Oral History Interview with Elizabeth Burns

LUANNA JOHNSON: Okay, it is June 19th, 1999. And I'm LuAnn Johnson. And I'm interviewing Elizabeth Burns in the mall in Bowling Green. In Dillards, in the back room. And there may be some...background noises and intercoms and things like that, during or interview. Um, let's see--can I get your full name?

ELIZABETH BURNS: Yeah. Elizabeth Burns.

JOHNSON: Okay. What was your maiden name?

BURNS: Amar. (unsure of spelling)

JOHNSON: Amar?

BURNS: Mhmm. It sounds Muslim, but it's not.

JOHNSON: Okay.

BURNS: (laughs)

JOHNSON: And where were you um, originally from?

BURNS: Philippines.

JOHNSON: What area?

BURNS: Um, I think from Luzon area.

JOHNSON: Okay.

BURNS: And the Philippines were divided into two--three big um...parts. Luzon, 1:00Visayas, and Mindanao, and I came from Luzon.

JOHNSON: Okay. What--when did you first most to the United States?

BURNS: Ooh. Uh, I moved here like 1992. December.

JOHNSON: Okay. What brought you...here?

BURNS: I got married. (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs) How did you meet your husband?

BURNS: It was (indeterminable). We were pen pals. (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs) That's great!

BURNS: (laughs) No it's not. My parents think I'm crazy.

JOHNSON: Really?

BURNS: Yeah.

JOHNSON: Well what was your life like before? When did you...

BURNS: My life? Like before?

JOHNSON: Yeah, when you--before you--when you were living...

BURNS: Oh, oh. So busy. I mean you know, I came from a small town like Bowling Green. and then um, may parents were really (indeterminable) for education. And uh, they really worked so hard to send us all to school. So when I went to school, I went to school, I went to school in a big city California. And then um, my sisters, I have sisters, I have--there are seven of us. I'm the second to 2:00the youngest. And um...I went their to the bigger city to help my sister. (voice over intercom) Because it's already, you know, working. And she had a good job and I went there to just be tied to her and just in case, you know. We're so close, family. We don't let our family wander around without each other. So I went there, and then I decided to find a job.

JOHNSON: Oh really?

BURNS: And I went to be working student. For a long, long time. I only took like maybe three courses at a time, which is not normal. But I love it. I took the easiest courses, too. (laughs) The ones that I don't ever have to study. I took (indeterminable). And then I graduated, you know, after a year. After a year...I graduated, I got married. With my pen pal. That my family they never, ever know existed.

JOHNSON: How did you start? How did you find your pen pal?

BURNS: Well he writes me. (laughs) He got these, here in the U.S. they have like (voice over the intercom) um, like American, Asian-American uh, association. And I think he get my name over there. It's just like by coincidence. It's not, not intended or anything. But, it was my last years in college, that I hate, you know, I've been working in these semi-conductor companies. They're big companies, owned by American uh, investors. That want to invest in the Philippines. And um, a friend of ours, you know, they tried to write people all over the world just to make friends. And they told me that, "Oh, won't you join and write somebody?" And then, you know, I said, "Oh, you're crazy. You cannot write somebody that you do not even know." It's impossible for me--I cannot even start. You know, for him to be writing somebody that you don't even know. How would you start?

JOHNSON: I don't know.

BURNS: (laughs) So I said, "No, no, no, not for me." And then in that application form, if you want to join into that group they have uh, like a biodata form, and you have to release your picture. And I said, "No, I don't want that." But see, if you're a good friend, over there we exchange pictures...And they put my name on it. And they give my pictures, too. (laughs) And then like five months later, all these letters were arriving and I said, "No, I'm not going to past that." You know. I said, "No, I don't want to."

JOHNSON: So you didn't even sign up.

BURNS: No! I don't even sign up at all. I mean you know...

JOHNSON: But your friend put in your picture.

