1
50
15
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Guatemala; El Salvador; Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho); Utah; Idaho; United States;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Franco, Karen;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-11-07
Description
An account of the resource
Ms. Karen Franco discusses her childhood, her parents and their homelands of Guatemala and El Salvador. She talks about her life as a teenager in Cache Valley, her goals for the future, and her perspective on the world.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/755
Language
A language of the resource
eng; spa;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 9
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Families; Education;
Title
A name given to the resource
Karen Franco interview, November 14, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Mexico;
Mexico; Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho); Utah; United States;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Hernandez, Hector;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-11-13
Description
An account of the resource
Mr. Hector Hernandez discusses his move to the United States from Mexico when he was nine years old, and how he adjusted to learning a new language and culture. He talks about his daily life as a teen in Cache Valley, as well as his goals for himself in the future.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/743
Language
A language of the resource
eng; spa;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 10
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Families; Immigration & culture;
Title
A name given to the resource
Hector Hernandez interview, November 13, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/e08e48408fc00429752ee8133e6b508f.mp3
452bf6e0a72e3cd868735b2ad9cb7cd9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Allred, Deanna, 1965-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Burma; Thailand; Japan; California, Utah;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ka Sin, 1967-;
Dilg, Cami, 1986-;
Har Be Bar, 1995-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-17
Description
An account of the resource
Ka Sin and his family live in a different apartment complex than our other interviewees. He works at JBS meat packing plant. His family includes his wife Ser Geda; daughter Kem Pu, 16 yrs; son Zat No 10 yrs; son Mo 20 yrs; and son Myo 14 yrs.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
oral histories (document genres);
audio/mp3;
60429828 Bytes
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/103
Language
A language of the resource
bur; kar; eng;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67610
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 60
Subject
The topic of the resource
Burmese Muslim refugee; Family; Immigrant, Tradition, Cache Valley, Utah; Logan, Utah;
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Ka Sin, Burmese Muslim Refugee. 2015-05-17
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/7b42745dbe0070ae41c4d3029c4fb006.pdf
1110a0d6bdaa711cc1a45c9227ee0497
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Allred, Deanna, 1965-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Burma; Thailand; Japan; California, Utah;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ka Sin, 1967-;
Dilg, Cami, 1986-;
Har Be Bar, 1995-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-17
Description
An account of the resource
Ka Sin and his family live in a different apartment complex than our other interviewees. He works at JBS meat packing plant. His family includes his wife Ser Geda; daughter Kem Pu, 16 yrs; son Zat No 10 yrs; son Mo 20 yrs; and son Myo 14 yrs.
Cache
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Ka Sin
Present: Deanna Allred, David Giles, Cami Dilg, Ka Sin, Har Be Bar, Kem Pu[?]
(Ka Sin’s daughter), Zat No (Ka Sin’s son), Mo (Ka Sin’s son), Ser Geda
(Ka Sin’s wife), Myo (Ka Sin’s son)
Place of Interview: Ka Sin’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 17, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: Deanna Allred
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: David Giles
Photographer: Cami Dilg
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 20, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Ka Sin talks about his journey from Burma, to a Thailand
refugee camp, to Japan, then New York, then California, and finally Utah. He talks about
working and learning English in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then later moving to Logan, Utah. He
talks about his life during the war in Burma and in the refugee camp in Thailand. He discusses
his life in America, and the way his children are growing up here, versus the life they may have
had in Burma.
Reference: DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
KS = Ka Sin
KSI = Ka Sin’s words interpreted by translator
DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KP = Kem Pu
ZN = Zat No
M = Mo
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MY = Myo
NOTE: [You will have to modify this as appropriate—whether using CommGap or in-person
interpreter.] The interview was conducted with CommGap Interpretive Services; the interpreter
joined the interview via a cell phone. False starts, pauses, or transitions in dialogue such as “uh”
and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All additions and added
information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[Part 1 of 2 – 00:01]
DA: Yeah, will you introduce who is here with us? I’d love them to stay.
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: His daughter and then his youngest son.
DA: Youngest son?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s daughter] And what is your name?
KP: Kem Pu[?]
DA: Kem Pu? How old are you?
KP: I am 16.
DA: [Speaking to Ka Sin’s son] And what is your name?
ZN: Zat No.
KS: Zat No.
DA: Zat No – can you spell that?
ZN: Z-A-T N-O.
DA: N-O.
DG: Okay; exactly like it sounds, actually.
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DA: And how old are you?
ZN: Ten.
DA: You’re ten.
DG: [Speaking to Kem Pu] Okay; are you getting your driver’s license by chance?
KP: Yeah.
DA: Yeah?
DG: Cool.
DA: [Speaking to Kem Pu] What school do you go to?
KP: Logan High.
DA: Logan High? Good. My daughter went there for a little while.
[Speaking to Zat No] And what school do you go to?
ZN: Wilson.
DA: Wilson? Yes.
DG: Okay.
DA: Okay, good.
DG: Would it be okay if we closed the window?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: It’s just the sound – for the sound.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Okay.
DA: Sorry; will that make it uncomfortable?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Do you guys want him to open the fan?
DG: Let’s try it. Yeah, I don’t think it will be a problem, but let’s try it.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: Okay.
DG: Alright, so let’s begin the tag.
DA: Okay.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: I’m going to look at Cami’s notes about this. I liked what you did there.
[Soft talking in the background between field school students.]
DG: Okay, so I think –
DA: Okay.
DG: These are the questions that you want.
DA: I’ve got the questions here.
Alright, my name is Deanna Allred.
KS: Yes.
DA: We are here at the home of Ka Sin, a Burmese Muslim refugee that we’re doing
interview for the “Voices 2015: Refugees in Cache Valley” (here, in Logan). I’m also
here with Har Be Bar (who is our translator), and David Giles (who is our recordist), and
Cami Dilg (who will be taking pictures). We are also here with Ka Sin’s daughter and
son – are you another son?
??: I’m his son, yeah.
DA: And what’s your name?
M: Mo.
DA: Mo?
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DAI: Mo.
DA: Okay; how old are you, Mo?
M: Twenty.
DA: Twenty? Okay.
So, and I saw your wife here too? Yeah, your wife was here. And what’s her name?
KS: Ser Geda.
DA: Ser Geda?
KS: S-E-R –
KSI: S-E-R –
DA: S-E-R?
KS: G-E –
DA: G-E?
KS: D-A.
DA: D-A?
KS: Yeah.
DA: And this is your wife?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Thank you for letting us come.
I’m going to try to translate a little slower – as I’ve listened, some of it’s gone a little fast
and we’ve not gotten it all.
DAI: Um-hmm?
DA: So I’ll try to just translate slower – just a couple sentences at a time – and then I think
that will go a little better.
DAI: Okay.
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DA: So you can explain to him that we will probably be going a couple sentences at a time.
[03:36]
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DA: And it is Sunday, May 17th, 2015. We have another son?
KS: Yeah, Myo.
DA: What’s your name?
MY: Myo.
DA: Myo?
MY: Yeah.
DA: How do you spell that?
MY: M-Y-O.
DA: And how old are you?
MY: Fourteen.
DA: Fourteen? You have a great family.
KS: [Laughs]
DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah, this is great. Okay, did I get all the tag?
DG: I think so.
DA: Okay. So we are just going to start the interview.
What is your full name and birth year?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: K-A S-I-N.
DA: Um-hmm.
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KS: Yeah. Birthday – December 18, 1967.
DA: Fifty-seven?
KS: Sixty.
KSI: 1967.
DA: Sixty-seven; okay, good. What languages do you speak?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Burmese and Karen.
KSI: Burmese and Karen.
DA: And Karen? Good. Tell me about your family?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: Yeah. [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He has a total family of six people in the family: four childrens, and him and his wife.
DA: Um-hmm. Describe for me your religious community, your ethnic community; describe
for me what it is for you to be a Burmese Muslim?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Living here it’s the same, but the ethnic group and religious group is a little different.
DA: It’s a little different?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: In what way?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: How do we like practice the religion.
DA: Right, um-hmm. Is there a place where you can go to practice your religion?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Here they have it, but it’s a different language –
DA: Oh, right.
KSI: But in Salt Lake they do have it in the same language.
KS: Yeah.
DA: In Salt Lake?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Okay. Tell me about Burma? You were born in Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: What would you like to know about Burma?
DA: Is it hot? Is it beautiful?
KS: Ah, yeah.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[07:28]
KSI: There are three seasons –
DA: Um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, summer, rainy, and foggy.
DA: Summer, rain and foggy – that’s good. We haven’t heard that before. How long did you
live there?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Like 21 years.
DA: Uh-huh? Twenty-one years?
KS: Maybe 25 year.
DA: Maybe 25; yes? Why did you leave?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s hard to live because there are civil wars going around, and they are like ethnic groups
(like Karen group) that didn’t get along with –
DA: That didn’t get along with the government?
KS: Yeah.
DA: Or each other?
KSI: Yeah, with the government, with the soldiers, and with the Karen ethnic group.
DA: Okay, okay. So what was that experience like – leaving Burma? What was that like to
leave your country, leave your home?
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He felt very bad, like because at first he had some educations in the city, and then he had
to move because in Burma there are all still civil war. He felt very bad.
DA: Yeah, I’m sure; I’m sure. Where did you relocate first?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: At first Burma to Thailand refugee camp.
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DA: Yeah. And then where?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He relocated first in the Thai city for about three years and it did not work out, so he had
to move to a refugee camp.
DA: Um-hmm, okay. What was your experience like in the refugee camp?
[11:07]
DAI: [Repeating question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are like –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: A lot of different peoples –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And different situation – like sometimes they are same level.
DA: Yeah. Describe to me what you ate (the food), what was the medical care like? If you got
sick, what would happen?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They gave free food from rice, oil, salt, and they don’t do meat or other stuff – because
he also want to eat those meat –
DA: Yeah. But there wasn’t any?
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find a way –
DA: To get food?
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KS: Yeah.
KSI: All the medical care out there are free.
DA: Was it easy to get to? Was it close?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that easy to go to the hospital because no transportation –
DA: Right.
KSI: I have to walk.
DA: And it was big – it was a ways away?
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah.
KSI: Like 15 minutes.
DA: Yeah. Describe your work and school, there in the refugee camp, for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: For the school, there is no school for an adult (like him). And then a job – he had to go
outside of the camp and work for it.
DA: Um-hmm. Tell me what your life was day-to-day; so you would get up about what time?
You would eat breakfast, or – tell me what a typical day was like for you.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He would wake up like early in the morning (like four) –
DA: Um-hmm? And then that’s – what time would you go to bed at night?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like nine to ten.
DA: Yeah, yeah; okay. What did you do for work in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[15:15]
KSI: He help with the road –
DA: Okay?
KSI: Fix the road, and also the stables[?] –
DA: Okay. Do you still get up at four?
KS: Huh?
DA: Do you still get up so early?
DAI: Now?
DA: Yeah.
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Sometimes; and sometimes earlier than that.
DA: Really?
DG: Wow.
DA: Tell me about the holidays (or the celebrations) that you celebrated in the camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah. He wants to talk about the Eid.
DA: Uh-huh, yes?
KSI: In the morning he will wake up and go to mosque and pray, and then he will find new
clothes for his children to wear.
DA: Um-hmm. Someone else had said you needed a new outfit for Eid, is that right?
KSI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Yeah. Okay, what was the government like – how did the government behave with the
refugees? What was the climate there? Was it helpful? Was it combative? How helpful
was the government when you were in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: This would have been Thailand I guess, yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t know about the government because he don’t see it; but there is a
sharing[?] group that helped. And then sometimes they are good, sometimes they are very
bad peoples. If you want to go out and work, they close the gate – they never let him go
out. And then he would find a way to get out from the gate and then go find job. And then
once he came back the soldier will stop him and then take some money.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Why wouldn’t they want you to leave to go work?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They thought that they already gave free food to the refugees, and then they thought that
it’s enough for them.
DA: Rice, but no meat?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Was enough? Okay. Did you feel safe in the camp? Did you feel safe for you, and safe
for your family? Was there safety there?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[20:45]
KSI: It’s not safe because the refugee camp in Burma – it’s very close; sometimes the Burmese
government will come and shoot and burn their houses.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm; we’ve heard that story before, yeah.
KSI: They want control the camps –
DA: Yeah, and it was very dangerous.
KSI: Um-hmm.
DA: Yeah. How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: There are a group that would take care of the camp that would come and let them know –
like, “You can go register for the American, for Denmark, for Australia.” And then he –
yeah, from there he come here.
DA: Okay. Who helped you apply?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Thai also helped, he don’t know exactly –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: Yeah, Thai – that group also help – it’s called like OPE –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
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KSI: OPE.
DA: Tell me about coming to the U.S. – I’m sure that was a lot – very emotional – to leave;
I’m sure it was scary. Tell me about when you came to the U.S. – where did you come
first? What was that first day like?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[23:50]
KSI: It’s very emotional because totally like different people. In the camp, like people are not
like human [laughs].
