Luis Olvera and Carmen Valdivia, 1953
Nieves Olvera and Tana Castaneda, 1933
Ramiro Valdivia and Jennie Valdivia, 1931
Nieves and Lupe Olvera
Lance and Renee Dart
Michelle Olvera Dart
Spring 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Love Somebody Like You
Keith Urban
Love Somebody Like You
When my son was younger he told me that if he could dedicate a song to me this would be it. It means a lot to me because it was after the divorce and when my son, daughter, and I were all trying to adjust to our new life. I have kept this song close to my heart since that day. And then my kids went back to playing Pokemon, but we had a moment....
Discussion of family languages questions of Familia Olvera de Dart
1. What language(s) do you speak? What language(s) do you read?
Within our immediate family, we are able to speak English, Spanish, German, and Latin. We are able to read in these languages also.
2. What local, national, political, or academic influences your language use?
Various physical movement through the years to new countries. Some ancestors moved by choice to new countries looking for a different life. Some moved throught military assignment or through employer reassignments. Some left their country because of political turmoil.
3. What influences your preference of language use, growing up and now? Family members mentioned their parents spoke Spanish at home so they also spoke Spanish. My Aunts told me they were expected to speak English at school and they would be punished if they tried to speak to each other in Spanish. In those days corporal punishment was given to children. They reported sitting quietly in their classrooms listening to what was going on in their classes, but not speaking. They said they somehow eventually began to speak, then they would 'become proficient speaking English. They continued to be bilingual and biliterate as they grew up and lived in their parent's home. Eventhough one aunt lived in Chicago and the other in Laredo they shared similar experiences. (Aunt Stephanie and Aunt Maria Rosario).
4. Where did you grow up and attend school?
My immediate family attended school in the United States (Kansas, Michigan, Massachusettes, and Texas). Louie, Maria, Molly and I attended Department of Defense Schools in England where our Dad was stationed in the miltary. Maria began Kindergarten in a village school in Holton, England. She then went to first grade on base at a DoD school.
My children have attended school in Texas, California, and New Mexico.
My parents attended school in Topeka, Kansas (Mom) and Laredo, Texas (Dad).
5. How has your culture influenced your language use?
Before I started this project I thought our family only spoke English and Spanish. I have found out that we have a variety of languages and countries. Since we only speak Spanish and English, the other languages were lost somewhere along the way.
6. Was it easy or hard to learn a second language?
For my older family members they reported that they learned their second language slowly without pressure. The younger cousins mentioned having an easier time learning. That could be as a result of always hearing English and Spanish since birth. It seemed a seamless transition.
7. Why do you think you lost your first language?Part of the answer was addressed earlier, when family members moved to new countries they assimilated into their new home lands. Some people left their home country they did not expect to go back, so they used their home language less and less. There is a saying, "use it or lose it." I think that was a major factor in our early family's language choices (French, German, Portugese).
I have one cousin that lost her Spanish language use from lack of using it. I spoke with her about speaking Spanish since she worked in a Mexican neighborhood. She told me she did't speak Spanish. I told her that she spoke Spanish before she spoke English. I think it is interesting that she doesn't remember speaking Spanish. She thought I was joking with her until I told her to ask my older sisters if she spoke Spanish. When they both told her the same thing I did she was surprised.
8. Why don’t you think you lost your first language?
I asked my aunts and cousins this question and the reasons usually came back to the home language. One aunt mentioned my Grandma didn't speak English and she needed to be able to translate for our Grandma. So as they were expected to speak English at school, they were still able to continue using their Spanish at home. It became more a case of survial skills to help our family members. My family in Laredo always spoke Spanish to my Mom and Dad when we would go visit, they seemed to prefer using that language. They seemed to be using the language to emphasize more emotion in their conversation. They could say the same thing in English but I was told it wouldn't have the same emphasis, the same spirit.
9. Which language do you primarily use today?
Our family speaks Spanish and English as far as conversational languages. Many of us have taken various languages as a requirement for school, but we don't use them conversationally. The most varied, that I am aware of are my children who have studied Spanish, Latin, German and minimal French as a result of school experiences. The charter/private schools that exposed my children to foreign languages did so because the subjects were a requirement for all students. I might have family members that may have similar exposure, but they weren't the ones I interviewed.
