The Triumph and Life of Rubi Perez

Material Information

Title:
The Triumph and Life of Rubi Perez
Series Title:
Immigrant Voices: New to Middlesex County
Creator:
Deulofeu, Joshua ( interviewer )
Perez, Rubi ( interviewee )
Espinoza-Wulach, Cristóbal ( advisor )
Place of Publication:
Edison, NJ
Publisher:
Middlesex College
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2023
Language:
English
Spanish
Physical Description:
PDF Transcript, audio recording in mp3, Photograph in jpg

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Mexican Americans -- New Jersey -- Middlesex County
Immigrants -- United States ( lcsh )
Middlesex County (N.J.) -- history
Genre:
oral histories ( lcsh )
Temporal Coverage:
Fall 2023 ( - 2023 )
Spatial Coverage:
New Jersey -- Middlesex County

Notes

Abstract:
In this interview, Rubi Perez narrates her transformative journey from a young immigrant with no resources and aid in the United States to becoming a successful restaurant manager, mother, and individual. ( ,,,,, )
Abstract:
This is a transcript and recording of an oral history interview that took place as part of the class projects for Middlesex College's History 221H class in the Fall of 2023.
General Note:
Rubi Perez, born in Oaxaca, Mexico and educated there through high school, immigrated to the United States at 18 years old. She followed her father, who had been working three jobs to save for her, her mother, and her sister Celina Mitzi's journey to the United States. Her first attempt to cross the border was unsuccessful, but on the second attempt, despite challenges including a river crossing, she succeeded. In Arizona, she waited a week for funds from her father, then traveled for 20 days to reach her new home in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the United States, Rubi worked various jobs, initially earning $4.20 an hour, and learned English while working at a window factory. She continued working multiple jobs for years until she began her career at the Cheesecake Factory as a baker. With time and persistence, she advanced to roles that include food running, serving, bartending, and eventually the managing position. Rubi is now the manager of the restaurant Bahr's Landing, with a successful career and proficiency in English. She achieved this for the hope of giving her two sons, Kevin and Joshua, a better life.
General Note:
Recorded on December 14th, 2023 in Edison, New Jersey.
General Note:
To preserve the authenticity of the transcript, Rubi's words have been transcribed exactly as spoken. No alterations have been made to her expressions for the sake of clarity or grammatical correctness, in order to faithfully represent her original thoughts and language.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Middlesex College
Holding Location:
Middlesex College
Rights Management:
This item is licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative License. This license allows others to download this work and share them with others as long as they mention the author and link back to the author, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.