then we moved to this apartment and have been here ever since. I can not think of anything else to tell you about how I got here, so I guess that is it." I was satisfied with Santiago's detailed story, so I decided to move on to his integration and reaffirmation into his new home in Princeton.

After a short break, I continue the interview by asking Santiago, "Do you think that you and your family fit in when you arrived?" After thinking about it for a while, Santiago answered by saying, "Well, at the beginning we did not really fit in that much. There were not too many immigrants at that time. We were some of the first. People were not really mean, they just had this feeling of superiority over us. I did not ever really get any real mean racism from anybody, though." I asked Santiago about the story that his wife had mentioned, about him not getting paid for two weeks of work. He replied by telling me, "Yes, that was probably the worst thing that had happened to me. We had a couple of months off from my regular job, and I decided to get another job, so I did. I should of been more careful, cause I did not even know the guy I was working for, but anyway, I worked for him for two weeks. He gave me a $40 dollar advance, and after the two weeks he owed me about $400. He told me he did not have the money. I got angry because I knew how much my family needed the money, and he told me there was nothing that I could do about it, and that if I tried he would call the Immigration Service and have me deported. I could not risk that happening because I had to stay here and support my family, so I just tried to forget about it. It was a while back, though, and it really was not that horrible, except for the fact that my family had no money for a few weeks." Next I asked, "Do you have any other stories that about anything that the other people here have done to you or your family?" "Well," Santiago replied, "Not really, well..not bad stories. Just that one I just told you about. There have been people that have helped us out, too. I remember one of Maria's teachers in high school. She really liked Maria, and we invited her over for dinner one night, she became a close friend of the family. She even helped us to get free food and other stuff from special programs that we did not even know about it. I think that it was her who helped Maria go to college. She really taught Maria about the importance of an education. We were very greatful for that. She was a great person." It was interesting to hear a positive story about the family's integration.

To end the interview with Santiago, I decided to switch gears and ask him about his families current situation, and about how he felt about his decision to move his family. I asked, "Tell me about how you feel about your families current situation." Santiago replied, "I think that things are pretty good. My mother lives with us now, and that could not make me pretty happy. My two eldest daughters are off on their own, and they are doing good for themselves, I am very proud. Mi hijo Enrique is about to graduate from high school next year. Pretty soon it will be just me and Teodora and my mother. All I care is that I raised all of my children right, that I gave them all I could, and that I gave them everything that I did not have. As long as they are happy, I am happy." "Do you think that it was a good idea to come to America?" I ask. "Oh yes, " Santiago replies, "Without a doubt. Even though they did not have everything, did not live a well as some of the other kids around here, they had a lot more than they probably would of if we would of stayed in Mexico. [Laughing] Sometimes I wonder what our children would be doing right now if we were still in Mexico. My daughters would of all been married at sixteen and my son would be off working somewhere. I am glad that my daughters will be able to provide for themselves. And I am also happy that my son will be able to experience life before he has a family to raise. I think that is very important. Even though Mexico is a great country, and I will always love the country where I grew up, coming to America has made a better life for me and my family, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Generation Three: From Immigrants to Americans

As the interviews continued, they began to get shorter, perhaps because the immigrant experience faded in the children of the third generation, and the "American" experience took over. After a wonderful dinner at the home of the interviewees, I sat down and talked with Teodora and Santiago's eldest daughter Maria.

