Open Coding

Interviewer: What did the family do in Canada?being asked about what the "family" did, not what she did

Laura: My husband came here to work on a farm [contract]talking about her husband's work
"destined" occupation Initial focus of her response is entirely on husband's work, character and life events.. But he did not even work there for a yearpersonal arrangement. He went illegally into the United Statesborder crossing but he decided to move back to Canada so he can "call me" overchain migration

immigrating to Canada as a wifeImmigration policy in 1930s: Canada seeks agricultural workers, encourages family formation; US has loose border, produces illegality, fewer citizenship rights.. The United States had different immigration policy and he would not be able to take me thereinstitutional framework affects international migration; individual responses to the structural set upHusband moves to Canada to bring his wife.. When I came here, my husband worked in an Italian Bankhusband's work; working environment;Banking = immigrant enclave. One man owned the entire building, bank and allemployer's powerConcentration of capital; presence of elite members of Italian community.. Since all us new Italians couldn't understand a thing, he had a lot of powerwhat does it mean to be the "new Italians"?
the notion of "us" vs. "them"; seeing herself as one of the "new Italians"English fluency determines status relations among Italian immigrants; she feels "new" and unable to understand, therefore, less power.. Until the depression hit. He lost everything. He declared bankruptcyemployer's action, power. Everyone lost their money effects of employer's power . He sold everything. Everyone lost everythingdevastation;Economic depression–loss and liquidation of assets by wealthy leads everyone to lose everything. My husband practically had to beg, but that was the worst thing that he could ever donot only lose money but dignityBegging = "worst," most shameful act for Italian; pride, status in financial solvency. For all Italians, begging is shameful and the worst thing possibleattaching personal, cultural meanings to "begging"
"all Italians" not just "Italians" as new immigrants; she speaks as an authority "for all Italians". In 1940, the bank trustees who took over the bank after it went bankrupt really trusted my husbandtrust-worthiness (personal attributes). They gave him some money to open an Italian bookstore"gave" rather than "lent" him money Personal relations of trust leads to business credit, which served all of Canadaan "Italian bookstore" but serves all of Canada; interaction between the Italian and Canadian; an inclusive rather than exclusive approach; being conscious about the "we/Italian" and "they/Canadian". He was the first Italian to do thissetting a precedent (but not clear exactly on what ground); entrepreneur's network based upon place of origin
specialized service to Italian immigrants Pride in husband's entrepreneurship, innovation.
Diversified services.. He sold trinkets too. One day another immigrant from the same home town asked my husband to open a post office in the same store, to service Italian immigrantsHome town connection leads to expanded immigrant enterprise. My husband applied. An inspector came on Good Fridayshe still remembers the date!! Significant religious holiday corresponds with business approval. Regulation by national postal service.. He gave us permission to open a post office on the premises on the condition that we built a special office for itcreating a specialized physical, Italian space in a "general" storeSwitch to "us" and "we": how involved is she in the day-to-day operations of the post office? When does her labour make the post office "ours" rather than her husband's?. We sold stamps, made money orders, out of one ticket window and we had another for people to come pay their billspostal services (stamps, etc.) for the Italian vs. specialized services for the general public (paying bills)
she uses "us" and "we" to talk about the family business; it's not clear exactly what she did, but must have contributed to its daily operation because she has an intimate knowledge about it, and she sees herself as part of the undertaking ("gave us permission," "we sold stamps"); she does not derive an independent, separate identity from the work she did in the store. This was a service that he set up himselfShe is proud of husband's business innovation, trustworthiness, entrepreneurship. People came up to him and asked if they could pay a bill for them while he was downtownrespond to local needs; being the go-between for the ethnic community and Canadian institutions; emerged "ethnic" business opportunity. He would collect everyone's payments and he took them downtown for themphysical spaces (the store/downtown) vs. metaphorical spaces (Italian/company) . They paid him 5 cents for this. The company that the bill was for took 3 cents and he kept 2 cents for every transaction. For every hundred bills he took downtown, he made $2.00getting paid on two grounds—per transaction & total amountShe has detailed knowledge of business operations and finances.
Every cent counts. After 25 years of running our own post office, my husband was recognized by the big post office downtownPost office represents lifework of 25 years. "Our post office" but only husband's work recognized.
Relation between "big" central office and immigrant branches.. They gave him a pin—I still have it—in appreciation of his hard workShe keeps pin awarded for husband's work. , and 25 years of service to the Italian community. It was a big honourrecognition from the dominant culture (from the "big post office downtown") for his "hard work" and middle-man function; a significant event to the respondent ("I still have it"; "It was a big honor"; "He did so much")Husband's hard work and service to community confers honour. He did so much"He did so much": does not mention her contribution.. We had quite a lifepublic, formal recognition only goes to her husband; she seems to have no problem with the lack of acknowledgement of her roles; in her mind, her husband has a separate identity ("He did so much"); her own identity is not separate, but part of the "we" ("We had quite a life"). There were hard timesShe attributes husband's hard work to the family's quality of life, in spite of "hard times." . Some women were forced to begagain, begging, humiliation, but this time "women". They would put a black handkerchief over their heads and knock on your door for moneyvivid images "Hard times" affected "some women" more than her. Black handkerchief represents shame of begging.. I'll never forget this storyanother significant event in her life. I had a quarter in my pocketthis is the first time she talks about herself as an individual ("I"), no longer as a member of the family ("we"). A lady came knocking at the door asking for money. I had that quarter, but I thought to myself "tomorrow I have to buy bread for my own children"I" as the mother
a class divide between "them" (the have-not) and "us"; "a quarter" must be worth a lot
intersection between class (having a quarter) and gender (being a mother and thinking about her own children); Class divisions between Italian women—familial responsibility impedes generosity
She responsible for domestic budget, feeding her children.." I told my daughter to tell the lady to come back another dayhad her daughter deliver the message. But then I regretted what I did. I still feel bad to this day. (Her voice was low, remorsefultakes full responsible for the action; shows emotion: remorseBad feeling towards herself for not giving to someone in need..) Remember, charity is importantderiving a general principle from personal experiences. Everyone says that you have to think about yourself first, but you should think of others firsttaking a commanding stand to criticize the accepted values, norms, and practices Ethic of selflessness (but through acts of charity rather than solidarity?)
Strong ethic: "think of others first". I tell my son-in-law after our mealsSon-in-law (second generation, kin by marriage) instructed in value of gratitude for having the means to feed one's family. We've just had another meal "Thank God" (she said "Thank God" in English)a daily reminder; mindfulness; (why son-in-law? maybe conversing to him as an "outsider"?)Why "thank God" in English?.