Fiona Vernal and Isalena Gilzene
Recorded
August 28, 2021
45:41 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby021021
Description
Friends, Fiona Vernal (47) and Isalena Gilzene (45), have a conversation about growing up in Jamaica, immigrating to the United States, motherhood, and education.Subject Log / Time Code
Fiona Vernal (47) says she and Isalena Gilzene (45) know one another from CURET (Center for Urban Education & Training). She laughs about the way they pronounce each other's names.
Fiona asks Isalena about coming to America from Jamaica. Isalena says her father died when she was approximately 5 years old. She says she lived with relatives and was then left in the care of a church nurse until arrangements could be made for her to travel to the United States.
Isalena says she arrived at JFK Airport in 1989. She says she was 13 years old and disappointed to discover that American streets were regular and not paved with gold.
Isalena talks about attending high school.
Fiona talks about her own childhood in Litchfield, Jamaica. She says her mother worked in the city and that she got used to not seeing her mother during the week.
Fiona remembers her mother announcing that she had gotten married. Fiona says a few months later, in September of 1986, they arrived in Philadelphia with all new clothes.
Fiona says she was also teased at school for how she dressed.
Isalena says her family was not poor. She says they were working class and educated.
Fiona asks Isalena to talk about being a mom and raising Jamaican American kids. Isalena says she uses her skills in social work and teaching to guide her in raising 2 black men. She says she looks forward to having them graduate and be good citizens.
Fiona says she named her oldest son, Josh, after a character on the soap opera Guiding Light. She says she worries about him driving and what will happen as he launches his own life.
Isalena talks about her own fears for her sons and says she does not want her fears to cripple them.
Isalena talks about having the opportunity to teach in higher education.
Fiona remembers writing her dissertation while being a mom. She says there is no end to work.
Fiona says she does not aspire to be the head of her department. She says she would like to write a novel and retire. Isalena recommends that they go to Australia.
Participants
- Fiona Vernal
- Isalena Gilzene