10.11. Which language do you use to “think”?
Do you switch back and forth between multiple languages during conversations?
I put these together based upon interviews with my aunts. One aunt mentioned that when she had something to say, she thinks of how she wants to say her message. What emphasis to put on her words were as important to her as to what she wanted to say. I asked why and she said that sometimes Spanish language allows the speaker to add emphasis and emotion to convey to the conversation. English doesn't lend itself to the same "essence" of words. I thought that was very interesting, something I never thought about before our conversation. It is for that reason she code switches, move back and forth between two languages during conversations.
Another aunt mentioned she code switches or explains something in Spanish because when the message is translated in English it might not have the same meaning, something is lost during translation.
When I think of my own experiences, I would insert phrases when I wanted to add emphasis or an extra "essence" to the meaning of my message. The interesting thing is I realize the phrases I have used were French, I don't speak French. I followed my Mother and older sister's example of when they would do the same thing for extra focus on their message. Since starting this project, I learned that one of my maternal Grandmothers was French. Perhaps this was a liguistic tool she handed down to her children which our Mother shared with us. "Crème de la crème,"
"Pièce de résistance," "Je ne sais quoi " and we live on a "Cul-de-sac."
Within our immediate family, we are able to speak English, Spanish, German, and Latin. We are able to read in these languages also.
2. What local, national, political, or academic influences your language use?
Various physical movement through the years to new countries. Some ancestors moved by choice to new countries looking for a different life. Some moved throught military assignment or through employer reassignments. Some left their country because of political turmoil.
3. What influences your preference of language use, growing up and now? Family members mentioned their parents spoke Spanish at home so they also spoke Spanish. My Aunts told me they were expected to speak English at school and they would be punished if they tried to speak to each other in Spanish. In those days corporal punishment was given to children. They reported sitting quietly in their classrooms listening to what was going on in their classes, but not speaking. They said they somehow eventually began to speak, then they would 'become proficient speaking English. They continued to be bilingual and biliterate as they grew up and lived in their parent's home. Eventhough one aunt lived in Chicago and the other in Laredo they shared similar experiences. (Aunt Stephanie and Aunt Maria Rosario).
4. Where did you grow up and attend school?
My immediate family attended school in the United States (Kansas, Michigan, Massachusettes, and Texas). Louie, Maria, Molly and I attended Department of Defense Schools in England where our Dad was stationed in the miltary. Maria began Kindergarten in a village school in Holton, England. She then went to first grade on base at a DoD school.
My children have attended school in Texas, California, and New Mexico.
My parents attended school in Topeka, Kansas (Mom) and Laredo, Texas (Dad).
5. How has your culture influenced your language use?
Before I started this project I thought our family only spoke English and Spanish. I have found out that we have a variety of languages and countries. Since we only speak Spanish and English, the other languages were lost somewhere along the way.
6. Was it easy or hard to learn a second language?
For my older family members they reported that they learned their second language slowly without pressure. The younger cousins mentioned having an easier time learning. That could be as a result of always hearing English and Spanish since birth. It seemed a seamless transition.
7. Why do you think you lost your first language?Part of the answer was addressed earlier, when family members moved to new countries they assimilated into their new home lands. Some people left their home country they did not expect to go back, so they used their home language less and less. There is a saying, "use it or lose it." I think that was a major factor in our early family's language choices (French, German, Portugese).
I have one cousin that lost her Spanish language use from lack of using it. I spoke with her about speaking Spanish since she worked in a Mexican neighborhood. She told me she did't speak Spanish. I told her that she spoke Spanish before she spoke English. I think it is interesting that she doesn't remember speaking Spanish. She thought I was joking with her until I told her to ask my older sisters if she spoke Spanish. When they both told her the same thing I did she was surprised.
8. Why don’t you think you lost your first language?
I asked my aunts and cousins this question and the reasons usually came back to the home language. One aunt mentioned my Grandma didn't speak English and she needed to be able to translate for our Grandma. So as they were expected to speak English at school, they were still able to continue using their Spanish at home. It became more a case of survial skills to help our family members. My family in Laredo always spoke Spanish to my Mom and Dad when we would go visit, they seemed to prefer using that language. They seemed to be using the language to emphasize more emotion in their conversation. They could say the same thing in English but I was told it wouldn't have the same emphasis, the same spirit.
