Asturian-American Migration Forum

Yo conozco bien los pueblos de Naveces y de Taborneda (Taborneda pertenece a Illas). Mis padres me mandaban a Asturias casi todos los veranos de nino para estar con mi familia . Mi abuelo vivia en Taborneda y mi hermana y yo heredamos unas fincas que todavia tenemos.

La familia de mi madre era de Naveces. Solamente queda dos primas, una en Aviles (tenian una muebleria que se llamaba Arbesu o algo asi) y la otra todavia esta en Naveces.

El verano pasado fui a Asturias para estar con mi familia y les vi casi a todos. Los unicos primos en parte de mi padre que no estan en Asturias son mi hermana y yo.

La cosa mas rara es que tengo bastante contacto con mi familia en Asturias. Nos visitamos a menudo, hablamos por telefono y internet etc.

Pero no tengo ningun contacto que la parte de mi familia que imigraron a los EU. Tengo familia en W VA en Moundsville y en Follansbee. Tambien tengo familia en Bethlehem, Pennsylvania y no se casi nada de ellos.

A veces pienso que tengo mucha suerte de conocer a mi familia en Asturias porque aunque estamos lejos siempre se preocupan de nosotros y nos tratan como verdadera familia....parece que perdemos algo del sentido de familia al imigrar.

Manuel

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Traducido por Leto

I know quite well the villages of Naveces and Taborneda (Taborneda is from Illas Council). When I was a kind, mi parents used to send me to Asturias nearly every summer to spend time with the family. My grandfather lived in Taborneda and my sister and me inherit some land that still keep.

My mum’s family was from Naveces. There are only two cousins left; one is in Avilés (She had a furniture shop called Arbesu or something like that) and the other is still in Naveces.

Last summer I went to Asturias to spend time with the family and I saw most of them. The only cousins on my father side that are not in Asturias are my sister and I.

The strangest thing is that I still have lost of contact with my Asturian family. We visit each other frequently, speak on the phone and the Internet, etc.

But I’m not in touch with the other side of the family that emigrated to EE.UU. I have family in W VA en Moundsville and in Follansbee. I also have family in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and I hardly know anything about them.

Sometimes I think I am very lucky to know my Asturian family because, although we are far away, they always care of us and treat us as real family… it seems like we loose a bit the sense of family when we immigrate.

I was really impressed with Taboreneda. It's in a beautiful area.

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Taborneda me impresionó muchísimo. Está en una zona muy preciosa.

Manuel, your thought about not having much contact with the American side of your family is interesting.

Moving away, as our ancestors did when they came to the US, was a pretty big break. There are obvious stories of cutoff involving several members in my family's history. Interestingly, some of the cutoff occurred at the very time of the emigration when a father was upset that his daughter was leaving. Some, however, appears to have occurred years later due to demands on the children to send money to their parents. Of course, I've gotten all this third hand, so I really don't know what happened.

What I found most interesting is that it's possible to live on the other side of the world and still be well-connected! I'd guess that it was a lot harder in the years before cheap air travel, telephone calls, and email.

Bowen Family Systems theory talks about how patterns get carried down from generation to generation. I can see how my ancestors' tendency to use cutoff continues in my generation. I, too, am better connected with my Asturian cousins than with my American cousins. It's possible that my Asturian family and I have less emotional history together so we're more like new lovers, still in the honeymoon phase. But you've spent a lot of time with your Asturian family, so this idea doesn't fit with your experience. I wonder if the Asturian sides of our families have less tendency to cutoff. After all, they didn't leave home. Is this what tips the balance toward permitting more open sharing?

Thanks for sharing your very interesting experiences!

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voy a traducir luego.....

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Traducido por Leto

Manuel, tu comentario acerca de no tener mucho contacto con el lado americano de tu familia es interesante.

