I have talked with some Spaniards within our La Tienda community who tell us how they are building new lives in America. Still more tell stories about their grandparents, parents, uncles or aunts who left everything behind in Spain to take advantage of fresh opportunities for their families in America. Some of them were fishermen from Galicia, miners from Asturias and mountain people of the Basque Country. Their sense of adventure and perseverance is why their Spanish descendants prosper today in America.
A parallel drama is occurring here at La Tienda in Virginia, where our staff is composed of at least a dozen different nationalities from Latin America, Asia and Europe. Many, like the Spaniards of an earlier generation, have come from areas of civil war and poverty, and are determined to start a new life.
Through La Tienda, our family tries the best we can to support them with health benefits and a great working environment. They are welcomed as one of us in the La Tienda family. In the long run, perhaps the most valuable resource we provide them is the opportunity to learn the English language.
When Raúl, a husband and father, joined us, he could only sign his name with an “X”. He now uses English as his first written language, and is proud that he speaks his newly acquired language with growing fluency. Another worker, Evelyn, left behind her large family in El Salvador, and is working hard to support herself and her family as best she can. Her face lights up with a smile when she speaks to me in English.
Another of our employees, Lisseth, is a remarkable woman, inquisitive and full of energy. She is one who has prospered within the family of La Tienda workers. In fact, she has done so well that we have just promoted her to Line Supervisor in our warehouse.
Lisseth Borrego and her husband were happily married for fourteen years when they decided to take the risk of leaving the familiar confines of Cuba in order to improve life for themselves and their children in the United States. They knew there would be major challenges as they tried to adapt to a new culture and way of life. One cannot anticipate all the bumps in the road.
Because they spoke no English at all they knew this would be a major hurdle to climb. However, Lisseth had hoped that with a degree in elementary education from Cuba, there might be some slot for her, however humble, within the American school system. Unfortunately, it turned out that her skills were not marketable.
In an interview by Narille Living in the Williamsburg Neighbors Magazine, Lisseth said, “It was very hard the first two years I was here. I was nervous about going places because I wasn’t sure where it was safe and where it wasn’t. My husband and children were the only family I had here, so I didn’t even have anyone else to ask questions.” But Lisseth was undaunted. She was determined to learn to speak and read English, so that she would not spend her life being fearful, looking in from outside.
Then she signed up for a job at La Tienda and proceeded to work diligently. To her delight, Lisseth soon discovered that La Tienda provided free classes for any employees who wanted to learn English. The tutors came to our work site because of our partnership with a wonderful local group called Literacy for Life, associated with the College of William & Mary, staffed largely by volunteers. Neighbors from the Williamsburg area give their time to meet with those new to the area who would like to learn English.
Lisseth enthusiastically took advantage of this opportunity. Once a week for two hours she attended classes with some of her fellow employees. Wanting to progress as quickly as possible, she also signed up for sessions held after work. In September 2011, she passed her citizenship test, and a month later was sworn in as a United States citizen.
Now Lisseth is able to help fellow workers who do not understand as much English as she does. Although she does not know whether she could become a tutor herself, she encourages others to continue their efforts to learn. She has advice for those who might be struggling with learning the English language. “It’s hard, but if I can do it, you can do it,” she emphasizes.
We are proud to offer help to these hard-working immigrants, and they have become part of our La Tienda family. But we know that they deserve the most credit, for their courage and determination to start a new life and their commitment to learn a new language and learn a new way of living. Like the immigrants from Spain, current and of generations past, they are seeking out a better life for their families, while still treasuring the culture and traditions of their own countries.
Su amigo,
Don
17 Comments
Americans have no problem with immigrants, it’s the illegals that cross into this country simply thinking that they are immigrants and can go where they wish that is wrong! Learn The American English language if you want to be American. Things are hard for Americans too! They should make their own country better instead of coming here and taking something illegally.
Response:
Dear Rob, I could not agree with you more. If people to come to America for opportunity, they should be given guidelines and helped to be constructive citizens. After all, most of us are children of immigrants back at least a generation or so. When illegals come and have no protection and often no education, they are easy prey for the various predators that take advantage of vulnerable people. At the same time, when we need temporary labor, such as during various harvests, that should be handled by the proper authorities and the companies and not by the lawless. I hope we can change some of this quickly because we want to welcome those who want to contribute to our nation. We want to do it in a organized way so that everyone wins.
My wife’s father left the Basque Country & settled in northern Wyoming to work sheep in 1918. He raised 12 children & eventually owned a very large ranch. All of his family have done very well in the USA. We have visited the family in Spain several times.