BURNS: My friend put me in. (laughs) But just, she laughed, " (indeterminable) I mean if you want to have some friends. I mean, you know, this is not the time, you know. You will learn other cultures from other country. You know. You don't know, you know, that you don't know. Don't you like that?" So I was just (voice over intercom) like, "I'm busy." You know. I think I had one more semester 5:00before I graduated at that time. But I never really think about writing. And when um, when I graduated, I graduated '91. And then the letters, I never packed all those letters. But, I was so relaxed, I don't have to go to school anymore. All I have to do is to go to work. So I am easy go-lucky, go to the dorm and you know, with other friends. And all my letters that are coming in, it slows down. I mean like, I only sent twice, two letters in a month. And then one letter arrived and that's how I met him, you know. And then he writes me every week, I said, "Ooh." And then I've been, I think we've been writing for like maybe six months. He showed me all his family pictures and stuff. And it was really impressive when he writes because he writes like, two pages handwritten. I was said, "Whoo! He really writes." I mean, you know, you can tell if it still looks sloppy or not. And I start writing to him. And then I guess, write like nothing, you know. It's just like normal friend. And he showed me all his family 6:00pictures. And he did not even see me. I did not even send him a picture of myself. So my family really never really had any idea because I don't talk about it. And then he went there to see me. And then my sister said, and when my sister find out she said, "Don't you know that, where he lives, where he lives. He came from halfway around the world. If you really you know, you know, have any idea what you're doing. He traveled halfway around the world just to come over in the Philippines. (laughs) I said, "Oh my god." (laughs) So he went there and my family likes him. And I said, "Ooh." And then you know, that kind of thing. And then he came back there and then we got married and...my dad...doesn't like it and all. Because my dad knows a whole lot more uh...he's more of...well-traveled person. Because my dad work in a ship.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: So, he works a lot and he knows a lot of cultures. And basically, sadly 7:00to say, American is not one of his liking. (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: American culture, you know like...We got married early or, like, woman doesn't have--is just like carefree. Too liberated as he calls it. When my dad is mad, you will know because he make a point, and he uses English. Mhmm.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: Yeah, we know when he makes a point. Because he uses uh, English words. My dad. And then my dad told me that um, he did not...work so hard, send me to school (laughs), and ended up marrying an American outside the country. (voice over intercom)

You know. "I prepared you so well that you're going to be okay when we're gone." You know, because I made it. I mean even if I work, I still made it.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: So, after a year I got married. You know I--it's okay. You know, he finally...accept it.

JOHNSON: So do you have other relatives in the States?

BURNS: Yeah, I have my sister. My sister got married from Florida. Somebody from Florida last uh, two years ago. So, but hers is not as bad as what I have because I am the first one who came out from the country and married a foreigner.

JOHNSON: And your sister married a...

BURNS: My sister married a foreigner, too. So hers is not so bad at all because Glen really made a good impression in my family. So it's not--and Glen is a good man, my husband. So, he did so good that, you know, foreigners are welcomed (laughs). Yeah, and it was a--I like it. Family-wise, you know. You have a family of your own. I'm still clinging to our culture, of course. I told my dad about that.

JOHNSON: Yeah. So when you first came over to the States with Glen, was it your first time out of the Philippines?

BURNS: Yeah. And, out from the Philippines, yes. And I thought it's going to be okay because Philippines is made of so many islands. I mean six hundred, six thousand islands, with six hundred dialects. So for example like, in my native uh, tongue, I have different--we use this, you know, different dialect. I mean, you go to another island, they use this different dialect. So you have to adapt yourself. You cannot just understand there. So when I meet somebody here from the Philippines, I used to have, I need to communicate with them in using our national language which we learned from school. If they went to school they will know that language.

JOHNSON: Mhmm. And when do you start--did you start learning English when you were in school, as well?

BURNS: Yeah uh, actually English is the third world, uh third English-speaking country in the world. Philippines. And uh, anybody that went to school, I mean you know, they can, they can comprehend. They cannot speak, like my mom. She's only an elementary graduate. But my mom can understand English. She cannot, you know, speak properly. But she can, you know, she can understand.

(00:10:02)

JOHNSON: Mhmm. So you said um, education is something your family valued highly. Did, do most people go onto college in the Philippines?

BURNS: Some. Some, there's some people that really wanted it. They went to graduate school. Yeah. They even sell their property just for the kids to go to school.

JOHNSON: So it's not something everyone does, it's something...

BURNS: No, not something everyone does. But you know, it's so important for us...to have that.

JOHNSON: When you first um, moved here, it was to Kentucky?

BURNS: Here right away, Kentucky. (voice over intercom)

JOHNSON: And what was your first impression from living here?

BURNS: (laughs) (indeterminable) you might laugh but, I just realized that United States--for some reason I really didn't take a whole lot of um, history. I'm talking about world history. Because we have so much history to learn in our country. Because we were under by Spaniards for 400 years. So the trade that we cling on. And that's to say that when we go to school we, "Oh, this is so-and-so our hero." And you know, so we don't really hardly have the chance to piddle 11:00around with world history. Well just major facts. Like...whoever, you know like, George Washington, the president of the Philippines, and you know, that kind of thing. So anyway...When I first came over here I had this in my head that when we go down, tall big buildings and stuff. So we arrived in--it took so long. I never rode in a plane for 32 hours. It killed me. And it makes me not to like it like it anymore.