To begin, I wanted to get a little background information on Maria, so I asked her, "Could you tell me a little about your current situation for a little background on your life?" "Sure," she replied and began talking, "I live in a suburb of Philadelphia now. I was married about eight years ago. My husband is not Hispanic, but he is the son of Russian immigrants. I have a one son and one daughter. I work in Trenton for the State of New Jersey." "I see," I replied to her response. Next, I decided to start form the beginning, so I asked Maria, "I know that you came to the US when you were nine, can you tell me what you remember about Mexico?" Maria sat pensively for a while and then said, "You know, it is kind of strange because I really do not remember that much. I have memories of being with my family, and playing with friends that lived in Mexico, but I can not really remember anything about "Mexico". I do kind of remember how beautiful it was. I remember playing in the trees, and with the animals. I also remember the garden, the garden of my grandmother, and I would always be weeding it. I do remember packing up to come to America. We did not have much, mostly clothes. All I remember is getting on the airplane, and I was so scared of leaving, but I was trying to be brave for my little sister, cause she was even more afraid that I was." "Do you remember what it was like when you got here?" I asked next. "Yeah. All I remember is thinking about how many cars and buildings and stores were everywhere. In Mexico the nearest store was probably ten miles away and here they were everywhere. That was a big shock. I was happy to be with my family, though. I just remember how awful it was the first day of school. Everyone else was dressed very nice, and me in a corny homemade suit. Everyone was having fun playing games that I had never heard of. In Mexico we used to roll iron wheels around, pushing them with sticks, and I remember thinking how weird all the other kids were because they did know what that game was." I then asked Maria, "Do you remember any positive of negative experiences while you were in school." Maria replied, "Not really. The kids never really made fun of me. I did not know a word of English at the beginning. The kids were not really mean, they just kind of ignored me. Since we were from two different worlds and I could not even communicate with them in the beginning. Things got better when high school started. I had friends then, and was pretty much into the groove. I used to enjoy school and learning. I decided in the tenth grade that I was definitely going to college." I then asked Maria about the positive experience that she had with her teacher that Santiago had mentioned earlier. "Oh!" Maria explained, "Yes, she was one of my teachers both junior and senior year. She was great. She was definitely the first of my teachers that showed a genuine interest in my education. She really made me believe in myself. She told me that I was not inferior, that I was smart enough to compete with the other kids, that I could make it. I think that I really needed that, especially at the time." I moved on and asked Maria, "Tell me about what you did after graduation from high school." Maria responded by saying, "Well, I went to Rutgers. I had gotten a full scholarship, and I knew that is definitely what I wanted to do. My parents were both behind me one hundred percent, which definitely meant a lot to me. I remember they even wanted to get loans to pay for everything, which was ridiculous because they were barely making ends meet. It really did mean a lot to me that they were willing to sacrifice like that on account of my education."

After discussing her childhood, I asked her more personal questions about her thoughts and attitude toward her parents. I asked Maria, "How do you feel about your parents decision to come to America?" Maria pondered for a few seconds and then said, "I think that it was a great decision, I mean I do not know where I would be f we would of never came. I remember missing Mexico for a little while when I first got here, but soon my memories about Mexico faded and this became my home. I can not imagine it any other way." "So," I said, "I guess that means that you would never want to return to Mexico?" "God no!" she said, "I would not know where to go or what to do. When I visited I felt lost, it was almost like a foreign place, and all I remember is how happy it made me when we got back home. I felt like a stranger there. It was a wonderful place, but it was not what I would ever consider going back too." Next, I asked her, "Do you think that you still hold on to Mexican traditions?" Maria thought for a while and then answered, "Yeah, but it is kind of hard. Once I moved out of the house, I was exposed to then less and less, and there is not exactly a lot of Mexican traditions to be learned outside of my parent's house. After I married, they faded even more, because me and my husband were from two totally different cultures. I do try to teach my children though, I think that it is important for them to understand their heritage."

After the interview with Maria ended I moved on to her younger sister, Lourdes. The second eldest sister Estrella was never interviewed because she lives in New York City and was unavailable. I began in a similar manner as I had begun with Maria, and asked Lourdes to give a little background information on herself, and she responded by saying, "Well, I work in Princeton. I graduated from high school a few years ago, but I did not really want to go to college, even though my parents wanted me too. I decided to get a job and save up to get my own place, which I am still doing. I still live with my parent's but I hope to get my own apartment soon." Next I asked Lourdes, "What are your feelings toward Mexico?" Lourdes thought for a time and then responded, "It is hard to say. I know that that is where my parents came from, but I have never been there. it is just like a place on a map. I always here mom and dad talking about it and what a great place it was, and I always hear stories from grandma all the time, but it is hard to understand when you have never been there. I do want to go and visit though. Mom and dad say that they will take me and Enrique one of these days."