Mudarse a un lugar lejano, tal y como nuestros antepasados hicieron cuando vinieron a USA, era una ruptura considerable. Hay historias de rupturas en torno a numerosos miembros en la historia de mi familia. Curiosamente, algunas rupturas ocurrieron muy pronto después de la emigración, cuando el padre se enfadó con la hija porque ella se marchaba. Sin embargo, otras parecen haber ocurrido años más tarde, debido a las demandas de los niños de enviar dinero a sus padres. Por supuesto. Esto me ha llegado todo de tercera mano, así que no sé qué pasó realmente.

¡Lo que encuentro aún más interesante es que es posible vivir al otro lado del mundo todavía mantenerse en contacto! Supongo que era mucho más difícil hace unos años, antes de los viajes baratos en avión, las llamadas de teléfono y el email.

La teoría de Los Sistemas de Familia de Bowen habla de cómo los patrones de conducta se transmiten de generación en generación. Puedo comprobar como la tendencia de mi familia a desconectar continúa en mi generación. Yo también estoy mejor conectado con mis primos asturianos que con mis primos americanos. Es posible que mi familia asturiana y yo tengamos menos historia emocional juntos, así que somos como nuevos amantes, todavía en la fase de la luna de miel. Pero tú has pasado un montón de tiempo con tu familia asturiana, así que esta idea no se ajusta a tu experiencia. Me pregunto si el lado asturiano de nuestras familias tiene menos tendencia a perder el contacto. Después de todo, ellos no se fueron de la tierra. [Is this what tips the balance toward permitting more open sharing?]

¡Gracias por compartir tus interesantes ideas!

Si te gista Taborneda...tengo unas fincas baratas que te las vendo

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Traducido por Leto

If you like Taborneda... I have some cheap plots of land for sale

I read your comments with great interest Manuel and Art.

I will tell you the story of my family on my father's side.

In the early 1900's my Grandfather and Grandmother along with their children came to the United States. First my Grandfather came with the oldest children...then my Grandmother followed with the other children including my Father. They settled in Grasselli (Anmoore, Clarksburg) and my Grandfather worked in the Zinc business.

All the time my Grandparents were living and working here my Grandfather had a dream of going back to Spain (Asturias) and buying a farm. He saved his money and they went back to Spain taking their son Ramon with them. He was mentally challenged and they thought he would be better off in Spain with them.

The other children stayed here in the USA...My Father Julius Garcia Alonso, Brothers Marcellino, Jose, Hyneo, Sisters Tomasa and Luz stayed here. They all settled in different parts of the East Coast. My Father went to Blliss Electrical School in Tacoma Park Maryland and later became employed by Consolidated Edison Company in New York City.

My father from the time he was employed 1930 until his Parents passed away in the 1960's felt an obligation to them to help support them. He sent a monthly check to them. Whenever a Merchant Seaman came through on his way to Spain my Father and some of his Siblings would send them a trunk full of items that they couldn't purchase in Spain. I was a small child and really can't recall what the items where.

My Grandfather, even though he lived in another Country across the Ocean felt that he was still the head of the family. My Father corresponded with him until he died. My Grandmother, who couldn't read or write, was able to correspond with my Father through a friend. When my Grandfather went into town she hung a sheet outside and the woman who did the writing would come in and she would dictate a letter for my Father. My Father called her Mary Carr as an alias so my Grandfather wouldn't know it was her. Try doing that in this day and age.

Stories like this probably are very common. This is our Story the Story of the Garcia/Alonso Family.

Barbara Alonso Novellino

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Traducido por Leto

Manuel y Art, he leído vuestros comentarios con mucho interés.

Os contaré la historia de mi familia por parte de mi padre.

A principios de 1900, mi abuelo y mi abuela vinieron, junto con sus hijos, a los Estados Unidos. Primero mi abuelo vino con el hijo mayor... luego mi abuela le siguió con los otros niños, incluido mi padre. Se asentaron en Grasselli (Anmoore, Clarlsburg) y mi abuelo trabajaba en el negocio del zinc.

