Untitled

My Immigration Story

As told to Tehreem by Saeed Rehman

My dad and I (left) Family Photomontage (right)
Click on my photo with my dad (left, above) to hear my interview (.wav file)

My dad immigrated to New York City alone from Pakistan in 1988. He tried to show that immigrating here was a piece of cake but he really knew it wasn't, and realized he was also nervous. He arrived by airplane on a flight that took about 24 hours. My dad came here because he wanted more opportunities, better living standards, equal rights, and most of all his freedom. He wanted freedom of speech, thought, and worship. His goal in America was to be a good business person, and have a good reputation. My dad is still trying to achieve his goals. He got everything he expected from America. He always thought that Americans lived in peace and harmony. Once he arrived in this country, he still didn't change his mind!

My dad never really saw any bad aspects of Americans. He thought that they had a tradition to welcome immigrants. Now that my dad has settled here, he does the same thing. When my dad first arrived, he noticed that people here were enjoying life. They were enjoying privileges that people in other countries can only dream about. Luckily, he was able to bring everything with him, except for two major things. Those were his family and friends, or as he calls them, "The Important F's." My dad also had many good experiences. Among them were getting a job, earning money, and making new friends.

His early days here were difficult for him. The only people he knew were his brother's friends. His family was already settled in Canada. His brother's friends were the ones who persuaded my dad to move here instead of Canada. So when the decision to immigrate was made, they were perfectly okay about this matter. My dad was obviously happy! Still, they didn't help arrange for my dad to come here.

Finding a job and supporting himself was hard for him at the time. He had enough money to support himself just for a few days. Before coming here he was just a student, so he had a tough time making ends meet, but everything turned out okay. His friend told him about a fast food restaurant, and that they were looking forward to hire more employees. Since he was desperate at that time, he took the job immediately. After a while he quit and opened his own business. He shared an apartment for a while, and then moved to live on his own. My dad also had to adjust to many things, including drivng on the right side of the street, and getting used to being prompt. He once told me that the difference in dealing with time in Pakistan and America is like the difference of day and night.

My dad chose to live in New York City because he thought that it was a location with more opportunities then any other place in America. He decided to stay in here because he didn't have enough money to move around. Now we have enough money to move around. But he grew to like this place so much, he thinks he'll never move outside New York City.

My dad had already learned English from Pakistan. When he visited Boston, he went to school for two weeks. The only reason he even started there was because he was planning to stay in Boston. But the place didn't suit him, so he moved back to New York City. It took my dad 6 months to learn [become more fluent] in English.

In the beginning there was no house of worship near him where he could practice his religion . He never even had the time. Usually, when my dad started missing his friends and relatives, he would call them, somtimes even mail them. Now that he and his relatives have the Internet, they email each other. My dad was never interested in chatting with people he didn't know [on the Internet].

My dad never decided to move permanantly back [to Pakistan] from New York, especially when his kids are whining all the time about the subject! But he did go [to Pakistan] once in 1989. His visit only lasted about 1 month. He still misses his country sometimes.

My dad and his family never had any cultural traditons they felt they had to maintain or follow. They got used to the American lifestyle. He usually wears a suit and tie, but sometimes he wears a shawar kameez for special events. A shawar kameez is what most Pakistani men wear. It's really a long shirt with big slits, and really loose pants.

Now he and his family enjoy life here in America. At one point, he became a taxi driver, and then opened another business again. His wife worked for the [NYC] Board of Education for a while, and then quit. She's [now] looking for something better to do. His two daughters Rubab Rehman and I, go to the Harry Eichler School (or Public School 56). We are all happy in this new world.

Transcript of the Interview
Click here to hear the audio interview (or on photo above)

Tehreem: Hi! This is Tehreem interviewing her dad Saeed Rehman. So what was your country of origin?

Saeed Rehman: Pakistan

Tehreem: What was your day of arrival and where did you live?

Saeed Rehman: New York City 1985

Tehreem: Why did you come to the United States?

Saeed Rehman: For better opportunities, more freedom, and better living standards helped me to decide to immigrate.

Tehreem: Was your informaton accurate?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: What was your goal in life when you arrived?

Saeed Rehman: Work hard, and to be known as a good business person.

Tehreem: Have you moved toward or achieved that goal?

Saeed Rehman: Still trying to achieve it.

Tehreem: Has your life here met your expectations, and how?

Saeed Rehman: Yes, I have good reputation.

Tehreem: So, was life difficult here once you arrived?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: In what way?

Saeed Rehman: To find a job and to support living.

Tehreem: What did you think about the American lifestyle?

Saeed Rehman: I think American people live with peace and harmony.

Tehreem: Oh! So 'um describe the good and not so good in your opinion, aspects of the American lifestyle?

Saeed Rehman: The good aspects are freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and equal opportunities. I don't see any bad aspects.

Tehreem: Has your family adopted that lifestyle?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: Okay, then why did you decide to stay here, and why did you chose this location?

Saeed Rehman: More job opportunities. I did not have any enough money to move around.

Tehreem: Okay and 'um, where did you live when you first came to the U.S.?

Saeed Rehman: Apartment.

