Todos Vuelven 2

My Impressions of the USA, and my new family
A slip of a girl, 17 years old, barely 5 feet high, 98 pounds, walked out of that airplane, directly into the hearts of what was to be her new family, that is how I felt, that is how it was. When people ask me if I was in any way disappointed coming face to face with my future husband, I have to confess, yes, I was. Through pictures and letters, I had almost a complete idea of what Mac looked like. As I am sure he had an idea of what I looked like. But measurements are deceiving. I knew that he was over six feet tall – measured against a wall, and me standing next to the measure, it did not looked that bad. However, in real life, a at six feet foot two inches tall, and slim person, he really looked tall! And, what was worse, all his family were tall; his brother was six feet foot four, his sister, five eleven. I was a midget among them. That was my only disappointment, mostly at myself for being so short.
Some of my impressions.-
Mac took me to a Mexican Restaurant, my first experience at eating Mexican food. In 1951 there were only three Mexican Restaurants in all Tacoma. I remember Gordo’s and El Toro. He also took me to a Chinese Restaurant, because I had told him that in Lima we had delicious Chinese food, however, the bland Chop Suey we were served was nothing like the delicious Chinese/Peruvian food I was used to eating.
One funny incident I remember was during one of the dinners at the Chinese Restaurant . Because of my Chinese features (I am half Chinese) most of the cooks and kitchen help kept on coming out of the kitchen to peek at me. Remember, this was at the beginning of 1951, when there were few oriental women in the NorthWest.
I fell in love with the United States from the very first day I arrived. And I still deeply love this country. What I have is from the USA, who just like my husband, gave me all I have. But what I am, is Peru; “my mother” that shaped me in the person that I am.
Because my husband was in the metallurgical field, from 1952, to 1978, Mac applied and got a job with Chile Exploration Co. First place we went was Chuquicamata, Chile, where my second son was born, after a few years we moved to Oroya, Peru where Mac worked for Cerro de Pasco Corp., where my first daughter was born; went back to Chile, this time to Potrerillos, and then our last move was to Ilo, Peru, to work for the Southern Peru Copper Co. where my second daughter was born.
I am sure that living in mining camps, a foreigner in other lands, is what made me feel the importance of community. I remember how learning of the arrival of other Peruvians to the camp, we would go and meet them, making friends and adopting them as family members. Our life in these camps was idyllic, good salaries, good houses, plenty of house help, plenty of social life. I was a very spoiled wife, spending my time from golfing, to playing bridge, to afternoon teas, to bowling. Due to the fact that I was a Peruvian married to an American, I had the opportunity to serve as a “bridge” between the foreign employees and the national employees. And I did this by forming two sewing/crafts clubs, one with Peruvians, one with foreigners. And it was through food that we started the intermingling of these two “different” groups. Together, we presented two Arts/Sewing /Cooking Shows, with the wife of the “Top Honcho” to the Teachers of the Peruvian School.
In 1978, we came back to USA because Mac had emphysema. His working days were over. Emphysema is a progressive, incurable sickness. Mac lasted eight years, time for me to grow up, a time for me to learn how to support myself and my youngest daughter.
I went to Clover Park Technical College where I took several courses, on Business, Sales, Marketing, etc. And from CPTC I went to Tacoma Community College where I was introduced to computers. It was right then and there that I fell in love with Computers, they were to become my wonderful window to a new world!
Next….. widowhood, becoming more knowledgeable and a new beginning