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm.
KSI: Yeah, because they are all dirty.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. Where did you first land? Where did you first come? Where was your
first stop here?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: First, Thai, Bangkok (bigger city) –
DA: Yeah.
KSI: And then to – where was it?
KS: Japan.
KSI: To Japan, and to New York, to California, and then to Salt Lake.
DA: Did you live in Salt Lake for awhile at first, or did you come right to Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He was in Salt Lake about one year –
DA: Um-hmm?
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KSI: And then he also work at DI. His wife work as a babysitter to other people houses.
DA: Um-hmm, good; good. So if you worked at the DI, did you get help from any churches or
any other organizations in the U.S.? And what about – what was helpful, what wasn’t
helpful about your assistance?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: The church helped – did the most.
DA: How could that be improved?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: What improvements could we make?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: DI help a lot with teaching English. He can only work for a year, and for the
improvement – it’s not – he don’t need that much improvement because he think that it’s
kind of enough.
DA: It was enough? Okay; that’s good to know. How long have you lived here, in Logan?
[27:44]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: About six years.
DA: Yeah?
KS: Yeah.
DA: What do you do here?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: He work at Miller.
DA: At Miller? Um-hmm.
KS: Yeah.
DA: What is it like for you and your family to live here, in Logan? Is it a good place, you
know, do you feel accepted by the community? Do you feel the schools are good and
helpful?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Compared to the camp it’s a very good place here; the community is also good – he can
make friends easily.
DA: Um-hmm. Do you like working at Miller’s?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Is that a good thing?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He can’t say, because he don’t know if he like or not because he have to work.
DA: Yeah, you have to work – it doesn’t matter if he likes it or not –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yeah, that makes sense. What would make you feel more at home here, in Logan, for
your family and for you?
DAI: What was that question again?
DA: What would make him feel more at home here, in Logan?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Now he don’t feel like this is his home because he is just – only him working, and then he
have a lot of children.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. So he does feel like this is his home, or he doesn’t?
KSI: He doesn’t.
DA: He doesn’t? Why? What could we do – what would need to change for him to feel at
home? Or where would he feel at home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Government help him, but he know that he have to work for himself. And also, in the
future, his son and wife maybe if they could help him work, so that way he could buy a
house –
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Is there anything specific – like would it be helpful if there were
more cultural events? Does he feel like he has a community here that assists him and
helps him, you know, if he has to go to the grocery store or get gas, or whatever – you
know, is there anything that we can do to help him feel more at home? Or is it just a
language barrier, you know? I mean, what sorts of things would help him feel more at
home?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[32:26]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he feel like – yeah, if they would help he would feel like he is part of the
community.
DA: Okay, okay; great. Tell me what is the difference between your home here, and your
home in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s a big difference as like brown and the sky.
DA: Um-hmm, um-hmm. Do you have a good experience with your landlord?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he has a good experience. If he need help he can call them –
DA: And they’re very helpful?
KSI: Yeah, they are.
DA: That’s good; that’s good to know. What would you like the people of Logan to know
about you? And then what would you like them to know about your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like to let everyone know he don’t have much time –
DA: Um-hmm?
KSI: And then for his kids – like their friends, they could tell by themselves.
DA: If you had more time, what would you want to do?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[35:48]
KSI: Once he was younger, he always interested in English, he always want to like, know. And
now if he have time, he would like to take classes.
DA: Learn English?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: If they came to Miller’s at lunch hour a couple of days a week and taught English, would
you be able to go to those English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KSI: At Miller, there is no time because he only get 30 minutes of lunch time –
DA: Oh.
KSI: And then after that he have to go to use the restroom.
DA: Yeah, yeah – just take care of yourself.
KS: Yeah.
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Um-hmm. That makes sense. Would you like to go back to Burma?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he would like to go back because he has parents – his father (who is unhealthy), but
he cannot go back now: his childrens are still young, and money problems.
DA: Um-hmm. Can you communicate with your father?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he can communicate; and he also send like $100-200 a year.
DA: Um-hmm, to them; does it help?
KSI: Yeah.
DA: It helps them? Do you send pictures to each other? You know, does your father know
what your family looks like in pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was a friend who went back to Burma, and then he send one picture, and now he
don’t know how to send it.
DA: Um-hmm; because he’s not there anymore?
KSI: Yeah.
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DA: What are you most proud of?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[39:35]
KSI: He is very proud of his childrens that come here and live their life; he can’t imagine like,
seeing his childrens, like in the camp working in the jungle.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. What are your dreams for your future, and the future of your family?
What are your dreams and what’s the dreams for your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He don’t have his own dreams for himself, but he do have a dreams for his childrens to
like grow up and get better jobs (not like him). He would like to buy a house here for his
family.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah. That’s good. Is there anything that I haven’t asked, that you would like
me to know? Are there any other questions; is there anything you want me to know that I
haven’t asked?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: If you like, he can talk about his experience more.
DA: Yeah, yeah; I would like to hear more about your experiences.
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DAI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[43:27]
KSI: In Burma, in the city, he lived with his family there (five people in the family) –
[Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He is the middle one. When he was younger he don’t have to do any work, and then when
he get older he had to work. And then his older brother, like somehow with the soldier,
got to refugee camp.
DA: So where is his brother now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Still in Thailand.
DA: Still in Thailand?
KSI: Oh no, Burma.
DA: In Burma? So not in the refugee camp?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DA: No? Okay. That’s all of my questions. David or Cami, do you have any questions?
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DG: Yes, I did. Let me see. So you said that when you first left Burma you tried to move to a
city in Thailand? Can you tell us a little more about that, and what that was like trying to
live in a city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not in the big city; it’s just like in the kind of city in the jungle, so like a lot of
creatures.
DG: Okay. So why did you leave the city?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: There was only three months of work in a year, so it’s not enough. And then he cannot go
back to Burma, so he had to leave.
DA: Go back.
DG: Okay.
DA: Do you talk about this much with your kids – about your experiences in Burma? Do they
know?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He did not talk about it because he don’t want his childrens feel like sorry or feel bad,
and then feel fear.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Now just one more question (for me): you mentioned that you were having a hard time
sending pictures to your family? Do you need help figuring out how to do that, or is there
some kind of problem just getting it to your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
[47:30]
KSI: Yeah, he would need help with it.
DA: Okay. Does your father have a computer?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No.
DG: Okay, yeah; I know how to like send pictures through email, but if he doesn’t have a
computer, that’s going to be difficult.
DA: Um-hmm, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you like, I can show you how to do that when we’re finished today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughs]
KSI: Well they don’t even have computers, so –
DA: He doesn’t have a computer, so it wouldn’t help?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: Well I do know that if you can send him a letter, I know you can take your photos to like,
I think Wal-Mart with print them out for you, so you can you know, just put them in a
letter and mail them. I haven’t had to do that in a long time, but I think Wal-Mart would
be able to help.
CD: I think it’s more of a problem of a physical address getting it –
DG: Ah.
CD: To him.
DA: Yeah.
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DG: Okay, I missed that detail.
DGI: Yeah. [Laughs]
[Repeating statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Cami, did you have any questions?
CD: Yes, I’m going to move a little bit closer to the microphone.
We’ve interviewed some other people that were also in the refugee camp, and they
mentioned (like you did) the need to obtain new clothing for Eid. I’m wondering where
you would get the new clothing from?
CDI: In the camp?
CD: Yeah, to celebrate. Yes, in the camp.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He had to find money earlier, yeah, and then he would buy it for them.
CD: And would the clothing be purchased outside of the camp, or inside the camp?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Inside of the camp. Inside of the camp.
CD: I wasn’t sure, maybe you picked up on this – are both of your parents alive, and they are
still in the camp, or just your father?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They are both alive, but not in the camp – in Burma.
DA: In Burma; and it’s hard to get the things to Burma.
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CD: So you have family members still in Burma – are they more safe or less safe than if they
were in the refugee camp?
[50:53]
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: They don’t have to worry about their lives; because they are old, when the civil war is
coming the soldier won’t take them because they cannot work anymore.
DA: So they’re older –
KSI: Yeah.
DA: And so they’re safer?
KSI: Um-hmm, they’re safer.
DG: That’s a terrible way to be safe.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: I have just one more question. When you left your home in Burma, and then when you
left the camps, did you have any of your children with you at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: When he come to Thailand, he had to walk like three days and three night. He is not
married yet; he got married in Thai camp.
DA: In Thai camp.
KSI: Um-hmm. So once he leave Thailand with his children.
DG: What was that like, having to move to a new place with little kids?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: It’s not that hard, he just want like all together safe, and get whatever he want to do.
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DG: Okay. Those are all the questions I have.
DA: Do your children participate at school in other things? You know, do you go to the school
to the things that they’re active in?
DAI: Here?
DA: Yeah, here in Logan?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, he don’t participate, but when his children still go to school he force them to go to
school. And then only his wife participate in like parent-teacher conferences –
DA: Conferences; yeah, that makes sense. Do you like American food?
[54:29]
KS: Hmm?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.] [Laughing]
KSI: He like hamburger –
DA: A hamburger?
KSI: But it’s kind of expensive for him.
DA: It is expensive; it is expensive, yeah.
KS: The pizza a lot.
KSI: Pizza –
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: He says there it’s less expensive: he can buy a box and they’re whole family can eat.
DA: Yeah, pizza – everybody loves pizza!
[Laughter]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: If he only have to eat American food, it will be more expensive –
DA: Yeah, yeah. Do you grocery shop in Salt Lake, like most of your community does? Do
you have to go to Salt Lake to get your groceries?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like two months.
DA: Yeah, yeah; where is that grocery store?
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: He bought rice here, and in Salt Lake – I don’t even know the address –
DA: Yeah?
KSI: Like Redwood Road.
DA: What’s the name of the store?
KSI: There are like Cambodian store –
DA: Cambodian store?
KS: Chinese.
KSI: Pakistan and Chinese, I think.
DA: Yeah. I’m sorry you have to go so far.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Well he had to go buy like half of the food over there, and then half of the food here.
DA: Here? Where do you like to shop here?
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DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Like Smith’s.
DA: Smith’s – that’s where we all go, yeah.
[Laughter]
Good; good. I don’t know that I have any more questions. You have been very delightful.
Your family is beautiful.
DG: Thank you.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: Thanks.
DA: So we just have some forms to sign. Oh –
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: This just says we can use the interview for the presentation.
DAI: Oh, this is already signed.
DA: Oh yeah, yeah; sorry. Yeah, I can’t give you that one [laughs].
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Yeah; this just says that we can use the recording: it will be stored at Utah State
University. And then do you mind if we take pictures?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[57:58]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah, you can take pictures.
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KSI: [Responding in Burmese.]
DG: And we do need you to fill out all the blanks, and we need to talk about that last one a
little bit – so when you’re done with the rest, we’ll talk about it.
[Background discussion between the folks present; both in English and Burmese.]
Okay, do we want to end the tape?
DA: So we’re just making sure we have consent to use the audio tape and the pictures in the
Special Collections, and he understands.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: Yeah.
DA: Yep.
KSI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KS: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Oh, we don’t need that one.
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: Is it in English?
[More discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese.]
KSI: I can’t read Burmese [laughs].
DG: Oh, you can’t?
KSI: I can’t.
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DA: It’s beautiful; I mean, look how pretty it is. Do your children – do you read Burmese? Do
you speak much Burmese?
[Discussion between Ka Sin and translator in Burmese as they fill out the information and
release forms.]
CD: I’m just going to take a few photos to make sure that the light is okay, if that’s alright?
DG: And email, if you have one.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
KSI: No, he doesn’t have email, so –
KS: Is that finished?
DG: That last one is – I would love if you could translate for me – that last blank is
restrictions: just if there is something you don’t want us to do, you can write it there.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: So if you don’t want us to share your name, or share your photo, or something like that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KS: [Responding in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, this is the celebration – I know it’s in English, but maybe your kids could translate
that for you. This is what – thank you – this is where we will be showing the photos and
the presentation that we put together for the community.
DAI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[End part 1 of 2 – 60:02]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
KS: If he is, he will come.
DA: Okay, good. Thank you.
[More background discussion with the folks present.]
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[Speaking to Ka Sin’s child] So will you be a senior next year, or a junior? A senior? And
how do you like Harry Potter?
ZN: It’s a great story.
DA: It’s a great story; yeah, it’s my favorite [laughs].
CD: You don’t mind if I take some photos?
DG: Oh, the recording is still going.
DA: The recording needs to – yeah, we’re done with the recording. Thank you.
DG: Alright, we are done with the interview.
