The Romains Come To The United States

As told by Pharticar Romain to Tessa West


     
         My country of origin is Curacao, The Netherland Antilles but I was raised in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.   I arrived  in New York City, the United Stateson on February 27, 1967.   I came to the United States for a job which I did find. I traveled here by airplane, a trip that took six hours.    I am not sure if there were any other immigrants traveling on the plane with me.   Since I did not know anybody in New York, there was nobody to arrange my flight. I was on my own.    My first occupation in my country was that of a housewife.  I was not able to work at the same job as the one I had, so I worked as a domestic.  A job as baby-sitter was waiting for me when I arrived.  I got the job by arranging for a sponsor before I came.  I had mixed feelings when I was leaving Trinidad and Tobago.  I was happy because I wanted to immigrate and get a job, but I was sad because I was leaving my family.  I was anxious to know where I was going, yet happy to know that the sponsor was family.   I had heard America was a beautiful place, and I wanted to travel to different places.   What I had heard was correct, but it was a lot of work.  My goal when I reached here, was to work to make my sitiuation better.  My life was difficult when I arrived.  I had to work very hard, and had to find a place to live.  For a while I lived in New Jersey.  Now I am in New York City with my family.   I thought certain aspects of America were good.  My children have adopted some aspects of American life, but they still have a traditional West Indian style.  I decided to stay in the United States because of the direction my life was taking.   The other adjustments I had to make were cold weather, transportation, and the food.  All in all, despite the hardships, when I arrived I was treated great.

 

 
Below is a family recipe we continue to enjoy, and hope that you will, too, if you try it.

 
 
Eckles Cake

Ingredients:
8 cups of flour
2 cups of Crisco
Cold water (average amount
Raisins
Cinnamon
Sugar
Mixed Fruits
Mixed Egg and Sugar

Steps in making:
1. Place 1 cup of Crisco in 8 cups of flour.
2. Mix Crisco in flour until mixture resembles bread crumbs. DO NOT NEED
3. Roll dough up and down.
4. Then place Crisco around edges of the dough evenly. Repeat method over
(Dough would be better if cold). Roll out the folded dough. Rolling and pasting Crisco results in a flakier pastry. Repeat 3 times or more.
5. In a bowl mix raisins, mixed fruits ground cinnamon and sugar.
6. Cut dough in circles.
7. Place raisins in circles and close into balls.
8. Flour each ball and flat it out.
9. Place in hot oven for 15-20 min. or until golden brown.
10. In joy!!

 
 
Coconut Tart

Ingredients:
Grated coconuts
Flaky Pastry
Sugar
Cinnamon
Egg

1. Mix coconut cinnamon and sugar on low heat. DO NOT BURN
2. Use cookie cutter to cut dough in circles.
3. Fill with coconut mixture, close and decorate with cookie cutter.
4. Mix egg and sugar then glaze
5. Bake until Golden Brown
6. In joy!!

 
 
The person to the left is a person from Trinidad & Tobago in front of her home.

 
 
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