Durante el tiempo que estuvieron viviendo y trabajando aquí, mi abuelo soñaba con volver a España (Asturias) y comprar una granja. Ahorró dinero y volvieron a España, llevándose a su hijo Ramón. Tenía un retraso mental y pensaron que estaría mejor con ellos en España.

Los otros hijos se quedaron aquí, en USA... mi padre Julius García Alonso, sus hermanos Marcelino, Jose, Hyneo, y sus hermanas Tomasa y Luz, se quedaron. Se asentaron todos en diferentes zonas de la costa este. Mi padre fue a la Escuela de Electricidad Blliss en Tacoma Park, Maryland, y luego fue contratado por la Compañía Consolidated Edison, en Nueva York.

Mi padre, desde que fue contratado, hasta que sus padres murieron en los años 60, se sentía en la obligación de ayudarles. Les enviaba un cheque mensual. Siempre que pasaba un barco mercante en dirección a España, mi padre y algunos hermanos les enviaban un baúl lleno de cosas que no podía comprar en España. Yo era muy pequeña, así que realmente no me acuerdo de qué cosas eran.

Mi abuelo, aunque vivía en otro país al otro lado del océano, sentía que era aún el cabeza de familia. Mi padre se escribió con el hasta que murió. Mi abuela, que no podía ni leer ni escribir, se escribía con mi padre a través de una amiga. Cuando mi abuelo se iba a la ciudad, ella colgaba una hoja de papel fuera de la casa y la mujer que escribía iba y le dictaba la carta para mi padre. Mi padre la llamaba Mary Carr, como mote, para que mi abuelo no supiera que era ella. Intenta hacer lo mismo en estos tiempos.

Historias como esta son posiblemente muy comunes. Esta es nuestra historia, la historias de la familia García/Alonso.

I enjoyed your stories very much and I'm not the least bit surprised that it seems to be the Asturian part of the family that tries to keep the ties. The pain caused by the emigration of the younger generations for over 150 years is very deeply rooted in Asturias. There is not one single person here who hasn't got relatives in another country.
My great-grandparents (the Rondo side of the family) had 6 out of their 9 children emigrate to Argentina (In fact our surname is now more common in the Greater Buenos Aires area than in Asturias). My grandfather used to hate going to see them when he was small, because all they ever did was cry and pray for their children abroad and make him pray, too.

When we went to live in Germany I was 9 years old. I had to write my grandma a letter every week with a full account of what I had done, and my sheet was included in the letter my mom wrote to the whole family, but addressed to Grandma. We also wrote to my father's mother, of course. When our letters arrived, my aunt would read them out loud for everyone and she was the one in charge of replying. Her letters came every week during the 15 years my parents remained in Germany.

But that was not all, whenever someone travelled to or from Asturias, no matter who it was, they were asked to carry a package with gifts and food items. And they did it as a something natural, regardless if they had to travel by train from Llanes to Sotrondio and back to deliver the package.

You cannot imagine the thrill it was to open the packages from Asturias not knowing what would be inside - usually chorizos, copies of "La Codorniz" (humourous magazine) for my dad, El Capitán Trueno comics, sunflower seeds, Bazooka bubble gum and licorice sticks for us kids, and always some dainty garments for my mom and me.

Our packages to Asturias usually held good cigars for the men, fabric cuts for the women to make dresses, stockings, Swiss chocolate, pens, and any novelty item that might take our fancy.

My mother and her siblings kept in touch all their lives, even though one was in Belgium and another one in southern Spain. My father's family did too, only a couple of my aunts moved to Madrid and pretty much ignored all of us. But they were an exception.

We are a lonely bunch here, with so many of you gone. That's why the family bond is so important.

As I read your messages, it occurred to me that there's something qualitatively different about the letters we receive from Asturias. It might be a style, or a slight difference in the kinds of things they talk about. It could just be a generational thing, or maybe it relates to a tradition of writing to the missing family members, something that we may not have as strongly here.

