Story #1: 

The year was 1952. I walked by a carnation nursery which featured beautiful flowers; some of which I have never seen before. As I was looking at the flowers, a man approached me. He turned out to be the owner of this carnation shop. 

“My name is Al, Al Ottoboni. How may I help you?” 

“Hi, Al. I was just looking around, and I must say that you have a beautiful selection of flowers. I see you have a small Genoa flag. Are you from there?” 

I did not know one simple question would turn into uncovering someone’s life story; a story that sticks with me to this day.  

“I am from Genoa. Let me tell you something, kid. The generation that is born here got it really easy.” 

Great. What would have been an interesting story turned into something my own grandfather would lecture me on. But out of respect, I let him continue. 

“My full name was supposed to be Alberto Guisseppi Luigi Ottoboni, but coming into a place like America meant they Americanized my name – Albert Luis Ottoboni. The people who changed my name thought it would help be find better job opportunities.” 

The conversation with Al carried on for a few hours. Apparently, Al was raised here in San Francisco. He was given the opportunity to go to school, and he took additional classes such as bookkeeping and short hand, which led him to a promising future. 

“I was raised to understand that everything I do, every choice I make will affect my family now and my future family. I was blessed to be given the opportunity to go to school, and i took full advantage of that.” 

Because of the skills he learned, he was drafted into World War II and became a secretary.  

“I was very fortunate that the skills I learned from school stuck with me when I got drafted. I am lucky because I did not have to fight and see what soldiers saw during battle.” 

Just as Al was about to continue his story, a woman asked him where he has been. My speculation was correct; that woman turned out to be his wife – Stellia.  

“Stellia, why don’t you tell this young lady your immigration story. She will be happy to hear about it.”  

I looked at her, smiled, and nodded.  

“Well, if you are interested, I would love to share it with you. Why don’t you come inside over a cappuccino.” 

I followed the nice woman inside of the building and sat down. 

“My story is a lot different than Al’s. I just love sharing my journey with others. Anyways, I grew up in Sestri Levante. Basically, a small town in Liguria, Italy. We were a poor family whose main source of income was herding goats and sheep.” 

As her story continued, I learned how difficult life was for her and people living in Genoa. Apparently, during World War II, Genoa was a prime target during World War II. 

“Surviving World War II would be one of the most challenging events of my life. We lived by locating to different areas and eating what was in front of us. A common thing we ate was guinea pig.” 

The most life-changing gift she got was a visa for her twenty-first birthday. 

“For my twenty-first birthday, I chose to get on that boat and move to San Francisco. One of my first jobs was in a sweater factory and earning a single penny.” 

Language was a barrier between her and opportunities. 

“I had an immense fear of speaking to others because of my Italian accent.” 

Soon Al caught up with us and reminisced the moment they met.  

“This beautiful young lady and I met at a barber shop. I heard her speaking my native language and introduced me to her.” 

A new chapter of their lives began when they got married and had two children, Steve and Tom.

Story #2:

Years later, 1956, I met a woman who struggled carrying her belongings. She had just come out of a classroom at a school called Tejero Elementary School. I decided to help to this woman out. 

“Thank you so much, dear. You saved me.” 

The woman I helped is a teacher from the elementary school. Her name is Adela Taglinao. Being a teacher is a common profession in the Philippines. I asked why she chose it. 

“The reason why I love teaching so much is because I am able to help children and mold them to their best potential. However, I am sad because next week is my last week.” 

Apparently, she had just married a man named Augustin Taglinao, and they were set to move to the United States because he is a United State Navy officer.  

“I have always dreamt of starting a family of my own here in General Trias, but things changed when I fell in love. Moving to the United States is scary, but the it makes the American Dream worth the move.” 

The American Dream is this concept that people from around the world wishes to achieve. It is when you buy a house with your name on the contract. It is when you have a job that supports you. It is when you separate yourself from those struggling. I told Adela that I hope I see her soon and wished her a safe journey.  

TWO YEARS LATER... 

I am still here in the Philippines working on a project when I see a familiar whom I have not seen in a for years. I wonder if she remembers me. 

“Adela, how are you? It has been so long.” 

“Hello, dear. I do remember you, but I cannot remember your name.” 

“My name is Mariel.” 

“Well, Mariel, it has been quite some time. Do you still live here?” 

“Yes, I do, but I go back to the United States in a few weeks, once I complete my project. What about you? How’s the United States adventure for you and your husband?” 

We ended up sitting down outside of the mall, and she told me everything. She moved back to the Philippines because she was just not used to it there.  

“I was very unhappy. I do not have any family or friends there. Augustin travels weeks at a time. Now that I am a mother in a place foreign to me, it made me feel alone. Here, I have all my relatives and friends to help me out. I missed my family so much that I had to move back here.” 

