Canessa

=Dr. Canessa=

Podcast
media type="custom" key="12457446"

BIOGRAPHICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Biographical

My Immigrant's name is Dr. Canessa, and he is from Peru. There are very poor and also very rich people with a lot of resources, and he was one of the blessed ones who could come. He did not have many hobbies. Dr. Canessa did not eat much fast food and still doesn't eat much fast food. He still loves kids, and is still a pediatrician which was the same reason why he came here.

Geographical

The country Peru is in the continent of South America. Peru ranks 42 in population size in the world, and the size ranks 20 in the size mass in the world scale. Peru is in the western south America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador. The population is about 30 million (29,248,943), and the urban population is 77%. Peru may look small on the map, but they sure do have a big heart.

=Creative Writing=

By: Caleb Tracy
//"I came here to be a pediatrician at least to get the training, but one thing came after another and we decided we'd stay."// Wants and Differences

Dear Journal, Today I have finally started medical school here in Peru. My wife wants me to take her to America, and to tell you the truth I want to go too. I am attempting to save up enough money (being in medical school), so I can get the best training to become a pediatrician. There are very poor people here, but there are also a few rich people here, but much more poor people. The poor get poorer, and the rich get richer from their resources every day. I am blessed currently, but if I do not get a good job soon, I will not be able to support my wife, my family, nor myself.

Dear Journal a few years later, I have been doing some reaserch on America. They have very similar schools in America than here in Peru. They call calículos schools. What is going to be similar to the American schools are the first calículos here is primary calículos there, middle school and high school is secondary calículos here, and there is something called a Collage there; here in Peru there is no collage you go straight to the University for 1 or 2 years at least. Right now all we study is just the general studies, that’s the sciences, and after that you choose your path from there, but over in America, in order to receive a really well paid job you need to go to Collage for a long time.

Dear Journal a few months later, I am here in America at last and I have found something very different than Peru. The Peruvian structure is very different than here. In Peru it was all cement and my home was 1 flat, similar to what we have as a garage now, the garden in front of lots are a lot bigger her in America, but they were much smaller in many places in Peru. In Peru you usually have a garden that has no openings and is closed with a door then you go to the street. Kind of like the city New York. In Peru it’s like one of those big complexes where you have 10 houses and the houses are close together. The houses are next to each other, no spaces in between wall against wall against wall.

Caleb: So what job did you have in your old country?

Dr. Canessa: What tribe?

Jennette: Job.

Caleb: Job.

Dr. Canessa: What job? Oh, I started medical school there.

Caleb: Ok. What country were you born in?

Dr. Canessa: In Peru.

Caleb: Peru?

Dr. Canessa: [Nods yes]

Caleb: Ok. What attracted you to America? Like what made you want to come here.

Dr. Canessa: My wife. No the truth is I wanted to become a pediatrician. I came here to be a pediatrician at least to get the training, but one thing came after another and we decided we’d stay.

Caleb: How was life in your old country?

Dr. Canessa: Well it really depends where you live. There are very poor people and people with a lot of resources. More than here it really depends on where you live and I was fortunate, because I came to America.

Caleb: What hobbies did you have?

Dr. Canessa: Not many; I used to do waterskiing a lot.

Caleb: What type of education did you have and what type of schools did you have there and what did they call them?

Dr. Canessa: They had very similar schools there. They call schools “calículos.” What is going to be similar to here is first school here is primary school there, middle school and high school is secondary schools there.

Caleb: What was your home like?

Dr. Canessa: Oh, by the way, there is no college.

Caleb: No college?

Dr. Canessa: No; you go straight to the University for 1 or 2 years at least. When I was there in just general studies, that’s the sciences; then you choose your path from there.

Caleb: Okay that seems kind of neat. What is your home like?

Dr. Canessa: Pretty good. [laughs] the structure is different than here it’s all cement and it is my home was 1 flat similar to what you would have as a garage the garden up front the lots are a lot smaller where is in many places. You usually have a garden has no openings and is closed with a door then you go to the street.

Caleb: Ok.

Dr. Canessa: Kind of like the city New York. You have an area like [pause] there is nothing similar. Here just you imagine one of those big complexes where you have 10 houses and the houses are close to the street.

Jennette: Like an apartment.

Dr. Canessa: No, the houses are like 10 independent houses all close together really close together.

Jennette: Oh, Oh! Ok.

Caleb: I think I know what you’re talking about; like how the houses are connected?

Dr. Canessa: No, the houses are next to each other, no spaces in between wall against wall against wall.