Response:
Dear Ron, isn’t it remarkable what the Basques did when they came to America. They did what they needed to do to make a home for their family. Many of them became sheepherders even though they had not had this kind of exposure before. And of course one of them became a US Sen. and another a governor. It is something to be proud of. I bet you are very proud of your dad and what he did to pave the way for you. Don
Don: This is not your normal everyday article to read from a retail online newsletter, thank you for sharing it. This connection you are fostering with your employees — their aspirations, challenges and diligence — is laudatory. My family has traced a similar path over the centuries. Our family name originates in Basque country, and many Lecuonas emigrated to the Canary Islands (dropping the Basque “K” for the C in the name). In the 1800’s our ancestors sailed to Cuba, and descendants of this line now reside, happily, in the USA. I retraced part of this route with my father a few years ago, when we visited Tenerife to learn more of his grandfather, Ernesto Lecuona Ramos, whose progeny included the Cuban composer, Ernesto Lecuona, my great Uncle. It is well documented that El Maestro spent his last days in the Canaries, where he died in 1963. Unknown to us was the fact that his father (who was a poet and a newspaper journalist) returned from Cuba and also passed his final days in Tenerife. Returning to his homeland in April 1902, for reasons that are unclear, the timing coincides with Cuba’s war of independence from Spain. He passed away in 7 days. He was 48 years old. Three weeks later, Cuba gained independence from Spain. His family remained in Cuba. We believe he was of two hearts, his past in Spain, and his future in Cuba. Meanwhile his youngest son, Ernesto, began studying piano with his sister, Ernestina. At any rate, this is only relevant here because, it turns out, La Tienda is a cultural touchstone for me. Like most, I often reflect on and relate to my own cultural heritage through very customary, humble traditions — music, food, and holiday gatherings. Though I grew up without a taste for Turron even though I saw it every year at Christmas, I now embrace it and “force it” on others, who soon acquire the taste. Many other items in your store recall our days in Tenerife, and Madrid, and the wonderful food of Spain. We have not quite mastered the Paella, but we are certainly trying. Churros and chocolate, Jamon Serrano and queso manchego, “para picar”. The list is, admittedly, long! I don’t know when, or whether I will ever visit Cuba. My father left his country in the mid 50’s, BC, Before Castro, and has not returned. He is now in Laredo, in his 80’s and at peace with this. He, like many, has ALZ. When we visit together, I cherish those few moments through food, music, and experiences he readily can relate to and remember. You can’t know how some of the simple things you do in your business touch people in ways you don’t expect. But it does happen. If I can offer any encouragement to those working at La Tienda who face such challenges, it would be simply to say, Adelante. Go forward. The future is yours to make as you want. Remember your past, your heritage, but embrace this opportunity to build a new path forward. You must always know that future generations of your family will be grateful for your courage and sacrifice. Be proud of this.
Miguel Lecuona
Response:
Hola Miguel, what a fascinating account of your family’s journey over the years. If you read some of the earlier comments I made to other people, you’ll see that my family had a similar complex journey to where we are today. The one thing I didn’t mention in the other comments: my grandmother’s family was Armenian, and lived in Turkey, where tens of thousands of them were massacred. She was one of the few who escaped with her parents and arrived in America at age 4.
But she was undaunted all her life, and even though misfortune would occur, such as the loss of her husband, while her children were still in their teens. I think this is what makes our nation so strong and resilient. But I think the story of optimism and resilience needs to be repeated so that the country can continue on a constructive course. Thanks again for your long note. Don
How beautiful this article is. I am a Spanish teacher who came here because I fell in love with an American woman, and left my job as a “funcionario” (Official English teacher in Spain) to live in the country where my beloved was. So I felt touched by that story of people who were forced to immigrate to search for a better life with no knowledge of the language at all. I know how hard it can be as I have seen my students in Spain to struggle with the difficulties of a new language (in times when students struggled with their studies…) and I know that is not an easy task, especially when you know nobody but your husband or wife or…anybody. I am glad and thankful that La Tienda behaves like a real father and there is such a family atmosphere, and that you offer also English classes for those who want to learn (and become a part of this great country). I also thank that organization that in such a charitable way offers and provide for tuition to those who need to learn, a language, I thank God so much that you can still find such people and that this country has such asset on great souls. We, Spaniards, can easily recognize that kind of great value souls at first sight. God bless you all at La Tienda, bosses and employees, those who have helped them to be an active part of it and America and all people of good will and great souls, as you guys, in this Beautiful America.
Yours faithfully,
Andres Gran
Response:
Dear Andres, what a beautiful and humbling message you have written. I am not sure I feel quite as noble as you describe, but we share a common goal. And I think it’s one which traditional Spain shares too, and that is that all of us are precious and made in God’s image, and that’s why this spirit of welcoming and generosity pervades the Spanish culture. Fundamentally the traditional Spaniards know that we should take care of one another. Radical individualism has no place.
Thanks again for your words of affirmation.
Tu amigo, Don
I find quite fascinating this story. I relate to it intimately because I am a product of Spanish immigrants. I too know the pain it caused my parents to be forced to leave their beloved homeland. It has indeed enriched this grand country of ours. If I may ask a question. I think it would be nice if an option were offered to be able to view your website in Spanish. Many of us have older relatives who do not find themselves as comfortable in English as many do. Perhaps even in a few other languages. Please take time to consider. As always I thank you for offering fine products and for spreading Spanish culture thru its fine cuisine.
Kind Regards.
Response:
Hi Tony, I appreciate your insightful comments. As other people have said in response to this article, it is very, very difficult to leave all that you have in your family roots to come to America, not speaking the language, not knowing what will happen – but with this spirit of hope.
We have considered putting the site in Spanish – that would be a logical thing to do but it is a very complicated and expensive process – and one that never ends because every time you add something new you have to do it in two formats. But is still at the top of our list because I know it would be very useful to thousands of people. So thank you for reminding us of the importance of this project to translate everything into Spanish.
Thanks again for your thoughtful communication. Don