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: That's enough for me for threes years. (laughs) That would do me. You know.

JOHNSON: And was the plane bad, plane ride bad?

BURNS: Mhmm.

JOHNSON: Why?

BURNS: Because it takes a long time. Can you imagine two nights in a plane? And then you have to layover six hours. And then you just have to ride back three hours. And then...well, three, four times, four planes you have to transfer. 12:00Four times.

JOHNSON: And were you alone, or?

BURNS: When--no. Glen went to come and pick me up.

JOHNSON: Oh, okay.

BURNS: Mhmm, and when he, when he went to pick me up and we're on our way here I keep asking him you know, "Are we still far? Are we still far?" And then he said, "Yeah." And I was just thinking, how could he ever get married to somebody so far away. And he doesn't even know our culture so much, you know? And then, take a risk to marry somebody and bring over here, halfway around the world. It is so far. You know, I just realized it when I came over.

JOHNSON: So you had no idea you would end marrying and moving so far away from your, your homeland.

BURNS: No. Hmm-uh. Never. (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: My dad said I'm crazy. All my sisters, too. They said I'm crazy. But see I got married when I was 26. So whether they like it or not, if I decide, I can decide. I don't need parental guidance. I am not 23. So that makes a big age...for me.

JOHNSON: Now when you got here, had his, had you had a chance to meet his--you obviously didn't meet his family before. But how was your reception?

BURNS: They, they're very nice. They're very, you know, they're very nice to me. And they're very considerate that I am not from here. And they try to show me and everything. And then they tried to ask me about uh, country music. And then, "What is this, country music?" You know. I had...I had hardly heard country before, but I know Kenny Rogers, of course. You know, he's (indeterminable). And he's, you know, all these....um....singers that, universal singers. Like Michael Jackson. They're so common in the Philippines. Filipinos love music.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: Mhmm. We got karaoke in the house, we have sing-a-long in the house. My dad brought it to us. I mean, you know, even when I came over here my first um, gift from my husband is a sing-along.

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: (laughs) I just can't live without music. That's all. But when I came over here, it completely changed. Because when I tune in the radio, it's country. And I always am thinking, "Ooh. Country. I never heard this music 14:00before." I keep on tuning and finding the channel that, you know, is familiar to my ears. (laughs)

JOHNSON: And have you found one?

BURNS: Yeah, I found one. I found like the (indeterminable) or something. (laughs) But and then, you know, sometimes I listen to country. And then I kind of like it, too. You know, country. I like country.

JOHNSON: And is there music that you miss? That you don't have access to now, or?

BURNS: Yeah. Mhmm. I do. I went to go ahead and look for it here in the mall. That's all I'll do. Come over here and look something that's familiar to me because I miss home so much. The culture shock is so much for me to handle at first.

JOHNSON: What was it--what were some of the things, that...

BURNS: Well...well I lived, well I lived in a small town, that the people is cramped. You know what I mean, they are far. You know what I mean. Just the whole field in there, the whole space, but nobody lives there. But when somebody built the house, they, everybody will build house nearby. You know what I mean? Unlike here there is space. The house is space. They own the property. You're 15:00stuck there if you don't sell that portion, you're there. You don't have a neighbor. I'm not used to that.

(00:15:02)

JOHNSON: So you're out of the city limits? You're out...

BURNS: I am out of the city limits. And I don't see anybody. I don't hear any noises. I came from big city. And my husband says, "Why do you like big city that they're fighting over there, they're killing everyday?" I said...(laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: (indeterminable) Believe me, I'm not comfortable of living, of living in a place that...in the middle of nowhere that...I think...I'm the only person in the world or something. (laughs) I mean you can be in our yard and see nobody.

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: I mean we live in the country. (laughs) (voice over intercom) I'm telling you. And I was just thinking, "Oh my goodness, this is it."

JOHNSON: So what was your first reaction when you like--the very first night you spent in, in Kentucky?

BURNS: I brought three clothes with me. Very thin ones. And it was December when I came.

JOHNSON: What was the weather like in--

BURNS: It's cold.

JOHNSON: --the Philippines?

BURNS: It's 85 degrees all year long.

JOHNSON: Oh.

BURNS: And it was so cold. I don't like it.

JOHNSON: No.