[End Part 2 of 2 – 00:50]
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
transcripts;
application/pdf;
197263 Bytes
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/105
Language
A language of the resource
bur; kar; eng;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67611
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
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Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 61
Subject
The topic of the resource
Burmese Muslim refugee; Family; Immigrant, Tradition, Cache Valley, Utah; Logan, Utah;
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Ka Sin, Burmese Muslim Refugee. 2015-05-17
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/84608db4f1b2441adfe6a90c79473220.pdf
54d0ca5f414bd5b90b5812fa7afc95ec
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Olsen, Magen, 1986-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Eritrea; Ethiopia; Germany; Maryland; Salt Lake, Utah;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Kahsay Gebremedhin, 1971-;
Warner-Evans, Hilary, 1994-;
Berhane Debesai, 1980-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-23
Description
An account of the resource
Interview conducted with Kahsay Gebremedhin by Magen Olsen on May 23, 2015. Translated by Berhane Debesai. Discussion on Eritrea farming practices, Ethiopian refugee camps, etc.
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin
Present: Magen Olsen, Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin, Berhane, Hilary Warner-
Evans, Heidi Williams
Place of Interview:
Date of Interview: May 23, 2015
Language(s): Tigrinya
Translation:
Interviewer: Magen Olsen
Interpreter: Berhane
Recordist: Heidi Williams
Photographer: Hilary Warner-Evans
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 26, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Mr. Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin talks about his life in Eritrea,
his family, and escaping to Ethiopia as a refugee. He talks about his time spent at Shimelba
refugee camp in Ethiopia, and the process he followed to come to the United States as a refugee.
He discusses life in America, his current job and his dream to have a farm.
Reference: MO = Magen Olsen
MOI = Magen Olsen’s words interpreted by translator
KG = Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin
KGI = Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin’s words interpreted by translator
NOTE: [You will have to modify this as appropriate—whether using CommGap or in-person
interpreter.] The interview was conducted with CommGap Interpretive Services; the interpreter
joined the interview via a cell phone. False starts, pauses, or transitions in dialogue such as “uh”
and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All additions and added
information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
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[Part 1 of 2 – 00:01]
MO: Alright; we are here, it is – of course we are here – it is Saturday [laughing], ten o’clock
in the morning, May 23rd, 2015. It’s raining today for about the 100th day –
??: In a row.
MO: [Laughing] It seems like it’s been rainy every, single day. We are here with Kahsaoy,
right?
KG: Yes.
MO: Who is a refugee from Eritrea; translating for him is Berhane. We have Hilary Warner-
Evans on the photography end of things, and Heidi Williams is recording and taking
some notes. And we’re going to go ahead and start.
So how are you doing today?
KG: Good.
MO: Good, good. Thanks for meeting with us, and for being willing to talk with us and share
some things about your experiences as a refugee, living in the United States.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: Thank you.
MO: So we’ll start with the first question is what is your full name and birth year?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: His name is Kahsaoy Berhe Gebremedhin; he was born in 1971.
MO: Okay. What languages do you speak?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: Tigrinya.
MO: That’s it?
KGI: He speaks Tigrinya.
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KG: Yes.
MO: Perfect. And tell me about your family?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Okay. [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I have three children here, in America, and I got five more back in Eritrea. I have one
brother here, in America, and I have six siblings back home.
MO: So do they – your family members – they all live here (who are in America)?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, yeah.
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, three of them they are here (the youngest ones) –
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: But he got five more in Africa, two of them are in the Ethiopia refugee camp – the rest
three are in Eritrea.
[03:28]
MO: So that’s got to be hard, being all over?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, it’s still hard because people are everywhere; even it’s hard for me – some of them,
they are in the refugee camp, there is nothing over there – I have to send them money to
support family there. It’s kind of hard.
MO: What religion are you?
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He is Eritrean Orthodox Church.
MO: Okay, good. Can you tell me a bit about Eritrea, where you’re from?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Eritrea is a good place to live, but there is some problem – [speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah; he says it’s harder to [??] stuff it has to do with farming, and we don’t have a lot
and we don’t know anything about the life in the cities. So generally, the economy [??]
MO: Did you grow up on a farm then?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, they are all from –
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Farmer.
MO: What did you grow – animals, grain?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[06:20]
KGI: We raise grains – we don’t have any technology, we plow the field by oxes; and when it
comes to harvesting season, we harvest it manually and with the help of animals. And we
also have animal harvest[??].
MO: Okay. So did you live in the – Berhane has talked about highlands and lowlands – did
you live in the highlands or the lowlands?
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He was living in the lowlands.
MO: Cool. How long did you live there? So how long have you been in the U.S., I guess?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He has been in American almost a year and eight months.
MO: Good.
KG: 2013.
KGI: He came here on 2013.
MO: Cool. Why did you leave Eritrea?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I was in the National Service [??] army, and I have a lot of children – nobody supporting
them behind me, and he is not getting anything. Finally he get frustrated and left Eritrea
with the refugee camp in Ethiopia.
MO: And when did you do that?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: Refugee – 2007.
KGI: 2007.
KG: Yeah.
MO: So six years in Ethiopia?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
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KGI: Yeah, six years and some couple of months.
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, he went there on July 15, 2007 – [speaking in Tigrinya to the interviewee]
[09:20]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.] 2013 –
KGI: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
And he came here on September 2013.
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: On the 18th of September, 2013. So, do your calc –
[Laughter]
MO: I will once –
KGI: It’s easier to do once –
MO: Yeah, if you’re already there –
[Laughing]
So you’re in science, and we’re all in [laughs] folklore.
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, six years two months and three days.
MO: Perfect.
KGI: [??]
[Laughter]
MO: Two months, three days.
So what was the experience like in leaving?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
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KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, I don’t have any problem because I was born there, I know the whole land and we
got farms in between. There was army soldiers in the trench, but sometimes they just
don’t care because we go back and forth for our animals and farms; and he went to his
brother and didn’t get any problem – he just crossed.
MO: It’s hard for other people then, right (usually)?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: For me it was easy because I was raised in the rural areas, and we got animals so we cross
all over the place (because our animals for food and water to the animals). But for some
people who came from the capital or from the highlands – they didn’t know the area,
even we are raised differently (maybe they cannot hike a lot). Sometimes they don’t
know the land, they just go directly to the army, they get captured, and god knows what
they do with them. But for me it was easy; but for some people it’s a lot harder.
MO: That makes sense. So you relocated first to Ethiopia, right?
[12:37]
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, from Eritrea he relocated to the Shimelba refugee camps in Ethiopia – the camp
name is Shimelba. Do you want to spell?
MO: Yeah.
[Laughter]
KGI: S-H-I-M-L-B-A. Shimelba. So he relocated from Eritrea to the refugee camp in Ethiopia.
MO: And then did you go to any other refugee camps?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: From that refugee camp he directly came to the United States.
MO: Okay. What was your experience like in that camp?
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: It was kind of okay for me because I was raised in rural area, and that place was a rural
area. And since I was raised working with my family, in that refugee camp I was allowed
to work; I was working, earning money. So for me it was not [??]; it was kind of okay.
MO: But it would be hard for people from the capital, maybe?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[15:43]
KGI: For some people it was hard because we were getting only 15 kilos of weight (around 30
pounds), and I was raised in a rural area around that area, so it was okay for me – I can go
and work, communicate with the people because they got the same behavior[??]. But the
refugee in the [??], they tend not to leave the camp – if you leave the camp it’s all your
responsibility if something happens, so some people they get scared; but for me, it’s okay
just leave and work – clear my mind and then come back. So some people they don’t
want to leave the camp, some people they don’t know how to work in the farm. So you
can’t [??] with the 15 kilos of weight; if you are lucky, if you have families in the U.S. or
England, they ask for money or for help. But there were a lot of people struggling in that
camp.
MO: Did they have small houses for you, or how was the living situation?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah most of the times they don’t give us houses; for his case he get a plot of land – most
of the time they give them a plot of land, you have to make your own house. Even for
him they didn’t give him a plot of land, there was some of his friends (they have their
own plot of land, they give it to him – he build his own house. He don’t know if they
made houses for the first arrival refugees (because the refugee camp starts a couple of
years before he arrived). He hears they help some women if they got problems, maybe
children or other stuff; but if you are a man, they don’t give you anything – they just give
you a plot of land: you have to make your own house.
MO: So did you arrive by yourself and then some of your family came after?
[18:38]
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I cross the border with my brother – he has three children here – he met a woman over
there, he get married with her in the refugee camp, and then she came here.
MO: Okay.
KGI: Only he made his house –
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: And now they are not even married, they are friends.
MO: Okay. Is she still there, or is she here?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: She is here.
MO: Okay, good. Were you assigned a job, or did you kind of find one on your own?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: In my case I was going out to the farmers near the camp, and ask the job from them –
they can give you farm work, or construction – not big construction, but he just make
some building walls and things like that – I do whatever I find. But there are some people
they are educated [??] they work with [??] the camp, or something with the refugee
administration. But for him, he was going to farmers and ask for a job.
MO: Okay. How did you celebrate holidays in your camp?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[21:39]
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KGI: Because it’s the same culture, so we have everything what we can have in Eritrea; with
whatever we got we make injera, we make soya (soya is a local drink in Eritrea), and we
kill a goat, and we celebrate.
MO: Is it easier – it’s probably easier, I shouldn’t even be asking this – it’s probably easier to
celebrate in the camp, then (your holidays), rather than in the U.S., right?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah he said in American you can find anything at the shopping centers, but some people
– they have money, they can afford it; but there are lot of them who cannot afford it. So it
is easier here in American than in the camp.
MO: Okay. Because you can’t go to Wal-Mart and buy a goat or a sheep [laughs].
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah you can buy meat over there.
[Laughter]
MO: That’s true. Well but we have farms, too, that you can go to and buy animals, right?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: Yeah [responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah there is an old man and a woman somewhere in this 600 South, they sell sheeps,
chickens – I always go there and buy goats. [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: And they got a place, and he kills a goat and takes the meat and sells it fresh over there.
MO: Good. They’re not worried about that or anything?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: They got a place for killing the sheep –
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MO: Um-hmm?
KGI: Even they show up, “Hey, you want to kill it – go kill it over there,” (to kill fresh stuff).
MO: Nice! That’s a good deal.
KG: Um-hmm [speaking in Tigrinya].
KGI: And they know us – when they see us they say, “Ah, it’s the guys who kill the goats.”
[Laughter]
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I know they don’t like us to kill the sheeps because they show us the place and they run
away to their apartment.
[Laughter]
[25:02]
MO: Yeah, I think it’s alarming for Americans to think that they would have to kill their own
animals; we just like to pretend that we’re not eating animals, I think.
KGI: Yeah. [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
[Laughter]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I understand that.
[Laughter]
MO: I feel like the weird one, because it makes sense to take care of your own food like that.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: So he said for us it’s very [??]: we want to take care of our own food, we feel comfortable
when we kill our sheep or goat. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to go to the shop and buy a
meat because you don’t know who killed the sheep. We are kind of strict in our religion
orthodox: you have to kill it yourself, you have to say, “By the name of God, Son, and the
Holy Spirit;” and we feel comfortable. Most of the time we eat only sheep or goat, so if
it’s other animal, hmm, we don’t feel comfortable (because we don’t eat pork).
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MO: That’s typically a Muslim –
KGI: If it’s Muslim they don’t eat it before we kill it.
MO: Oh, okay. But I mean that’s Old Law, right?
KGI: Yeah, it come from the Jews.
MO: Right.
KGI: Then the Muslim and the Christian, they are branches.
MO: Because I know with like Catholics and Protestants – they don’t have any problem eating
pork.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[28:22]
KGI: Yeah, Islam – they have their own way; they are different from us. But if I go to Wal-
Mart and buy meat, I don’t know whether it’s a sheep’s meat, or it’s a donkey’s meat: it’s
just a meat, we don’t know. But according the way we are raised, and according to our
religion – if I kill it, I know it’s a sheep or a goat. So we feel comfortable if we kill our
sheep and goat (or other animals), and we know what we are killing, and we blessed it by
saying, “In the name of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” So we feel comfortable if we
kill our own animals, rather than going to Wal-Mart and buying meat we don’t know.
MO: Do you feel safe in the camp?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: For me, I was not scared for my safety; I always go out of the camp, work in the field,
even sometime there are nights I spend my nights in the field. I am not a city boy – I was
raised in farm and all our thing is doing the fields and spending the nights with the
animals. So I didn’t have any problem, and I wasn’t scared because I don’t have any
crime, I don’t have [??]. But there might be some people, even I remember one person
who died in the fields – nobody knows who killed him; still nobody knows what
happened to that guy.
MO: Hmm. Did you feel welcomed by the Ethiopians? Because I know that you’re very
closely related.
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
[31:20]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: As long as I was over there I don’t have any problem. Even I don’t have any problem,
they always tell us not to leave the camp; if you leave the camp you are responsible for
what happen to you – and they are right, they cannot protect you out of the camp. But
with the people who are just going together, going along – we don’t have any problem.
But I heard when I come here there was some fight in the camp.
MO: Hmm. How did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: When I was crossing the border from Eritrea to Ethiopia, I didn’t have any idea about the
U.S. refugee program, I just knew I wanted when I went to the refugee camp.