She told me that her father is a retired Senator, so she can go back to work while her watches her daughter, Marisa, throughout the day.  

“I moved back a month ago. Augustin and I purchased a house here and you are welcome to visit. You can come over, and I can cook you something." 

A few days later, I took her offer and visited her before I left the Philippines.  

“Hi, come in. My husband is in town for a month, so I will introduce you to him.” 

I met Augustin, one of the nicest men I have met. While Adela was making us lumpia, he was playing with their daughter and told me a secret he should not have. 

“Adela’s pregnant again, I am so excited to have another child!” 

“Augustin, I was going to tell her after we eat. Since the secret is out, I am pregnant, again!” 

I congratulated them and asked them if they would ever relocate the United States again. Adela seem uninterested to go back and call that place her home. 

“Honestly, despite a part of me wanting to achieve the American Dream and have my children call that place their home, I do not want them to forget their true home. Maybe when our family is complete, and my children are a little bit older, we will move and start a new chapter. For now, I want to stay here. Raise my children (and future children) here. I do not want them to forget where they come from.” 

I never understood why people would choose to go back after an opportunity for a better life was waiting for them. Then I finally understood everything. Sometimes, the sacrifices we make is not just about us anymore. It is about what we think is best for our children. That is why she made that decision. Family was very important to her, that living in a place would make her children foreign to the family around them. Adela held off that dream until 2000, when Augustin died. She decided that since all her children are in the United States, it was time for her to come back. Her dream was much different. It was not about her children, it was about seeing her grandchildren. She mainly stayed with her son, Gary, but would also travel to where her other children are and stay with them. Her version of the American Dream was redefined in 2000. Her American Dream was knowing her children created their own successes.  

Comparison:

My grandmother’s immigration story reminded me of Nuovomundo. Towards the end of the movie, Fortunata decides to go back to Sicily. My grandmother made the same decision at time because she was not happy raising her child in an unfamiliar setting while her husband was out traveling for work many times a month. I also see a similarity and difference with my grandmother’s story and Christ in Concrete. Geremio accomplished his plan of working hard to purchase a home for his family. The accomplishment equates to his American Dream. My grandmother’s decision of going back to the Philippines was for her family. She did not want them to grow up not knowing the family around them and where they come from. It was not until her children were older that she wanted them to move to the United States and build their future there. Her American Dream, like Geremio, was for her children; the approaches were just different. My friend’s grandparents’ immigration story reminded me of Confetti for Gino written by Lorenzo Madalena. The main character, Gino, and my friend’s grandfather, Al both had parents who paved the way for them. Gino and Al found success in California, which gave them the ability to reach the common goal – the American Dream. Stellia and Gino were also similar because of the language barrier. Stellia wishes the she had the opportunity to go to school, so she can help her children with their schoolwork. It was difficult for her to go back because she had to find work using the limited English she knew. She felt embarrassed sometimes because people would make fun of her. Gino hated English class because he rarely spoke the language. Al’s motivation to continue the carnation nursery was for his children. As a result, his children were able to finish college at UC Berkley and build a successful life.  

Reflection: 

I chose to interview my mom about my grandmother to understand a bit of my family history more. I do not know much about my grandmother’s immigration story, and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to do so. I also wanted to compare my grandmother’s story to another immigration story, so I asked my friend to help me interview her grandmother about their story. I turned the interviews into short stories as if I am the one interviewing my grandparents and my friend’s grandparents based on the information I have. The process of talking to my mom about my grandmother allowed me to gain a new perspective on decisions she has made. On the other hand, it was a little difficult talking to my friend’s grandmother on the phone and writing the information down, but my friend was able to help me understand certain parts to the story. Once I got the facts from both sides, I was able to turn it into stories. I am happy to have done this because I am able to take with me a part of my family’s history that I was unaware of. In addition, I also learned what my friend’s grandparents endured, which helped me gain more appreciation of the sacrifices made.  

References:  

Bregante, Jim. “San Diego’s Waterfront Through the Eyes of a Child.” Honor 313, 31 October 2018, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA. Guest Lecture.  

di Donato, Pietro. Christ in Concrete. Bobbs-Merrill, 1939. 

Geronimo, Maria. Personal Interview. 1 December 2018. 

Madalena, Lorenzo. Confetti for Gino. Doubleday and Company, 1959. 

Nuovomundo. Directed by Emanuele Crialese, performances by Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo Amato, Aurora Quattrocchi, Francesco Casisa, and Filippo Pucillo, Miramax, 2006. 

Ottoboni, Stellia. Personal Interview. 24 November 2018.