After talking for a few minutes with Lourdes, I moved on and asked her, "Can you tell me of any positive or negative experiences that you have had growing up?" Lourdes responded by saying, "Not really, all through school I kind of was a part of both worlds. In elementary school I mostly hung out with white kids, but in high school I was almost always with other immigrants. I did notice that in high school racism was more obvious, especially when I was around other Hispanic kids. We would get strange looks, and people would treat us as if we did not belong." I told Lourdes, "Your father told me that you hang out a lot with other kids that are very recent immigrants?" "Yes," Lourdes said, "Most of my friends have only been here for a couple of years. They call me la gringa because I have been here all my life. Sometime I feel stupid because they all talk about the stupid things that Americans do, and I feel stupid because they are things that I do, to. I just like to hang out with them cause I am more comfortable. And, if it was not for them, I would of probably already of forgotten Spanish."

After the end of the conversation with Lourdes, I started to interview the youngest of Santiago and Teodora's children, seventeen year old Enrique. To begin, I asked Enrique to tell me a little about himself. "Well," Enrique explained, "I am a junior in high school and I can't wait to graduate!" "Tell me about your feelings on being the son of Mexican immigrants," I said. Enrique replied, "I think that it is great. Most of my friends at school are also the sons and daughters of immigrants, or they are immigrants themselves. I am very proud of being a Mexican. Even though, sometimes a lot of the other kids at school think that we are stupid. I remember last year I was in an advanced science class. On the first day of class I went in and a white guy said, "I think you are in the wrong class." It is like, if you have a Hispanic sounding last name you belong in bilingual education. I don't think that it is right."

After the initial introduction and discussion with Enrique I moved on to ask him questions about his parents and his feelings toward Mexico. "What do you think about Mexico?" I said. Enrique answered by saying, "I can't really say, I have never been there, but I do like everything that I have ever heard about it. I want to go and visit soon, I think that would be great. My grandma tells me stories about Mexico all the time. I want to go and see the house where my parents lived and my dad grew up." I then asked Enrique, "How do you feel about your parents immigrating?" He answered, "I think it is great. They always say that we have had a lot of opportunities that we would not of had if they would of stayed in Mexico. I admire them for everything that they went through in order to give all of their kids a better life." My next question asked Enrique, "Can you tell me about any negative or positive experiences that you have had here in Princeton?" Enrique thought for a while, then replied, "Usually there is no problem. Once in a while I get angry because people are ignorant. Me and some of my friends were in the mall once, and one of the workers in a store came up to us and asked us to leave, because we were not buying anything, but it was because we were a big group of Hispanic people talking in Spanish. Then I told them that we were not doing anything wrong and she called mall security, and they made us leave. Stuff like that happens every once in a while. It makes me mad, but it hurts my feelings even more. I don't understand why a lot of white people think that all we are good for is to clean or cook for them. It is just stupid." "Any positive experiences?" I ask. "Well," Enrique swiftly replies, "Yes, most of the time, things are good, it is just once in a while that the bad stuff happens. Most of the time, people treat me and my family pretty good." To end out the conversation, I ask Enrique, "What are your future plans?" and he replied, "I don't really know yet. My parents want me to go to college, but I don't know if I want to yet, but probably. I just plan to enjoy my last year of high school." With that, Enrique politely excused himself to get ready to go to the movies with friends.

The interviews with the third generation were over, and it was more than ever apparent that the integration into society was in full swing.

