immigration

Parlez-vous anglais?

~ MaryG ~ 20 Comments

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

I’m a native English speaker which has facilitated my laziness in never becoming fluent in a second language. (That’s my excuse anyway.) I’m in awe of all the bi and tri linguals here on WordPress.

The closest I ever got to fluency in another language was Italian during my semester in Rome, but that’s mostly gone now. It was so long ago. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

I can also pull out some words and phrases in French and Spanish when necessary. But let’s face it, it is very rarely necessary. Nearly everyone I encounter, even when traveling, speaks English.

Exciting news! I won a free sandwich at my local convenience store & deli. The guy that called to tell me the good news is a native Arabic speaker, but his English is great, just like so many other immigrants.

The Dealbreakers

~ MaryG ~ 8 Comments

In relation to yesterday’s post about my Jamaican-born great grandfather, I wanted to show you his “Declaration of Intention” to become a citizen of the United States from 1915:

In general, it seems like pretty standard stuff.

Name: David Powell

Age: 38 years

Occupation: Fireman

Color: White

Complexion: Fair

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

Weight: 142 pounds

Color of hair: Brown

Color of eyes: Brown

Other visible distinctive marks: Scar on chin

Place of birth: Jamaica, British West Indies

Date of birth: September 11, 1876

Current residence: 342 29 St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Emigrated from: Liverpool, England

Vessel name: Civic

Last foreign residence: Liverpool, England

Allegiance renounced: George V, King of Great Britain & Ireland

Port of arrival: New York

Date of arrival: On or about the ___ day of May, 1903

But the last part is interesting:

“I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein: So help me God.”

So, the two dealbreakers were anarchy and polygamy.

Those were the elements the US wanted most to keep out in 1915.

I guess they’d be disappointed to know that the hit reality show Sister Wives has been running strong since 2010.

Here’s to Immigrants

~ MaryG ~ 13 Comments

All of these immigrants arrived in the United States dirt poor from Southern Italy in search of a better life.

My paternal grandparents, circa 1925.
My husband’s maternal grandparents, mid 1920s
My husband’s paternal grandmother (top right) and her children, including my father-in-law (bottom left) in Boston, mid 1920s

100 years later, their great, great granddaughter, a United States citizen, has just learned to roll over.

It’s wild to think that if any one of these immigrants had been sent back to Italy, my granddaughter wouldn’t be here.