The following six Spanish immigrant stories reveal the personal memories of our dear friends Alfonso, Carmen, Faustino, Fernando, Juanita and Pilar. They recall what it was like some 50 years ago to come to and set up home in a land so far away and so very different from what they knew.
These recollections of their life’s journey across time and cultures, like that of other immigrants depict a struggle with the language, food, customs and employment. Understandably, each considered the Spanish Club in the heart of Sydney as their home away from home. However, what make these stories unique are the personal and often painful relationships coexisting with this struggle to survive in a new environment.
We profoundly thank our dear friends for their honesty in sharing their stories. Also to the City of Sydney for supporting this oral history project to capture the Spanish dimension of a passing phase of societal change. Finally, thanks go to the volunteers of Spanish Community Care Association who have completed this project.
Hopefully, by appreciating someone’s story, we can better understand each other.
Maria Legaz & John Martin
Spanish Community Care Association
Click to read their stories.