Generation Four: The American Experience

The final interview was with Juan, the nine year old son of Maria and the grandson of Teodora and Santiago. The interview was short, because of the fact that nine year old boys can't keep their attention focused for long. To begin, I asked Juan to tell me about what he thought about the fact that his grandparents and mother were born in Mexico and spent some of their lives there. "I think that is cool. My grandparents and great grandma tell me stories about it all the time. It sounds really nice." "Do you think you would like to live there?" I ask. "No," Juan flatly responds, "My grandma said that they didn't even have a television when she came. She said they would read newspapers instead. That is crazy. Then my mom told me about how they used to get water from the well and use the bathroom in an outhouse. That is weird. I don't think I could do that. Plus, I don't even know Spanish, well just a tiny bit." "Where did you learn Spanish from, I ask. "From my mom," Juan responds, "but I can't say most of the words because they are bad words."

I laugh and move on, "What do you think about being part Hispanic?" "I think that is cool," Juan said, "I want to be a professional baseball player when I get older, and all of the best baseball players are Hispanic, too." "Are there any other reasons you enjoy being Hispanic?" I ask. "Yeah, I guess," Juan responds, and silently waits for the next questions. "Does anyone ever make fun of you or tease you about being Hispanic?" I ask. Juan responds, "No, most people don't even know cause I have my fathers last name, but my friends know and they don't care. It is not a big deal." "Do you think that you ever want to go to Mexico?" is my next question. "Yeah!" he replied enthusiastically, "My mom says that we will go on day to visit. I want to go to a cool city though, one by the ocean, so I can go to the beach." With that, the conversation came to a close. Juan wanted to play baseball for a while before it got dark and he would be forced to stay inside.

Conclusion

Once the interviews with all four generations were completed, the transformation was obvious. The interviews started with Feliz, an obvious example of an immigrant who still retained very strong ties to her homeland. A woman who described her home country with a vivid imagination, in great detail, with a smile on her face. As the interviews moved along to the second generation, the ties to Mexico slowly faded. Teodora and Santiago both expressed that they loved Mexico very much, but that it was not their "home" anymore, and that Princeton was. As the interviews proceeded even further, the assimilation of the individuals became more evident, and their ties to Mexico slowly faded.

Feliz considered herself "Mexican," Santiago and Teodora said they were "Mexican immigrants," generation three considered themselves "Mexican-Americans, and lastly, Juan, the sole member of generation four can only be described as an American kid, a young boy whose only exposure to Mexico is through the stories of his grandparents. The narratives of this family provide an almost perfect example of the assimilation process. Although not intended to describe a universal Mexican immigrant experience, these narratives provide a great insight into the lives of one immigrant family in Princeton, NJ.

Case Study II

The Unconventional Family:

Opinions on Immigration and Assimilation

Marlene Serrata Gomez

Summary

I have chosen to write a narrative recounting the experiences a Colombian family who have recently immigrated to the U.S. Unlike the family shown in Case Study I, this family does not consist of members belonging to four distinct generations. The family members are of various ages and each has a separate point of entry into the United States. Because of this each member has had unique experiences which have resulted in varying attitudes toward life in America. The family unit itself plays an important role in the immigration experiences. How have family and extended family contributed to the experiences of immigration? What results have factors such as the point-of-entry and decisions for immigration had on the ease and desire for assimilation into American society? These are some of the questions to keep in mind throughout the individual interviews.

Like with the previous case study, it is once again important to keep in mind that this study only depicts the attitudes and experiences of one family. This is not an attempt to define a common immigrant experience, but only to provide information on the experiences of one family in order to learn more about the growing Hispanic community in and around Princeton.

