Immigrant Voices Podcast Project

In a search for a better life and to escape violence and the oppression she felt as a young woman in Guatemala, Blanca and her husband decided to pursue the American Dream. They left their two young children in the care of her mother-in-law and started out for this country on January first 14 years ago. After many delays in Mexico and a loss of money spent on disappearing smugglers, they made it across the border two months later. Unable to speak English, devoid of friends and family, they made a humble beginning. Blanca took on three housecleaning jobs working from 8 a.m. to midnight and her husband found work in construction. After eight years working for others, all the while trying to improve her English, Blanca started her own cleaning company. She now employs two other workers. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Blanca hopes to expand her staff by offering a helping hand to newly arriving immigrants in search of work. This recording took place first as an initial phone conversation about the coronavirus followed a few days later as a regular podcast episode. 

Raised on a farm in poverty in Honduras, the youngest of seven siblings, Silvia’s prospects for bettering her life were slim. One sister had already emigrated to the United States and Silvia at the age of nineteen decided to follow. Along her treacherous journey, in the midst of traveling on trains and buses and for the most part walking and walking, she discovered once she reached Mexico that she was pregnant. Her choice was to return back to Honduras or continue on toward the U.S. border and face a life in a foreign country as a single parent. Resilient and courageous, after one month of traveling, Silvia reached her sister and started her life over again. She found work, she gave birth to her precious daughter, and she began to learn English. Today Silvia provides a safe and secure home for her small family, and is a proud member of the Gardner Pilot Academy Adult Immigrant learners community.  

When her marriage fell apart, Gloria decided to answer her brother's invitation to emigrate to the U.S. from Brazil with her two small girls. She needed to start her life over again. The prospect of staying in Brazil with her mother whose child-rearing philosophy was in conflict with Gloria's was not an option.

So Gloria took the leap, letting fate decide if the pieces for her move fell into place without a major struggle. Her visa came through and an apartment opened up in her brother's building in Boston. So whatever obstacles might have kept her in Brazil melted away. 

She soon discovered that paying rent and getting her girls into good schools wasn't going to be easy. She started her house cleaning business Nice and Easy Cleaning Service. That's when she encountered the people she would call her earth angels who became part of her adopted family. 

Most of this interview was recorded just before 2020 lockdown when Gloria and I were able to meet in person. I caught up with her later by telephone to get her take on living through this pandemic. And you'll hear a few minutes from that conversation. 

On a quest for adventure, Lelys traveled to Spain from Venezuela in 2016. An accomplished language teacher of Portuguese and Italian, her career plan A was to make her living in Europe teaching languages. That’s when she met her Spanish husband to be—a long time Bostonian— on vacation in Madrid. The couple’s bond soon grew into a decade-long-distance relationship before Lelys made Boston her home. 

She soon discovered that her international certificates as a Zumba instructor, career plan B, rather than her language teaching credentials morphed into her plan A. Being a Zumba instructor, ignited a passion in Lelys and attracted and inspired students of all ages and body types. Her students say going to fitness class with Lelys is like coming to a great party! Lelys adapts the fitness routines to the needs of the students, always encouraging them to top their personal best without shaming or pushing too hard. 

This interview was recorded just before the 2020 lockdown when Lelys had plans of opening her own brick and mortar fitness studio in Boston. Without skipping a beat, she brought her Zumba classes online to great reviews. Hopefully once the pandemic is behind us she’ll open her doors to her loyal students who follow her anywhere for her unique brand of fitness fun.

When three attempts to gain a visa to the United States failed, Valtecir did not give up his dream. After 28 days traveling from Brazil through Mexico, he made it across the border. Unable to say more than “how are you?” and “goodbye,” he set out to learn enough English to work for non-Portuguese speaking contractors. For many years, employed by others, he honed his trade skills until Valtecir summoned once again his determined spirit to start his own company. After 6 years as an entrepreneur, he has grown Val’s Painting into a highly sought after supplier of services to commercial and residential clients. Valtecir and his expanding staff are licensed to remove asbestos and lead and are fully equipped with the most sophisticated and efficient tools of his profession to tackle any job including large scale wall covering installations. Still committed to perfecting his English, Val finds time to continue with English classes at the Gardner’s Adult Education program and is an active member of the GPA community.

In 2013, Connie knew her life in Colombia was in danger. In her eagerness to escape, she gave thousands of dollars to someone who had promised to safely escort her to the U.S. Instead, he brought her to Panama, then on to the Bahamas where he left her and three more Colombians, dumping them into a car headed for a remote hideout. For weeks, she shared one room with 12 other travelers, all men. One night they were put, without life jackets, into a four-person boat destined for Miami. A thunder storm raged and the boat leaked. With only their prayers for comfort, they were rescued by the Coast Guard. Today Connie exudes optimism. Her philosophy of hard work, always seeing the good, and counting her blessings has brought her a life of great satisfaction. She loves the United States and feels that her challenging experiences have made her stronger.

While Hermelinda pursued a degree in early childhood education from the University in Peru in the mid 80s, she interrupted her studies to come to Boston to help her ailing sister.  Her advanced education in her native country did not translate to a career in her field because she knew no English. Instead, her first plunged her into to the world of donuts, muffins and coffee at Dunkin Donuts where she learned to serve her customers with a smile while increasing her language skills. After going back and forth from Boston to Peru to complete her university education, Hermelinda chose permanent residency in the U.S. With the help of classes at the Gardner her language skills grew along with her confidence and career goals. She now has a demanding job as a caseworker for the state of Massachusetts. In addition, Hermelinda, who has not forgotten her early struggles with English, volunteers at the Gardner Adult Education ESOL program where she inspires immigrant students to learn English, to stand up for their rights, to embrace their American life while preserving their cultural roots.  

Once their daughters were enrolled in University in Brazil, Adson and his wife Aleide, left behind their careers to live life abroad. Culture shock hit hard. Not just the language and the food, but the snow and a sudden career change made Adson’s adjustment tough. As a concert coordinator, journalist, and musician in his native country, he found himself suddenly painting houses in Boston. After years juggling work as a journalist for a local Brazilian paper and as a construction worker, (while amassing a collection of musical instruments —you can hear him playing the flute in the background of this introduction), Adson started his own home improvement company. As a successful entrepreneur, Adson has made New England his home. All those who know him are grateful that he stayed. 

At the age of six, Perla came to the U.S. from Guatemala. As memories of her homeland faded, she learned the vocabulary of her new country while never abandoning the culture and language of her parents. Despite crowded living conditions, and the ever-present threat of deportation, Perla’s hard-working family persevered to build a secure home. Having completed her masters in social work, Perla, who is now a DACA recipient, helps other immigrant families to navigate their lives while she continues to dream of the day when she can come out of the shadows of her uncertain status, become naturalized, and to revisit the land of her birth.   

Nicolasa came to this country from the Dominican Republic at the age of 18 in 1987. Her journey to pursue her education was a long, rocky road that started with her earning her GED days before the birth of her third child. She suffered so many interruptions and delays in realizing her dream, but her resilience, determination, and desire carried her to her master’s in education as she brings technology support and services to over 100 immigrant families in Boston.