The Icing on the Cake

by StoryCorps

Recording and preserving Americaʼs Stories

Blanca Alvarez and her husband risked crossing the border to immigrate into the U.S.

and then struggled to make ends meet. They hoped to shelter their children from these harsh

realities, but Blanca's daughter Connie reveals how much children can really see of their

parents' lives—and the inspiration they draw from their struggles.

Blanca Ramirez immigrated to the United States from

Mexico in 1972. She came with her husband and son, while

she was pregnant with her daughter, Connie.

Connie, now 32, brought her mother to Story Corps in

Los Angeles, to ask her about those early years.

Connie: What kinds of jobs did you have since first arriving in the country?

Blanca: We were gardeners and we were cleaning offices.

Connie: I remember the offices.

Blanca: You remember that? We had the night shift.

Thatʼs why we had to take you, you and your brother.

We didnʼt have a baby sitter.

Connie: I have memories of running into everyoneʼs office, and eating candy from their candy

dishes. I remember being with my brother in our pajamas with the little plastic feet.

And I also remember you would always buy us a Cup-O-Noodle from the vending machine. Like

a snack. And put us to bed on peopleʼs couches in the offices.

And then youʼd carry us to the car when you were done cleaning the offices. I remember that.

Did they ever know—Did your bosses

ever know that you took your kids?

Blanca: No, I donʼt think so.

Connie: Is there anything you never told me, but want to tell me now?

Blanca: When we first came here, we went through a lot of things, like not eating.

Connie: Oh.

Blanca: I guess for six months your father lost his job. And we never told you that.

Connie: I do remember a lot of beans. Bean tacos.

Blanca: When you ask us, “Why the same thing?” Remember? I didnʼt want to tell you why.

Connie: If you could do everything again, would you raise me differently?

Blanca: I would dedicate more time, I guess. You know, I was so busy going to school too that I

guess I neglected you a little bit.

Connie: No. For me, watching you go to school, with two kids, and trying to make ends meet,

that was the biggest inspiration for me to finish college.

I thought, thereʼs nothing that could stand in my way, that didnʼt stand in yours, more. Itʼs the

most important thing for me, having gone to college.

And I feel like, anything I do from here on out is OK because Iʼve already achieved my dream.

Everything else is icing on the cake.

Questions about the Reading

1. When did the Ramirez family immigrate to the United States?

2. When did you immigrate to the United States?

3. Speak to another student. What is the studentʼs name? When did she or he immigrate to the

United States?

Write your question.

Write his or her answer.

4. What kinds of jobs did Blanca have when she moved to the United States?

5. What kinds of jobs have you had since you moved to the United States? (If you have not

worked, answer these questions describing someone in your family.)

6. What kinds of jobs did you have before you moved to the United States?

7. How was the work you did in your native country different from the work you have done in the

United States?

8. Why was the work different or similar?

9. Talk to another student. What is the studentʼs name? What kinds of jobs has she or he had

since moving to America?

Write your question.

Write her or his answer.

10. Talk to another student. What is the studentʼs name? What kinds of jobs did he or she have

in his or her native country?

Write your question.

Write his or her answer.

11. Who works the night shift in the story?

12. What is the night shift?

13. Have you ever worked the night shift? Describe what was difficult. What did you like or

dislike about the night shift? If you have never worked the night shift, describe what would be

difficult. What would you like or dislike about the night shift?

14. Find a student in class who has worked the night shift. What is the studentʼs name? What

questions can you ask?

Write three or more questions. Write the students answers.

15. Why does Blanca take Connie and her brother to work with her?

16. Why is it difficult to work when you have young children?

17. Find a student in class with young children. What is the studentʼs name? Ask her or him how

raising young children can be difficult. What is the studentʼs name?

Write your questions.

Write her or his answers.

What does Connie remember about the night shift in the offices?

In your opinion, how does Connie remember the night shift differently than her mother Blanca?

How would the bosses know Connie took her kids to work?

Would the bosses be angry if they knew that Blanca took her kids to work?

Have you ever taken your kids to work or school? Why?

Did your parents ever take you to work with them? What do you remember?

What does Blanca tell Connie for the first time in this interview?

What do you want to know about your parents?

Why was life difficult for the Ramirez family?

How long was Blancaʼs husband unemployed?

Have you ever lost a job? Has your mother or father ever lost a job?

How did you feel?

What did the Ramirez family eat when they struggled?

What did Connie ask when they ate bean tacos again?

Why did they eat bean tacos often?

Did Connie like bean tacos? How do you know?

Why did Blanca tell Connie why they were eating bean tacos again?

What do you eat when you have little money?

What do Americans eat when they have little money?

What do people from your native country eat when they have little money?

Talk to another student. What is the studentʼs name? What do people from her or his native

country eat when they have little money?

What would Blanca do differently, if she could raise her children again?

What does Blanca think she did wrong?

Does Connie think her mother neglected the children?

Do they remember this time differently?

Why do you think they remember this time differently?

What is Connieʼs inspiration for finishing college?

What is your inspiration for coming to English class?

Talk to another student. What is his or her inspiration for coming to English class?

What does the phrase stand in my way mean?

What stood in Blancaʼs way?

What stands in your way of achieving your dreams?

Talk to another student. What stands in his or her way of achieving his or her dreams?

What new words did you learn from the reading?

What does the phrase to make ends meet mean?

Can you describe a time when you or your family had to work just to make ends meet?

What does the phrase icing on the cake mean?

What does Connie mean when she says “everything else is just icing on the cake”?

Do you remember life when you were a child?

What did your parents do to make life better for you and your family?

Writing Response

Describe the biggest risk you have ever taken.

Describe a time when you or your family struggled to make ends meet.

Is there a time in your life you would do again?

Describe the best or worst job youʼve had since moving to the US.

Compare your experiences to the experiences of the Ramirez family.