BURNS: At all. The weather. And it's so cold. And so I, I was just...I was 16:00wondering about the trees. And I was just thinking, "Are they still alive?" Because there is no leaves anymore. I mean in the Philippines, when the tree, you look, you look at a tree and it has no leaves it's bad. (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: And I was just thinking, "They call this place Bowling Green. Where did it came from, Bowling Green? I mean, this is not so much greenery in here," you know. And the language. I learned, I learned from school and read books. I can write better. And I can understand better. But for me to say it, there is an accent that people cannot understand. Because I learned English. Not English-English, you know. Like howdy or...When my husband took me to his work and people said "howdy," I got confused. I'd never heard it from school. I mean, howdy. So I just assumed that's the shortcut of "how do you do?" And my husband 17:00says, yes, and I says, "Oh, okay." So, it's just so much for me to learn. That even--I was just thinking, I speak properly, you know. How come that they cannot understand? People, you are not speaking right English. I mean, there's no grammar in here. I was just thinking, "Oh my goodness gracious." So I would--so okay, so...And my husband was so used to like--see I am not from here, and so he wants to--just like, maybe overly protective of me. Can you imagine going to a country that you don't know how to drive? You don't know--

JOHNSON: Did you drive in the Philippines?

BURNS: No, I don't drive! (laughs) All you have to do over there is stand across the--along the road. Read the sign of the jeepneys that are passing by. So if your going to some place like Greenwood Mall, you're there in 21W. So, you're there in 21W and then they're's these jeepneys there with signboard to the mall. 18:00You get into that jeepney and the bring you to the mall. You know. It's not that you have to be (laughs) comfortable of yourself driving, you know.

JOHNSON: You know, you know how to drive now thought?

BURNS: Oh yeah, I know how to drive. I learned pretty quick. I'll tell you--because I said there is no way, hmm-uh.

JOHNSON: You'd really be trapped out there.

BURNS: I was. And my husband says that, "Well, we have to have a small vehicle for you." And I took the learner's permit. And I read the book. And I heard from people, some people who are not from here, you know like uh, (indeterminable) people. And people that, you know, people that just came to America. It's really hard to get the license, you know, driver's license. Like, "Ooh, it's really hard," I was just, "Wow, huh, it's really hard." So I told my husband, "Let me 19:00read the book and then I'll go there and get the exam." And then he said, "No, you don't need the exam, you have to study first." I said, "No, because the worst thing for me to do is to go there, to study hard and go there and flunk. I don't think so. I'll go there, and do not study and flunk, I can accept it. At least I did not study. There's a good reason. But the bad reason is I study and I did not make it. No way." (laughs) He went to go ahead and, you know, took me down there. And it's really, well, when I went to school in the Philippines so it didn't really, I don't think it's so hard. No, no, not at all. It's very basic and very self-explanatory. Just use your common sense, you know. I passed the test, so (laughs) he obligated himself to teach me how to drive. (laughs) I told him, "I'll tell you, I'm a very good student. I'll do whatever you told me to do, just...if I flunk in the driving test that means you've got a problem. Because I don't have the problem." Because I do whatever he told me to do. I said, "If you're a good instructor, I'll pass the test. But if you're not a good instructor, I'll flunk. And I don't like it." (indeterminable) "Well come on." 20:00(laughs) So I arrived here like, maybe--uh, when was it? December...I start driving March.

(00:20:08)

JOHNSON: Great.

BURNS: M'hmm.

JOHNSON: Wow, that was fast.

BURNS: Fast. Really fast. Yeah, and then I start to drive stick shift, too. I did not, you know, automatic, I did not know how to drive automatic. But now I'm driving stick shift and automatic no problem. Both.

JOHNSON: Great.

BURNS: I'm like a (indeterminable). (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs) Well I know you were on your lunch break, so we, how are we doing for time?

BURNS: Yeah. We're doing great. We still have thirty minutes more.

JOHNSON: Okay, great. Because I want to be sure to ask you about um...other things that you've missed--or also, but also now you have a family...

BURNS: Mhmm.

JOHNSON: You have one child?

BURNS: Yeah.

JOHNSON: And what kind of things um, are important for you to teach him about your background? Your culture?

BURNS: My um...um my spiritual values.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: And um, my moral values. Is the most important that I'm going to, you know like--for example like, when I call him, when I call him, "Turner, come over here." And then he will say, and he will say "Ha!" I mean, that's a big no-no in my country. He has to, "Yes, mom." Or you know... (voice over the intercom) (indeterminable) that's really hard for me. You know.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

BURNS: Being a parent is a very big responsibility. Especially if you've grown up in a different culture and you know, they're mixed with these other kids that have different cultures, too.

