Jordan Rivers - The Natural Grouch Face

My Role Model

Large number of immigrants come to the US every year. People come from all over the world including China, Mexico and many European countries. My mom was one of them. Stout kittle lady at just 5 feet. She came to the US at the age of 15 all by herself.  I asked her if she was scared to be in an unfamiliar country by herself with no friends or family. She answered, "At the time I was still very young, so I did not know what fear was." She had her first job in Philadelphia at a small clothing repair shop. The workers there did works like sewing holes in clothes, sewing on a button and repairing shoes. She often had to compete for the tasks because whoever got them, is getting paid. "I was only 15 at the time and all the others were older than me so I'd often have my customers stolen from me, and I could not do anything about it." The wage back then was really low. She would get paid 5 cents for sewing on a button, 10 cents for sewing holes and 25 cents for repairing a shoe. 

My mom and I

My mom got married at a very young age of 20 and then I was born shortly after. My parents operated a small Chinese restaurant with just the two of them. It was a very tough time for them because they had to take care of my brother and I while working. My grandparents were in China at the time and my parents did not want to hire a nanny to take care of us so we would have to go to the restaurant. Most of the times thy were to busy to eat. My mom taking phone calls, taking orders and assisting customers while my dad did the cooking. Back then they never took a day off. My parents worked seven days a week. Even though they were busy operating the restaurant they always made sure my brother and I ate our meals on time. My mom loved to cook for us and we loved her cooking. She always tried different kinds of recipes and my brother and I would help. 

Sweet and sour ribs, a very popular Chinese dish. 

"What do you kids want to eat today?" my mom asked excitedly. 

"Sweet and sour ribs sweet and sour ribs!" my brother and I shouted excitedly. 

"Alright," she chuckled. "Do you guys want to come help mommy?" 

"Yes yes!"

My mom nags at us all the time and she still does. She would repeat things over and over again and it would go in one ear and come out the other ear. As I got older though, I started to understand that it is for our own good. She is worried about us and cares for us. I remember the couple of days before I left for college. She was bustling around trying to pack everything she can for me. She packed things like pots and pans, a bunch of food, snacks and clothes. 

At just the age of 15 my mom came to an unfamiliar country by herself. She couldn't even speak English and had a hard time but she still overcame it and is now living a pretty good life. To me my mom is the bravest and most genuine person I know.