9. Which language do you primarily use today?
Our family speaks Spanish and English as far as conversational languages. Many of us have taken various languages as a requirement for school, but we don't use them conversationally. The most varied, that I am aware of are my children who have studied Spanish, Latin, German and minimal French as a result of school experiences. The charter/private schools that exposed my children to foreign languages did so because the subjects were a requirement for all students. I might have family members that may have similar exposure, but they weren't the ones I interviewed.
10.11. Which language do you use to “think”?
Do you switch back and forth between multiple languages during conversations?
I put these together based upon interviews with my aunts. One aunt mentioned that when she had something to say, she thinks of how she wants to say her message. What emphasis to put on her words were as important to her as to what she wanted to say. I asked why and she said that sometimes Spanish language allows the speaker to add emphasis and emotion to convey to the conversation. English doesn't lend itself to the same "essence" of words. I thought that was very interesting, something I never thought about before our conversation. It is for that reason she code switches, move back and forth between two languages during conversations.
Another aunt mentioned she code switches or explains something in Spanish because when the message is translated in English it might not have the same meaning, something is lost during translation.
When I think of my own experiences, I would insert phrases when I wanted to add emphasis or an extra "essence" to the meaning of my message. The interesting thing is I realize the phrases I have used were French, I don't speak French. I followed my Mother and older sister's example of when they would do the same thing for extra focus on their message. Since starting this project, I learned that one of my maternal Grandmothers was French. Perhaps this was a liguistic tool she handed down to her children which our Mother shared with us. "Crème de la crème,"
"Pièce de résistance," "Je ne sais quoi " and we live on a "Cul-de-sac."
Castaneda Spanish Surname History
Spain's colourful traditions have over the centuries yielded many distinguished
surnames, which have been carried from the Old World to the New, and to almost
every corner of the globe. The name Castaneda has been traced to its source in Castile, in north central Spain.
Spanish surnames often conserve ancient spellings with few changes, which
distinguishes them from names originating in England, France and Germany. The
variations Castaneda, Castanon, Castarede do, however, share the same origin.
The first group to populate what are today Spain and Portugal were the Iberians,
who traveled north from Africa around tooo B.C., following the rivers inland. Celts
from northern Europe began to establish settlements in the peninsula in the 14th
century B.C., in the northern and western regions, which today are home to Galicia
and Portugal. About zoo years later, the Phoenicians made contact with these peoples,
established small coastal trading centres, and built lighthouses and cities that still exist
today. The other Mediterranean power to establish a presence in Spain was the Creeks,
around 630 B.C. They founded several cities for trading purposes.
Over the next 200 years, the Greeks were displaced by the Canhaghiam, who
wished to expand their Mediterranean empire. This expansion, however, brought
Canhage into conflict with Rome, and led ultimately to war. The 2nd Punic War,
219-201 B.C., determined that Spain would be controlled by Rome. The Romans first
subdued the coastal peoples, who had had contact with other cultures, but it would
take many years for Rome to control the north and west of the peninsula.
Some of the original Celts and Iberians had, meanwhile, formed a mixed culture in
the central peninsula, the Celtiberians. Each of the peoples of the peninsula had unique
customs, and each had a different language and religion. These cultures interacted with
the Romans differently, adapting to the new ways.
The Romans were the first newcomers to alter the people's way of life over the
entire peninsula, with their accomplishments in law, agriculture, architecture,
engimeriing and the sciences. Rome pensioned many soldiers in Hispania, founding
cities that still stand today, such as Zaragoza and Mtxida. Maniages between Romans
and local women created a blended Hispano-Roman culture. The emperors Hadrian,
Trajan and Marcus Aurelius were Spanish by birth, as were many Latin writers,
including the two Senecis, Lucan, Martial, Quintilian, Columella and hdentius.
