From the Land of Beauty to the Land of Opportunity By Royce Cyriac

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From the Land of Beauty to the Land of
OpportunityBy Royce Cyriac
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• As my parents look back on their immigration
  process, they tell me that there couldnt have
  been anything better that has happened to them.
  Regardless of any doubts that they had,
  journeying to America was a great blessing.

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The Sub-continent of India!
My Parents Home State
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India

• It is located in southeast Asia
• -Borders Pakistan and China
• 2nd only to China in terms of population (about 1
  Billion)
• National language is Hindi
• Religions practiced include Hinduism, Islam, and
  Christianity
• It has a very tropical climate
• -Monsoons are common
• It is very rich in gems, minerals, and spices
• Currently, has 2nd best potential to grow
  economically only behind China

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Life in Kerala

• Both my parents were born in this state on the
  southern border of India
• DadMarch 7, 1961/ MomApril 8, 1962
• Like my parents, most people are from dedicated
  Christian families
• People are very social towards each other
• no one is a strangergossip can spread quickly
• Life revolves around the family
• traditional patriarchal family systems
• Children are expected to respect their elders, do
  well in school, and follow any directions given
  by parents
• Highest literacy rate in India

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Tissy Cyriac

• My mother came from a very big family
• She had 6 siblings
• She was 3rd oldest
• Like most mothers, her mother was a stay at home
  mom
• Her father was the owner of a tar company and a
  local bar
• He was well respected
• People came to him with business and mental
  problems

• Her parents were very strict
• Good grades
• Eventually she became 3rd rank in her class
• She was accepted into a good nursing school
• Opportunities like this were rare for women back
  then
• Never really imagined immigrating to America

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My Moms Family
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Mom at 18

• My mom never really dreamed of going to America
• She had heard stories but was not ever really
  enthusiastic

• Thought that she would go to nursing school and
  get a job in Kerala
• Possibly start a family there
• This all changed when my dad came along

Graduates from Nursing school
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Jose Cyriac

• Like my mom, my dad came from a big family
• -Consisted of 7 children
• His mother was a stay at home mom who took care
  of family needs
• His father was a farmer
• - crops didnt always yield profit
• Family was poor, no luxuries (TV)
• - didnt always have necessities (small
  amount of clothes, food was minimal)
• Ditched school to hang out at coffee shops with
  friends
• School came second to family
• -he had to help with the rice farms and
  rubber trees
• He was only able to complete part of his college
  schooling

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My Paternal Grandparents

• Unlike my mom, my dad wanted to journey to
  America
• It was a dream of his
• He felt it was a strong and powerful country
• Felt that their were less opportunities in India

• His parents also encouraged him to go
• They believed he would have a better future in
  America
• However, this would give them one less person to
  pass farm land to

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The Wedding Bells

• My fathers brother-in-law set him up with my
  mother. My parents families met each other at
  midnight and the families agreed for marriage. My
  father was eager to marry but my mom thought he
  was a show-off with his American sun-glasses.
  Eventually, my mom saw the greater side of my
  dad!

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America here we come!!!

• After about 3 weeks of being a married couple my
  dad left to America in 1985
• -His brother had filed papers for his arrival
  in America
• My dad felt that he needed to prepare for my moms
  arrival
• -He found a small job and earned his
  first paycheck while in America
• Soon my dad filed for my moms visa and she
  arrived in 1986

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Leaving India

• At that time, in the part where they lived, India
  was very much underdeveloped
• Not good to start a future
• Government was unstable
• Value of 1 rupee was not constant
• Getting everyday necessities like a car or home
  would take years
• Mom
• -Didnt want to leave her family and friends
• - She was only 23
• Dad
• -He was sad about leaving but knew it would pay
  off
• -Didnt want to worry about money situation in
  India (he would be able to make money)

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Arriving in Chicago

• Their first time in a plane was an adventure.
• They never thought they could fly across the
  ocean
• My aunt had settled in Chicago years before and
  owned an apartment
• -Stayed there at first
• They were joined by other family members which
  meant that they had to sleep on the floor
• - This lasted for 6 months

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Problems they faced

• Climate
• -Came from a tropical climate region
• -Got sick often at first
• -Burdened by having to shovel snow
• Language
• -It took some years to really understand English
• -They had a heavy accent
• -Others couldnt understand themlack of
  help/communication
• Clothing
• -Mom especially was used to tradition Indian
  clothing
• -Wearing big jackets, boots, gloves, etc. was
  unusual to both
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• Food
• -they were used to Indian food
• -thought American food was unusual at first
• Society
• -Everyone had their own individual lives
• -being a stranger was new to my parents
• -they werent used to the diversity
• -driving a car was new- they had drivers in India
• There was a lack of money are first

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More obstacles

• When my siblings and I were born babysitting was
  a major problem
• -In India, mothers wouldnt work and if they did
  they would have help from relatives
• -Didnt know who to trust with their children
• Solution My mom would work nights and when she
  got back my dad would be waiting at the bottom of
  the stairs carrying my sister considering he had
  to get to work and there was only one car. My dad
  would hand my sister to my mom

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First Great Achievements
Moms first job at Cook County as an RN (1986)
First house within 2 years (1989)
Dads First Job (1985)
First car within a year (1988)
They both became U.S. citizens in 1987
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Conclusion

• Although my parents had to leave their
• motherland, they felt it was the right decision
  to
• make. It was both beneficial for them and will be
  for later generations. They have overcome many
  obstacles and have prospered in this country.
  They have successfully raised three children and
  continue to shower them with opportunities that
  they would never imagine possible in
• India.