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, when we crossed (me and my brother), we don’t know what was the refugee
program over there (even we didn’t know there was a camp). So when they crossed the
border, the people who give them – after they crossed Ethiopia they were talking to [??]
Amharic[?], but he don’t know Amharic[?], his brother knows a little bit of Hamari –
they were telling them, “You guys are going to Shimelba refugee camp, there are other
Eritreans over there. You guys will go to America.” And [??] says what is Amharic
talking about; but when they took them the refugee camp there were lots of Eritreans, and
they knew the refugee program to the United States from the other Eritreans who were in
the camp before them.
MO: Did they help you apply – because it sounds like they told you, you were going to go?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[36:22]
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KGI: Okay. When he crossed first the border the Ethiopian army, when they caught you they
took you to some place (they call it [??]), then they register, “Who are you guys? Where
do you come from?” Things like that. Then after they confirm they are from Eritrea and
things like that, they send them to Shimelba refugee camp. Then the Shimelba [??] the
refugee camp, they transfer all your paperwork with them, because these people in [??],
they ask them a lot of questions in their own office, they register them. So they send their
resume and their session papers refugee camp in Shimelba. In the Shimelba camp there
are a lot of organizations they put them. There is Ara[??], these Ara are the people who
gives them food – that means who gives them the food and other things. And there is a
UNCR – they process the papers for a refugee to United States.
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, this UNCR – they process their guys to U.S., Australia and Canada. But there is
not a lot of obligations things to do if you are in the country on the border, they put in
paperwork, the Ethiopian army or police [??] – they transfer all their papers Shimelba
refugee camp; after that you just wait for interview.
MO: So the process took six years? When did you interview?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[38:37]
KGI: Yeah, he is not sure about the months, but the interview was around 2010.
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
He said I don’t remember the exact month, but I have my own record so maybe it’s in my
cards.
MO: It will be important for your kids and grandkids one day.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: Yeah.
MO: Tell me about coming to the U.S. – what was it like?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
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KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[Conversation back and forth between Kahsaoy and Berhane in Tigrinya.]
[42:12]
KGI: Yeah, he said when they come here they got a problem transit in Germany –
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Transit in Frankfurt – so when they leave the airplane the IOM people (they are the
people who help with them with the airplane tickets, because they have to pay it back) –
one of the IOM came he took other people, but for us he told us, “Just number 57.” And
he said I don’t know anything about airports, even I don’t know anything about city life
so I don’t know where to find number 57. But finally I just found it, but when I go over
there I don’t know who to ask and I don’t know what to do. And we were struggling and
stressed out in that airport; finally I saw an Ethiopian guy (he speaks some Amharic), and
I talk to him. Then he went inside and he check with the airplane reservation things, and
he told him to wait for some time. And we don’t have any money or we don’t have any
dollar with us; and my daughter was crying because she was so hungry and she was
crying so loud. The trip was okay, but we have a problem in Germany and nobody can
help us.
MO: Did you come to Salt Lake – were you assigned to Salt Lake?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: We were in Maryland.
MO: And then from Maryland to Salt Lake?
KG: We were assigned in Maryland.
MO: So you haven’t transferred, or you’re still technically assigned?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: They were assigned in Maryland, then they moved to Utah.
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MO: That’s a big difference.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: Yeah.
[Laughter]
MO: You’re probably more comfortable here because we have so much farming, and
Maryland doesn’t have anything?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He said I like this place.
MO: Yeah, I think I like it a lot more too.
[Laughter]
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I like agriculture, so I was happy when I moved to this place.
MO: Good. How long were you in Maryland?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I was in Maryland for eight months and some days.
MO: What did you do for work?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He was working in Lancaster Food Company – they were packing vegetables.
MO: Okay. And did you come to Utah because you heard about JBS?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
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[46:18]
KGI: Okay. I heard about JBS, even I had that work that company he was working in
Lancaster, it’s all the way in Utah (he didn’t know exactly where), but it’s somewhere
around here. And besides that, they told me this is kind of rural area, not big metropolitan
city like Maryland. Since I was raised on a farm I try to be close to farm, so that’s why I
moved here.
MO: Okay. There was something I was going to ask – I have to remember it. Oh, I am curious
about what you thought living in Eritrea, what the expectation is of what Americans are
like, and how did that change?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: When I was in Eritrea, I didn’t know enough about America (I just know America is a
good place to live and a great country). When I come I was worried because as far as I
figured America in my brain it was just big metropolitan area – I didn’t even know
America has farmlands and rural areas. And when I come first, the first city I saw was big
so many buildings on it; I was worried, “What I’m going to do in this country? How I’m
going to live?” I don’t know any language, I don’t have education. But when I saw it’s
okay, I can survive and the [??] has everything. But my expectation and what I found is
so different; I was thinking about big buildings and metropolitan areas, but there are a lot
of rural and farm areas too.
MO: That’s good; it’s good that we have farms.
[Laughter]
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[50:22]
KGI: He say we are processing a lot of [??] in our brain because we are told this is hard
country to live – even people will tell you that you can get lost inside America and
nobody is going to find you. Even when I was coming from Maryland to Utah some
people told me, “You’re going to get lost,” even I was scared I might get lost in between,
so nobody is going to find me. But everything is [??] I’m told about in America – even if
I get lost if I got some offices they come bring me a translator. So it’s a good country and
everything is arranged.
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MO: Good, because I think a lot of Americans want to get lost, but we don’t feel like we can
because our government keeps pretty good track of us.
[Laughter]
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: They don’t get lost.
[Laughter]
MO: I’m not worried about you – if you can live on a farm, you deserve the right of being in
the U.S. I think.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Now I can figure it out, even I cannot get lost in big cities because there are ways he can
communicate with others.
MO: Absolutely. So when you moved from Maryland to Utah, did the government help you in
any way?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, when he moved he didn’t get any help. He just worked and he paid his travel
expense with the money we saved. But when he was moving he took the agency who
helped them, because he had so many medical papers (he got surgery on his) –
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He got surgery on his left eye, so they collected all his paperwork and other medical
records. And they gave all their paperwork to him, and he just moved with his own
money.
MO: Did you know anyone in Logan, or did you just sort of come in and find a place to live
and work?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
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KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah there were some people I know who live here; even my girlfriend – she first moved
here because she got her brothers here, and then I just followed her. If we don’t know
anyone we cannot move, because we cannot move in a place we don’t know anything.
MO: Um-hmm. So you have a lot of friends, and even relatives here – do you feel included by
the rest of the community?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[55:37]
KGI: I don’t feel isolated from the community because they help us with anything we ask of
them, even sometimes when we come first I just have the address in my hand but I cannot
look at my apartment – I ask them, “Hey, do you know where this address is?” Some of
them they just show me, but there are some good people that just took me until I reached
the address I am looking for. So these people are loving people and they are good people.
MO: Is there anything that we could do to help you feel more at home?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I can’t ask for more because there is work opportunity, other stuff, but I prefer to have a
farmland to make my own farm – I don’t want to work in JBS forever because I have eye
problem sometimes it’s kind of hard for me to work the whole day. I have nowhere to
ask, but if possible I would like to have a farm and do my own farm.
MO: That’s the American Dream.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
MO: Every American wants to have a farm [laughing].
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: It’s a good dream; even I want to have a farm – that’s my field.
MO: Yeah, I think it makes you a good American [laughing] to have that dream.
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MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
[Laughter]
MO: So you have five kids still in Africa?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, they are in Africa.
MO: Are you going to try to bring them to the United States?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[59:30]
KGI: Yeah, I would love to bring them here, but the problem is how can they leave Eritrea?
We cross the border, but they are too young to cross the border – they might have a lot of
problems, they need an adult to take them out. The older one and his younger brother,
they are already out in the refugee camp, but for the rest of them: they are too young to
cross the border. So he is trying to figure out how they can retrieve them, get Visas for
them.
MO: The three you have here, are they in school or are they too young?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: The younger one is younger (he was just born in United States) –
KG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KGI: The older one, she goes to KG[??] here – I don’t know but he was telling me the school
somewhere around 300 North 300 West?
MO: Okay.
KGI: She goes there – the older one of the three; but the younger one is only two months old.
MO: So not even talking yet? [Laughs]
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: The youngest is too young – not talking, but the other one is older –
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He is an American before I am.
[Laughter]
MO: Speaks English and everything?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[Laughter]
KGI: Yeah, he talks English.
[Laughter]
MO: Good. How are the experiences with your landlord? Are you in an apartment?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah.
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, he lives in an apartment and he doesn’t have any problem with his landlord.
MO: What would you like people in Logan to know about you and your community?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
[End part 1 of 2 – 62:06]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He said most of us in Logan we are here from villages in Eritrea: when we come, we
came from rural areas (there are some who came from the cities). So we don’t know a lot
of stuff because we are new and we are born in farm areas and sometimes we need help –
[Phone ringing]
We need help how to figure out how things work here, and sometimes I wish if the city
can give us some farmland in something that grows because we are good in farm. I prefer
to work in a farm with some of my community [??]. And we also need education – we’ve
got children and we need education for us and for our children.
MO: Um-hmm. Are the English classes helping then? Are you able to find any other – or what
kind of education do you need?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[02:58]
KGI: There is English school – that’s good, but sometimes it’s kind of far for us (some of us
who don’t have cars), and sometimes we work in JBS this hard work all over and
spending day in JBS and going to school is kind of hard. So if possible if they do it on the
weekends it would be better, because we don’t have anything to do on the weekends – we
can go there and study.
MO: Okay; that would be a good idea.
KGI: Um-hmm.
MO: Would you ever go back home?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, I have a lot of family over there, but I would not go over there – I don’t think I can
go there. I love living here.
MO: Okay. What are you most proud of?
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: I am proud I can work and even myself because it’s not good to ask help every time from
other people or other organizations. And I’m proud I am healthy, except I have problems
with my eye; but I can work, I am healthy. And I am proud I have children with me here
in the United States. And I am proud I am living here.
MO: To own a farm is the ultimate dream?
[05:07]
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yes, his dream is to own a farm. [Laughs]
MO: Okay, well if you have a farm in America, you have to get a cowboy hat.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: Okay.
[Laughter]
MO: So that should be a dream too, to own a cowboy hat.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
[Laughter]
MO: Do you have any other dreams?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah I have a lot of dreams, but I will do it one by one; we will see in the future – for
example, I want to own my own house (I don’t want to live in apartments forever). It’s a
good idea to own house first.
MO: Um-hmm; good. Well those are all the questions I have. So do you have any questions for
us, or does anyone else have any questions?
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MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Do you guys have any questions? No?
??: Have you heard about the garden that Nelda has?
??I: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
??: The refugee garden?
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[07:40]
KGI: There were a couple of guys who talked to Nelda about farm –
??: Um-hmm?
KGI: And she send them to another lady named Jillian (he guess, or something like that). So
she got an appointment to meet somewhere and to discuss about it, but they didn’t make
it – they were mis-communicated about the appointment place or time. After that they
didn’t hear anything about that.
??: Well hopefully that can happen.
MO: That’s everything. I think we’re going to conclude this interview. We want to thank you
again for meeting with us and telling us a little bit about, I don’t know, your life.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[09:23]
KGI: Okay. I don’t know whether you guys can answer this question: but he was saying in this
country they tell us you cannot punish your child, and children – they make a lot of [??]
and a lot of [??] stuff and you cannot [??] them. If you do not [??] them, they go worse
and worse and worse. So if you don’t [??] them, how can you correct them? Back home
when children get mistakes or they do something bad, we punish them accordingly.
MO: Um-hmm?
KGI: So when we come here we don’t know anything and they told us we cannot punish our
children – they do lot of crazy stuff and nonsense stuff, and we just look at them because
we cannot punish them. So he wants to know, can we punish our children or not?
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MO: That is a great debate.
[Laughter]
If you ask my dad, you can discipline your kids – but make sure that they know that you
still love them.
MOI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: In Eritrea my children – Eritrea is a good country, but when my children make mistakes, I
punish them and they know why they are punished. Even if I punish them they love me
and they know I love them, because they are my children.
??: And I would suggest, because I know that my friend – because you could get in trouble
like if you – it is kind of crazy here. Like if they’re doing something naughty in the store,
she’ll take them out to her car, or she’ll take them when she gets home. So I think in your
home, then no one can say anything.
MO: You don’t want – it’s interesting; discipline in America is very different, it’s very
interesting because it is such a big debate.
MOI: [Repeating the statements in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[13:03]
KGI: Even back home we just don’t – kids, if we hit them we don’t hit them in front of other
people; we just tell them what they did mistakes and we punish accordingly (sometimes
we can take stuff they have, the stuff they play with or other things – it depends what
they got). But here is kind of hard.
MO: Well I think that’s how you should do it.
??: So you’re doing it right, if you do it.