Early in the jth century the Visigoths conquered Hispania, but they lived apart
from the people and never had the same influence that Rome had exerted. The best-known Spaniard of this time was St. Isidore, who became Bishop of Seville. In p~
Spain was invaded by Muslims from Africa, who soon conquered the entire peninsula
except Asnuias, in the north. Traces of their presence remain today in cities such as
Granada and Cordoba, witnesses to the important cultural contributions of the
Muslims.
The Christians of the north, however, began a concerted resistance that would
ultimately re-conquer the peninsula, although the struggle would last almost 800
years. During the tenth cennuy Castile became independent and began a series of
alliances and banles that would push the frontier southward. Castile's first king,
Ferdinand, united his kingdom with bn, and also controlled Galicia. By the end of
the ~rth cennuy the Christian re-conquest had reached Toledo and Valencia, and it
would continue until 1492, when Ferdinand and Isabella took Granada.
The Castaneda family originated in Castile, leader of the Christian Reconquest of
Spain from the Muslims. From Castile the family branched to other regions of the
north, including Lon, Galicia, Navarre and Aragon. As the armies of the Reconquest
progressed southwards, led by Castile, families from the north followed after them
and settled in the newly recapnued lands. Thus the family branched to southern Spain,
becoming established in Seville and Cordoba among other centres, and eventually
Granada. Prominent among members of the family general don Ramen de Castaneda y
Rada, who was made the Count of udalla on June 19, @I.
The fall of Granada on 2January 1492 meant that the Spanish Crown could nun its
attention to empire-building. Ferdinand and Isabella supported Columbus' voyages to
the west, which began an era of exploration and conquest that would take Spaniards
and their languageand culture around the world.
The First explorers were soon followed by the conquistadors, and Spanish
settlements were founded throughout Central and South America. Among the great
conquistadors were Conb,Pizarro, Valdivia and Balboa, who led many others in
search of wealth and adventure. The settlers who built upon these foundations of the
Spanish Empire included members of the Castaneda family. Early migrants to the New
World bearing this surname include: Alonso De Castaneda, who arrived in America in
1512; hbe De Castaneda, who came to New Granada in 1577; Cristobal De
Castaneda, who arrived in America in 1528; Juana De Castaneda, who arrived in New
Spain in 19;as well as Pedro De Castaneda, who came to Peru in 1j6j.
The greatest influx of immigrants to the United States occurred between the I&los
and the 1920s. Between these years, around 37 million immigrants arrived in the
United States. Many of these later settlers followed opportunities westward.
Some of the more prominent bearers of this family name in recent history include:
Carlos Castaneda, American author; Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998) Peruvian author on
Mesoamerican shamanism; Maria "Movita" Castaneda (b.19~) American actress,
second wife of Marlon Brando; Cacho Castaneda (b.1942) Argentine singer and actor;
Juan Castaneda (b.1980) Spanish championship fencer; and Christian Castaiieda
(b.1968) Chilean football player.
One of the earliest coats of arms granted to this family was:
A red shield with three bends of ermine.
The coat of arms found for a bearer of the Castaneda surname did not include a
motto. Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat
of arms, and many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Castaneda Family Reunion Family History
August 7, 2010 (April 27, 2011)
This is the history of the Castaneda Family. We are direct descendants of Gregorio Castaneda. Gregorio was a son of Margarito Castaneda was an only son of Esteban
Castaneda who came to the new world with Hernan Cortez and landed in Veracruz, Mexico. Many who accompanied were assigned to the northern sections of what is now
Mexico, Texas and other territories which included California. Esteban was granted land south of the Rio Bravo, now the Rio Grande River, This land was given the Ranch of Colombia, which developed in to a little town, was originally granted to Esteban by the Queen of Spain as was the custom and power accorded to the old Kingdoms to grant the land occupied by the officers now in the New World, now New Spain, at that time.
When Margarito inherited the land of Colombia, he and other land owners decided to join to found the town of Nuevo Laredo as Laredo, Texas became the only city in the
state of Texas on the Rio Grande Border now established in Texas. So, Don Margarito became one of the founders of the newly formed City, and also became the first Mayor, or Presidente Municipal.
