Jennifer Vazquez created a family tree documenting her ancestry. Her father's side originated from Spain and Cuba, while her mother's side came from France, Spain, and Cuba. Jennifer's parents, Luis and Ivonne Vazquez, immigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1980 during the Mariel boatlift, facing hardship and prejudice but seeking greater opportunities. The family still maintains traditions like big Sunday meals and holidays together.

1. B Y J E N N I F E R V A Z Q U E Z
MY FAMILY TREE

2. Me
Jennifer Vazquez
04/22/1989
Father
Luis Vazquez
10/17/1948
Father's Father
Luis Venancio Vazquez
12/25/1900-05/01/1980
Father's Paternal
Grandfather
Luis Vazquez
Father's Paternal
Grandmother
Elisa Vazuqez
Father's Mother
Josefina San Roman
02/04/1922-09/20/2012
Father's Maternal Grandfather
Venancio Sanroman
Father's Maternal Grandmother
Margarita Sanchez
Mother
Ivonne Vazquez
05/11/1958
Mother's Father
Felipe Valois
03/04/1930-09/08/1999
Mother's Paternal Grandfather
Felipe Valpis
Mother's Paternal
Grandmother
Maria Marcias
Mother's Mother
Caridad Marerro
04/06/1934
Mother's Maternal
Grandfather
Valentin Marrero
Mother's Maternal
Grandmother
Violeta Castro
MY FAMILY TREE

3. • My grandfather migrated to Cuba in the early
1920's from Spain. He was part of the Navy
in Span.
• Never came to the United States
• He was in the Military for most of his life.
• Never got to meet him.
• My grandmother was born and raised in
Havana Cuba.
• At 90 years old she came to the United States
on June 2nd 2012.
• Married in the 1930’s
• Had 4 children.
• Gave birth to my dad on 10/17/1948.
My father’s side of the Family!
Grandmother
Josefina SanRoman
Born on: 02/04/1922
Died on: 09/20/2012
Grandfather
Luis Venancio Vazquez
Born on: 12/25/1900
Died on: 05/01/1980

4. My mother’s side of the Family!
• My grandfather migrated to Cuba in the early
1920's from France with his family.
• Never traveled to the United States.
• My grandmother was born and raised in
Havana Cuba but her family migrated from
Spain.
• Currently lives in the Miami, Florida
• Married in & Divorced
• Had 4 children.
• Gave birth to my mom on 05/11/1958.
Grandmother
Caridad Marerro
Born on: 04/06/1934
Grandfather
Felipe Valois
Born on: 03/04/1930
Died on: 09/08/1999

5. My parents:
Mother
Ivonne Vazquez
Born on: 05/11/1958
Father
Luis Vazquez
Born on: 10/17/1948

6. FROM WHAT PARTS OF THE WORLD DID
YOUR FAMILY (OR FAMILIES) ORIGINATE?
• My family originated in
many parts of the world
and all came to Cuba.
For instance, my
grandfather from my
mom side originated
from France and my
grandmother’s family
was from Spain. On my
father’s side of the
family his dad also came
from the Navy to
Havana Cuba.

7. WHAT MOTIVATED YOUR ANCESTORS TO LEAVE
THEIR HOMELAND FOR A NEW WORLD? WHEN DID
THEY LEAVE?
• My parents decided to leave
Havana Cuba, because they
saw it as a chance to have a
better life. They knew that
there was a lot more for them
somewhere in the land of the
free.
• My parents left on May 27th
1980 during the Mariel Boat
lift along 80,000 people that
year.