JOHNSON: So what is the big differences that you see that you, you um...

BURNS: Like wanting to respect his aunts and uncle. You know, I want him to call not just their names. That's a very...that's not...that's not um...really, how do you call it, polite. You either have to call--for example like, my husband's 22:00nieces and nephew, since I'm married to their uncle they have to call me aunt.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: You know, that's no question asked. Whether they like me or not. That's what, you know--but my boy, he's adopting that pretty good.

JOHNSON: What other things do you, have you focused on? Are there holidays or another celebration that you missed from when you were living--

BURNS: Yeah, the Independence Day.

JOHNSON: What, what day is that?

BURNS: July.

JOHNSON: What date is it?

BURNS: Um...no, actually it's June 12th.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: It's the uh, Independence Day. And American history, America is...um...have a great part in that. Because they were the reason why we become independent. You know.

JOHNSON: What were the celebrations like when you were growing up?

BURNS: Uh, we, we tried to hang flags, you know. And the American flag it's, it's always there. You know, Philippines flag and American flag, it's always there. When they, whenever they, like in World War II they fought together. (indeterminable) And then uh, we have a great appreciation towards America because um, um, we've been under by the um, Spanish colony for 400 years but 23:00they never introduced education. But when American people, when American soldiers went there, I mean, there was nothing but just high school graduate. I mean, you know. But when they find out that the Filipinos, they don't know how to read, they don't know, you know, they had to teach them. And now, you know, they're very competitive. Filipinos are. You know, since from World War II. So we really have, we really have um--I learned to appreciate more American people when, when I arrived here in America. When I find out the history. Because I don't really watch TV, you know. I'm not, I've never been a TV person. But I tried to see and watch, you know, what's going on all over the world. And when I first I came here I don't have any friends but the library. I read.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: And my husband asked me why. I said, I just wanted to know my right. Because I am from a foreign country. I just went to the library and read. I just 24:00read. But (laughs) the books I read, I read the Kentucky (indeterminable), I read the you know...My civil rights, I want to find it out. (Indeterminable) "There will be no, nothing wrong will happen to you here." I said, "Yeah, if I'm with you, but how about if I'm not with you?" I just wanted to know my rights I mean, you know. I'm from a foreign country.

JOHNSON: So um, Independence, Independence Day...

BURNS: Mhmm.

JOHNSON: What kind of activities um, how would you celebrate that in the Philippines?

BURNS: Sometimes we do the, the re-, the reenactment. It's very common. And we have also the uh, Independence from the Spanish colony. We do that, too. And we also do um, like uh, well of course Christmas. You know. And uh, All Saints' Day is a big thing in the Philippines. You know, like celebrations of the dead, dead people.

JOHNSON: When is that?

BURNS: Uh, November 1st.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: All the people brought food in the, in the cemetery. Just a cemetery day 25:00for all the people. Here it's Memorial I heard.

JOHNSON: Okay, yeah.

BURNS: And it's a big thing in the Philippines, too.

JOHNSON: So where, are there differences on how you celebrate these things here?

(00:25:03)

BURNS: Mhmm, mhmm. The Philippines, the Philippines is 90%, 98% Catholic. But we're Baptist.

JOHNSON: You're, you're family?

BURNS: I am. Mhmm, mhmm. My dad is. And uh, so they claim to, you know like believe in the...(indeterminable). Or believe in the...um...how do you call it? Um...figures...you know.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: You know how Catholics, yeah, they do that? And it's 98% over there.

JOHNSON: So there's a lot of that?

BURNS: Fallen Catholic. Even my mom is--was Catholic. She was just, she was just uh, converted into Baptist when I was second year high school. And there are seven of us.

JOHNSON: Seven girls?

BURNS: No, seven kids in the family.

JOHNSON: Yeah. How many brothers do you have?

BURNS: I have two.

JOHNSON: It's a big family.

BURNS: Big family, yeah. I wish when I find out when I was here...no when I 26:00arrived here, I realized the importance of them choosing education for me. You know, I wish I should have broadened my mind a little bit when I took, you know, in my major courses before. You know, because I was so frustrated when I arrived here, when I went to Western. I went to the International Department, and then they told me that um, they can only honor--I went to go ahead and bring my um, my transcript and grade card. And then they told me that they will only honor everything like, they can put me in a graduate school if I can provide the (indeterminable) of all the subjects that I took. Even if all the subject that I took is in the curriculum. I have to provide them (indeterminable) of each subject. But when I read it I said, "I took these, too." And it's, it's so frustrating.