Don Margarito and his wife had three children, who were, Gregorio, Gonzala, and Antonia. They resided in Nuevo Laredo all their lives. Don Margarito died in the early part of the 20th century. Gregorio, as the only male carried on the name of
Castaneda. Gregorio married Teofila Garcia and had several children together; they were Genaro, Gregorio Jr., Alberto, Alfonso, Francisco, Enrique, Margarito, and
Maria.
During the Revolution in Mexico, Gregorio brought his young family to Laredo, Texas and they all became U.S. citizens. The move was sudden during the evening due to the revolution. We were told one of Margarito’s predecessors was murdered along with the whole family, including the children. Decision was made to move to Texas so they arrived in a covered wagon carrying only possessions they could carry with them. When they left Mexico, they left their family inheritances so not to raise suspicion among the revolutionaries.
As they grew up all of Gregorio's sons and only daughter remained and settled in Laredo, Texas. Living descendents from Gregorio's children are from Genaro -Maria de la Luz, who resides in Del Rio, Texas. Gregorio Jr. -Gregorio 111. And Alberto -all are deceased. From Alfonso -Altagracia, oldest living descendent who resides in Laredo, Texas, Maria (Mary) who resides in Laredo, Texas, and Lucia Cruz, who resides in the Houston area, and Alfonso Jr. who also resides in the Houston area. From Francisco -Guillermo, second oldest living descendant, resides in Laredo, Texas; Teofila, resides in San Diego, California, Angelina, resides in Del Rio, Texas, Francisco Jr., resides in Kingsville, Texas, and Gilbert, who resides in League City, Texas. From Enrique –Pete, recently deceased, lived in Laredo, Enrique Jr., Ramon, Lupe Santos, Estela Lopez, all reside in Laredo, Texas. From Margarito -Belia, resides in San Antonio, Texas and Bertha Castro, reside in Laredo, Texas.
The next generation of Castaneda's' will be listed individually by each family member.
Our Grandmother is Altagracia Castaneda.
Her first son was Luis Olvera from her marriage to Nieves Olvera. Luis married Carmen Valdivia and had four children, Luis Olvera, Jr (Louie), Maria Teresa Olvera, Amalia Olvera Lendman, and Patricia Michelle Olvera Dart. Louie was married to Debra Sanchez which ended in divorce, he never remarried. They had a daughter named Tiffany Nicole Olvera Lee. She married Keith Lee and they had a daughter Jazmin Mechel Lee, who died at 5 days old. Later they had another daughter, Issyara Lee. Luis Olvera, III is not married but has two sons, Luis Olvera IV and Phillipe Rodriguez Olvera. Amalia (Molly) married Louis Antonine Lendman and later divorced. They have two children, Elizabeth Diane Lendman Holcolmb who married Zachary Michael Holcomb; and John Dodson Teeter Lendman. Maria is unmarried but a very supportive aunt who helps raise all the Grandchildren. Michelle married Todd Stephen Dart which also ended in divorce, and is currently unmarried. They have two children Lance Wesley Dart and Renee Erin Dart.
Part of the Conociemento de Familia Olvera
My father loved the Air Force and was a part of who he was and how he identified himself. My parents were always very proud to identify us as an Air Force family to whoever we met. It was the bond that helped them bridge the gap with almost everyone they met, even strangers. My Dad was proud of serving his country. It provided a good life for him and my Mom, Carmen. It even helped them provide for us children, Luis, Jr. (Louie), Maria, Amalia (Molly) and me, Michelle. The running joke was that if the Air Force wanted the military men to have a family, they would have been issued one during basic training. Although, my parents met a few years after he had became an airmen. He was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas when they met. My mother was a native of Topeka
Her paycheck helped pay for her younger brothers and sister to attend the local Catholic high school. Everyone in the family who worked pooled to their money together to help pay for their tuition. The “story” was that my Mom was so ornery and always in trouble at the school office that the school banished the entire family from attending the local high school; so my uncles claim. My Mom had the ability to say whatever was on her mind at the time and not care how the other person reacted. She did say she would enjoy irritating her teachers for entertainment and because she was “too much of a tomboy to know any better.” My mother continued to work off and on until I was in high school as a sales person. She never wanted to get her GED, and was probably one of the most intelligent people I know. She always kept up on what was going on in the daily news and the weekly San Antonio City Council Meetings. My Dad, Luis, also left high school early. He chose to obtain his GED and he enlisted in the newly organized Air Force (formerly the Army Air Corp) so he could help defend our country’s interest in the Korean War. After basic training he was given career education in food service in addition to his professional military education (PME).