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En leer vuestros mensajes, me ocurrió que hay algo cualitativamente distinto en las cartas que recibimos de Asturias. Podría ser un estilo, o una diferencia pequeña en las clases de cosas de que ellos hablan. Podría ser una cosa generacional, o tal vez se relacione con una tradición de escribir a la familia que viven en otros sitios, algo que no tenemos tanto aquí.

I am, of course, remembering this from about 50 years ago, but I do seem to recall that my grandparents always wrote to our relatives in Asturias. They not only exchanged family information with them, but sent money for tickets in the Spanish lottery (El Gordo?) and for saffron, which arrived in little metal tins of the sort then used to hold aspirin and at the tiime was very difficult to find in the US, as well as money to help older relatives. And when they travelled to Asturias, they not only took packages for relatives in Asturias, but also packages for relatives and friends of their Asturian immigrant neighbors.

Bob Martínez

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Traducido por Leto

Estoy, por supuesto, recordando esto de hace casi 50 años, pero me parece recordar que mis abuelos siempre escribieron a nuestra familia de Asturias. No sólo intercambiaban información sobre la familia con ellos, también enviaban dinero a cambio de billetes de la lotería española (El Gordo?) [Leto: sí, Bob, el Gordo de Navidad] y azafrán, que llegaba en pequeñas latas como en las que se solían guardar aspirinas y entonces eran muy difíciles de encontrar en US, y también enviaban dinero para ayudar a otros miembros de la familia. Y cuando viajaban a Asturias, no sólo llevaban paquetes para los parientes de Asturias, también para las familias y amigos de sus vecinos asturianos inmigrantes.

Manuel A Gonzalez wrote:Si te gista Taborneda...tengo unas fincas baratas que te las vendo

Hola Manuel mi nombre es Carlos y soy de Avilés. Me gusta mucho Taborneda y voy bastante a montar en bicicleta y a tocar un poco la gaita, estoy buscando una finca en Illas asi que si todavía estas interesado en venderlas podemos ponernos en contacto.
Un saludo.

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Traducido por Leto

Hi Manuel, my name is Carlos and I’m from Avilés. I like Taborneda a lot and I go there to bike and to play the bagpipe; I’m looking for a plot of land in Illas so, if you are still interested in selling them we could get in touch.Regards

Pensaba que Manuel lo escribió en broma. Pero si no, estoy seguro que habría muchos compradores interesados. ¡Yo estaría tentado también!

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I thought Manuel was joking. But if not, I'm sure he'll have lots of interested buyers! I'd be tempted, too!

I might be interested, too. But in any event, I would like to learn about prices for real estate in Asturias, whether a farm, a house, or an urban apartment. Prices here in New England have gone through the roof in the last few years. Whether or not having a place in Asturias in realistic, it's a wonderful fantasy.

Bob

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Traducido por Leto

Puede que yo también este interesado. Pero de todas formas, me gustaría saber de precios para las propiedades inmobiliarias en Asturias, ya sea una granja, una casa, o un piso de ciudad. Los precios aquí en Nueva Inglaterra se han puesto por las nubes. El hecho de que tener un lugar en Asturias sea realista, es una fantasía estupenda.

Good morning, my name is Patti Muniz Meneely. My parents, Chucha and Donnie Muniz lived next door to the Posadas on MinersHill. My grandparents Jose (Pato) and Lucy Garcia Gutierrez owned the general store. The Pato's lived near the water in Asturias hence the nickname "Patos". Just found this site and it is exciting to hear tales about my grandparents from a "Posada"
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Buenos días. Me llamo Patti Muñiz Meneely. Mis padres, Chucha y Donnie Muñiz vivían al lado de los Posada en Miners Hill. Mis abuelos José (Pato) y Lucy Garcia Gutierrez eran los dueños de la tienda del pueblo. Los "Patos" vivían cerca del agua en Asturias, de ahí el apodo "patos". Acabo de encontrar esta página y es muy emocionante leer las historias sobre mis abuelos por parte de un Posada.