JOHNSON: So you have to retake things here? To go into graduate school?

BURNS: No, I have to retake things if I can't provide. Or else I have to shift into another courses and take like, for example, like accounting or business. I have to take all those. And if I, if I pass it I get the credit and just jump into another on.

JOHNSON: I see.

BURNS: And I don't want to do that. I mean, I've been in school for a long time. I don't want to keep going to school in all my life. I already (laughs) I already have five-years-old to raise. And a husband to take care of.

JOHNSON: Mhmm

BURNS: I don't want to mess around with school anymore. (laughs)

JOHNSON: If you did go to graduate school, what do you want to study?

BURNS: Well I, I really wanted to go to uh, like go into medical field. But my husband really discouraged me about it. So I was just thinking being a homemaker, I'd rather teach. Because I'm good with children, you know. And uh, I found out too that uh--I've made a lot of research here in Bowling Green. I get so frustrated, I tried to, to...to call, to read, and what I can do. I mean, you 28:00know, it seems like my world was just closed. Was shut. I mean, can you imagine that you graduate in your country, you're thinking that you'll end up in a nice...you know, white collar job that you worked so hard for it. And then you're in a country and your education is not being, being...acknowledged by a university or something? (laughs) Can you imagine that? (voice over intercom)

JOHNSON: Wow.

BURNS: It's been a kind of downfall for me, too. But I just look at the positive side. Like my husband has a great family and they're really accepting. I love them to death. I mean, you know, they're very nice people and I'm married to a nice guy. He's very, he's a very loving father and a good husband for me. So I cannot really ask for more.

JOHNSON: Now when you uh, were in the Philippines, did you um, were there differences that you and Glen had to confront as your relationship grew? Just as far as how you got along as a couple?

BURNS: Household chores.

JOHNSON: Huh?

BURNS: Household chores.

JOHNSON: Yeah? What was the difference?

BURNS: Um like, I don't want, I don't want to, when I get up I want--but I think Americans do that, too. Like when I get up I don't want to leave the room without my bed made up. And I want him to do the same. But him being single for such a long period of time, maybe he can like forget about it. You know. That kind of thing. And um, like, for example like when we eat, a couple in the Philippines they don't eat without the partner. No matter how hungry you are you have to wait for your spouse. Glen just in the house is, "I already eat." (laughs) "You eat without me? Oh, okay." Well I was kind of used to it so I told him I'm very, I'm very flexible. You know, I try to adapt and try to understand things that is not...that it's not, you know, that you are not used to. Because you're not, this is not Philippines, this is America. You know, I sometimes, I you know--and talking about that, I'm with younger kids here. They're only 24, 19. I mean, 24-years-old, 19-years-old, 20-years. And there I am, 33. 30:00(Indeterminable) (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

(00:30:00)

BURNS: (indeterminable) "We're going to have to go somewhere else and have a good time." And then they, you know wanted to come. I said, "No, I'm a married woman. I don't need to mess around with it." And then we, that already--I mean I have no regret. None whatsoever.

JOHNSON: Now you, you expressed that when you first got here it was kind of lonely...for you.

BURNS: Very.

JOHNSON: Because--so, what kind of things did you do to get involved in the community?

BURNS: Well um, I went to go ahead and um--I went to church. Church is a good thing to turn to. Since I'm Baptist already, so it's really comforting for me to be in a church group. Since I grew up in the church. And this is it. I was surprised that...where I'm a Baptist in Philippines--if you're a Baptist in the Philippines you almost know most of the verses in the Bible. And here, you 31:00know...I was surprised, they don't. So after how many books in the Bible. My husband look at me I said, "It's easy!" And I said--and then he told--and I asked him, "So what's your favorite verse in the Bible? I bet you John 3:16." (indeterminable) And then he just start laughing. And I said, "Well, that's a very, very common uh, verse of the Bible. And I'm sure you're going to tell me that." So he kind of just like, "Oooh."

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: Because you know, I'm very Bible-oriented. I mean, you know. Go to Bible study when I was growing up. All the time, all the time. Morning and night.

JOHNSON: So were there other differences in how the church...

BURNS: Yes. Mhmm. Mhmm.

JOHNSON: Was run?

BURNS: They're much more uh, well we're doing it in a more biblical way. Like according, what the Bible says.

JOHNSON: And how is it here?

BURNS: Well I can understand--in my country, if you are Baptist you don't wear 32:00pants. In my country--

JOHNSON: Women don't?