MOI: [Repeating the statements in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: He is saying if we don’t punish our children, what are you raising – some of them they
will not go to school, some of them will be thieves or other stuff. And the worst thing I
hate is prostitution – I don’t want my children to be that. Because if I don’t [??] them, if I
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don’t talk to them they are not going to know what is right and what’s wrong. So he say I
just want to know whether I can punish and discipline my children.
MO: I say yes.
KG: [Laughs] [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[Laughter]
MO: Well we are going to at least stop the recording here, but just a final question: you are
okay if we use this and put it in the archives, and use it for educational purposes?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: Yeah, I don’t have any problem; you can put it. This is what happened to my lives, it’s a
very important thing. And I don’t have anything to hide – I tell you what the real thing is.
It’s not political; the only thing I hate is politics. So I’m okay if you guys put it in the
archive.
MO: Okay. And online too?
MOI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
KG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
KGI: No problem.
MO: Okay; thank you.
KG: You’re welcome.
MO: Thank you, thank you.
[End part 2 of 2 – 16:28]
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
transcripts;
application/pdf;
189675 Bytes
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/95
Language
A language of the resource
tir; eng;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67610
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 60
Subject
The topic of the resource
Eritrea; Refugees; Ethiopia; Cache Valley (Utah); Africa; Farming; Holiday celebrations;
Title
A name given to the resource
Kahsay Gebremedhin interview transcript, May 23, 2015
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/2b0294b2a23de2420143c5cf793ec868.mp3
495da952f279507d5d39001989e0c0de
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Olsen, Magen, 1986-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Eritrea; Ethiopia; Germany; Maryland; Salt Lake, Utah;
Creator
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Kahsay Gebremedhin, 1971-;
Warner-Evans, Hilary, 1994-;
Berhane Debesai, 1980-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-23
Description
An account of the resource
Interview conducted with Kahsay Gebremedhin by Magen Olsen on May 23, 2015. Translated by Berhane Debesai. Discussion on Eritrea farming practices, Ethiopian refugee camps, etc.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
oral histories (document genre);
audio/mp3;
75448733 Bytes
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/96
Language
A language of the resource
tir; eng;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67611
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 61
Subject
The topic of the resource
Eritrea; Refugees; Ethiopia; Cache Valley (Utah); Africa; Farming; Holiday celebrations;
Title
A name given to the resource
Kahsay Gebremedhin interview, May 23, 2015
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Los Angeles (California); California; United States;
Los Angeles (California); California; United States; Mexico; Utah;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Madrigal, Luis;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-11-16
Description
An account of the resource
Mr. Luis “Luigi” Madrigal talks about his life in Cache Valley, his family traditions that go back to his Mexican roots, and how his family came to live in Cache Valley. He discusses his values, goals, and his perspective on Hispanic stereotypes. He talks a lot about his family and his strong ties with his family.
Format
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image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/759
Language
A language of the resource
eng; spa;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 11
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Families; Education; California;
Title
A name given to the resource
Luis "Luigi" Madrigal interview, November 16, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Los Angeles (California); California;
El Salvador; California; Utah; United States;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Pacheco, Flor;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-11-12
Description
An account of the resource
Miss Flor Pacheco discusses her heritage – her parents being from El Salvador, and her views on the perceived differences between the life in El Salvador, versus the United States (as she regularly visits family in El Salvador). She talks about how her family came to live in Cache Valley, her social life (as a teenager in Cache Valley), and her goals for the future.
Format
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image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/751
Language
A language of the resource
eng; spa;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 12
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; California; Families;
Title
A name given to the resource
Flor Pacheco interview, November 12, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ortiz, Eduardo;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
El Salvador; Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho); Utah; Idaho;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Pineda, Alex;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012-11-14
Description
An account of the resource
Mr. Alex Pineda discusses his life in Cache Valley, as a high school student. He talks about his accomplishments of the past, and his goals and dreams for the future, as well as his views on politics and immigration.
Format
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image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/747
Language
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eng; spa;
Publisher
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Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 13
Subject
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Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Families; Education; Immigration & culture; Religion;
Title
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Alex Pineda interview, November 14, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
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California; United States;
Mexico; California; Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho); Utah; Idaho;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
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Pineda, Yasmeen;
Date
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2012-11-14
Description
An account of the resource
Miss Yasmeen Pineda talks about her parents’ roots in Mexico, and how they came to live in Cache Valley. She discusses her quinceañera and the ways she (with her family) celebrate her Mexican tradition. She talks about her responsibilities in her family and her goals for her future.
Format
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image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/722
Language
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eng; spa;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 14
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Education; Immigration & culture;
Title
A name given to the resource
Yasmeen Pineda interview, November 14, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Latino Voices
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Williams, Randy;
Barry, Donna;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
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Michoacan (Mexico); Mexico;
Mexico; Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho); Utah; Idaho; United States;
Hyrum (Utah); Cache County (Utah); Utah; United States;
Creator
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R, Maria;
Date
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2012-11-16
Description
An account of the resource
Miss Maria talks about how she came to the United States, and Cache Valley, from Michoacá Taguadon, Mexico. She talks about the economic struggles she and her family have experienced while here. She discusses being a teenager in Cache Valley, talks about her quinceañera celebration, and her goals for the future.
Format
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image/jpeg; audio/mp3; application/pdf;
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Latino/id/768
Language
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eng; spa;
Publisher
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Digitized by Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Latino/Latina Voices Project, 2007, 2012
Latino/Latina Voices Project inventory can be found at: http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv83200
Latino Voices
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, (435) 797-2663.
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
The original of this item can be found at Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, FOLK COLL 38 Box 12 Folder 15
Subject
The topic of the resource
Hispanic Americans; Minority high school students; Families; Immigration & culture;
Title
A name given to the resource
Maria R interview, November 16, 2012
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image;StillImage; Sound; Text;
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/2dc8a791050e28d88262b79e49bc3d68.mp3
18c62f28df8327e513238514cef956c5
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Warner-Evans, Hilary, 1994-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
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Segeneiti, Eritrea; Sudan; Libya; Malta; England; New York, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada;
Creator
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Seltene Gebrelasie Gebretinsa, 1975-;
Olsen, Magen, 1986-;
Berhane Debesai Abraha, 1980-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-16
Description
An account of the resource
Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa tells about his birthplace in Eritrea, a little bit about his family and his religion. He talks about his 11 year service in the army as an impetus to flee his country and become a refugee. He discusses his journey as a refugee, first in Malta, and the process to eventually come to the United States. He talks about adjusting to living in the United States, from taking classes to learn English and working to support himself. He talks about his wife and children he left behind, and his hopes of being able to have them join him in the United States.
Format
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oral histories (document genre)
audio/mp3;
61953052 Bytes
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/99
Language
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tir; eng;
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67614
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
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Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
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Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 64
Subject
The topic of the resource
Eritrea; Eritreans; Families; Refugees; Ethiopia; Logan, UT; Culture; Tigrinya; English; Education; International Refugee Commission; Refugee Camps; Work; Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsal-- Interviews
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Seltene Gebretinsa in Logan, Utah, 2015 May 16
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/25f384a755f8d2a2ea817db733fdb52f.pdf
a5bbf2248e345a1cdcdd406b42627139
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Warner-Evans, Hilary, 1994-;
Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Segeneiti, Eritrea; Sudan; Libya; Malta; England; New York, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada;
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Seltene Gebrelasie Gebretinsa, 1975-;
Olsen, Magen, 1986-;
Berhane Debesai Abraha, 1980-;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-16
Description
An account of the resource
Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa tells about his birthplace in Eritrea, a little bit about his family and his religion. He talks about his 11 year service in the army as an impetus to flee his country and become a refugee. He discusses his journey as a refugee, first in Malta, and the process to eventually come to the United States. He talks about adjusting to living in the United States, from taking classes to learn English and working to support himself. He talks about his wife and children he left behind, and his hopes of being able to have them join him in the United States.
Cache
Valley
Refugee
Oral
History
Project:
Seltene
Gebreselasie
Gebretinsa
Page
1
CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa
Present: Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa, Hilary Warner-Evans, Berhane Debesai
Abraha, Heidi Williams, Megan Olsan
Place of Interview: Logan Public Library, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 16, 2015
Language(s): Tigrinya
Translation:
Interviewer: Hilary Warner-Evans
Interpreter: Berhane Debesai Abraha
Recordist: Heidi Williams
Photographer: Magen Olsen
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 22, 2015
Transcript Proofed by: Hilary Warner-Evans, May 24, 2015
Brief Description of Contents: Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa tells about his birthplace in Eritrea, a little bit about
his family and his religion. He talks about his 11 year service in the army as an impetus to flee his country and
become a refugee. He discusses his journey as a refugee, first in Malta, and the process to eventually come to the
United States. He talks about adjusting to living in the United States, from taking classes to learn English and
working to support himself. He talks about his wife and children he left behind, and his hopes of being able to have
them join him in the United States.
Reference: HW = Hilary Warner-Evans
HWI = Hilary Warner-Evans’ words interpreted by translator
SG = Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa
SGGI: = Seltene Gebreselasie Gebretinsa’s words interpreted by translator
NOTE: The interview was conducted with the assistance of a live translator, Berhane Debesai
Abraha. The interpreter was there for the whole period. False starts, pauses, or transitions in
dialogue such as “uh” and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All
additions and added information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
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[00:01]
HWE: Okay, it is May 16th, 2015. This is Hilary Warner-Evans interviewing Seltene
Gebreselasie Gebretinsa.
SGG: Yeah.
HWE: And he is a member of the Eritrean community here, in Logan, Utah. We are at the Logan
Public Library, in the Temple Fork Room. And Berhane Debesai Abraha is translating
into Tigrinya. And also present are Heidi Williams, recording, and Magen Olsen, doing
photography.
Can you – we’ve actually already gone over part of this – but can you give me your full
name and your birth year?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: His birthday is January 1, 1975.
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: And his name is Seltene Gebreselasie.
HWE: Okay. And can you tell me about your family?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Okay, no problem; I can tell you about my family: I was born in east Africa, in Eritrea,
and my father is Gebreselasie Gebretinsa. Okay.
SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: And I was born in southern zone, it’s called Zoba Debub in Tigrinya, and the place he
was born in Segeneiti – it’s a small village.
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: It’s around 70 kilometers south of the capital city Asmara.
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SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: I was born and raised in Segeneiti, and when my age reached 18, I went for National
Service.
SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: And I have been in the army for around 11 years, and life was not comfortable for me.
And I just left the country and moved some other place.
HWE: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yes.
[Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he has one sister, and there are four boys. Aand there was another brother –
[Speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he died in the war with Ethiopia before 1994 – the War of Liberation with
Ethiopian’s army; he died in the struggle.
HWE: And are you the only member of your family here, in the United States?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he’s the only one.
HWE: What languages do you speak?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
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SGGI: He speaks Tigrinya.
HWE: And what ethnic or religious community do you consider yourself to be a part of?
HWEI: [Repeating question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He is a Christian; he is a follower of Eritrean Orthodox Church.
HWE: Can you tell me a little bit about Eritrea?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[06:31]
SGGI: Eritrea is a beautiful and comfortable country to live, but at this time because of the
situation of the war and the political system, it’s not becoming favorable for the people to
live in it.
SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, at this time Eritrea is kind of in a war, so everybody is in the army for ten years or
more; so people cannot live their life, cannot support their family – so everybody is
leaving to help themself and to improve their life and the life of their family. So that’s
why I move out of the country: in search of a good life, and better life.
HWE: How long did you live in Eritrea?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He was living in Eritrea starting the date of his birth, 1975, up to 2008.
HWE: Can you tell me about the experience of leaving?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, I am married and I have two children; since I was in the army I cannot support
them, I cannot do anything. And it was for a long time. So I want to improve my life and
my family’s lives. And I leave Eritrea to the Sudan’s border; then from Sudan he went to
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Libya, through the desert there. He crosses the Mediterranean to Malta; and from Malta
he came to the United States.
HWE: Did you spend any time in a camp while you were coming over?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He was in Malta from 2008, up to 2012, under the Refugee Commission.
HWE: What was it like being with the Refugee Commission in Malta?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: So Malta’s refugee camp was kind of good, because you are free to move out. So he was
not in the camp, he was working in Malta –
[Speaking to interviewee in Tigrinya]
SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He was working with some farmers on the farm. So while he was a refugee, until he
comes to the United States, he was working earning money, and he was supporting his
family and himself. So they didn’t have anything to worry in Malta, because they could
work and they were working.
[10:57]
HWE: So how did you – when you were working on a farm back in Eritrea.
HWEI: Eritrea.
HWE: Right?
HWEI: [Repeating statement in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, I was born in a farming family, so I was raised with them – so I was working on a
farm.
[Speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee.]
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HWE: Can you talk about the food or the medical care that you received when you were in the
refugee camp in Malta?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Okay, in the refugee camp in Malta, for the first seven months we were under the
Refugee Commission until they finish all our registration and until they check and
double-check our information. So they were providing us food, the house was clean; they
give us shelter, clothes and bed. But after seven months, when they finish the registration
stuff, we were allowed to leave the camp and to work. So after that I was working and
earning money myself, and I was living by myself.
