An immigrant story with a happy ending

WASHINGTON -- While the politicians bicker about immigration bills and border control issues, Karen and I ran across an immigrant story in Washington this week that is the kind people would always hope to hear.

In the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel in the Golden Triangle of Washington, there's an upscale cafe we tried for breakfast one morning this week. It was late in the breakfast serving time, and the place was nearly empty.

The server took our order, brought our food and throughout the meal continued to be attentive and courteous. She fussed over us; over our toast, if the food was hot enough, the juice cold enough, the eggs cooked enough. She was a great example of a person that is increasingly rare these days: a food service professional with a passion for what she does.

And when she was done tending to whatever we needed and maybe didn't need, she told us her story.

She was probably 60, maybe older. She was slightly built her name is Song and she spoke in broken English.

She came to the United States from Korea in 1982, briefly worked for a dry cleaner who would ultimately fire her because of her inability to master the language as quickly as he desired. She worked briefly at a second job and then went to work for the Mayflower in the mid-1980s. For 23 years, she has worked in the same cafe in the same hotel in the same city in what has become her country.

"How did you finally learn the language?" my wife asked Song.

"By listening to customers. And watching TV," she said. "I hear people talk and remember how they say things."

We had introduced ourselves to her by name, joking that if we returned in a year, we would be doubly impressed if she remembered them. And when we paid our tab and left Tuesday morning, she told us it had been a pleasure helping us, and then she called us by name.

I'd say 23 years at the same job qualifies her as a stable employee and an example of just how this country can provide opportunity for those willing to make a good life for themselves. People like Song are why there's a Statue of Liberty, an Ellis Island and even an Arlington National Cemetery.

Her story may not have a dramatic ending ... or maybe it does. She came here, has made a life for herself, has earned an honest living, and she's darn good at what she does.

Song's story is the kind of immigration story we could stand to hear a few more of in America.

Comments

[Wallace]

"The server took our order, brought our food and throughout the meal continued to be attentive and courteous...."

That does it, I need to find a Korean woman to marry.

[Tom Partain]

The statue of liberty was given to us by France.
The statue has nothing at all to do with migration, immigration, or the official name of Illegal Aliens.
You may have heard of the American Revolutionary War. The statue celebrates our victory with a bit of help at the end from France to win our Independence from the rule of Britain and the Church that ruled Britain’s government. (Cite: history class)
Sir, I take offense that you continue to twist Immigrant and Illegal Alien.
Note:
"Illegal alien" is the official term in legislation and the border patrol for a person who has entered the country illegally or is residing in the United States illegally after entering legally (for example, using a tourist visa and remaining after the visa expires). (Cite: Border Patrol web page)
Congress often uses the same tag to deceive us about the really serious offense of crossing a sovereign border in war time. I mention war as a Senator the other day said: It was treason to say something bad about the General that is our commander in Iraq. (Censorship) (Cite: Part of the news broadcasts)

Ellis Island (not connected in anyway to the statue other than it is easily seen when arriving by ship) was developed for legal immigrants at a much later date.
We need an Ellis Island on the bordering states of Mexico, West Coast, and Canada.

Also note: The poem at the bottom of the statue was written by a 10 year old immigrant girl of Russian-Jewish decent in the early 1900’s and not legislation.

[Theocritus]

I've found that people who come to this country so often appreciate it more than people born here; familiarity not only breeds contempt but is contempt.

I have a priest friend in El Paso, whom I still like despite his being seduced by the left, and who has as his parish a humble valley church with a large wall showing the names of people who died in service to this country. They were all first or second-generation Americans. No doubt the military was an opportunity but they did nonetheless appreciate America, having first-hand knowledge of worse places.

They are stories of the American success.

I, looking at things from a slightly different angle, also much appreciate this country and in this too I am a story of the American success.