Currently, the Mexican American community is the fastest growing ethnic group in America Chicago from Nuevo Laredo Chicago , Illinois Laredo , Texas
According to my Aunt Mollie Valdivia Cervantez, my Mother’s oldest sister, their father Ramiro Valdivia, Sr. came to this country to work for the Union Pacific Railroad making railroad ties. He moved to Topeka , Kansas Topeka
My Grandfather raised seven children without a wife, he never remarried. The ladies of the community helped keep watch over them as they grew up. My Aunt Mollie said she quit school when Grandma left so she could take care of her brothers and sisters since she was the oldest. She took care of six siblings ranging from 13 years old to under one year old when she herself was only 14 years old. She is currently a retired preschool teacher who has earned her Associates Degree in teaching and the mother of six children.
Olvera, Spain
I found the following information about Olvera, Spain. I know wikipedia is not the best reference, but it did have some good information so I'm including it. I first heard of Olvera, Spain when I took Spanish I at St. Mary's University for BA. It was mentioned in a story I was asked to read aloud in class. I was shocked and surprised, happily, I never thought about the beginnings of our surmane up to that point. We did visit Olvera Street when we visited Los Angeles when I was little, I thought it was "cool."
Olvera, Spain: http://www.andalucia.com/province/cadiz/olvera/home.htm
Wikipedia of Olvera: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvera
The Valdivia Family as told by Ameila Valdivia Cervantez
Grandpa Valdivia, Juan Eliseo, was my Dad's Father. His Mother was Mercedez Romo and his second wife was Rosa Valdivia.
My Great, Great, Grandfather came from Spain. My Great, Great, Grandmother came from France.
They came to Mexico and met there and were married. It may have been about the time of the Mexican Revolution with France. He father was sent to Mexico by his employer. We also have a Grandfather who was from Ireland, same situation. [My Mom said he was a six foot, red headed Irishman, hmm the height went to Aunt Mollies' boys who are around the six foot mark, we're small.] After the men stayed in Mexico after being sent by their employers they married local Mexican women and settled in Mexico. That's where our family started. Some were also Indians from Mexico and that's how we ended up with a mixed family.
My Mother's (biological) side came from New Mexico, not Arizona. That is just where she was living when she was adopted by Grandma and Grandpa Valdivia. My parents were cousins but by adoption, not birth. We do not have any background on my Mother's family. We do know her Father was American Indian and her Mother was a Mormon Missionary from Utah. They had a boy and two girls. We assume she spoke her native Indian language and English because of her mother. We do know she was not allowed to speak Indian language or she would be spanked by her Valdivia "family."
[My Mom mentioned there was also twins who were infants. Great Grandma died of Tuberculosis and because she was nursing the babies they died too. Grandma, aunt and uncle were little at the time and they stayed with the dead bodies until a male friend of their mother's came to check up on them. The children were taken to the church where notice was sent to other parishes about their situation. Somehow the Valdivias found out about them. The children were separtated, the boy was given to one family and he died within the year of his adoption. My aunt and Grandma were sent to different families in Topeka, Kansas to families in the same neighborhood so they could be together. However, Aunt was loved and cherished and Grandma was adopted to be a Mother's Helper, or family servant, depending upon how politically correct you want to be. She was not treated as nicely as her sister and was not allowed to see her outside of school. Aunt Mollie said those Valdivias were kind of snobby and had "airs" but she never figured out why. She and my Grandpa had an arranged marriage because my Grandpa Valdivia sponsored my Grandpa Ramiro to come and work at the railroad in Topeka.]
My Dad came to the U.S.A. and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. He married my Mother in 1931, she was 18 years old and my Dad was 27 years old. He later became a citizen of the U.S.
He died July 1968, he was 63.