Background Information

The family interviewed consists of several members ranging from immediate family members to close friends, who are still considered family. The family is originally from Palmira, Colombia and on November 16, 1981, began to immigrate to the U.S., beginning with Esther* a mother of five children and now a grandmother. Esther came to the United States legally in 1981 and immediately came to New Jersey, where her sister-in-law was living, settled in Trenton and found work in the Princeton area. Esther's husband, Arturo joined his wife after four years, in 1985. The couple was joined in 1988, by their daughter Maritza, who was nearly eight at the time, and in 1990, by their eldest daughter Evangelina, who was then already 16 years old. The last child to join the family was Jessica, who was born five years ago and is the only family member to never have lived in Colombia. Rodrigo, the couple's eldest child, is still living in Colombia with his wife and son. Elias, 27, nephew to Arturo, came to the U.S. in December of 1993, and has lived with his uncle's family until only recently. Eliseo, arrived shortly after in 1994. He is the only non-family-member member of the family. Eliseo has been a very close friend of the family for over 20 years and has resided with the family since his arrival.

*All names have been changed

Using a tray for glasses as a makeshift chair in the kitchen of one of the eating clubs, I sit watching Esther, Maritza, and Eliseo go about their usual activities. They go about their chores leisurely, preparing the food to be served for dinner and going to and from the kitchen to the dining area setting tables. This slow pace lasts until about 6:00 when students arrive and the amount of work increases. So it is in this leisurely atmosphere before 6:00 that I pester the family with my questions in the name of sociological research. I watch with interest as Esther easily and quickly cuts tomatoes. She is a small dark complicated woman who often needs the use of a stepping stool in order to reach over the counter to prepare food comfortably. As I begin asking my questions she smiles, obviously amused at my poor Spanish. I decide to use Maritza as a translator to keep from further embarrassing myself and to ensure everything is properly understood. I begin with simple background questions about family members, important dates, and occupations. She gives short answers in English, in a very quiet, somewhat unconfident voice. This is not the same lady who was scolding her teenage daughter in Spanish a few minutes ago, I think to myself. When I ask my next question, "Why did you decide to come to the U.S.?" she again struggles to find the answer in English, but this time finally gives up and answers, "Para la vida mejor." Her expression seems to wonder why this answer wasn't obvious to me in the first place. She then explains in Spanish, "The cost of living in Colombia is much more expensive than in the U.S., and I was only employed in a textile factory. There are better paying jobs over here. Besides, I had always dreamed of living in the United States." "So, was the decision to come over here yours or your husband's?" I ask. Immediately Evangelina, who had just come in to eat, before going on to her job in a different club, jumps in, almost defending her mother, saying, "It was my mom who wanted to come. She's the one who decided. She came here first." The courage and determination of this woman leaves me amazed. In November of 1981, with her family's support, Esther left her husband, her children, parents and friends to provide herself and eventually the rest of her family with what she refers to as la vida mejor. She came to New Jersey speaking little English, but having her sister-in-law, who had been living here for several years, as an important connection. Esther's first job was cleaning offices in the Princeton and Trenton area. This lasted for three years until she began working for the eating clubs at Princeton University. "Of course it was hard at first, not knowing any English, but I loved this place from the very beginning," she tells me. I ask her if she wants to go back. "No," she replies confidently and shakes her head, but smiling she then adds, "Maybe only to visit."

An interview with Arturo, Esther's husband, has not been possible due to a stroke he suffered three years ago. Arturo came to the U.S. in 1985, four years after his wife. He worked for a while at various places and then worked in one of the eating clubs for four years. He is currently unemployed as a result of his stroke, but according to Esther, he likes living in the U.S. as much as she does and has no apparent desire to go back to Colombia.

While Evangelina, Eva for short, 23, eats her dinner of frijoles and other traditional Colombian food before she goes to work, she is kind enough to share her feelings and experiences with me. Although a graduate of Trenton High School, her English is still limited and she speaks with a heavy accent. "I didn't come here until I was 16 years old, which made it very difficult for me. The first year in school, was especially hard, even though the schools are definitely better in Colombia," she begins. "I learned a little English in high school in Colombia, but not much. I never really wanted to. So many people speak Spanish here, there is really no reason to learn English." I begin to suspect that she is not as happy living in the U.S. as her mother is. "I like it here only so-so," she tells me. "It's easier to get more accomplished in the U.S. and easier to get what you want."

