I first realized the power of language in second grade, when I watched my parents feel lost as they struggled to read pieces of mail written in English, motivating me to work harder in school, strengthening my communication skills to translate material for them.
Translating mail gradually evolved into writing business emails for them. Despite being a young student, I saw the struggles my parents faced as immigrants. As I sent each email, I realized my writing would impact each recipient; in a greater sense, I understood that writing has the power to influence others.
That lesson stuck with me when I entered my high school’s journalism program. One of the first profiles I wrote highlighted Samovar, a small bookstore-turned-grocery-market, located in Mountain View. I initially went in expecting to write a straightforward piece reviewing the unique products offered. Upon interviewing owner Alex Alshvang, I was fascinated to learn about his journey to America. Immigrating from Azerbaijan, Alshvang first worked as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. He initially opened a bookstore to earn money on the side, but it quickly expanded into a grocery store that carried Eastern European products. As I interviewed Alshvang, he shared the motivations of his decision to emigrate to the United States in hopes of a safer life for his family — not so different from what motivated my parents to bring our family here. Inspired by Alshvang, I set out to share the voices of immigrant business owners through my writing in the San Mateo Daily Journal and the M-A Chronicle.
For another story, I interviewed Rosa Funes, owner of Paradise Flowers in Redwood City. Surrounded by waves of floral and earthy scents, Funes reminisced the memories of her childhood back in El Salvador. After moving to the United States and working for an art supply store, she decided to open her own flower boutique. However, she struggled to overcome the language barrier in speaking with customers. Now, many years later, she says she is no longer afraid to communicate with customers.
Then there was John and Nora Kevranian of Nuts for Candy and Toys. Located along Broadway in Burlingame, the store has brought smiles to the community for over 29 years. During the interview, I learned how John Kevranian came to the United States in 1976. When he first arrived, he was 9 years old and did not speak a word of English. He recalls the care and support he received from his ESL teachers during his school years. He and Nora aim to return that kindness to the community with their service and by bringing joy to customers.
Many of the immigrant business owners I have met infuse their cultural heritage in their businesses through food because they often craved the flavors of home when they first immigrated to the United States. Aimorn Selig of Coconut Bay told me how she would try to re-create Thai dishes from back home when she first arrived here. Eventually, her culinary efforts led her to open a restaurant where she serves her mother’s recipes with the Burlingame community.
I have realized the power of language but have also experienced what it’s like to feel powerless with a language barrier. Although they arrived from different paths and have endured their own challenges, through their businesses, they have built a foundation of hope for the next generation of immigrants. Their stories echo the American dream that still exists.
Eileen Liu is a junior at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
Thank you for this uplifting and thoughtful column! I spent a recent evening with John Kevranian at a Green Business event and was blessed to learn more of his and his wife's story. Thank you for sharing their story and the others you featured. I look forward to more of your columns!
Thank you for a great column, Eileen, - well written and thought provoking. Let me just add my own penny’s worth and say that having immigrant parents, even English-speaking ones, can be a great advantage for children, if they are also taught their parents’ native language(s). Like in my case, with a “mixed” Scandinavian household, our two children, a boy and a girl, learned both Swedish from their mom, and Norwegian from me. I would say, based on academic performance and later success in life: very beneficial. My daughter, who is living in Germany with her own family, is an international sales manager for a German medical firm. When visiting Sweden to train reps in that country, she wanted to practice her Swedish, only to find that they all insisted on practicing their English! Yes, indeed, the world is getting smaller, - not the least thanks to English being such a wide-spread, and somewhat easily learned language!
Eileen, I also enjoyed this column very much. I grew up in an area with few people from other countries, though that situation has now changed substantially. I also come from a family whose most recent immigrants to this county “came over” nearly 200 years ago. When I met a person from another part of the world, I was fascinated, but usually too shy to engage in conversation. Your column helps to bridge that gap with your clear writing and good choice of examples. Keep writing and sharing stories. So valuable in helping to bridge gaps and building understanding among us.
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(4) comments
well done. i enjoy reading what young people think. a suggestion - write about immigrants of the past. we are all in the same boat.
Thank you for this uplifting and thoughtful column! I spent a recent evening with John Kevranian at a Green Business event and was blessed to learn more of his and his wife's story. Thank you for sharing their story and the others you featured. I look forward to more of your columns!
Thank you for a great column, Eileen, - well written and thought provoking. Let me just add my own penny’s worth and say that having immigrant parents, even English-speaking ones, can be a great advantage for children, if they are also taught their parents’ native language(s). Like in my case, with a “mixed” Scandinavian household, our two children, a boy and a girl, learned both Swedish from their mom, and Norwegian from me. I would say, based on academic performance and later success in life: very beneficial. My daughter, who is living in Germany with her own family, is an international sales manager for a German medical firm. When visiting Sweden to train reps in that country, she wanted to practice her Swedish, only to find that they all insisted on practicing their English! Yes, indeed, the world is getting smaller, - not the least thanks to English being such a wide-spread, and somewhat easily learned language!
Eileen, I also enjoyed this column very much. I grew up in an area with few people from other countries, though that situation has now changed substantially. I also come from a family whose most recent immigrants to this county “came over” nearly 200 years ago. When I met a person from another part of the world, I was fascinated, but usually too shy to engage in conversation. Your column helps to bridge that gap with your clear writing and good choice of examples. Keep writing and sharing stories. So valuable in helping to bridge gaps and building understanding among us.
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