BACKGROUND
The interviewee has requested that their story not be shared on social media.
TRANSCRIPT
TRANSCRIBED BY Noor Bukhari (x 3)
Hello.
Hello.
Okay, I'm gonna ask you a few questions, but first, introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Angella Newman.
And where are you from?
I'm from Jamaica.
Okay, I'm gonna ask you a few questions.
Sure!
So, how did you feel when coming to America?
Well, when I learned that I was going to move to America, I was extremely happy, because many of my family members were already here. My sisters had moved here, and I was the only one left in Jamaica, so I was really happy to move here.
Why did you move to America?
I moved to America because, as I said, most of my family members had already moved here. And I thought that America was a land of opportunities. So I just wanted to see what it had to offer me in terms of career and education.
What doubts did you have about coming to America?
I did not have any doubt. It was really exciting. I mean, when you live in a third world country, you always dream of living in a country that offers more opportunities, so I really didn't have any doubts about coming to America. I was actually very excited about coming here.
What regrets do you have about moving to America?
The regrets that I have are— I wish I had, like, a step by step plan on how to achieve my dreams here. And I wish I had, like, a mentor, someone who actually lived here, knew how to navigate the system, and one who could show me what steps I need to take to get to where I wanted to.
Is there anything that you regret?
[inaudible] come to America for like six months, you know, just to see what it's all about, and then go back home and use that experience as a plan of how I can succeed.
Is there anything that you miss in Jamaica?
I miss everything in Jamaica! I miss the sunshine, I miss the sea, the food, the people. I miss everything.
What do you remember about your first days in America?
I remember that the day after I came, there was a huge snowfall. Like, many inches. And that was my first time seeing snowfall, so it was really exciting to go out and play in the snow. I thought that America was so much fun then.
What did it feel like being in America for the first time?
It felt surreal. It felt like a dream come true. Like, I couldn't wait to start exploring and learning about the country. It was really, very exciting for me to be here.
Was there any new foods that you tried in America that you've never tried in Jamaica?
[laughs] Well, tacos, I've never eaten tacos in Jamaica before, and I actually like tacos. Turkey, I do not like turkey [laughs]. And I don't think I'm ever going to eat turkey.
Were there any cultural differences or similarities that you noticed when you came to America?
The differences that I noticed was that, at work, you could just call your boss by their first name. In Jamaica, we would never do that. We’d always say “Mr.” and their last name. Another thing that I realized in America is that there is so much emphasis on the color of your skin. Because in Jamaica, we're all the same, so you don't even notice people's skin color. But here, it is such a big part of who you are. And I don’t understand that because that's, like, very minor as to who you are as a person overall.
How long did it take for you to get used to America?
It took me a while. I’m thinking it took me maybe ten years. It took a while. I remember, this guy saw me downtown, and he said, “You look like you are going crazy.” I'm like, “I'm not going crazy, I'm just so disoriented, trying to get used to a new place, a new culture, everything.”
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
What I'd like to share is that America can be great for immigrants. We just have to learn, we just need to have, like, a support system. We need people who can help the newcomers navigate the system. We can teach them, you know, show them where they can get information. It's just like a learning process and we need teachers to teach others.
Alright, thank you for your time, that's all.
Oh, you're welcome!