BURNS: No, women don't. Not unless you're public or something. But if you're, you know-- (voice over the intercom) I am the only one who wears pants in my family. They call me, I am the black sheep.

JOHNSON: So you wear pants here, so therefore you're...

BURNS: I wear pants over there too--

JOHNSON: Oh.

BURNS: --and my sister was just, "Mmmm."

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: If you're in the big city sometimes, you know, environment (indeterminable) you cannot really. And in my town you don't even wear, even wear bathing suit. You have to wear shorts when you go to the beach. (laughs) I mean, some people they will just like (indeterminable) and dive in but (laughs) that's our culture. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt to go in there. But in the bigger cities that are like more, you know, liberated a little you wear swimsuit. I'll wear it, too, I'm not in the house. In my town. So I'll wear it, too. When the style is pants I wear pants. And my sister goes, (speaks in low voice). And I said, "Oh no, this is style." (laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: Same with the church, but never, I never go to church with pants on. Always skirts or dress.

JOHNSON: And is that still what you do here?

BURNS: Mhmm, mhmm. Here, mhmm. And it's already--that's one thing too that, you 33:00know, that's one thing too that I really like. You know like, I asked the Lord when I was younger, like when I was in my twenties. I asked the Lord that um, I want somebody that would take me regularly to the church and be a good husband for me. Who literally will lift me up if, you know, I'm in downfall. Which is, you know, I got it. I think I'm very blessed, I think. That even if I married an American, still he's a Baptist. And then he's there for me. Like, for example like, when I fall down and I'm like, "I tried to--what are we going to do?" (indeterminable) So he kind of lifts me up, you know. Try to, when you are down you gotta lift me up. Yeah, why should you worry. I mean the Lord will take care of you. If people do there, he knows, he knows how to take care of you. That kind of thing. So I'm pretty lucky when it comes to that. And glad that I'm not married, I did not marry a Catholic, since their upbringing is so different from me. So that's a bit A+ for me there.

JOHNSON: I'm going to flip the tape over and then we'll ask a few more questions.

BURNS: Mhmm. (tape cuts out)

JOHNSON: So this is side two. Um, It's June 19th, 1999 and we're speaking with Elizabeth Burns. And um, I was going to ask you um, then what--you mentioned church was a very big help in getting you acquainted with Bowling Green. What other friends or what other activities did you get involved in?

BURNS: Well uh, I was involved with this homemakers' club.

JOHNSON: What is that now?

BURNS: It's a homemakers' club, it's just like a group of women that uh, that 35:00are not working that they gather once a month. And then they try to do uh, like they learn about homemakers. Homemaking. So I went to do it and participate and then I was a member. I was pregnant that time. And then I was being president of the younger homemakers for like, two years. But I basically, they talk about, you know, some other cultures (voice over the intercom) (indeterminable). Like we have uh--is it working?

(00:35:16)

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: For example like, we have a program like, we raise money for breast cancer funds. I don't know if you, are you familiar with that (indeterminable) kids?

JOHNSON: Yes.

BURNS: Yeah, we raise money for that. And we have like, international fund, like money, Pennies for Friendship. What that is is we, we save uh, save, well we contribute a penny. And then uh, we buy books for these people outside the country. Like uh, like um...Bosnian people. Those people that are not, that their kids needed books. We, I did a campaign for that to raise money for them.

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: I did that for two years. And then another two years I become the president of the international homemakers in Warren County. So I did that, too. And then I do like, international people. And then I tried to um...get some speakers. And try to talk about their cultures and where they came from. And it's fun! I like it.

JOHNSON: That's great. What kind of friends have you made there?

BURNS: Hmm?

JOHNSON: What kind of friends, who, what friends, what other cultures have you....learned about?

BURNS: Oh I made uh, Cambodian. I made uh, uh, like (indeterminable), you know. And uh, Peru. And um, what else? Um...I don't know (indeterminable)--Guatemala. And here at work, too. You know. People here. And I'm very friendly kind of person. You know. (laughs)

JOHNSON: Yeah. I can tell. (laughs)

BURNS: I just...(laughs)

JOHNSON: So, are there a lot of other Filipinos in the area?

BURNS: There's quite a few. Um, but you know some of them are just staying home and some of them, you know, just go to work, too. Sometimes we get together. At my son's birthday, all the Filipinos, they're in my house.

JOHNSON: Really?