Caleb: Did you have many friends?

Dr. Canessa: Ten.

Caleb: Do you still talk to any of them?

Dr. Canessa: Yeah, I actually we 4-5 came to this country.

Caleb: Nice. What games did you play? What games did you play in your neighborhood or like for fun?

Dr. Canessa: Well it depends on the age. I used to go in the summer to the Small Islands. There was no paradise island some sand, rock, some houses over there that’s it.

Caleb: Did you know anyone famous from your old country?

Dr. Canessa: Not that you know here, but some people over there were famous there in the locally.

Caleb: Well what was their name?

Dr. Canessa: I know one that is a cook that is very famous; over there one of my school friends was a Minister of sciences in Peru five years ago. My brother Loe is the Foreign Minister now. Like the equivalent of Mrs. Clinton here.

Caleb: What was your family like?

Dr. Canessa: My Family?

Caleb: Yeah.

Dr. Canessa: Like here, the same, my father and 2 siblings. My father, mother, and siblings.

Caleb: What did they do there?

Dr. Canessa: My father owned a hardware store.

Caleb: And your mom?

Dr. Canessa: Just stayed at home.

Caleb: What was the government like in your old country before you left?

Dr. Canessa: We have had variation, before I left we had when I was little, I had a democratic government, and it was good. Then we had a cook then ten years of military government and then after that they have had a democratic government, and they have had that for twenty years.

Caleb: What was your favorite food in your old country?

Dr. Canessa: Something called Ceviche.

Caleb: What?

Dr. Canessa: Ceviche, C-e-v-i-c-h-e, its raw food, raw fish, you eat the fish and marinate them on lemon juice, cook briefly, and that’s it.

Caleb: Did you have any traditional dress or clothing in your old country?

Dr. Canessa: Not really, there are people from the mountains that dress differently, but most of the people use kind of a western look. The people from the mountains use hats and things like that other clothes.

Caleb: What were the major religions in your old country, Peru?

Dr. Canessa: The major religion is Catholicism with some variations.

Caleb: What were the main sports people played?

Dr. Canessa: Soccer.

Caleb: Soccer?

Dr. Canessa: Soccer. Except for the states the United States, the rest of the world plays soccer.

Caleb: What about what the people watch?

Dr. Canessa: Soccer.

Caleb: Soccer? Ok what was the climate like?

Dr. Canessa: It’s very mild, never hot never too cold. Depends on the part of the country, on the coast it is 80 degrees on a hot summer day to 50 degrees on a cold winter day.

Caleb: That sounds nice actually.

Dr. Canessa: The coast is very dry, the mountains are very cold, and it’s close to 0 (Celsius,) 30-25 degrees Fahrenheit, not much colder than that the point where rain starts to freeze, freezing rain.

Caleb: Sleet or hail?

Dr. Canessa: No hail. Caleb: Hail?

Dr. Canessa: Sleet and hail in the mountains. Now, in the jungles, there is tropical weather, very tropical, like in Amazon area.

Caleb: What do you remember about your country Peru?

Dr. Canessa: I go there frequently so I remember everything.

Caleb: What were some languages spoken in Peru?

Dr. Canessa: There was Spanish, the regional language is Cachuan and it is a language spoken in the south of the country. And is spoken in Mara that’s similar to Cachuan.

Caleb: How similar is it to Spanish or is it?

Dr. Canessa: Not similar very cultural language and they have music, and you know how we have music with seven notes? They only use five.

Caleb: They only use five?

Dr. Canessa: They only use five, not that they wrote music, there wasn’t a written language in Cachuan.

Caleb: Ok; what type of music would that maybe be considered possibly?

Dr. Canessa: It is called Huaño.

Caleb: Huaño?

Dr. Canessa: Huaño, H-u-a-n-o, that is the very typical music and they dance and sing to the music.

Caleb: Was that like?

Dr. Canessa: No that is called Techno Chutan [laughs].

Caleb: So was that like the most popular music there?

Dr. Canessa: No; the most popular music is something similar that is similar to like country music here you know with themes that are from the local music.

Caleb: Ok. What were some of the other music music’s?

Dr. Canessa: Well the cachuan Columbiantype of music, that is calledthe salsa someothertypes of musiccalledthe goleado thatwasnot use of hear in thestates in the 30s 40s.

Caleb: Did you have any American fast food restaurants or any American products in Peru?

Dr. Canessa: Tons.

Caleb: Tons?

