Amy’s Story

I come from a long line of Germans. Most of my family arrived in the United States in the 1850’s and settled in Northwestern Ohio. They were all farmers – clearing land, building homes, and growing crops for large families. However, I would like to share a story about the other part of my history.  On my mother’s side, I am Welsh. My grandmother was a great singer, and both of her brothers had wonderful voices too. When I was younger, she told me that was their Welsh upbringing. Music and singing are historically very tied to Welsh history, and when she and her brothers got together they always sat around her piano and sang hymns and songs from the “olden days”.

Her grandfather came from Wales in the 1880’s with 5 brothers. They settled in Eastern Ohio and became coal miners, the same job that they probably had in Wales. They all, but one, had large families, and my grandmother remembers large Davis Family reunions with singing and loud, boisterous laughing. In my 20’s, I was able to travel to Wales and see the beautiful country that my ancestors had left behind for better lives for themselves and future generations. The language was strange to me, but the people were friendly and, true to form, there were music festivals at every turn.

My late grandmother cherished her piano and hoped that I would learn to play and enjoy it as much as she. I tried as a youth, but I wasn’t very committed to the idea of practice. Today, however, I am the proud owner of her beautiful piano, and plan on taking up lessons again to carry the tradition forward.

This family photo is of my great-great grandfather Thomas Davis who came with his 5 brothers from Rhymney, Wales – he is the one with the bushy moustache.  My great-grandfather Griffith is the little boy in front of Thomas. 

Amy is a staff member at Tacoma Community House.

Meet Sarah

What is your ethnicity?

Mostly German with a dash of Irish and Swedish.

Why did you family come to the US?

For economic opportunity in the early 1800s.

Do you have a favorite family tradition?

Gathering to burn prairie pasture or cut down dead trees for firewood.

Sarah is staff member at Tacoma Community House.

Liz’ Story

I am half Japanese and the other half is French Canadian/Irish/German. My mom is Japanese and emigrated to the US in 1949. She always taught us about our Japanese heritage and culture. We would often wear kimonos, and almost always wore them when we were visiting our grandmother (Oba-chan), who only wore kimonos. (In the photo above, I’m the tall one, with my brothers Stephen and Richard and my sister Carol and my cousin Frances.) One year we all wore kimonos for our Christmas card picture, including my father who was 6’2”! My mom also taught us basic Japanese phrases and even how to write some characters, although we weren’t very good students. I am very grateful that my mother taught us to be proud of our Japanese heritage, especially when it wasn’t very popular at the time.

My dad made us a Japanese-style table so we could sit on the floor for Japanese dinners. Mom made sukiyaki, a very traditional Japanese meal but one that Americans could eat-beef, noodles, vegetables and tofu-all cooked at the table in an electric skillet. We had sukiyaki parties for our birthday parties, family gatherings and neighborhood dinners, and mom always cooked and served in a kimono, on the floor- which I always found very impressive! She taught me how to make sukiyaki and now I make it for the family gatherings. Food is a great way to bring people together and introduce other cultures.

Liz is the Executive Director of Tacoma Community House.

Meet Sophea

Where were you born?

I was born in Cambodia.

Who did you come with to the U.S.?

I came here with my husband. My family is still in Cambodia.

Do you have a favorite family holiday?

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. All of my husband’s family get together and we eat!

Photographed above is Sophea and a relative at Angkor Wat. Sophea is enrolled in ESL classes at Tacoma Community House. 

Melissa’s Story

I’m proud of my family’s heritage. When you come to my family’s house you’re greeted by a “Välkommen” sign and the smell of Hispanic food wafting from the kitchen. I am Swedish and Honduran!

There is a tradition in my family that every Christmas we make homemade Honduran tamales. My sisters and I (photographed above from left to right Giselle, Jessica, and Melissa) help prep the ingredients and my mom works on the masa. Family friends come over to help make this dish and it turns into a cooking party. This dish is the star of the table on Christmas.

Ingredients:

• Masa – mixed with spices and broth
• Capers
• Olives
• Raisins
• Pork

The capers, olives, raisins, and pork are placed in the center of the masa. We wrap them in corn husks and warp them again with foil to seal them (If banana leaves are available, use those to add more flavor and you can skip using the foil). The tamales are placed in a pot and we steam them for a couple of hours. Before serving remove the foil and you can leave the corn husks for presentation.

Buen provecho!

Melissa is a staff member at Tacoma Community House.