HWE: What kind of work did you do?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He was working with the local farmers.
HWE: Okay.
SGGI: So they got a big farm. He was working with them.
HWE: How did you celebrate, like, holidays when you were living in the camp?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[14:06]
SGGI: Okay, he say it was okay; Maltans, they have a lot of holidays – and we celebrate all
holidays with them. And their biggest holiday is Christmas, and we were celebrating it
with the people.
SGG: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: And their second holiday was Easter, and we are celebrating it with them.
HWE: What kinds of things did you do for Christmas and Easter?
HWEI: [Repeating question in Tigrinya.]
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SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he is saying he was so close with the family he was working with; they were kind
of parents for me. And for the purpose of work he was rented in front, close to them; so
most of the time, 25% of the time, he was celebrating the holiday with them.
HWE: And how did that differ from how you celebrated it back in your home country?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: It’s kind of the same – they didn’t have any difference.
HWE: Okay. So did you eat like any particular foods, or do anything particular?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said in Malta they kind of live in extended family, so most of the time on holidays
they don’t cook – they just go out all together. So since he was working with them, they
always take him with them, and they go out and order food and get it; they don’t cook at
all.
HWE: Okay. And did you do anything else besides go out to eat? Did you go to church or
anything like that?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[17:51]
SGGI: Okay. In Malta they always go to church Saturday evening and Sunday morning. So the
church was close to my apartment, and I kind of know their language at that time – so I
used to go to their church.
HWE: Now was it like an Orthodox church?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: No, Catholic.
HWE: Okay.
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SGGI: It was a Catholic church.
HWE: So was that very different for you to go to a Catholic church, instead of Orthodox?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said for him it doesn’t make any difference because in his home town, tthe place he
grow up, the majority of the people are Catholics, and few are Orthodox; so he knows
what Catholic is, and their culture.
HWE: And in the camp – were there other people from Eritrea there?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: A lot.
HWE: Was that the majority of the people there?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: The majority of the refugees were Somalians and people from West Africa.
HWE: So did you end up celebrating at all with other people from your home country? Or did
you mostly just go with the people you were working for?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he was saying the refugee’s holidays – they are always the same, so he was
celebrating it with the family he was working; but the public holidays – he was
celebrating them with the people from Eritrea.
HWE: What kinds of public holidays did you celebrate?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[21:39]
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SGGI: He said the religious holidays are the same, so he would sometime celebrate them with
the family he was working, but holidays like May 24th (that means it’s Eritrean
Independence Day) and June 20 (it’s kind of Memorial Day – we call it the Martyrs’
Day) – he was celebrating it with the Eritreans.
HWE: And how did you celebrate those holidays?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Most of the people – after they were allowed to leave the camp in war, they rented their
own apartment, so they would celebrate the whole island. So when there is holidays they
rent a big hall, and they prepare food and drinks, and they celebrate it together.
HWE: And what kinds of food and drinks did you have?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: For the foods they buy meat and some of them they prepare ingera, and they just make
food just like the way we do at home. And for the drink they just buy beer.
HWE: So for the meat would you get like a whole animal?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: So they were buying beef from groceries.
HWE: Okay. And did you get the beer from the grocery too?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.] [Laughs]
SGGI: Yeah, that is the only way – you can buy it from groceries [laughs].
HWE: [Laughs]
So how did Malta feel about the refugees coming in from Eritrea?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
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SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[25:06]
SGGI: Malta is a small island, its population is around half million, 500,000. So at first, when
the refugees come to their area, they didn’t like it because it’s a small country, and there
are a lot of refugees; but some time they get used to them, so they were friendly. Then
after they get their refugee status, American Immigration System, they came to them and
they give them asylum to the United States.
HWE: So did you feel safe when you were there?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He says the country is so nice – it’s a free country, nobody talks to you, nobody even
asks, nobody stops you. But when they first arrived in Malta, the people they don’t like
them; sometimes even if they see another Eritrean or another refugee on the bus they just
leave the whole bus. But after some time they get used to them Then they didn’t care
anymore.
HWE: And how did you learn about the U.S. refugee program?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: There was a refugee office over there, a refugee commission office, so he go over there to
the office, and there are a lot of refugee places to go: Europe, Canada, America (or
United States of America), and Australia. You choose which area you want to go, you
just go and you settle with them and they take care of your process.
HWE: Okay, so you can choose which country you want to go to?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[28:42]
SGGI: They ask you question and if you want to go to Germany, France, Holland (or the
Netherlands), Slovakia, and Hungary. I don’t want to go that places, so I tell them that I
am not going to these places and they give me opportunity to go to the United States.
HWE: And how did you apply to do that?
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HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, at that time, the United States were taking a lot of Eritrean refugees, so as soon as I
know the United States taking refugees, I went there and applied. And it took me around
seven years to process everything. And I did my interview and they gave me the
congratulation paper. That means they accepted him. And after that he came to the United
States.
HWE: So did someone in the office help you do that process, with all the paperwork and stuff?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, in their office they have a translator, a paid translator, so I go through the process.
In Malta at the Immigration Office you cannot do it the way we do it in Africa, because
in Africa you can bribe stuff like that, but in Malta you cannot do that; you have to go
through all the process. They provide you translator, and they check everything, your
background and other stuff. And when you pass everything they tell you when you come.
When you finish your immigration process, then when they approve you, you just come
to the United States.
[31:34]
HWE: And can you tell me a little bit about the journey to the United States?
HWEI: You mean the airplane journey?
HWE: Yeah, or how you go from Malta to the U.S.?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: [Speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Okay. So when all their process is done, when their flight is scheduled to show up in
Malta, the Refugee Commission – they took them to the airport; they put them in the
airplanes and they showed them their chair and they told them, “Good luck, have a nice
trip.” And from Malta, they fly to England for a transit. And in England some people
were waiting for them – and the same thing: these people, they took them to the next
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airplane, and they put them on the airplane (they same the thing), “Good luck, nice trip.”
And after that, from England they landed in New York.
HWE: And were there other Eritrean refugees going on the plane with you?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: There were four Eritreans and three Somalians on the plane.
HWE: So you came to New York first. Did you fly, then, directly from New York to Salt Lake?
Or did you spend time in another place in the U.S.?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[34:51]
SGGI: Okay, when they come from Malta, their destination was not New York – it was Las
Vegas, Nevada; but they stayed two days in New York because the weather was bad.
Planes could not fly that day; so they stayed two days. Then after the weather got normal,
they flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, for their final destination. And he stayed three months in
Las Vegas.
[Speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
HWE: What time of year was it when you were flying?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: [Speaking in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: It was December 7, 2012.
HWE: What were the first months like in Las Vegas?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
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SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said, Las Vegas is okay, but I didn’t like it – it’s too hot. But I stayed there for three
months because he was going to English classes. After he finished the first three months
of the class, then he moved to – [speaking Tigrinya to interviewee]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He moved to Logan.
HWE: Where were you taking English classes in Las Vegas?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He was going to the Catholic school church, because this Catholic school – the Catholics,
they got an organization for the refugees (they help with their flight and other stuff). So
he was going there – it was for free. The first couple of months when you show up here,
you need to get your social security, you have to get your ID (that is a kind of work
permit). So I was waiting for the papers, but I decided to go to school instead of just
sitting and wait for the papers.
HWE: Were you there with other members of the Eritrean community?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[38:21]
SGGI: When he come from Malta, he was with three other Eritreans (that means four of them),
so they were all assigned to Las Vegas. So four of them, they give them one house with
three bedrooms; so they were staying together for the first three months. And after three
months he moved to Logan.
HWE: And the others stayed in Las Vegas?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: They stayed there; they are still there.
HWE: What else was Las Vegas like, besides too hot?
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HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said Las Vegas has a lot of big building, beautiful places: hotels, houses and other
stuff – but it’s not like Utah; I didn’t like it. He can’t see a lot of stuff there.
HWE: So you were in like a more rural area when you were in Eritrea?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he was more in a rural area. Then he moved to a small town.
HWE: How could your situation, when you first came to the United States, have been improved?
I mean, in terms of like the help you received.
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[41:28]
SGGI: When they first showed up – the United States government helps us a lot: they do
whatever we need necessary. When we first show up they give us 1100 dollars each in
our hand, but we don’t know anybody in this country, so they ask the Refugee
Commission to rent house for them. So they help them to rent a house or apartment with
their money. And everyone, they were given – [speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: [Speaking in Tigrinya to interviewee.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: They were giving them 350 dollars every month. They were assigned to take 350 for
eight months, but as soon as he moved in the third month he get 350 dollars every month
for the first three months. And he came to Logan, so they cut the money they were giving
him.
HWE: Oh. So when you decided to move to another place they stopped giving you the money?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
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SGGI: He said you can take it – they don’t stop it, but most of the time if you got a job, I don’t
need any assistance. So thanks God when I moved here, I got a job, so I don’t want to
take money anymore.
HWE: Did you not have a job in Las Vegas?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: No.
HWE: Okay. How long have you lived in Logan?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Two years.
HWE: And where do you work?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: JBS Beef Company.
SGGI: JBS Beef Company in Hyrum.
HWE: What is like here?
HWEI: You mean work, or?
HWE: Work and just life in general in this area.
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[44:05]
SGGI: He likes Utah – it’s a good place to live; I didn’t see any bad things here, so it’s a nice
place to live here.
HWE: Do you feel like you’re included in the Logan community?
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HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: This is a good place to live. Most of the time we spend our time at work, so he cannot say
anything about any other people; they cannot say they include me, they didn’t include
me, but every time we are at work and at home.
HWE: Do you live with other people here?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
HWE: Oh, you live on your own, right? You said that already.
HWEI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, he got two roommates.
HWE: Oh, okay. Okay, is there anything that you think would make you feel more at home
here?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
HWEI: [Speaking to interviewee in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said now I want to stay in America, so I am improving my life and I am looking for a
better opportunities. We are waiting for this country to grow up and for us to get more
opportunities.
HWE: How is living here different than living back home?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[47:44]
SGGI: Life in America is so expensive, rent is expensive; you cannot live if you don’t have
work. And even though you are not going to live with anybody, everybody wants money.
Back home, life is not expensive; so, for example, if you don’t have any apartment to
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live, you can live with families, you can live with other people for some time; you can
share with everybody. But here you have to work hard and pay a lot of money for life.
HWE: How has it been renting an apartment or house?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He said when I compare with Malta – In Malta I used to have my own one bedroom
apartment and that one bedroom includes everything: furniture, bed, kitchen utensils,
refrigerator, and everything – and he was paying only 150 dollar for it (150 Euros for it).
But here, rent is so expensive it’s just – cannot compare; it’s too expensive.
HWE: And what is your landlord like?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[50:29]
SGGI: Yeah, he is sole renter of the apartment they live in now – the landlord, we never sees
him. There was a time when we used to go over their place, but now they got a drop box;
we just write a money order or check, you just drop it. They don’t say anything; they
don’t even come to the apartment.
HWE: What would you like people in Logan to know about you and other members of your
community here?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
HWEI: [Speaking to interviewee in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He is saying I would like to thank for, not only for Logan, but for the government of the
United States, because they know we got in trouble, so they are helping us: they are
bringing us over here, and they tried to find jobs and apartments for us. So I came to the
United States in Las Vegas when I came here, and they’re still helping me. But the state
of Utah, they accept a lot of refugees from Eritrea, and they try to help them with work,
school, housing and other stuffs. So I appreciate the United States government for
helping the Eritrean communities, and I want them to keep helping because there are still
more people who needs extra help.
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HWE: Would you go back to Eritrea if you were able to do that?
HWEI: You mean to visit, or just go back entirely?
HWE: Both, I guess.
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[54:07]
SGGI: He is saying as long as the political situation is the same in Eritrea and the government
stays there, I don’t want to go there and I cannot go there because this government is not
treating us well. I have been in the army for 11 years. How can a person stay in the army
for 11 years without payment. But if administration changed, I would like to go visit my
families and see Eritrea; all the people of Eritrea are friendly and nice people. So I want
to go there and see them; it has been too long since the time I was out of Eritrea.
HWE: So you said earlier you had a wife and two kids in Eritrea?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, I have a wife and two kids.
HWE: Are you still in communication with them?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, I call them.
HWE: Do you send them money?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah.
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
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SGGI: Yeah, I am the sole helper of the [???] community.
HWE: Do they have any plans to come join you here?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, I applied for them to join me here, and the immigration system (or the Visa center),
they approved my application – they even called them for interview, but my children,
they are so small so I cannot take them out safely, so I don’t want to expose them in
danger because they are too young. So they are entirely dependent, so when they grow up
or when there is a possibility to take them out they will come and join him.
HWE: How old are your children?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: The boy is ten and the girl is eight.
