space.template.Immigration+Template

=Gaby Torkornoo=

Podcast
media type="custom" key="8216214"

BIOGRAPHICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Biographical The most important thing to her was her family. She got emotional when she started talking about how her children had a greater opportunity here than if they were to stay in Ghana. She said that she came to America because she wanted to join her husband, here in America. Her husband had already moved here to America. She misses her family back in Ghana, but she loves her husband and children. She doesn’t worry about material things. She worries about the things you can not replace.

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=Creative Writing=

By: Your Name
Insert your creative writing piece here.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Your Name:Kailani

Your Interviewee's Name:Gaby

Interview Transcription (Revised) --Track 1-- Kailani: Okay, what country did you immigrate from? Gaby: From Ghana. Kailani: And when did you come to the US? Gaby: I came to the US in 2001. No. Yeah, 2001. Kailani: In your old country did you have any favorite foods? Gaby: Yes, my favorite food back home is rice, of course, and stew. [It’s] Called fufu. Kailani: Were there any sports or anything that you liked? Gaby: Yes, I love volleyball. Kailani: Volleyball? Gabby: Yes. Kailani: In your old country, what language or languages were primarily spoken? Gaby: Primarily, English is spoken and then we have our own dialects. You know, traditional dialect…Each from where you come from…see? Kailani: In your old country, how was the family structure? --NEXT TRACK-- --Track 2-- [She wanted to pause the recording to ask me a question to clarify.] Kailani: Okay. Gaby: The family structure is just the same. Just like here, mom, dad, but we do have more family connected ’cause you have siblings that you’re always very close to. So it’s always mainly like a large family all of the time. Kailani: Okay. Do you have any friends back home that you still speak with? Gaby: Yes, //regularly//. Kailani: Regularly? Gaby: Yes. Kailani: Were there any regular hobbies that you did in your old country…or had? Gaby: Hobbies? I love reading novels. So that really was my hobbies. Kailani: Was there any traditional dress in your old country? Gaby: Yes. Yes, the traditional dresses that we wear usually… is almost like mutcoff [I don’t really know what she said] and a lot of times fabric, but the way we sew them…it’s literally more traditional wear. Sometimes it’s sort of like a skirt, but it’s long. Not really a skirt, but I call it a skirt, but we call it a sleet. And we… that with a nice top, or there’s a traditional…different kinds of traditional dresses that we do were mostly um also like the mut- the mutcoff… [I could not understand from the recording what she said after this] traditionally when you are like having a ceremony you could where…[she was referring to the mutcoff thing] Kailani: In your old country what was the main religion or religions? Gaby: When it comes to religion Christianity, of course, is the main religion back home. However, there are…the Islam is also one of the big part of religious pardons you know in my country. So it’s probably like 60/40 [percents] when it comes to Christianity and Islam. Kailani: How were men and women treated… the diversity? Gaby: Just like here. Respectfully, we were able, to say our thoughts and opinions…just like here. Kailani: Okay [--Rattling. I turn my paper over in my notebook--] Kailani: How did you travel into the US? Gaby: I joined my husband, who was already here. Kailani: What means of transportation did you take? Gaby: I flew [by airplane] [she laughs] By air. Kailani: What port of entry did you enter? What airport? Gaby: What airport? I[pauses in thought] that was Dulles Airport, Virginia. Kailani: Did you have any trouble…coming into the US? Gaby: No, I did not. Kailani: What steps did you have to take to become a US citizen? Gabby: A lot of steps! Well, yeah several [I don’t know what she said] after I joined him [her husband]we had to file for paperwork to prove that we were married. And then I was put on you know, a three year wait, I had to stay for three years. And I could not, at that point, request for citizenship. It had to be five years. So after that, we had to go back, and we knew that and then we had an interview. And then um, and then, and then after that time you can whenever um apply for citizenship. So that when I applied for my citizenship. Kailani: What were the major reasons for coming to the US? Gaby: My major reason for coming here, again, is to join my husband, because, you know, he was already here. Kailani: Would you say that life in America is better or worse? Gaby: It depends you know, but overall I would say better, but again it depends. Sometimes I would choose the life back home…depending on what it is, but overall life here is better when it comes to you know…education, freedom, and other stuff. Even though my [old] country we still have that freedom as here. [freedoms are basically the same] Kailani: What do you miss about your old country? Gaby: A lot. [laughs] a lot of things. Family, physical family, um, the things that we do together…traditional things…and friends. Kailani: Before you came to the US did you already know English? Gaby: Yes Kailani: So that wasn’t much of an issue? Gaby: Yeah, yeah, it wasn’t that much of an issue, no. Because we were an English speaking country [Ghana] already, primarily so… Kailani: Here in America, what is like…what are the number one things you take pride in? Like, what are your favorite things? Gaby: Favorite things… Kailani: Like, what do you value the most? --NEXT TRACK-- --Track 3-- [She wanted to stop recording…she wanted to ask a question] Gaby: I- I was able to have my kids here. Which you know, I- that-that- that’s very valuable to me because by having them here you know, not only did they have that freedom, they- they- they have this um…They can reach…the sky is the limit you know when you’re in America. So that much I appreciate. And I thank God for that! And other things that’s you know that being here it’s somehow… although where I come from and I can have the ability to go back and forth and it’s enjoyable… you know ‘cause that’s valuable to me too. Kailani: When you came to America where