Dear Bob, I am writing a reply other than the e mail in hope of picking up some other people who have fond memories of Miners Hill with Pato and Lucy Garcia Guteirrez and their family of 6 children, 5 girls and one boy. Their names were Mary(Chucha), Anne, Margaret, Raymond, Lillian and Josie.. Mary and Anne are deceased. My maternal Great grandparents also lived in Langeloth, Ramon and Josephina Vega. I knew them also while growing up on Miners Hill. And yes, Johnny Vallina did make the Spanish sausage, longanica. for a few lucky people, myself included. His son now has the store and continues to make us happy with the sausage which is always included in our Cocido! Will write more when I have time Marlayna DiMaggio
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Transl. Terechu

Querido Bob, escribo mi respuesta aquí en vez de enviar un e-mail con la esperanza de dar con más gente que tengan buenos recuerdos de Miners Hill con Pato y Lucy Ga. Gutiérrez y sus 6 hijos, 5 niñas y un niño. Se llamaban Mary (Chucha), Anne, Margaret, Raymond, Lillian y Josie. Mary y Anne ya han fallecido. Mis abuelos maternos también vivían en Langeloth, Ramón y Josefina Vega. También los conocí cuando viví de cría en Miners Hill. Y sí, Johnny Vallina hacía ese embutido español, longaniza, para algunos pocos afortunados, yo misma incluída. Su hijo es el que lleva la tienda ahora y continúa haciéndonos felices con su embutido que siempre echamos en nuestro cocido. Escribiré algo más en cuanto tenga tiempo.
Marlayna DiMaggio

Hola Marlayna,

My Asturian family also lived for a time in Langeloth, Pa. My maternal Great Grandparents, Manuel Alonso González (Manuel Alonso) and Teresa Fernández González (Teresa Alonso) ran a boarding house there about 1910. My paternal Grandfather Rufino Vega Martínez (Rufino Vega) and his brother Jesus Vega Martínez (Jess Vega) lived there also. I recall as a boy driving to Langeloth with my father and grandfather taking Uncle Jesus Vega to visit, I believe his son Raymond Vega (Ramon Vega). I am wondering if you have any information on your maternal Great grandparents Ramon and Josephina Vega that you memtioned. Hope to hear form you.

Roberto Vega
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Transl. Terechu
Mi familia asturiana también vivió en Langeloth, PA durante un tiempo. Mis bisabuelos maternos, Manuel Alonso González (Manuel Alonso) y Teresa Fernández González (Teresa Alonso) tuvieron una fonda allí en torno a 1910. Mi abuelo paterno, Rufino Vega Martínez (Rufino Vega) y su hermano Jesús (Jess Vega) también vivían allí. Recuerdo los viajes a Langeloth con mi padre y abuelo en los que llevábamos a mi tío Jesús a ver a su hijo Raymond Vega, creo (Ramón Vega).
Me pregunto si tendrás información de tus bisabuelos maternos Ramon y Josefina Vega, que mnecionas. Espero tener noticias tuyas pronto.

Angela wrote:Just found this site today. My father's family is from Asturia via Langeloth. The family name is Vallina and many counsins still live in Langeloth. My uncle owned the grocery in Langloth until his death few years ago and his son now owns the convenience store.

There are also Vallina family members living in the St. Louis/Granite City area.

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Traducido por Leto

Acabo de encontrar este sitio hoy. La familia de mi padre es de Asturias, vía Langeloth. La familia es Vallina y muchos de mis primos todavía viven en Langeloth. Mi tío tuvo una tienda en Langeloth hasta que murió y su hijo es el dueño ahora.

También hay algunos miembros de la familia Vallina viviendo en St.Louis/ en el área de Granite City.

Hello Angela,

I am new to this site and just saw your posting of last year. I am from your relatives living in the St. Louis/Granite City area. My mother is Josephine (Garcia) Halbe whom your father would have called Pepina and my aunt is Jean Garcia. I can remember when your father would visit my parents when he came to this area and there was at least one visit I made to your parents in Kokomo. If I have the wrong (or right!) Angela, please let me know.