DEPARTED FROM
Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad And Tobago
ARRIVED IN
Queens, New York
YEAR
1989
AGE
36
TRANSCRIPT
My name is Bernard Despot and I am 60 years old. I am also a citizen of the United States. And I have to say that this did not come easily. I came here in 1989 and I was 38 years old. And I worked very very hard for everything that I have. But the US has given me that opportunity. I am a resident of Queens, where I have lived all my time here. I have achieved a lot, I have seen my three children go to college, and I myself have gotten my GED. It’s all a challenging process, and it’s very tough. I worked as a dishwasher, a parking attendant, a bus driver, and now I’m working as a shuttle driver for the Hilton Hotel. I’ve worked a lot of places to achieve the things that I want, and the successes that I got came with hard work. When I first came to this country one of my first memories was of the street vendors, selling souvlaki and the gyros. Every Christmas when I get that smell it brings me right back to my first time in the US. I’m about where I should be, I’ve seen all my children grow up and I am indebted to a lot of people for the support that has made me who I am. It’s really really wonderful. Some of the bad experiences that I may have had, I have overcome. I remember it snowed, and the snow was very difficult when you have to work. There were times that I missed work, and been disciplined because I was not familiar with this climate. Now I can call here home. I still think of Trinidad, but this is where I am and I’m happy.