8. WHAT HARDSHIPS DID YOUR ANCESTORS FACE IN PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS, EITHER WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED OR SOON AFTER
CONTACT? WHAT DID THEY DO TO OVERCOME ANY HARDSHIPS? DO
THEY RECALL ANY PREJUDICE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED?
• My parents experienced hardships way before they arrived.
The first challenge my parents faced was getting fired
from their jobs after their employers found out they were
trying to leave the country. As their employers duty they
had to report it. From the moment they decided to leave
Cuba until they left my parents had to constantly move
from house to house, with friends, family because the
Cuban government was after them. Also those that
believed in communism looked for individuals that wanted
to flee to harm them physically. Both my mother and
father had to deal with the different emotions they felt
leaving their family behind. They both took a risk of not
knowing what was ahead of them. The day came were
they would embark to the U.S. Stepping on board the Blue
Bayou along 284 passengers, with only the clothes on their
backs, leaving behind everything they have ever knew was
something no one could ever forget. The struggle they
faced was the fear of getting stranded, or someone
harming them on the boat. Arriving to the U.S. opened a
new can of struggles and challenges. For a while my mom
and dad had to live on a campground with thousands of
other refugees. My mom says that the hunger for a better
life kept helped them overcome everything they were
afraid of or were going through. They envisioned a life of
freedom and of opportunity and motivated them to keep
fighting. Yes the did experience prejudice. Anyone who
left the country during that time were seemed as low,
convicts, prostitutes or people that were worthless.

9. WHAT DID YOUR ANCESTORS DO IN THE PREVIOUS
TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS? HOW DID THIS
INFLUENCE WHAT THE FAMILY DOES TODAY?
• One of the things my great
grand parents did was
travel to another country.
This became a norm for
my family. My parents
followed in my
grandparents footsteps and
left Cuba for a chance to a
better life. If my parents
wouldn’t have done this I
would have half the
opportunities that I have
today.

10. WHAT LANGUAGES DID YOUR ANCESTORS SPEAK?
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THESE LANGUAGES IN
YOUR FAMILY TODAY?
• My grandparents spoke
Spanish and French. We
have all kept the tradition
on speaking Spanish. But
the only one in my family
that still speaks a little
French is my mom.

11. WHAT FAMILY TRADITIONS OR PRACTICES HAVE
BEEN PERFORMED OVER THE YEARS THAT ARE
SPECIAL OR UNIQUE TO YOUR FAMILY?
• Some family traditions that
my family still does is big
breakfast with the family on
Sunday mornings, Shopping
for groceries on Saturday
afternoons, Dinner together
each night, Cooking, and
preparing Sunday dinner,
Holidays are a big deal for
my family, it’s a time were we
all gather and enjoy what we
have accomplished up to that
point. Family vacations at
least once a year.

12. WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR
FAMILY NAME? HOW, IF AT ALL, HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE
YEARS? DO YOU KNOW THE REASON FOR ANY CHANGES?
• Fathers Last name origin &
meaning:
• Galician and Spanish
• variant of Vásquez
• Means the son of Vasco.
• Not aware of any changes.
• Mother Last name origin &
meaning:
• French: topographic name for
someone who lived in a valley or
regional name from the district in
northern France so called, which
was once an independent duchy. In
all cases the source is an adjective
derivative of Old French ‘valley’.

13. HOW ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUR FAMILY
SIMILAR TO OR DIFFERENT FROM THOSE FACED BY
VARIOUS IMMIGRANTS OR REFUGEES TODAY?
• The experience that my
parents went through I
can say it is similar to
what immigrants today
go through. However, I
feel that it has gotten
easier for immigrants to
make a living in the
United States. I also feel
that the immigrants that
arrive to the U.S now feel
like they are entitled to
receiving money from the
government and
everything to be handed
to them on a platter.

14. IN WHAT WAYS WAS THIS EXERCISE EASY OR DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO
DO? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS
BE DIFFICULT FOR A STUDENT TO DO? WHAT MIGHT YOU DO AS A
TEACHER TO MODIFY IT IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?
• For me this assignment was
quite difficult because I didn’t
have that much information on
my family tree.
• For a student this may be
difficult if they do not have any
knowledge of their ancestors. I
would maybe let the students
chose who the wanted to share
information about instead of
asking for details on every
generation.
• Or maybe naming everyone in
current and past generations.
Like in the charts on the left.