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Re: [ranchos] Immigration stories

 
Natalie,
 
I am the one who recommended the book "Rain of Gold'' and I am the immigrant.
 
I was brought here to San Jose´ Ca when I was two years of age. Mom said that my father sent for her and the 3 children and this was in 1952. My sister was almost five, I was two and a half and my brother Rigoberto was one year old.
 
Mom said we flew to Ensenada which has a military airport called El Cipres. We were picked up by an aunt and went to stay with them for a short period of time in Maneadero Baja Ca until my dad could get someone to come pick us up as he was a mojado (wet back) and could not cross the border.
A family friend came to pick us up and he traveled with us on the train to San Jose. We arrived in San Jose on Thanksgiving day of 1952. How's that for always having something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving day.
 
My dad was a foreman at a ranch here in San Jose at the time and had already secured family housing. We were forutunate in that when we arrived we had a home to come to and a very loving family who thought of us as their children. They were the ranch owners and did not have any children of their own so they doted on us. We maintained contact with them until he died about 5 years ago. We have nothing but good stories to tell unlike the family of Victor Villaseñor in Rain of Gold.
 
When my sister started school here in the Almaden Valley of San Jose she was taken under the wing of her first teacher Mrs Callahan. She thought my sister was an amazing learner considering we had just arrived from Mexico. Mr and Mrs Callahan also took us under their wing and adopted our family. They taught us about the holiday traditions in the USA. Every holiday, Christmas and Thanksgiving they would arrive with a tree, turkey, presents and clothing both new and used. They would take us shopping every summer before school started for clothes and school supplies. They would take us to their home to do arts and crafts projects and made us feel very special and loved. They also didn't have any children of their own thus we became their surrogate children. My oldest sister's name is Liduvina and they could not pronounce it so they began calling her Lucy and to this date my sister goes by Lucy in addition to her given birth name.
 
We also maintained this friendship with the Callahan's into adulthood until they died about 13 years ago in Santa Cruz Ca where they'd retired to.
 
I believe our story is not the normal immigrant story. My dad always made a good living especially after we went from mojados to legal aliens in 1956 but he always worked very very hard. He made sure he had a good place for us to live before bringing us here and we didn't have to travel by bus or rail for days and days as I've heard other people have had to do. We didn't have to cross any rivers or deserts and we didn't have to go hungry in the process and for this and much more I am grateful.
 
Well here's my immigrant story. I don't remember coming here as I was too young, but I do remember the wonderful people who came into our life to guide us and assist us not only with the basics but with love.
 
Alicia Avelar Olmos de Carrillo

Natalie <nc_coleman@...> wrote:
A few weeks back someone mentioned the book, "Rain of Gold", which told
the immigration story of the author's grandfather and grandmother.
So - can you share your immigrant ancestor's story?
  - When did they come to the U.S.? How long did their journey take?
Did they come alone or with a group? Was their move to U.S. meant to be
temporary or permanent? Where did they settle? What did they think of
their decision to move from their home in Mexico? What traditions did
they bring with them? How many generations ago did the immigration take
place? (Are you the immigrant?)
I hope this is not being too nosey - and thanks for sharing your
stories.

Matalie Coleman, VA