Excerpt from Family Installments by Edward Rivera

Aim: What hardships did Papi go through when he first arrived in New York? How did he overcome them?

Motivational Activity:

• Do online research to get some quick facts about the wave of Puerto Rican immigration to New York after World War II
• See a list of literature that has set up milestones for different ethnic cultures

Do Now:  In your journal, respond to the following prompt-

When encountering difficulties or hardships, what have helped you overcome them or survive through them?

Procedure:

1. Read the story aloud in class and discuss what hardships Papi went through to get his family to New York.
   • Make a list of jobs he did to survive.
   • Describe his emotional turmoil.
   • Describe what helped him survive.
   • Use a few adjectives to describe his experiences in New York as an immigrant.
   • Why is it so ironic when Papi asked Mami,"Not bad,Lilia, eh?" and Mami asnwered," Is this what we left Bautabarro for? I don't think I want to spend the rest of our lives here, Geran"?
2. Read an example of the Interview and discuss what techniques are used.
3. Follow the guidelines of writing an oral history.
4. Come up with your own interview questions:
   • What did you do to survive initially? Did anyone help you? Who was the person?
   • Did you ever encounter any good opportunities?
   • What helped you get through hardships? Spiritual support or your hope for the future, or any other reason?
   • What skills you had helped you survive?
   • Did you come alone? Or did you come with your neighbors or friends? How did that situation help you?
   • When did it start getting easier for you?
   • How did you feel when you first met your goal or had accomplished something?
   • If you had to do it again, would you do it? Why?
   • By now, have you reached your original expectations?
   • What else could you have done but didn't? What things would you like to do differently if you had the 2nd chance?
   • What's your advice for me?

HW#14 Use the above questions to interview one your family members and write our the interview.