"Would you like to go back to Colombia?" I ask, already beginning to suspect her answer. Eva, who recently became engaged, replies very determinedly, "I'm definitely going there for my honeymoon. I still keep in touch with all my friends and family who are still there, but I haven't been back in seven years." When I ask if she would like to move back to Colombia permanently, she replies hopefully, "Right now I have to stay here, but maybe someday…"

Maritza is the next member to be interviewed. We leave the noisy kitchen and sit in the empty and very quiet dining room. At 15 years old she appears to be the typical teenager. She is friendly and talkative, often teasing her family co-workers or taking time out to tango with one of the cooks. She likes listening to Selena's music and when she gets home she watches her novela and then talks to her friends on the phone. She seems to have adapted to the American culture, and has grown up as a part of the ever-growing Latino-American subculture. Maritza came to the U.S. when she was seven. When I ask what she remembers about the trip all she tells me is that she flew from Colombia to Miami and then flew to New Jersey. She began the first grade in bilingual classes and was moved to regular classes for second grade. "I didn't like it here at first. Mostly white people lived in our neighborhood and none of them spoke Spanish, so I had no one to play with," she explains to me. "When I was in the third grade we moved to a neighborhood with people who spoke Spanish, and then it was easier to make friends." We talk about friends and boyfriends and then about her work in the eating clubs. "I remember coming to work with my mom at the eating clubs when I was very little. One of the members was a really good friend of mine, but that was when I was about nine. Now I work at here at this club, and I really like it. I like having extra money and the people here are friendly." Although Maritza works everyday after school, she still manages to be involved in extra-curricular activities at Trenton High School. "I'm in the JROTC, Latinos Unidos and ASPIRA, which is a program where we tutor other kids. I'm usually on the honor roll, too, and most of my classes are career-oriented," she explains. I ask her about racial tensions and/or gang problems within her school. She admits that Hispanics and blacks don't tend to interact with one another and that of course there are problems with gang fights. "What bothers me, though, is that people only look at the negative parts of the high school," she says. "Newspapers and people in the community always point out the fights and drug problems, but no one ever recognizes the students who do well in classes or in sports, or the special organizations that contribute to the community."

I then ask her about her plans for the future. "I plan on going into the army and I don't plan on getting married," she says very matter-of-factly. Unlike Eva, Maritza unquestionably considers the U.S. her home. "I'm going to visit Colombia this summer for the first time in nine years," she tells me. She looks thoughtful for a moment and adds, "I don't think I'd want to move back there, though. Only if a bomb were going to hit New York, then maybe."

After I finish talking with Maritza, Eliseo, a close friend of the family who also works at the same eating club, looks expectantly at me. "Ask her if she wants to interview me, too," he tells Maritza in Spanish. Maritza asks me and offers the explanation, "I think he's related to us. He lives at my house." So I begin inquiring about Eliseo's relationship to the family, and after some rapid, incomprehensible discussion between Maritza her mother and Eliseo, Esther finally decides, "He's been a close friend of mine for at least twenty years." He is also from Palmira, Colombia and worked as an electrician before coming to the U.S. almost exactly three years ago in 1994. He left behind his father and brother in Colombia, who he now supports by sending money every month. Although he's lived here for three years now, he understands little English and speaks even less. I direct my questions to Maritza, my designated translator. After being so eager to be interviewed, Eliseo no longer seems very willing to participate. He appears distracted and directs his short answers to no one in particular and continually asks if I'm finished.

"How did you adjust to living in the United States," I ask him. He responds quickly and shortly, "It was easy, I had Esther and her family here." Seeing that he has lived here for three years and still has no desire to learn English, I wonder how permanent he considers his life in the U.S. I ask him to tell me about Colombia and if he wants to go back. "Hopefully I can go back soon," is his answer, "Colombia is my paradise."