HWE: What are you most proud of, in terms of having come here?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
[57:42]
SGGI: He said I am proud to be here because this country is a big country, and there is a lot of
opportunities if you think hard and work hard you can do whatever you want to do: you
can go to school – you can work and go to school. So the only thing you need to do here
is just work hard and think hard, and you just do whatever you want to do; you can reach
your dreams.
HWE: What are your dreams for the future?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.] [High pitched feedback noise begins 58:29]
SGGI: He saying when we come here I need to learn – so he was going to school [??] for four
months; and now he is going to the English school. So he his plans now is to work in the
daytime and go to school in the evening in order to improve his life.
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HWE: What, specifically, would you like to have change in your life after you learn English?
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.] [High pitched feedback ends 59:45]
[60:00]
SGGI: Yeah, I never went to school when I was back home, so I didn’t have education
background. So the reason I am going to school now is I don’t want to be illiterate,
because I will try to read and do his stuff on his own. And when his children show up (or
when they come to the United States) he just wants to help them [high pitched feedback
noise begins 60:20 when they are in school and other stuff, because he needs to learn the
language. If he don’t know the language, he cannot help his own.
HWE: I think that might be about it; do you guys have anything you want to ask? [To other
fieldworkers] No? Okay. Is there anything that we haven’t asked you that you think we
should know? [to interviewee]
HWEI: [Repeating the question in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.] [end feedback noise 61:34, begins again at 61:47 and
continues to end]
[End part 1 of 2 – 62:05]
[Part 2 of 2 – 00:01]
[high pitched feedback noise from beginning]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: He saying when they come to the United States when they are in Malta, they gave them
three days course how the United States government works and everything. And they told
them, “If you guys are married, your family will follow you here between six to eight
months. If you are not married, [end feedback noise at 00:37] and if you plan to come
back some countries can get married and take them to the United States, if better if you
become a citizenship, then it will be easier.” But his wife is in Ethiopia now, his children
are in Eritrea, but his wife is in Ethiopia; she did an interview a year ago, but she is still
waiting for the flight in Ethiopia. It has been more than two years since he has been here
and it has been more than a year since she did the interview; she is just waiting for the
flight. So there was some kind of misunderstanding. The way they tell them in Malta, and
the way things are going here – they are not the same.
HWE: Okay. I think this concludes our interview. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. And we
do have like a release form to put the interview into the Archives at USU, and also, I
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think, [high pitched feedback noise begins 01:40 and continues to end] for it to be used in
our online exhibit, and also for– like we are going to have a community event on
Thursday that I will tell you more about.
HWEI: [Repeating the statement in Tigrinya.]
SGG: [Responding in Tigrinya.]
SGGI: Yeah, no problem; he will sign your paper.
[End part 2 of 2 – 02:25]
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
transcripts;
application/pdf;
160911 Bytes
Identifier
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http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/101
Language
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tir; eng;
Publisher
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Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67615
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
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Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
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Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 65
Subject
The topic of the resource
Eritrea; Eritreans; Families; Refugees; Immigration; Immigrants; Malta; Logan, UT; Culture; Tigrinya; English; Education; International Refugee Commission; Refugee Camps; Work; Holidays; Eritrea-- Food; Seltene Gebrelasie Gebretinsa-- Interviews
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Seltene Gebretinsa in Logan, Utah, 2015 May 16
Type
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Text;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/65157f8950bfed5d23b39546a4681579.pdf
b28ab4a36f09120c881f65c84b2d6046
Dublin Core
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Title
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Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Gross, Susan;
Coverage
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2010-2019; 21st century;
Date
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2015-05-16
Description
An account of the resource
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CACHE VALLEY REFUGEE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TRANSCRIPTION COVER SHEET
Interviewee(s): Kaw Lay
Present: David Giles, Cami Dilg, Deanna Allred, Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, Khin Mar
Cho (Kaw Lay’s wife)
Place of Interview: Kaw Lay’s home, Logan, Utah
Date of Interview: May 16, 2015
Language(s): Burmese
Translation:
Interviewer: David Giles
Interpreter: Har Be Bar
Recordist: Deanna Allred
Photographer: Cami Dilg
Recording Equipment: Tascam DR-100mk11 linear PCM recorder; Senal ENG-18RL
broadcast-quality omnidirectional dynamic microphone
Transcription Equipment: Express Scribe with PowerPlayer foot pedal.
Transcribed by: Susan Gross, May 25, 2015
Transcript Proofed by:
Brief Description of Contents: Mr. Kaw Lay discusses being born in Burma, and then the
conditions during the war. He talks about his wife and children escaping to a refugee camp in
Thailand, with him following later (after having earned more money to support the trip). He talks
about the journey to the United States, and what it took to adjust and get settled in Logan, Utah.
He and his wife talk about the struggles they’ve had, as well as daily life for their family in the
United States.
Reference: DG = David Giles
DGI = David Giles’ words interpreted by translator
KL = Kaw Lay
KLI = Kaw Lay’s words interpreted by translator
DA = Deanna Allred
DAI = Deanna Allred’s words interpreted by translator
CD = Cami Dilg
CDI = Cami Dilg’s words interpreted by translator
KC = Khin Mar Cho
KC = Khin Mar Cho’s words interpreted by translator
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NOTE: [You will have to modify this as appropriate—whether using CommGap or in-person
interpreter.] The interview was conducted with CommGap Interpretive Services; the interpreter
joined the interview via a cell phone. False starts, pauses, or transitions in dialogue such as “uh”
and starts and stops in conversations are not included in transcript. All additions and added
information to transcript are noted with brackets.
TAPE TRANSCRIPTION
[00:01]
DG: Okay. This is David Giles; we are recording an interview for the “Voices: Refugees in
Cache Valley” project. Also with me we have Cami Dilg and Deanna Allred (I
completely spaced). Today is the 16th of May, and it is about one o’clock in the
afternoon. We also have Har Be Bar, who is the interpreter today, and Kaw Lay, who we
will be interviewing. Is there anything else we need to put on the tag, or is that it? Okay.
Sorry?
CD: Go ahead and ask who else is in the room –
DG: Okay.
CD: And have them be identified.
DG: Okay. Could you do me a favor and just tell us your names?
??: My name is [??]
DG: Okay. Sean[??], would you mind?
KC: My name is Khin Mar Cho, his wife.
DG: Okay.
[Inaudible discussion with folks in the room.]
DG: [??] okay.
DA: How do you spell that?
??: T-H-U-V[??]
DG: Oh, I think you were here yesterday.
??: Yeah.
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DG: Okay; alright.
DA: How do you spell your name?
KC: Khin Mar Cho: K-H-I-N space M-A-R space C-H-O.
DA: C-H--?
KC: C-H-O.
DA: C-H-O? Thank you.
DG: Okay. Now, before we start Kaw Lay, just to make sure on Har Be Bar, it’s easiest if we
just speak one or two sentences at a time, give her time to translate.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: If you would like to speak in English, that’s fine; if you feel more comfortable speaking
in Burmese – that’s fine as well; just whichever you prefer.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He will speak in English – oh, Burmese.
DG: Okay.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Alright. So my first question: can you tell us your first name and your birth year? And
what languages do you speak?
DGI: [Repeating the questions in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First name is Kaw and the last name is Lay; he speak Burmese. His birthday is –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s 1963.
DG: 1963, okay. Now let me see, tell us a little bit about your family – you know, how many
children do you have? And how long have you been married? That kind of thing.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t remember exactly how long he been married. And then he has five children.
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.] Two girls and three boys.
DG: Okay, thank you. Let me see – can you please describe the ethnic or religious community
that you belong to? So you know, tell us about being a Burmese Muslim.
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[04:33]
KLI: I’m kind of Muslim ethnic group.
DG: Okay, thank you. Now let me see – can you tell us a little bit more about Burma? You
know, how long you lived there, why you left?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He was born in Burma, and then there was civil war going around, so they had to move
around in Burma. So he had to leave Burma because of the war to Thailand camp.
DG: So you went to Thailand first?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
Yeah, Thailand first.
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DG: Okay, so what was that like – having to move around, having to move to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese between several people.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Well everything was destroyed, so we have to move around. Well he have to, so it’s kind
of not good.
DG: Um-hmm.
KLI: Yeah, that’s what he try to say.
DG: Okay. Let me see – okay. So about how old were you when you had to leave to Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Forty-four[??]
DG: Okay. And do you remember how many kids you had at that time?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[08:23]
KLI: At that time he only have four childrens, and then in the camp she was born.
DG: Wow, okay. What was that like having little kids with you when you needed to leave?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KLI: Yeah, it was the worst time ever, because the whole family cannot go together. At first
his wife and two childrens went there first; and then he followed them.
DG: Wow that sounds scary.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Did you have to go separately because if immigration restrictions, because of laws?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: First because their family over there in the camp – they went first – and then they support
them to get there. Yeah, he stay in Burma, work for a little bit and then get money, and
then go.
DG: I understand; okay, thank you. What was it like living in a refugee camp? What were
your experiences there?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He don’t have much experience – he get free food, he live with the food because he don’t
work (in the camp there are no jobs).
DG: Um-hmm. So what kind of food did you get?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Rice, beans, salt, oil, chilies.
DG: Wow, so not very much?
KLI: Not very much.
DG: Not very much. Let me see – now what kind of medical care was there in the camp?
What would you do if you got into an accident, or you got sick?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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[13:07]
KLI: In the camp there are clinic, and then if he get sick he will go there. If the health is getting
worse, and like dying, the clinic will support him to go to a Mae Sot hospital (he will get
take care of him); he don’t have to pay for it.
DG: Okay, thank you. What kind of hospital was it?
KLI: It’s a clinic – in the camp? The clinic.
DG: Oh, well you said if they got worse then they’d go to a hospital?
KLI: Uh-huh, like in Mae Sot – in the big city.
DG: Oh, okay; alright. Let me see – now you said there wasn’t any work that you could do in
the camp, no jobs?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: No.
DG: Okay, wow; wow. Okay, now when you were in the camp did you celebrate in holy days
or any holidays?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There are a lot of people (like Muslim people); so that way he could celebrate the Eid
(they call the Eid). First he went to the mosque and then pray, and then come back and
have fun with families.
DG: Cool. Was there a mosque in the camp?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, they were.
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DG: Okay, wow. What was the mosque like – like what was it made out of? What did it look
like?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s made of wood and bamboo tree.
DG: Okay. Was it specially decorated, or was it just you know, just a house?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[16:12]
KLI: It’s kind of like a house, but it’s a lot bigger because a lot of people go there and kind of
decorated.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Let me see – now what was it like politically? Like what was your relation – when you
were refugees, what was your relationship with Thailand?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: You don’t have a lot of like relationship with Thailand – just live in the camp, and then
their like government help.
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you feel safe in the camps?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s not safe over there; the Burmese people will come and burn them, but he was afraid.
DG: That does sound scary. Thank you. Let me see – so how did you first hear about the
United States’ refugee program, and how did you apply for it?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[19:19]
KLI: There is a group that called –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: UNHI –
[Speaking in Burmese to interviewee.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s called UI – he don’t really know. And then he had to register for to come here (like a
lot of people were).
DG: Okay, thank you. Did you get any help applying?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, the UI group helped with everything, because they don’t know anything. So they
helped.
DG: Okay, thank you. I have a question about the paperwork – was it all in English, or did you
have to fill it out in Burmese?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, it’s in English, but there are translator that helped them.
DG: Wow that sounds like a nightmare.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
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DG: Let me see – so what was it like coming to the U.S.? What was your experience with the
move?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: From the camp he had to go to the city, in Thailand city – he had to like stay there three
days in the church, and then he had to take the airplane (like three to four airplanes); and
he went to New York, and from New York to here.
DG: Wow.
KLI: Yeah.
DG: Wow.
KLI: It’s a long way.
DG: Um-hmm. Kaw Lay’s wife has just sat down with us. Let me see – now you said when
you went to the camp you had to go – it was your wife and a couple of children, and then
you came afterwards? Did you all go at the same time to the United States, or did you
have to go twice like that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[22:54]
KLI: All together.
DG: All together?
KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Let me see – so when you first got to the United States, what was it like for those
first couple months? Did anyone help you out, or were you just on your own?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He get a little bit help with the renting and stuff, but there is a problem with his son
broken leg; yeah.
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DG: Um-hmm. So who helped you with the rent?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KLI: There is a group (IRC) help pay the rent for six months.
DG: Oh, wow. That might have been the – Cache Valley group? We’ll look it up –
[Discussion in Burmese.]
You mentioned there was a problem when your son broke his leg – what happened then?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion in Burmese among several folks present.]
KCI: They get separated – he is in the hotel, and then she is in the hospital with the broken leg
child; and then there is no phone, no number that to call. And then they don’t know how
to contact each other.
DG: Wow. And you’re saying this is Kaw Lay and his wife (for the recording)?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay, wow; sounds very scary. Let me see – now did the hospital charge you for that?
