Yelena Timena - Oral History Project

Yelena Timena -

Yelena Timena is a 54 year old immigrant from Odessa, Ukraine. She immigrated here in 1996 with her husband, son, and mother-in-law. In 1997, she gave birth to her daughter (me) in the United States. She has been working as a Quality Analyst for the last 18 years and is currently working at Mckesson- Relay Health. This year she finally applied for citizenship with her husband, and they became citizens of the United States just last month.

Segments:

1. Diversity- What are the major cultural differences (or barriers) that you have experienced since coming to California and how were you able to overcome the culture shock related to them?

2. Education- How important was education to your family? Give a positive and negative experience about your childhood education.

3. Religion- How has your relationship with religion changed since arriving in California? Did you practice religion in Ukraine?

4. Discrimination/ Language- What was it like learning to speak English fluently as an adult? How has that impacted your ability to find work? Have you ever faced discrimination?

5. Politics- How have your political views changed since arriving in California? Do you support any political party? If so, why? How has that shaped your relationships with your friends?

Segment 1:
-According to the California Census from 2010-2014, 27% of Californians are foreign-born.
 (http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/06)

What are the major cultural differences (or barriers) that you have experienced since coming to California and how were you able to overcome the culture shock related to them?

Segment 2:

How important was education to your family? Give a positive and negative experience about your childhood education.

Segment 3:

Religious Composition of Adults in California- Christian 63%, Jewish 2%, Muslim 1%, Unaffiliated 27%. (http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/california/)

How has your relationship with religion changed since arriving in California? Did you practice religion in Ukraine?

Segment 4:

What was it like learning to speak English fluently as an adult? How has that impacted your ability to find work? Have you ever faced discrimination?

Segment 5:

"The share of registered voters who are Democrats (44.8%) is up from 2012 (43.7%), while the share of Republicans (27.3%) is down (from 29.4%). The share of voters who say they are independent (also known as "decline to state” or "no party preference”) has been increasing: it is now 23.3%, up from 20.9% in 2012." 
(http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=526)


How have your political views changed since arriving in California? What political party do you support and why? How has that impacted your relationship with family and friends?

Sources Cited: 

"Population Estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015)." California QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.

Wormald, Benjamin. "Religious Landscape Study." Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. N.p., 2015. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.

Baldassare, Mark, Dean Bonner, David Kordus, and Lunna Lopes. "California Voter and Party Profiles." California Voter and Party Profiles (PPIC Publication). N.p., Sept. 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.