Running Header: IMMIGRANT INTERVIEW

Immigrant Interview
Winter Henrie
Edu. 280-1006
College of Southern Nevada

IMMIGRANT INTERVIEW

Abstract.
This interview will discuss the immigration process. As well as, adjusting to life in a new country
and how it met or did not meet expectations.

IMMIGRANT INTERVIEW

3
Immigrant Interview

Nora moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was 16 years old. She came from
Resistencia, Argentina with her Mom and three brothers. They already had family in Las Vegas,
which made the city their logical choice. It also made the big move a lot less scary for her and
her family. She traveled to the states by airplane, over the course of two days and three
connecting flights. When they got to Las Vegas, they stayed with their cousins. They only
brought their clothes and important documents with them when they came. They left behind all
of their furniture and unnecessary personal belongings.
To pay for the move, Noras mother saved up as much money as she could over the
course of 5 years, but her family that was already in Las Vegas, helped pay for the majority of the
expenses. A basic feature of the Hispanic American family is the extended family, which plays a
major role in each family members life (Manning 2009). This is clearly evident in Noras
family, who paid for most of their move, and then had a place for them to live when they arrived.
To apply for a VISA in the U.S., there is about a $420 fee per person looking to enter the States.
When Nora first arrived she had a limited VISA and she then needed to apply for a Green card.
From the time they submitted their application for their VISA, to the time the were able to go in
for an interview, and then get approved was about three months.
Nora started school speaking very little english, so she was inside an ELL classroom with
other non english learners for her first year of high school. Her junior and senior year, she
attended regular classrooms and was in an ELL class for part of the day. Undoubtedly, many of
the problems Hispanic American learners experience stem from their difficulties with

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English (Manning 2009). Fortunately for Nora, her cousins spoke both English and Spanish, so
having people to help her with her assignments was extremely beneficial to her education.
In Argentina, school is very important. This is very different from the general attitude
that most Hispanic American cultures have toward their education, In essence, Hispanic youth
do not believe that remaining in school will materially improve their lives (Manning 2009).
Nora feels, in regards to Argentines, this is not the case. Which is why it is important to
understand that, tremendous cultural diversity exists among Hispanic Americans (Manning
2009). Though Nora grew up very poor, her school provided her with a laptop to do her
assignments on. Nora was somewhat shocked to notice that the school she went to in Las Vegas,
did not provide her with one. Also, school in Argentina was two hours longer than the schools in
Las Vegas. Nora was also surprised by the relationship between teachers and students. In
Argentina, teachers were highly respected and they did not tolerate students being disruptive or
disrespectful. College was also paid for by the government in Argentina. So, now at 23, Nora
pays for her own college and works part time. She says she does not mind having to work for her
own education, but that it was something she did not realize she would have to do.
The standard of living is much higher here, then where she cam from in Argentina. In
Resistencia The only roads that are paved are busy streets within the city, and all residential
roads are dirt. The home she lived in was about the same size as a one bedroom apartment, which
she shared with her mom and three brothers. It was made of brick and concrete floors, so it was
cold in the winter, and hot in the Summer. After living her whole life in a space like that, sharing
a 4 bedroom home with her Moms family, was not a problem at all. 36 percent of Latino

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children live in poverty (Manning 2009), according to Nora, places that most Americans think
of as old and run down, are actually a lot better than the conditions that she had to grow up in.

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References

Manning, M., & Baruth, L. (2009). Multicultural education of children and

adolescents (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.