They had 9 children:
Amelia (Mollie) Valdivia Cervantez, who had 6 children
Eloisa Valdivia, no children
Carmen Valdivia Olvera, 4 children (Me)
Bauldeio Valdivia, no children
Daniel Valdivia, 3 children
Ramiro Valdivia, Jr., 2 children
Maria Guadalupe Valdivia, no children
My Mom left the family when we were young, I was 14 years old. She remarried to Eleno Favarez. They had a daughter named Martina, who had a daughter. There was another boy born before she married Eleno. [A boy named David Valdivia who died accidently when he was two years old.]
Aunt Mollie later told me she quit school when Grandma left, which would be about 8th grade. Aunt Mollie later went back to get her GED and she currently has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a retired Head Start teacher.
My Great, Great, Grandfather came from Spain. My Great, Great, Grandmother came from France.
They came to Mexico and met there and were married. It may have been about the time of the Mexican Revolution with France. He father was sent to Mexico by his employer. We also have a Grandfather who was from Ireland, same situation. [My Mom said he was a six foot, red headed Irishman, hmm the height went to Aunt Mollies' boys who are around the six foot mark, we're small.] After the men stayed in Mexico after being sent by their employers they married local Mexican women and settled in Mexico. That's where our family started. Some were also Indians from Mexico and that's how we ended up with a mixed family.
My Mother's (biological) side came from New Mexico, not Arizona. That is just where she was living when she was adopted by Grandma and Grandpa Valdivia. My parents were cousins but by adoption, not birth. We do not have any background on my Mother's family. We do know her Father was American Indian and her Mother was a Mormon Missionary from Utah. They had a boy and two girls. We assume she spoke her native Indian language and English because of her mother. We do know she was not allowed to speak Indian language or she would be spanked by her Valdivia "family."
[My Mom mentioned there was also twins who were infants. Great Grandma died of Tuberculosis and because she was nursing the babies they died too. Grandma, aunt and uncle were little at the time and they stayed with the dead bodies until a male friend of their mother's came to check up on them. The children were taken to the church where notice was sent to other parishes about their situation. Somehow the Valdivias found out about them. The children were separtated, the boy was given to one family and he died within the year of his adoption. My aunt and Grandma were sent to different families in Topeka, Kansas to families in the same neighborhood so they could be together. However, Aunt was loved and cherished and Grandma was adopted to be a Mother's Helper, or family servant, depending upon how politically correct you want to be. She was not treated as nicely as her sister and was not allowed to see her outside of school. Aunt Mollie said those Valdivias were kind of snobby and had "airs" but she never figured out why. She and my Grandpa had an arranged marriage because my Grandpa Valdivia sponsored my Grandpa Ramiro to come and work at the railroad in Topeka.]
My Dad came to the U.S.A. and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. He married my Mother in 1931, she was 18 years old and my Dad was 27 years old. He later became a citizen of the U.S.
He died July 1968, he was 63.
They had 9 children:
Amelia (Mollie) Valdivia Cervantez, who had 6 children
Eloisa Valdivia, no children
Carmen Valdivia Olvera, 4 children (Me)
Bauldeio Valdivia, no children
Daniel Valdivia, 3 children
Ramiro Valdivia, Jr., 2 children
Maria Guadalupe Valdivia, no children
My Mom left the family when we were young, I was 14 years old. She remarried to Eleno Favarez. They had a daughter named Martina, who had a daughter. There was another boy born before she married Eleno. [A boy named David Valdivia who died accidently when he was two years old.]
Aunt Mollie later told me she quit school when Grandma left, which would be about 8th grade. Aunt Mollie later went back to get her GED and she currently has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a retired Head Start teacher.
From KI Sawyer AFB to Faial Island Azores
As of May 2, 2011
As I began this blog I mentioned that I spent this semester researching my family lineage. I thought it would be harder than it was, I am greatful to the Mormon church archives for their recordkeeping. I never thought I would find answers to where we come from as a family. My sisters and I are happy with the results. My next project is to try and find more information about my Grandma Jennie and her biological parents. I could continue trying to find answers, but at some point I need to pause to complete this assignment.
Family countries and languages:
Father: USA: English; Mexico: Spanish; Brazil: Portugese; and Horta, Faial Island, Azores: Portugese.
Mother: USA: English; Mexico: Spanish; and France: French; Ireland: Celtic.