At around 5:00 Elias, nephew to Arturo, arrives at the eating club, for his part-time job which begins in the evening. During the day he is employed at Truck and Rock Industries in Kingston. Elias came to the U.S. in 1993, when he was 23 years old, claiming to have come here for "the same reason everyone else comes here: money." As he fills a big bowl water and with what appears to be orange Kool-aid he explains to me that jobs are difficult to find in Colombia. "I ran my own business in Colombia, but I was hoping to have a chance to study over here." Maritza breaks in at this moment with a loud, "Mentiroso! You didn't have your own business." "Well, I managed my father's business, so it's almost the same. He owns a small billiard's place," Elias explains. Elias finished high school in Colombia and was taught English in school, but still speaks with a very heavy accent, which he finds a bit embarrassing at times. His cousin, Eva, arranged for him to come to the U.S. and live with her family. All he needed to do was go to Honduras and fly from there to the U.S. However, he ran into problems and was detained for three months in San Pedro Sula. "Those were the longest three months of my life," claims Elias. He finally found someone who was willing to take him to L. A. He called Eva from L. A. and she sent money and a plane ticket and he finally made it to New Jersey. For two years he lived with his uncle's family while he took classes at the Mercer County Community College. That proved to be to expensive, so the classes had to stop, but he hasn't given up hope. He then admits to me how much he loves dancing. "Dancing is my passion. My real dream is to be able to dance professionally. I would really love to be able to take some dance classes." As he places pitchers of water on a cart he does a quick little dance step. "I wouldn't even mind being a stripper, as long as I get to dance," he informs me. He then adds, "But I would need to do exercises and lose some weight first."

I then ask him about his future plans as of now. "If I get good money, maybe I'll go back to Colombia, but if I were to be able to go to college, I think I'd stay here for a long time." Elias although determined to stay in the United States as long as necessary, has some very strong ties remaining in Colombia. "What family do you have living in Colombia," I ask him curiously. "My mother, father, brother, and little daughter are still living in Colombia," he answers. This brings a strange response from Esther and Maritza, who begin scolding him for not mentioning his wife. Rapid conversation passes between them in Spanish and I am only able to understand when Esther says, "Well, she's still la mama de su hija." He offers me no clarification and so I am left to assume he has a daughter, but is not married to her mother.

Elias continues to tell about how he actually came to live in the U.S. "I had been trying to come to the U.S. for about five years with no success. Finally, Eva called me from New Jersey and had arranged my papers." We now move from the noisy kitchen to the dining room where he sets pitchers of Kool-aid and water on each table. "That was a really difficult time for me to leave, because my daughter, Nataly, had just been born. I left when she was only eight months old." He seems a little saddened, but continues, "I send my family money, and maybe one day I can bring them here, even if it's just for a visit." Elias tells me of his trip back to Colombia to visit his family this December. This was the first time he'd been back since 1993. Elias was happy to have a chance to visit, but he wishes he could see his daughter more often. "I make sure to call my daughter often, and my father tells her about me all the time," he says, "I don't want her to forget who I am." His expression brightens, he nods his head and says, "I'm doing the right thing."

The interviews with the family members have resulted in the addition some interesting information pertaining to one immigrant family in Princeton. The attitudes toward life in America and the levels of integration into society vary from family member to family member. Although age during point of entry proved to be a significant factor in assimilation, the reasons for immigrating have a much greater effect on the attitudes toward life in America. Family networking also contributed to the ease of immigration. When Esther first came to the U.S. she had her sister-in-law already living in New Jersey. Esther had also always wanted to live in the U.S. and so America could not disappoint her. For her children things were different. Having had no choice but to join her family and being 16 years old at the time, made the transition difficult for Eva. As for Maritza, being only seven when she joined her family in the U.S., she has adapted much easier than her sister. Elias and Eliseo both came to the U.S. for economic reasons and because of Esther and her family have adjusted to living in America fairly easily, but always with the prospect of returning home to Colombia one day. No matter how much America has become home, for this family, Colombia is a place looked on with fond memories, "a paradise."