Dr. Canessa: One of my father’s friends own is in charge of Kentucky Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Caleb: KFC

Dr. Canessa: A couple more there is actually a chain of fast food over there of burgers. It’s actually better than Mc Donald’s and it’s called Bentos.

Caleb: Bentos? How similar is it?

Dr. Canessa: It’s very similar; the meat is cooked a little bit differently. It is spicy.

Caleb: Is it healthier?

Dr. Canessa: No; [laughter] as healthy as a hamburger can be.

Caleb: About the immigration process, how did you come here by a plane, boat, or train?

Dr. Canessa: A plane it’s very far.

Caleb: Did you have any trouble becoming a citizen?

Dr. Canessa: No.

Mom: Did you make, Ok, a friend of mine is German her kids are American and she has maintained her German citizenship. Have you maintained your citizenship?

Dr. Canessa: You maintain a relationship with your original citizenship.

Mom: But you are a U.S. citizen also so you can vote?

Dr. Canessa: Yes.

Caleb: Did you have any trouble becoming a citizen?

Dr. Canessa: No.

Caleb: No.

Dr. Canessa: [nodding yes]

Caleb: Ok.

Dr. Canessa: You just need to follow the rules….

Caleb: If you could change…

Dr. Canessa: …and have a job.

Caleb: If you could change anything about the process how would you change it?

Dr. Canessa: What how to become a citizen? [Long pause] just maybe make the rules clearer for the people who want to come over here.

Caleb: Ok.

Dr. Canessa: There are two ways to come over here. You can come with a job or come and be legal and go to the embassies over there and get a passport, permit, and a job and you come and work, the other reason people just run to the border is to come look for a job in this country.

Caleb: We studied Ellis Island and they had medical examinations. What sort of steps did you have to take to become a citizen?

Dr. Canessa: Here?

Caleb: Yes.

Dr. Canessa: Well, you need to have a job, you need for a few years before you come here you need to become a legal citizen, and you need to be a resident here for 5-10 years. And if you are a legal usually legal resident there is usually no problems with the law, and have a job and a way to support yourself then you apply. And become a citizen.

Caleb: How did it feel walking into the office getting a citizenship?

Dr. Canessa: It was actually pretty funny, the guy was open and it was a very nice conversation with few jokes here and there.

Caleb: How did it feel taking the oath?

Dr. Canessa: Interesting, it was very funny, it was with a Judge and with a lot of people.

Caleb: Ok. Can you describe it a little?

Dr. Canessa: It was in the Boonshoft, the Boonshoft Museum. [There were] 50 people over there and my wife and a few of my friends were over there it was very interesting. And they gave you a paper with your picture on it and there are no duplicates there is nothing so you need to keep it in a very safe place because that’s your tool of getting other documents like your passport etcetera. Then they give you your card to vote.

Caleb: How did it feel preparing for the test?

Dr. Canessa: If you have lived in this country, and you have lived in the state then you will do perfect.

Everyone: (laughter)

Caleb: That’s nice. Was it better or worse in America than in Peru?

Dr. Canessa: In what sense.

Caleb: Any.

Dr. Canessa: Again it depends on where you come from. If your family is well to do in any place it is ok. If your family is poor it’s hard. A good example was our president that was six years ago the president the Peruvian president was on an Indian son of an Indian from the mountains and he immigrated through and immigrated kinda illegally into the states and then he became one of the colonists and had the chair and had a professorship at Stanford and then he went and ran as president.

Caleb: What sports do you like here?

Dr. Canessa: Still soccer. [Laughter].

Caleb: Anything else?

Dr. Canessa: Baseball is too slow and I cannot handle.

Caleb: What about football?

Dr. Canessa: Football sometimes, just very few games.

Caleb: Ok. How does the whether compare to here? Like do you like the weather here better, or in Peru better?

Dr. Canessa: It’s different. In Peru you have a mild winter and in the summer it’s very mild. It depends on where you live, and here you have the four stations or seasons it doesn’t rain much in the most of Peru. It’s very dry, so there is not much vegetation.

Caleb: What was your favorite memory here in America?

Dr. Canessa: Probably when I got my first job. Actually, it was when I finished my fellowship in Georgetown. Actually ten years [ago].

Caleb: So why was that, why was it your favorite memory?

Dr. Canessa: Because I didn’t expect it.

Caleb: What was the first thing that you saw when you came here?

Dr. Canessa: Statin Island, New York, a very small apartment.

Caleb: Did you know any English before coming over here?

Dr. Canessa: Some, you need to know some English to take the test too.

Caleb: Was it difficult to learn English?

