Student Comments

Through doing this assignment (oral history project), I have become more aware of the fact that people have never immigrated to the U.S. if they didn't have to.  Nobody came "for the heck of it".  This means that every person living in the U.S. that isn't a native American has had someone in their family go through an experience difficult enough to justify picking everything up and moving to America.  They came to get a better job, to escape war or persecution, or because they married an American.

The immigration experience is hard and takes great strength. ... It will have an everlasting impression on you, your family, and your life.

Until beginning this project, I had never thought of people moving to this country in the last few decades as immigrants.  However, my ideas changed when my group did their interview.  I learned yet another reason for moving to America: marrying an American citizen.  It never occurred to me that moving to the U.S.  because of marital status was considered immigration.

Learning new things about immigration was definitely one of the most pleasing aspects of working on this project. My old ideas were not necessarily wrong, but often not the only truths.  They were often confirmed as well as slightly "reshaped" to become more accurate.  However, I was happy to be open and accepting of new ideas, because I didn't just have to learn more, I wanted to learn more.

I was moved by the interesting stories I heard of keeping traditions alive and of the past experiences of the informants.  Hearing immigrants' personal trials and triumphs of moving to this country made me feel grateful that I was born and live in a country of such opportunity.  I found this project full of eye-opening learning opportunities that I took every chance I got.

I have learned a lot not only about the subject of immigration, but what some people have to go through that have to move out of not only their home, town, or country, but to move to a totally different continent, and I have a new respect for the people who have the bravery and courage to do this.

I believe that I have learned a lot from these interviews.  Not only have I learned about the past and present immigrant situations, I learned a lot about group work.  This I know will be an important skill to have later in life.  I also got a chance at glimpsing the process an anthropologist goes through when conducting an interview.

I had always viewed immigrants as people who had no idea what they were doing, were poor or fleeing their country because they were forced to, or just wanted to come to the land of plenty and so came here with a little money and no idea where to go.  That was wrong. I learned that if it wasn't by choice, it usually wasn't by force either.  They came of their own accord or came here because of a job that they decide to accept.

I learned a whole lot from conducting and reading interview with immigrants to this country.  I have changed many of my opinions several times in the course of this unit.  I thought I knew everything about immigrants and immigration. I was wrong.  I also learned about the art of interviewing, with all its twists and hidden pitfalls.  I like to learn about new things and definitely did in this case.

I started out with a few preconceived images of what this immigration things was all about.  I figured the informants would all be burly Italians or Hispanic people speaking in halting English....  I pitied (them) in a very one-sided patronizing way.

I realize that even the impression I'm left with is riddled with holes of opinion, bias, and circumstances.  I am still glad of this learning experience even though I cannot be sure of its validity.  I would learn more about immigrants if I got a chance.

As I reflect on this oral history project, it makes me realize how little about immigration I knew before we started this assignment.  By taking part in this project, I have broadened my knowledge and understanding on immigration and have realized just how lucky I am to live in a stable and well regulated country where freedom of speech is important.

I have always been under the impression that immigrants leave their countries solely for the purpose of escaping their corrupted governments and undesirable living conditions.  My informant left India because he was offered a job in Germany, and later in the U.S., which really surprised me.  It was the first time I'd ever heard of anyone leaving their country under normal conditions.

The stories... were highly emotional and the interviews made me realize that immigration was a major undertaking for these people that would change their lives forever.

Reflecting on this assignment has helped me to realize more about immigration than I ever imagined.  I have gained much more respect for all immigrants and have gained a deeper appreciation for them…After a first-hand experience such as this one, I will never see immigration the same ever again.