NEWS

StoryCorps: Laura Overstreet talks Christmas in Panama

Staff writer

Laura Overstreet came to the United States from Panama with her sister to escape political violence there. She went to college in Virginia and has lived in Rochester for about five years. Here, she speaks with Sarah Lydon of the Rochester Public Library about what she misses about her home country.

I really like everything about Panama. I’m very patriotic. Being forced to leave my country was very hard. … Families (in Panama) are very close. Sundays, everybody gets together, regardless. I might (just) bring a soda, you might bring a box of Cheetos, but everyone gets together.

Christmas in Panama, New Year’s, I’d say is like Thanksgiving here. People don’t bring presents because people don’t have money. I could have a huge Christmas party at home, everybody’s coming to my house, but no one’s bringing presents because people don’t have any money. But you have the best time ever. Maybe we bring something to eat and we can all get together.

It was very depressing the first Christmas I spent in the U.S. (laughs).

Sarah Lydon: Were you able to spend it with your sister?

Laura Overstreet: The first ones I did. But the first one that I spent by myself, I still remember it. Back then there was no (Skype), you have nobody. I was running to the mailbox, hoping I can find a letter from somebody and read it and read it again and pick it up and read it again, and read it again. Because that’s all you got. Technology has changed it so much in five, seven years. Before that, it was just letters.

I remember AT&T had a special program for long distance. We paid for that and we would call Panama once a month, my sister and I, because it was so expensive.

Sarah Lydon: That’s got to be one of the hardest things, being separated from your family.

Laura Overstreet: For me it was, because we have a very tight family.

Share your story

These interviews are provided courtesy of StoryCorps.

The Rochester Public Library is inviting all Rochester-area refugees and immigrants to share their stories through the StoryCorps @ Your Library project, which runs through October. It does not matter how recently the person arrived in the United States.

Typically, the interview is conducted as a conversation with a friend or family member.

To schedule an interview, find out more about the project or learn how to access interviews, call Sarah Lydon at (585) 428-8397, email sarah.lydon@libraryweb.org or contact the library branch directly.