My Children: USA and England: English, Germany: German, Poland: Polish (Paternal Grandparents).
So within my family I have discovered many languages I didn't know my ancestors spoke. I do not know anyone on either sides of my biological or marital family that speaks the following languages:
Portugese, French, German, Polish, or Celtic. About 75 percent of my family speaks Spanish and English and are able to read in both languages. 25 percent of us do not speak Spanish, for whatever reasons my cousins and siblings chose not to pursue the language.
A few of us have made an effort to try to learn Spanish as an adult, with the help of high schools and colleges. I would refer to myself as somewhere between emergent and intermediate Spanish speaker. I understand more than I can speak. I usually struggle to remember vocabulary. Reading Spanish is easier for me because I can take my time when I translate. If I don't know a word I look it up in my Spanish/English dictionary or through translate function on Google.
My children have taken Spanish classes throughout elementary school as we have traveled. However since they do not have the opportunity to practice, both say they have forgotten many of the words...but these are children who have trouble remembering what they had for lunch....
My son took three years of Latin in high school and is very proficient. My daughter took German her first year of high school and Latin for two years. She enjoys translating German print when we visit New Braunfels or Fredericksburg. She chose German because she knew her father's Mother and Grandparents spoke German since that is where they emigrated from to this country. Their father speaks better Spanish than I do, he is better able to translate and remember vocabulary. My family would enjoy their "White" mijo.
When we speak of various languages one that I like to is music. Musical notes and lyrics create their own language and not everyone can "read" music. I can because of my many choir years, but my sisters can not; they sing by "ear" where they match the notes based upon their sounds and they depend upon the piano to play their notes for them. Singing together in church choirs was one memory I am fond of now that I am an adult. My sister Molly still sings in our church choir, but Maria and I enjoy sitting in the pews being her audience.
As I began this blog I mentioned that I spent this semester researching my family lineage. I thought it would be harder than it was, I am greatful to the Mormon church archives for their recordkeeping. I never thought I would find answers to where we come from as a family. My sisters and I are happy with the results. My next project is to try and find more information about my Grandma Jennie and her biological parents. I could continue trying to find answers, but at some point I need to pause to complete this assignment.
Family countries and languages:
Father: USA: English; Mexico: Spanish; Brazil: Portugese; and Horta, Faial Island, Azores: Portugese.
Mother: USA: English; Mexico: Spanish; and France: French; Ireland: Celtic.
My Children: USA and England: English, Germany: German, Poland: Polish (Paternal Grandparents).
So within my family I have discovered many languages I didn't know my ancestors spoke. I do not know anyone on either sides of my biological or marital family that speaks the following languages:
Portugese, French, German, Polish, or Celtic. About 75 percent of my family speaks Spanish and English and are able to read in both languages. 25 percent of us do not speak Spanish, for whatever reasons my cousins and siblings chose not to pursue the language.
A few of us have made an effort to try to learn Spanish as an adult, with the help of high schools and colleges. I would refer to myself as somewhere between emergent and intermediate Spanish speaker. I understand more than I can speak. I usually struggle to remember vocabulary. Reading Spanish is easier for me because I can take my time when I translate. If I don't know a word I look it up in my Spanish/English dictionary or through translate function on Google.
My children have taken Spanish classes throughout elementary school as we have traveled. However since they do not have the opportunity to practice, both say they have forgotten many of the words...but these are children who have trouble remembering what they had for lunch....
My son took three years of Latin in high school and is very proficient. My daughter took German her first year of high school and Latin for two years. She enjoys translating German print when we visit New Braunfels or Fredericksburg. She chose German because she knew her father's Mother and Grandparents spoke German since that is where they emigrated from to this country. Their father speaks better Spanish than I do, he is better able to translate and remember vocabulary. My family would enjoy their "White" mijo.
When we speak of various languages one that I like to is music. Musical notes and lyrics create their own language and not everyone can "read" music. I can because of my many choir years, but my sisters can not; they sing by "ear" where they match the notes based upon their sounds and they depend upon the piano to play their notes for them. Singing together in church choirs was one memory I am fond of now that I am an adult. My sister Molly still sings in our church choir, but Maria and I enjoy sitting in the pews being her audience.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
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