Tehreem: "Um, which form of transportation did you use to get here?

Saeed Rehman: Airplane.

Tehreem: How long did the trip take?

Saeed Rehman: About 24 hours.

Tehreem: Okay, did you stop over another country for an extended period of time, and if so where?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, were other immigrants traveling with you at the time you arrived? Where were they from?

Saeed Rehman: I don't recall.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, were other (sorry). Who was in this country that you knew?

Saeed Rehman: My brother's friends.

Tehreem: Did they help arrange for you to come here?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, what was your occupation before you came here?

Saeed Rehman: I was student.

Tehreem: Were you able to have that same job here?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: What job did you have?

Saeed Rehman: I was a salesperson.

Tehreem: And how did you get that job?

Saeed Rehman: Some friend told me about that job.

Tehreem: Was it difficult to find?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: What were the obstacles or challenges in finding that job?

Saeed Rehman: I did not have 'uh any experience 'uh in that field.

Tehreem: Describe your feelings about leaving your country once the decision to emigrate had been made.

Saeed Rehman: I was happy.

Tehreem: What were your feelings when you arrived?

Saeed Rehman: Nervous.

Tehreem: Describe your early impressions about this country.

Saeed Rehman: My early impression about this country was that people living here are happy.

Tehreem: Explain if you can, what helped to make those impressions.

Saeed Rehman: It's hard to explain.

Tehreem: I understand that very well. What laws were obviously different from those of the country you left?

Saeed Rehman: I don't know about this question. Only thing I could remember is people drive left back home.

Tehreem: And 'um, what adjustment did you have to make to get used to those laws?

Saeed Rehman: I had to drive right hand.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, what were the other adjustments you had to make, getting used to the differences in daily life?

Saeed Rehman: Time is the most important thing here; so I had to adjust to that.

Tehreem: When you arrived, how were you treated? Why do you think people behaved that way?

Saeed Rehman: I was treated well, because this country has a tradition to welcome immigrants.

Tehreem: 'Um, what were you able to bring with you?

Saeed Rehman: I brought my clothes and some money.

Tehreem: What did you have to leave behind?

Saeed Rehman: My friends and relatives.

Tehreem: That must be hard. 'Um describe the choices you had to make and explain why you might have been limited in what you can bring.

Saeed Rehman: It's hard for me to bring everything at that time.

Tehreem: 'Um, that makes a lot of sense. 'Um did you name change when you settled here?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: How were you able to support yourself when you first arrived? How did you have enough money to pay the expenses?

Saeed Rehman: I brought some money with me, and I support myself 'till I got the job.

Tehreem: 'Um okay, did you come alone or with family?

Saeed Rehman: Alone.

Tehreem: What were the circumstances that caused you to make that decision.

Saeed Rehman: My brothers was already settled outside the country.

Tehreem: Okay 'um once you were here, did you arrange for others to join you?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Describe some of your good experiences in your first years in the country. And describe some of the bad experiences you ecountered, and what you think are the reasons they occured.

Saeed Rehman: Among the good experiences were that I got a job, start earning money, and made new friends. I didn't have any bad experiences.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, did you know English before coming here?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: 'Um, how did you learn it?

Saeed Rehman: From school back home.

Tehreem: And how long did it take, for you to become influent to English?

Saeed Rehman: About six months.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, have you returned to your country of origin to visit?

Saeed Rehman: Yes.

Tehreem: When was your visit made, and for what purpose?

Saeed Rehman: In 1989, to visit my relatives and friends.

Tehreem: And how long did you stay there?

Saeed Rehman: Well almost, one month.

Tehreem: Okay, did you decide to return to your country of origin permenantly?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Were your clothes different from what is or was worn in the U.S.?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Describe what you wore for special events or occasions.

Saeed Rehman: Suit and tie.

Tehreem: What was your family's reaction to your decision to immigrate to the U.S.?

Saeed Rehman: As I already said, my family was settled outside the country.

Tehreem: Describe your life in your country of origin. Were you prosperous, or was the economic situation one that made you decide to leave?

Saeed Rehman: My life was okay, but I wanted to do something better.

Tehreem: Did you attend school in the U.S.?

Saeed Rehman: Yes, only for two weeks, and because I was moving back to New York.

Tehreem: If you attended school, what about it did you like or dislike? Share some stories of your experiences.

Saeed Rehman: I do not remember my school experience.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, what did you believe are the important things you had to learn, in order to adjust to life in the U.S?

Saeed Rehman: Work hard in a, in a honest way.

Tehreem: Was there a house of worship where you could practice your religion? Were there other members in your religion, with whom you can worship or socialize?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Did you join an organization that cultural ties to your heritage?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Okay 'um, have you become a U.S. citizen?

Saeed Rehman: No.

Tehreem: Are you glad that you came here, and why?

Saeed Rehman: Yes, because there is more freedom and opportunities.

Tehreem: 'Um, do you miss your country from which you came?

Saeed Rehman: Sometimes.

Tehreem: How would you compare life in the U.S., from life as you knew it in your country of origin?

Saeed Rehman: Life was slow there, and life is fast here.

Tehreem: Do you keep in touch with the people from your country of origin?