Family Tree Assignment 1

BY J E N N I F E R VA Z Q U E Z

MY FAMILY TREE

MeJennifer Vazquez

04/22/1989

FatherLuis Vazquez10/17/1948

Father's FatherLuis Venancio Vazquez

12/25/1900-05/01/1980

Father's Paternal GrandfatherLuis Vazquez

Father's Paternal GrandmotherElisa Vazuqez

Father's MotherJosefina San Roman

02/04/1922-09/20/2012

Father's Maternal Grandfather

Venancio Sanroman

Father's Maternal Grandmother

Margarita Sanchez

MotherIvonne Vazquez

05/11/1958

Mother's FatherFelipe Valois

03/04/1930-09/08/1999

Mother's Paternal GrandfatherFelipe Valpis

Mother's Paternal GrandmotherMaria Marcias

Mother's MotherCaridad Marerro

04/06/1934

Mother's Maternal Grandfather

Valentin Marrero

Mother's Maternal GrandmotherVioleta Castro

MY FAMILY TREE

• My grandfather migrated to Cuba in the early 1920's from Spain. He was part of the Navy in Span.

• Never came to the United States• He was in the Military for most of

his life.• Never got to meet him.• My grandmother was born and

raised in Havana Cuba. • At 90 years old she came to the

United States on June 2nd 2012. • Married in the 1930’s• Had 4 children.• Gave birth to my dad on

10/17/1948.

My father’s side of the Family!

GrandmotherJosefina SanRomanBorn on: 02/04/1922Died on: 09/20/2012

GrandfatherLuis Venancio VazquezBorn on: 12/25/1900Died on: 05/01/1980

My mother’s side of the Family!

• My grandfather migrated to Cuba in the early 1920's from France with his family.

• Never traveled to the United States.

• My grandmother was born and raised in Havana Cuba but her family migrated from Spain.

• Currently lives in the Miami, Florida

• Married in & Divorced• Had 4 children.• Gave birth to my mom on

05/11/1958.

GrandmotherCaridad MarerroBorn on: 04/06/1934

GrandfatherFelipe ValoisBorn on: 03/04/1930Died on: 09/08/1999

My parents:MotherIvonne VazquezBorn on: 05/11/1958

FatherLuis VazquezBorn on: 10/17/1948

FROM WHAT PARTS OF THE WORLD DID YOUR FAMILY (OR FAMILIES) ORIGINATE?

• My family originated in many parts of the world and all came to Cuba. For instance, my grandfather from my mom side originated from France and my grandmother’s family was from Spain. On my father’s side of the family his dad also came from the Navy to Havana Cuba.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOUR ANCESTORS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMELAND FOR A NEW WORLD? WHEN DID THEY LEAVE?

•My parents decided to leave Havana Cuba, because they saw it as a chance to have a better life. They knew that there was a lot more for them somewhere in the land of the free. •My parents left on May 27th 1980 during the Mariel Boat lift along 80,000 people that year.

WHAT HARDSHIPS DID YOUR ANCESTORS FACE IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, EITHER WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED OR SOON AFTER CONTACT? WHAT DID THEY DO TO OVERCOME ANY HARDSHIPS? DO

THEY RECALL ANY PREJUDICE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED?

• My parents experienced hardships way before they arrived. The first challenge my parents faced was getting fired from their jobs after their employers found out they were trying to leave the country. As their employers duty they had to report it. From the moment they decided to leave Cuba until they left my parents had to constantly move from house to house, with friends, family because the Cuban government was after them. Also those that believed in communism looked for individuals that wanted to flee to harm them physically. Both my mother and father had to deal with the different emotions they felt leaving their family behind. They both took a risk of not knowing what was ahead of them. The day came were they would embark to the U.S. Stepping on board the Blue Bayou along 284 passengers, with only the clothes on their backs, leaving behind everything they have ever knew was something no one could ever forget. The struggle they faced was the fear of getting stranded, or someone harming them on the boat. Arriving to the U.S. opened a new can of struggles and challenges. For a while my mom and dad had to live on a campground with thousands of other refugees. My mom says that the hunger for a better life kept helped them overcome everything they were afraid of or were going through. They envisioned a life of freedom and of opportunity and motivated them to keep fighting. Yes the did experience prejudice. Anyone who left the country during that time were seemed as low, convicts, prostitutes or people that were worthless.

WHAT DID YOUR ANCESTORS DO IN THE PREVIOUS TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS? HOW DID THIS INFLUENCE WHAT THE FAMILY DOES TODAY?

• One of the things my great grand parents did was travel to another country. This became a norm for my family. My parents followed in my grandparents footsteps and left Cuba for a chance to a better life. If my parents wouldn’t have done this I would have half the opportunities that I have today.

WHAT LANGUAGES DID YOUR ANCESTORS SPEAK? WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THESE LANGUAGES IN

YOUR FAMILY TODAY?

• My grandparents spoke Spanish and French. We have all kept the tradition on speaking Spanish. But the only one in my family that still speaks a little French is my mom.

WHAT FAMILY TRADITIONS OR PRACTICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED OVER THE YEARS THAT ARE

SPECIAL OR UNIQUE TO YOUR FAMILY?

• Some family traditions that my family still does is big breakfast with the family on Sunday mornings, Shopping for groceries on Saturday afternoons, Dinner together each night, Cooking, and preparing Sunday dinner, Holidays are a big deal for my family, it’s a time were we all gather and enjoy what we have accomplished up to that point. Family vacations at least once a year.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FAMILY NAME? HOW, IF AT ALL, HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

DO YOU KNOW THE REASON FOR ANY CHANGES?

• Fathers Last name origin & meaning:

• Galician and Spanish • variant of Vásquez• Means the son of Vasco. • Not aware of any changes. • Mother Last name origin &

meaning: • French: topographic name for

someone who lived in a valley or regional name from the district in northern France so called, which was once an independent duchy. In all cases the source is an adjective derivative of Old French ‘valley’.

HOW ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUR FAMILY SIMILAR TO OR DIFFERENT FROM THOSE FACED BY

VARIOUS IMMIGRANTS OR REFUGEES TODAY?

• The experience that my parents went through I can say it is similar to what immigrants today go through. However, I feel that it has gotten easier for immigrants to make a living in the United States. I also feel that the immigrants that arrive to the U.S now feel like they are entitled to receiving money from the government and everything to be handed to them on a platter.

IN WHAT WAYS WAS THIS EXERCISE EASY OR DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DO? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS BE DIFFICULT FOR A STUDENT TO DO? WHAT MIGHT YOU DO AS A

TEACHER TO MODIFY IT IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

• For me this assignment was quite difficult because I didn’t have that much information on my family tree.

• For a student this may be difficult if they do not have any knowledge of their ancestors. I would maybe let the students chose who the wanted to share information about instead of asking for details on every generation.

• Or maybe naming everyone in current and past generations. Like in the charts on the left.