you treated badly, or... Gaby: No. I was not treated badly, but physically you leave sometimes [my best guess on what she said]…you know but people are nice…people are very nice. You meet some people that are not nice or rude, but overall people are nice, and that’s good. Kailani: Have you ever revisited your old country? Gaby: Yes, I did. I visited this year. Kailani: What did you do while you were in your old country? Gaby: I went around to see friends and family, you know, to catch up on the old times ‘cause I haven’t been back about a decade [laughs] so it was nice to go and see friends and family and catch up and have some fun. Kailani: And so did you visit your old home? Gaby: Yes. I did visit my old home. I took my kids and to show them where I grew up and to see where I went to school and stuff. Kailani: When you visited your old home, what feelings came back? Gaby: [This was emotional. She was fighting tears just remembering home.] A lot of feelings, a lot of memories, you know, I just wanted to stay. Because you need that connection and when you are far away sometimes you just loose or forget that it’s there. So you have to go back again. And for that long, you know, you just realize how much you miss. The things you did together, the-the-the thought you had together. It was good to kinda go back again. Kailani: So did your kids like going back? Gaby: They want to. They loved it there so they are always talking about going back. Kailani: So when you were talking about your kids and how they have the freedoms and like, ‘the sky is the limit’ If you guys were still in your old country what… Gaby: What would limit them? Kailani: Yeah…What would limit them? Gaby: As of now, I don’t think so much would limit them. What-what would limit them would be financial restrictions. If I am not financially equipped or my husband is not education might be limited because you have to you know, you have to put food on the table, and you have to-to you-you-you have to lead a good life, you know and in here it’s not that I’m super rich. However, you-you have things available to you. For instance, the-the-just kids now they not only go to school. They have the internet 24/7 available to them. Whereas, we don’t have that even now, back home, we had to pay good money for me to have that 24/7. So just little things that are, in your arms reach…It’s a blessing. Kailani: Before you came to the US, what did you think of America, like…what did you think… Gaby: You want the truth? [laughs] [PAUSE] You just have this notion of things you see in the movies, like New York or like, LA… How pretty it is… valid some parts might be you-you watch the movies, but…I personally didn’t have a whole great feel for what America is. All I do…or what I read in the novels and that’s all. So I also don’t know that it’s a very powerful country, before I came here so that was my little views, that I can remember. Kailani: What were some pros and cons about coming to the United States? Gaby: The pros one…I am able to enjoy my husband…two…that I have my kids here…three…that I could really do anything that I really wanted, you know um education, work, or travel around the world with no restrictions. [laughs] Cons, I don’t like the cold – at all, [laughs] but again it depends on where I choose to live [It sound like leave, but she really said live. It’s just her accent] However, here it’s cold. [pause] Sometimes little things [should be a little thing] goes wrong and you feel like, whoa…stress too. Yeah, number one. Number two though is stress. It’s very stressful here. It’s a different stress, back home. You know there’s little to think about. There’s little to worry about. In a sense that there’s so much to worry about, but it’s-in my view, when I’m here it’s little. You have to wake up every the morning. Everything is by time. You have to get going and keep going. And you know, and with your family, you know you have this family quality time. Those are the cons. Kailani: Do you think that immigrating was a really good decision? Gaby: That I made? Yes. Kailani: How do the freedoms- Gaby: [says something that I can’t tell…then laughs] Kailani: How do the freedoms compare? Gaby: Freedoms compare from here to back home? Kailani: Yeah… Gaby: Is that what you’re asking? The comparison really is almost the same. Yeah. It’s it’s it’s it’s almost the same. But then I don’t know what I should call it freedom or not. However, here you can speak your mind more, and not worry about getting into trouble or…because that’s the life. Whereas back home you really cannot speak your mind so much on certain things because then it joins into respect or not okay to say things, but you know…In America, I mean, come on you just you can do what…you you you what is right for you and what you think is okay for you and what you needed to do. Kailani: Before you came to America what did you think the American Dream was, like the ultimate American Dream? Gaby: Have your family, have a good job, retire, and be able to still take care of yourself, and travel. Kailani: I think that is just about it. Thank you! --RATTLING-- [I was turning off the recorder]

ANALYSIS
I learned that immigrating to the US is not always easy. In fact, it is very difficult. They encounter many trials. They have long journeys, people making fun of them, a language issue, a culture issue, change of weather, and much more. They leave everything they have ever known. When they actually get here they have tons of paperwork and checkups. People are usually really rude and mean to immigrants. You have no idea what they went through. The legal journey is so extensive that it takes more than five years to actually become an American citizen. Some immigrants come illegally. They live in hiding for the rest of their life, or until they get caught. More and more laws are making the legal immigration process harder to go through. Everyday thousands of people cross the border to the US in hopes that they will get in. Some come for work, education, family, or just for a simple vacation. Not all immigrants are bad or take advantage of the system. People think they come just for our money. All they want is a better life. Next time you want to judge someone that dresses different, talks different, or has different color skin, just think of everything they had to go through just to be here.