Rosalyn Calamucha: "Coming to America"

Rosalyn Calamucha: Coming to America

Table of Contents

Intro

Background

Moving to America

Life in America
Being Filipino in the US

Reflection

Intro

I decided to interview my mother, Rosalyn Calamucha who was born in the Philippines and decided to move to the U.S. in her forties. She wanted to move to the U.S. to have her shot at the "American Dream." Her definition of the American Dream is not to give her a better shot at life rather to help her children and give them a better chance at their future. She moved to the U.S. in 2009 and said that moving here doesn't necessarily mean an easy life, rather a harder one.

Background

She grew up in the Philippines from birth when she moved to America in her forties. She grew up in a middle class family with three brothers who always protects her. In the middle class they were able to afford everything as long as they save for it and have some sacrifices she said. Her brothers, like the usual Filipino brothers, were very protective of her and so were her parents so she went to an all-girls school since kindergarten to college.

Moving to America

Rosalyn moved to America to try and find her definition of the "American Dream." She knew that her life in the Philippines would be the same as her life in America where she would have to work hard and sacrifice time to be able to fend, not only for herself but for her family. Rosalyn was a bank manager in the Philippines until she moved here to become a regular accountant. She decided that life in the Philippines would not be enough since she knows that the future is not there but in America. She wanted her children to have that future and a better life.

Life in America

When she moved here she realized that there will be struggle so she saved up money from the Philippines to use here. She understood that there will be some sort of discrimination if not racism but she didn't expect it from another Filipino. Her first boss was a Filipino who knew that she was new here and doesn't know much about life so she took advantage of her. Her boss realized this and made her work extra hours, with less pay. She had to do this for about 2 years until she realized what was happening and finally found another employer who she's with now and is extremely nice to her, she said it was because of Karma.

Being Filipino in the US

Rosalyn said that being Filipino in America isn't hard as she can keep living her Filipino culture here. She said that different food and practices help her keep her Filipino culture even while living in America. Practices such as the language, food and gatherings such as celebration of Filipino holidays.

Reflection

My mom knew that it was going to be a struggle to live in America. She said she, along with my dad, were one of the few people who knew that moving to America wasn't going to be easy and that it would take even more work than living in the Philippines, at least at first. She realized that moving to America has humbled her in the way of realizing not to take things for granted.