Email Exchanges

From the Core Curriculum Personal Component: "My Family History" email exchange

Estefania [Mentee]

Hi:

What's up?? I'm happy that we matched so well, it's so cool, I mean like we have the same interests, and I hope someday I'll be like you, living with the persons that I care the most, I mean I have a boyfriend too and we've been together for a year and even though we are just 17, sometimes we think about the future, I would love to live with him, that sounds very stupid, but well, I dream a lot, but sometimes I hate it, because I want to stay on my reality, but dreaming is free!!!, jajja. Anyway, I think that I'm applying to new patlz univ. because they send a letter to my tennis coach at the school, asking for senior that play tennis, like me!!!, also on Sunday (oct.31) I went to the campus with my mom, and a friend, I swear it's so pretty, and if I get accepted, I will be so happy!!!

I want to thank you, again, for your respond, I think that you are a really nice person, who has a nice taste in music, we like the same bands, and if I can ask for a song for the guitar, it would be sweet child of mine, form gnr, or love 2 times from the doors, I love those songs. Ohm and if you have any pictures when you visited England, would you please send it to me!!! I would love it. I'm going to send you pictures from me and my friends.

Here comes the thing about my family:

My mother's name is Milagros, and my father's is Carlos, they both were born in lima- Peru, but my father has Spanish background, that's why my last name it's kind of weird, (chenoll), it has double "l", but anyway, they meet because of my mother's friends, and I think that they got along well, because they had a long relationship before they marry, like 2 years, that's a long time. They only had me, so I'm only child, not good I'm spoiled sometimes. My mom works now as a salesperson, she works at a chocolate store in Manhattan called "leonidas", the best chocolates in the world. My father well I don't that exactly because after he divorced from my mom, he went back to Spain, but he went to college in lima, and he studied to be a accountant, and my mom well, she just finished high school and then she went to different courses, like accounting, typing and I think that even oratory. What I learned from them is that they loved each other a lot, that's why they got married and they lasted for so long, but I also learn that maybe you shouldn't have kids, just after you marry because then you don't know if the situation is going to change.

I'm going to talk to you now about my grandparents, form my mother's side, because from my father's I think that they passed away already, and I never knew anything from them. My grandmother's name is Nora, and my grandparent's is Jose, they were both born in Lima Peru too, they grew up there and they met when my grandfather when to my grandmother's house to do some electricity job and they liked each other right away, they very young though, my grandma was 17 and my grandpa was 20. They got married when my grandmother turned 21, and they had 2 children, first my mom, and then my uncle, Jose, my grandfather went to college and studied architecture, and my grandma well, she said that she never like studying, but she's a smart woman. Right now they still living in lima, my grandfather stills working, he has been working for the same company for more than 35 years, now he's like the right hand of the owner, so that's very cool and my grandmother, she still at home, taking care of her plants, and listening to her music, she's just great and I love her, the way she's, how strong she's it's just amazing.

Well, I hope to receive pictures form u soon, and I hope you like this little history about my family.

Bye,

Estefania

Caroline [Mentor]


Hey Estefania! OMG -- New Paltz RAWKS. I have a friend who went there and loved it beyond belief. And I go hiking up there quite often -- Minnewaska, I think it's called. It's great. And you can bring dogs -- which is great as my dog Nortyn totally hearts hiking.

Sweet Child O' Mine is great; possibly one of the best rock ballads of all time. I love Axl so much -- he's the ultimate rebel (although the plastic surgery he got was a totally bad idea).

Yeah -- kids right after you are married is very tough. I don't think I'm going to have kids, but I do think that a lot of people have them too soon and don't have enough "couple time" before they start a family. That is really your foundation. But sometimes nature has a mind of its own and before you know it, kids! An instant family. But it's all good. Life is funny that way -- sometimes things don't work out as we'd planned. but they still work out.

So your mom works at a chocolate company -- forget it! I'd be like a million pounds. I'm not a chocoholic, per se, but I do enjoy very fine chocolate and could def. eat a piece or two a day! Something sweet with which to end the day...mmm!

