Life for my mom's family was very tough in Guyana and they wanted a better life. My grandmother's sister immigrated to the United States in 1969 and settled in Queens, New York. She was lonely because all of her family was in Guyana. My grandmother's sister became a naturalized citizen and sponsored her family so they could all be together. My mom has a large family which consists of her mom, her dad, and her five brothers and six sisters.
 

       Life was somewhat difficult for my mom personally because her parents came here with eleven children. Her oldest sibling was twenty-one and her youngest was six years old.   My grandfather went to work as a dishwasher to support his family. My mom's family rented a one bedroom apartment, which they all shared because they had to move from my grandmother's sister's house. It was in the fall and the place was cold and my mom's family had to adjust to a different climate and lifestyle.

    My grandmother's youngest sister, Data, immigrated from Guyana in 1968 with her husband and came to New York. They both came to study and he went to the army. Data became a citizen after the birth of her daughter in 1972. She was working and in 1976 sponsored her brothers and sisters under twenty-one years of age. Five years later in 1981, they all got approval papers to come to the United States as permanent residents.   My grandmother's sister helped everyone with food, clothing, and shelter in her home until they found jobs and could afford to rent their own apartments.

    My mom was a student in 1981 and attended Bush Hot Secondary High School.    She continued her education in Franklin K. Lane High School in Jamaica, Queens. My grandfather did not have the same job as he did in Guyana. However, he managed to work very hard and be successful at the jobs he had. In 1981, when my mom's family came to the United States, they didn't encounter any bad treatment. They were very quiet and very cooperative and people responded in the same way to them.  My aunts and uncles had to adjust to life in schools because of peer pressure but managed to overcome little things.

    My mom came with her parents and ten brothers and six sisters. Her family came to the United States for a better life. My grandparents wanted a better life for their children and a better education. Life in Guyana was very difficult for my mom because women were not allowed to learn certain things. At the age of 18 girls were expected to be married and live on their own. My grandparents were happy for all their children.

    My mom attended Franklin K. Lane High School in Jamaica, Queens, New York for two years. She graduated in June 1983 and attended the City College of City University of New York (CUNY). She got a degree in Business Management and continued to work in that field. They were lots of other immigrants attending both high school and college with my mom. My mom was devastated at first when she started high school. After the first day she told her mom she didn't want to go to school. My grandmother wanted her to be very happy and wanted to know why. My mother said it was because of the way children cursed and abused teachers. It made school sound like a horrible thing but my mom had to adjust and continue.

    My mom applied for her citizenship in 1968. She took the test and passed it. She was sworn in and was very excited to become an American citizen. She felt like an American and began enjoying the American dream. My mom was glad she came to the United States for many reasons. First, she got an education and a good job, something she might not have had if she had stayed in Guyana. She has the freedom to make her own decisions and have a wonderful life.   Women in Guyana don't have the same freedom as women in the U.S.   Basically, women are not allowed to work and have to stay home.  Here women are free to make their own choices.

    My mom missed Guyana very much. She spent her childhood days in Guyana and always talked about family life in Guyana. She goes to Guyana every three years to spend more time with family members. It brings back lovely memories of her younger days in Guyana. She keeps in touch with people in Guyana. She has her father's relatives and lots of family. She keeps in touch with her family by writing letters, by phone, and by visiting every three years. Guyana will always be a part of my mom's life because she lived their once. She enjoyed her life then and enjoys her life now.