DEPARTED FROM
Manila, Philippines
ARRIVED IN
Seattle, Washington
YEAR
1990
AGE
17
TRANSCRIPT
TRANSCRIBED BY Vishal N. (x 1)
My dad filed a petition for us to come here to look for a better opportunities, and I flew here from Manila Philippines in 1990 with my brother who was 12 years old back then. We arrived in Seattle, Washington same year, 1990. So we were excited to come here. And we needed to learn the new language, new culture, and excited to meet new people.
How old were you?
I was 17.
And what do you remember from the first days in the United States when you arrived?
I just remember that it was cold compared to Philippines, and I basically had a culture shock because in the Philippines all you see is, you know, the same people all the time, same race. So when I came here it was very different. Different culture, different kind of people, different ethnicities that I got to meet.
Do you remember what you did on your very first day, or the first few days?
First days we went shopping. We went to Target to buying clothes for winter.
Do you remember anything that surprised you about the United States when you arrived?
The food and everything's different. The way people speak. I was very shy to speak English because I didn't want to make a mistake. And people, I felt like I was being judged that they know I'm not originally from here. So it was hard to understand people because they speak so fast.
What were your first impressions?
First impression… first impression… I was a bit shy, so I was kinda…I didn't really… I felt like people are, you know, judgmental…and I was intimidated by them because I'm not originally from here.
And how do you feel about living in the U.S. now?
Now, I've been here 33 years. This is my home now because I've only lived in the Philippines for 17 years of my life. I live here longer, now for 33 years. I don’t see myself living somewhere else.
* The contributor of this story has asked that their name be withheld.