BURNS: All of them. My husband works as chief building inspector for the city, and when he issued permit and he has seen, like, Filipino looking person, he will ask, "Are you Filipino?" They'll say, "Yes." "Oh, go to my house. My wife is a Filipino." (laughs)

JOHNSON: So that's how you met all of these people? (laughs)

BURNS: Yes, yes. Through my husband. (laughs)

JOHNSON: So how many people came to your son's birthday party?

BURNS: Sixty.

JOHNSON: Sixty?

BURNS: Mhmm. That's, that's, that's very common.

JOHNSON: And most of which were Filipino?

BURNS: Yeah. They're kids of course. Some were Americans. Yeah. You know, you 38:00know. You could see a lot of people in my, and different kinds of cultures. Black, white, you know. Uh, Somalian, Filipino uh, Japanese. In my son's birthday.

JOHNSON: Was the birthday celebration um, were there any elements of it that were specifically Philippine? That you had as a birthday celebration in the Philippines? Or was it...

BURNS: Yeah. When we have a birthday we usually have it...

JOHNSON: You what?

BURNS: We usually have it, we usually have a party. When there's a birthday in the family. We usually have a party. It's not, you know...

JOHNSON: What kind of things do you do at the party?

BURNS: Roast a whole pig.

JOHNSON: Did you do that for your son's birthday?

BURNS: Oh yeah! Every year, every uh, year. You're invited if you want. (indeterminable) every year.

JOHNSON: (laughs) What other kinds of foods do you prepare?

BURNS: It's funny. We, I like to try, of course, you know (indeterminable) (voice over the intercom) I had that American food when I was pregnant with my son. Because I was read books...and whatever is good for the baby I eat it. Whatever's good for the baby I eat. I mean, I didn't have my family over here, I just read books. Book is my guidance when I was pregnant. Because it's too 39:00expensive to call 70 cents a minute.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

BURNS: So I just read book. It's cottage cheese, it's fruit, it's all that kind of stuff.

JOHNSON: So you ate foods you never usually do?

BURNS: Mhmm. I learned to, I learned to eat American food when I was pregnant with my boy. And then I kind of like it. Until now.

JOHNSON: What other things did you miss being so far away from your, your...

BURNS: My mom.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

BURNS: The closeness of the family. And the beaches.

JOHNSON: Yeah?

BURNS: Of course, and the weather. Eighty five degrees low. You don't have to put lotion on. You get a pretty skin. Here you really have to cover...(laughs)

JOHNSON: (laughs)

BURNS: I like it, though. (laughs) I was just thinking that this is my, this is where my son born. And this is (voice over the intercom) (indeterminable) The lord put me here, so I need to adjust myself to whatever. You know what I mean?

JOHNSON: Mhmm.

BURNS: And besides I'm pretty, I'm lucky to have, to have Glen's family. That they're very nice people.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

BURNS: You know. So I, it's good things. I mean you know, I think the lord do 40:00his purpose in brining me here. I can adjust I mean, you know. (laughs) I told my husband I'm very flexible, so I'm flexible.

(00:40:07)

JOHNSON: Have you been back to visit the Philippines since you moved?

BURNS: Yeah, twice.

JOHNSON: Twice?

BURNS: Mhmm.

JOHNSON: Do they come to visit you, your family?

BURNS: No.

JOHNSON: Will they, in the future?

BURNS: I don't know because they're all married. And my mom, I lost my dad the year before, the year I arrived here. I so I don't about my dad--my mom. Um, she might come over because my sister is already in Florida.

JOHNSON: You've got to go? Alright well I--thank you, that was really one of my last questions.

BURNS: Okay.

JOHNSON: Um, is there that you want to add um, with keeping in mind that this is going into the archives and, for future generations to listen to and do research from. Are, is there--

BURNS: Well, yeah. Maybe uh, you're interviewing me right now, I have different 41:00like uh, uh...report about what's going on in the Philippines. But when I went to the Philippines, people there are getting liberated, too and I was so shocked. So maybe like, you know, ten years or twenty years from now, the values have completely changed. You know, in the Philippines. You don't know, and especially that we're populated. (voice over the intercom) And a lot of uh...a lot of um...what is it now, religion. Religion went in there, too. (indeterminable) Because when I talk with my mother-in-law, she said it used to be way back here in Kentucky. It's just the same thing. And then it's just suddenly boom, gone. So maybe that's the culture when I left, but when I come back twenty years from now it's different. You know.

JOHNSON: Yep, I know.

BURNS: So. Well thank you for interviewing me.

JOHNSON: Thank you so much for your time.

BURNS: No problem.

(00:41:44)