How did you get help paying for that (the broken leg)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC helped them to pay for it.
DG: Okay; alright, thank you. Let me see, next question – so how long have you guys been
living here, in Logan?
[27:44]
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Like five to six year.
DG: Okay, let me see – what is life like here? What do you do (what kind of work do you do)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: He work in Miller, and then he is saying that he don’t get food stamps now – so with his
money he buy food and stuff, and live like that.
DG: What specifically do you do at Miller (like what’s your job)?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He had to do the inside of the cow’s stomach –
DG: Oh, goodness.
KLI: [Laughs] Yeah.
DG: Khin Mar Cho (is that how you?) –
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – what do you do for work here, or do you work?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She sew, she cook – she sew for other people like – she sew for my clothes too, and then
I pay for it.
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DG: Oh cool; awesome, thank you. Let me see – do you feel included in the Logan
community? Do you feel a part of the group here?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he feel like it.
DG: Good, good. Let me see – now tell us a little bit about your home here: like how is it like
the house you had back in Burma, and how is it different?
[31:13]
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: Thailand – the camp houses are like sometime missing a wall –
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: Made with the bamboo trees.
DG: Um-hmm?
KL: And then here it’s like completely a lot better; yeah.
DG: Um-hmm; okay, thank you. Let me see – oh, have you had any problems with your
landlord, or have they been nice and helpful?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The best landlord ever, he said, because whenever he need something he call it, and then
that person come.
DG: Okay, so the landlord is helpful then?
KLI: Yeah, it’s very helpful.
DG: Okay. Good, good; we’ve heard some stories where that wasn’t the case.
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: If you could translate that.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: The others are not that helpful. Yeah.
DG: Okay; wow, it sounds like you got lucky [laughs].
DGI: Um-hmm. [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.] Very, very.
DG: Um-hmm. Now let me see – so what would you like people in Logan to know about you
and your family?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[34:44]
KLI: If they’re interested in them, they can come and ask about it; yeah [laughs].
DG: Okay. Alright, let me see – now if you could, would you like to go back to Burma?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He would like to go back because he have like a lot of friends. And then if he goes
somewhere else (like in the jungle) he is happy to live in there, because he feel like it’s
his place – and here he don’t feel like it’s own place. And then his child would not go
back because they live here, they feel like it’s their place. So yeah, he would like to go
back.
DG: Okay. I’m sorry – what was your name again?
KC: Khin Mar Cho.
DG: Khin Mar Cho – would you like to go back?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t like to go back because there are still problems and then she doesn’t want to
like get problem anymore – she just want to get free.
DG: Um-hmm.
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – I’d like to go back and ask about the move to the United States.
Is there anything that you think that people could do to make that move easier, to make
that transition?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[38:25]
KLI: He want to get like easiest way that he could, if he can – but he had to go around because
– [speaking in Burmese to interviewee]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s the traveling stuff, so –
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, he cannot just go straight –
DG: Are you talking about he would have liked to have flown into Salt Lake –
KLI: Uh-huh.
DG: Instead of going to New York and back?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay. Okay now let me see – now just a couple more questions. So what are you most
proud of?
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DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: He is very proud that he could come here, and then like his childrens can go to school
free. Yeah.
DG: Good. Now Khin Mar Cho – what are you most proud of?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
KCI: She said nothing because she can’t speak English until now.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she wants to like speak English and then get better health.
DG: Get better health?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. Are you having medical problems right now?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese – crying.]
KCI: Yeah, she is having with medical; she want to have medical care.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they don’t help.
DG: They don’t help?
KCI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay. I’m not sure –
DA: Where does she go to get medical help?
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KCI: She just go to the hospital, but she has insurance in the JBS, but the JBS didn’t help them
much; so, yeah.
[41:27]
DA: For her specific problem?
KCI: Um-hmm.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The thing is that they could pay, but they did not pay. And then there is like a lot of
paperworks come, and then she don’t know how to read and stuff.
DG: Would you like us to see if we can help with that?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she would like you to.
DG: Okay, alright. I don’t know how much we can do, but I’ll ask and see if there is someone
who can help.
DA: It sounds like there’s just a translation problem. Is it more than just a translation problem?
DG: Yeah, it sounds like a problem with the insurance.
KCI: Yeah, with the insurance – and then she don’t get the medical care from the government.
DA: Okay.
DG: If you could tell her we will try and help, but –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KCI: There is still a problem with his son leg, and that he had to go every year and then he
cannot go because of the medical problem that nobody problem.
DG: Okay. Can you tell her we’ll talk to some people and see if there is something we can do
– if there is some way we can help.
DGI: [Repeating the question.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She doesn’t want any food stamps or stuff, she just want the medical care.
DA: She doesn’t the what?
KCI: The food stamps.
DA: Yes, um-hmm.
DG: Yeah, we’ll try to help. I don’t know much about –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DG: Okay, we’ll see what we can do.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: Now just a couple more questions. What are your dreams for yourself and for your
children? We’ve already talked about medical care –
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: She wants her youngest daughter to be a doctor – she really wants –
DG: Um-hmm.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Laughter]
DA: Is that you?
??: Yeah.
DG: Yeah, that would be very good.
DA: That would be wonderful.
DG: Now Kaw Lay, what are your dreams – for yourself and for your children?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
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KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[45:44]
KLI: He don’t have a dream for himself, but for his daughter and son – he don’t to be like him
(like working hard), he just want like their lives to get better and better. That’s his dream.
DG: Okay. Now let me see – is there anything else (this question is for both of you) – is there
anything else you’d like to talk about that we haven’t asked?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Nothing.
DG: Okay. Now those are all the questions that I have, but do either of you have questions?
DA: I have some questions. If there were English classes available, do you have transportation
to get there? Do you know if there are English classes?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: There is people that come her house and like teach her English, but she don’t get it
because of problem with the brain, I don’t know.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, she don’t learn anything.
DG: I’m sorry –
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: When they teach she get at first, and then later she forgot all.
DG: That’s kind of how it is for us too, actually [laughs]. Like in the classes that we’re taking
for school, we need to learn things over and over. So, yeah.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
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DG: Okay, any other questions.
DA: I do have a question: when you were in the hospital with your son right after you got
here, and you were at home – how did you find each other? How did you get back
together your family?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They take a weeks, then the IRC come and then they find a way –
DA: To get them all back together?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: They were separated for weeks?
KCI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DA: Because they couldn’t get back together?
KCI: Um-hmm. That’s crazy [laughs].
DA: That is crazy.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, the IRC take –
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: The IRC took them to the hospital.
DA: Okay.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from hotel they rent and then once he got the home, and then they took him to the
hospital.
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DA: Um-hmm; okay.
[49:47]
DG: Okay, wow.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: They can only drink water because they couldn’t eat the American food.
DA: I’m sure; I’m sure it was very different – yeah.
DG: And hospital food isn’t good anyways.
DA: Yeah [laughs].
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
DA: Is there any American food you like now?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Like pizza.
[Laughter]
DA: Yeah, pizza [laughing].
DG: Okay. Now Cami, do you have a question?
CD: Were you finished?
DA: I’m done, thank you.
CD: Um-hmm. I guess to follow up with the food question, where do you purchase your food?
Do you do that here in the valley, or do you travel somewhere to get the food that you do
eat?
CDI: Now?
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CD: Um-hmm.
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, from Salt Lake – they get from Salt Lake.
DG: Wow.
CD: How often do you make the trip down there?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Once a month.
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: There is not a lot of Asians food in here, so they have to go to Salt Lake and once a
month buy a lot of food.
DA: Um-hmm.
DG: Um-hmm.
[52:05]
CD: How do you get down there? Do you go with a family? Do you drive? Do you take public
transportation?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: They go as a family because he don’t know how to drive, so he had to take his older son.
DG: Is his son [??]
KLI: Yeah [??]
DA: [??]
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KLI: Um-hmm.
DG: Okay.
CD: What is the traditional role of male or female, or father – or say husband and wife – in
your culture?
CDI: What is the traditional –
CD: The traditional role – does the wife play certain roles, the husband play certain roles?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: There is no traditional role, specifically, that they do; they just go to work, she just stay
home; that’s it every day.
DG: Okay.
CD: I’ve got one or two more questions.
DG: Okay, sorry [laughs].
CD: If someone wanted to learn more about your community (so someone from Logan), are
there events or, you know, gatherings that they could attend to learn more about your
community or to meet people from Burma?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
[54:41]
KLI: Yeah, they could come like when the Eid (the holiday) come – we cook, and then
everyone like around the community come and eat.
DG: Okay. When is Eid?
DGI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: Next month is the Ramadan –
DA: Uh-huh.
KLI: That we have to fast; and then after Ramadan is the Eid.
DA: After Ramadan?
KLI: Yeah.
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
KLI: It’s April 6th – [speaking in Burmese], like the 18th.
DG: Okay, thank you.
KLI: No, it’s June –
DG: [Laughs]
KLI: Sorry [laughs].
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KLI: Yeah, June 20th or the 18th.
DG: Okay.
CD: And then last question – on the reverse side (or the flip side), are there certain events that
take place in the community (American events, I guess) that you participate in – or
maybe just in general – are there things that you do outside of the home? I know you’re
busy with work and taking care of the family – what are some things that you like to do
outside?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Speaking in Burmese.]
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KLI: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KL: [Laughs] [Speaking in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[Doorbell rings]
[57:48]
KLI: Like they would like to go other people houses and visit – that’s what they like to do.
DG: Okay; so they like to go to other people’s homes, and they like to visit?
KLI: Um-hmm, yeah.
DG: Okay.
KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: They also like to go to Americans [??] houses, but they don’t know how to speak so –
yeah, if they invite, they would like to go.
DG: Okay.
DA: Oh, well we can do that.
CD: That can be arranged.
[Laughter]
DA: She can come visit us.
KC: [Speaking in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah, they usually stay home because of like problems speaking English; and they don’t
even go to the parent-teacher conferences.
CD: Would they attend school events, or something like that (parent-teacher conference) if
they had someone to translate?
CDI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
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KC: [Responding in Burmese.]
KCI: Yeah.
DG: Okay; alright, any other questions? Okay – if you could translate this for me –
DGI: Um-hmm.
DG: We are done with the interview now. We are going to transcribe this interview (we’re
going to write it down), and we can also burn you a CD of what we talked about today.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: This interview that we’ve had today – the recording and the text – will be stored in the
Utah State University Library.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And we’ll also use this information to put together an exhibit about Burmese Muslims
here, in Logan – and that will be coming up soon –
DA: At the end of the month.
DG: Do we have invitations?
DA: Yes, I do.
CD: We do, and we’d like you to attend – your family and your friends – if you would; we’ll
give you the information.
CDI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
DG: And thank you again very much for allowing us to come and interview you.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
KL: [Responding in Burmese.]
KLI: It doesn’t cost anything?
DA: No.
DG: No. Can you do the release forms?
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
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DA: May I take some pictures?
DAI: Yeah.
DA: So can I take pictures of you two?
DAI: [Repeating the question in Burmese.]
DA: Thank you.
DG: Now we do have two forms: one form we’d like each of you to sign. This is just a form
giving us permission to use this interview and to, you know, store it like we’ve talked
about.
DGI: [Repeating the statement in Burmese.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
DA: Okay, I only have –
[Background discussion between the interviewers.]
[Discussion among Kaw Lay, Har Be Bar, and Khin Mar Cho in Burmese.]
[End recording – 62:06]
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
transcripts;
application/pdf;
182922 Bytes
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/109
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67614
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 64
Title
A name given to the resource
Kaung Lay interview transcript, May 16, 2015
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
-
https://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/7229862021d7b249e717b050afc8c7c8.pdf
8a0c2df4a50fb22af697e13cd78fa331
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
Description
An account of the resource
Cache Valley, Utah is the home of Burmese Muslim, Karen, and Eritrean refugees. Documenting and preserving their stories is an important goal of Utah State University’s Fife Folklore Archives (FFA). In May 2015, USU’s FFA and Folklore Program, with help from the Karen community, hosted a Library of Congress Field School for Cultural Documentation: “Voices: Refugees in Cache Valley.” Field school students worked to document Cache Valley’s recent refugee communities. This collection, <a href="http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67608">Folk Coll 58: Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project</a>, houses the physical recordings and associated materials of the interviews which took place during this field school.<br /><br />You can see the original collection at: <a href="http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14">http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16944coll14</a>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Gross, Susan;
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
2010-2019; 21st century;
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-05-16
Description
An account of the resource
Cache
Valley
Refugee
Oral
History
Project
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
transcripts;
application/pdf;
189532 Bytes
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16944coll14/id/111
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
Relation
A related resource
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project
An inventory for this collection can be found at : http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv67616
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project Digital Collection
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663;
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project, FOLK COLL 66
Title
A name given to the resource
Sa Jan interview transcript, May 16, 2015
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text;
Cache Valley Refugee Oral History Project