LIFE IN THE USA: The early years, By Dulce M. Salvador
I came to the United States in 1972. It was the year when the Philippines was in turmoil and political trouble. It was also for me the end of my job because the government corporation I worked for was going into private hands. Everyone had to go, sooner or later.
Traveling around the world had its fascination. I was not, however, a seasoned traveler. While i enjoyed local trips, most of them were by small ships that sailed mainly from island to island and the few plane trips that i experienced were on small planes. My first trip to the U.S.A. was on a B-747.
Arriving in Los Angeles in winter time was a novel experience. I had looked forward to seeing snow but was disappointed that there was none on the streets of the city. I bought myself a heavy coat and prided in the fact that i looked like a longtime resident. The icy water did not dampen my enthusiasm. That it was available all the time was good enough to remind me of the trickle from the faucets in the Philippines during summer.
Everyday, I pored over the newspapers for ads. I applied for all variety of jobs-draftsman, letter writer, and salesgirl. Being a registered architect in the Philippines did not qualify me easily for a job as I expected.
I had to be a citizen, and has driver's license or drive a car. My proficiency in English helped me a lot, however. People were surprised that i knew the language. Still I lost my sense of direction regarding the streets. Although it was easy to read the signs, whether it was north or otherwise, it still confused me.
My first job was in San Pedro, just south of Los Angeles, with a shipbuilding firm. I was the only female in the engineering section, the first time they hired a woman, so i was told. After a lengthy interview and seeing samples of my work, the supervisor gave me a job.
For the first two weeks, they watched me all the time, like a hawk, while i did drafting. Although the pay was a tiny sum of two dollars and ninety-nine cents an hour, I was still happy because when I compared it to the peso equivalent, it was roughly a manager's pay in the old country.
My second job was with the Sheriff Department of Los Angeles County as Facilities Planning Assistant. This time I had to take a written examination where I placed third with a grade of 93 percent. After waiting for some time, I finally got the job after they had contacted the fourth and fifth placers who rejected it because of the low pay.
When I inquired why i was selected, the office told me that i was hired because i was a woman and i belonged to the minority. At that time, the government was starting to be aware of the talks of bias and discrimination and remedial measures were being discussed. I considered myself lucky to be chosen.
I held this job for a number of years until my retirement in 1990. I thought of settling down with little or no activity-I had been raised in a generation where women either became teachers or had similar related careers which were viable sources of income.
I wanted to be a journalist after graduation from high school, but the course open for me when I went to Manila was architecture. So now, I am in another phase of my life. Writing has beckoned to me and I am now an aspiring freelance reporter with two leading Asian newspapers in Los Angeles. A struggling one, yes. Only the years will tell as I am enjoying the life of the media. Finally!.
THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN HERITAGE MAGAZINE IN 1999, WINTER ISSUE.
PINOY LIFE IN THE 'TATES