And your grandma is good with plants? That's so cool. We have three. One I've had for almost six years and I worry about how well it is doing all the time. We call her "Planty" and I try to make sure she's thriving at all times. I have two others too and they worry me just as much, but I'm less attached as they're only a year old.

So do you have any plans to visit Europe or South America anytime soon? You should def. travel as much as you can! It is so wondrous to visit someplace and have family there (I did that with Ireland ten years ago -- hung out with my great aunts -- loads of fun).

My parents are...Margaret (aka Peggy) and Richard (aka Richie). They're a couple of crazy kids from the Bronx (I was born there and grew up there for a time). My parents met like most kids back then (late 1940s) -- around the way in the neighborhood. My mom initially thought my dad was a jackass and, thinking about it now, she was right...:). They married in 1949 and lived in the Bronx until I was five and we moved to Long Island. Talk about culture shock. We all missed our friends in our apartment building, the playground, the city, everything. But we went into the Bronx and Manhattan at least once a week to see family. So that made it easier. They had me, obviously, but first they had Rick and Sean. My mom was a homemaker, a beautician (which made for lots of highlights and haircuts as a child) and then a medical assistant. My dad was a credit manager his whole life (which makes him a real critic about my personal finances). My parents are still together -- OMG, it is 55 years now. Not all that totally happy in my opinion altho they are now (old age must mellow you a lot). I think it has to do with the fact that they waited 7 years to have kids when they first got married (which was totally bizarre then). My parents dream for all of us is to be a) happy, and b) financially independent. My brothers are a lawyer and a doctor so they've got it sewn up. I guess that makes me the Indian Chief. What have I learned from them? Well, I guess to try to put your relationship first. They always go to dinner alone every weekend and really like to do a lot of the same things so I think that is what has worked for them.

My grandparents -- I only knew my grandmothers, sadly. My father's father died when my dad was in the Korean war. He was only in his fifties and it was sad. He owned restaurants and came from the Ukraine. I heard he and my grandmother, Anna, didn't have the greatest relationship, though. They were both from the Ukraine and were married in 1917. I have her wedding ring and wear it from time to time. Is that bad karma? My grandmother also lived in the Bronx and died when I was in 5th grade. I always feel bad that I didn't get to know her better and sort of dreaded visiting her (you know -- when you're little old people and the weird food they serve you aren't exactly all that appealing). But she lived to 92 (but lied about her age -- said she was 88. How funny is that? Like it matters at that point?). They had my dad, and two girls -- Dorothy and Norma. My Aunt Dorothy is kinda mean so I don't see her that much. Norma died a few years ago. She was a doll. Lived in Miami. Spoke espanol and was really just adorable. Had great stories to tell about her life, World War II. Really a cool lady.

My other grandparents were Jake -- who died a month before I was born. He was Dutch and Greek and was a fisherman (by hobby) and an artist (also by hobby). He made his living as a handyman. His wife, my grandmother, was Eileen. She was Irish and together they had six kids. They met at Jacoby Hospital in the Bronx. She bought him a pack of smokes and the rest, as they say, is history. She woudn up working in a medical office later in life and died at 86. She was hysterical -- albeit unintentionally. Isn't that always the case with the funniest people? Anyway, they had my mom, Margaret (aka Peggy), Jack, Eileen, Agnes, Chris and Mike. Jack just died and Agnes died a while ago. What is most funny, tho, is my Uncle Mike -- his real name is Cornelius. And then he changed it to Mike. But for YEARS people then called him Sonny. And then all of a sudden one day, no one was allowed to call him Sonny (this was like when I was teenager). Talk about an identity crisis (or multiple ones).

So I still have aunts and uncles, but no more grandparents. And never really a grandfather I could get to know. But the relatives I have known and do have now are, all told, pretty all right.

Well, I've gotta sign off now. It was so great to learn about your family. You have so many exciting places to visit. Sweet!

Looking forward to your response.

Oh, and pics soon -- I PROMISE!

Cheers...

Caroline