Dr. Canessa: it takes time, one of the things that it doesn’t do is a change your accent

Caleb: Well that still makes you you. Is there a scent that reminds you of your old country?

Dr. Canessa: Scent?

Caleb: like a smell that reminds you of Peru?

Dr. Canessa: Not here.

Caleb: Not here?

Dr. Canessa: No; when you go to New Orleans parts of it, yes

Caleb: Is there any difference of air quality between here and Peru that you can notice?

Dr. Canessa: In the city that [I] lived in, Lima, it was much polluted, so it’s not very good. The air is cleaner here.

Caleb: Cleaner here?

Dr. Canessa: At least in the Midwest, now when you go to the coast, it’s a little different.

Caleb: What music do you listen to know?

Dr. Canessa: Whatever is on the radio and classical music?

Caleb: Do you like American music?

Dr. Canessa: Yes.

Caleb: What is your favorite band and song?

Dr. Canessa: Unfortunately, there are all bands and all songs like cc revival (Credence Clearwater Revival), like the Beatles, like the The Stairway to Heaven, the Eagles.

Caleb: What do you think about American food?

Dr. Canessa: Oh wait, music Pink Floyd, Do you like Pink Floyd?

Jennette: Do you know who Pink Floyd is?

Caleb: No, No I don’t

[Laughter]

Dr. Canessa: Do you know what rock and roll is?

[Caleb sighs]

[Laughter]

Jennette: Tell him what you listen to Caleb.

Caleb: I listen to

Jennette: Contemporary Christian

Caleb: I listen to Christian rock bands

Dr. Canessa: Yeah, we don’t have that in Peru.

Caleb: What do you think about American food?

Dr. Canessa: It gets very generic, it depends on the type of food, gets not variation in American food.

Jennette: It’s not spicy enough?

Dr. Canessa: It’s very limited in Peru you can eat fish every day and prepare it every day for a month and not eat the same fish twice. I am talking just about fish; you have vegetables, different types of meat, and how to prepare it.

Caleb: What about American fast food?

Dr. Canessa: We eat very little fast food. Not that I haven’t eaten it before, but very little.

Caleb: Is there anything different in America than Peru, about life style, civil rights, youth groups, foods, types of food, music, transportation?

Dr. Canessa: The transportation is very different.

Caleb: Transportation?

Dr. Canessa: Yes, it’s very chaotic. You want to move you stand in any street and you put your hand out, and there are ten taxis waiting to pick you up or very small buses called microbuses or minibuses and they are supposed to sit fifteen or eighteen people and they put thirty people inside.

Caleb: What do you visit in Peru when you go and visit?

Dr. Canessa: My parents.

Caleb: Your parents?

Dr. Canessa: Yes.

Caleb: How do you feel visiting?

Dr. Canessa: Good.

Caleb: Are there any phrases that make you think of your home? Are there any words or phrases that you hear here that make you remember Peru?

Dr. Canessa: Not many, because you need to change the language first, but, after you turn the version (made hand gesture like turning a knob in the air)

Caleb: What do you think American character is?

Dr. Canessa: In what sense? Character about what?

Caleb: Like what makes a person American?

Dr. Canessa: I presume, the love of country

Caleb: What about the American dream?

Dr. Canessa: That has changed. The American dream used to be a place to give or a home to give a lot of stuff and a lot of people changed their lifestyle.

Caleb: Do you feel like immigrating to America was a good decision?

Dr. Canessa: well I have been here for more than thirty-six years, so, I think it would be.

Caleb: Has it benefitted you a lot?

Dr. Canessa: Personally yes, what I am doing yes.

Caleb: How has it benefitted you?

[Dr. Canessa leans forward and gives Caleb a gesture to speak up]

Caleb: How has the U.S. benefitted you?

Dr. Canessa: Well I probably became a better doctor that what I would have been in Peru, there are a lot more invitations.

Caleb: Well, thank you for letting me interview you.

ANALYSIS
I have learned a few things about immigration from all the stories (videos and books in class), and from the person I have interviewed. I have learned that the difficulty of immigrating varies from person to person. In my interview my person did not have any difficulties of immigrating, but in some of the videos I have watched, and from some of the books that I have read they will sometimes have many troubles, and sometimes they will not even be able to immigrate to the US. I have found out that immigrating isn’t always a walk in the park. Immigration isn’t always easy; sometimes immigrating takes many long painful years, and for others they came almost immediately. The immigration process always has and always will vary. It all depends on the person, the year, and the amount of resources (money) they have.