CHANGE OF LIFECHANGE OF LIFE..

In 1920,two sisters called In 1920,two sisters called Maria and Isolina Maria and Isolina migrated from Spain to migrated from Spain to Argentina, looking for a Argentina, looking for a better life.better life.

The young ladies had to The young ladies had to work and send the work and send the money to their family money to their family still living in spain,who still living in spain,who were suffering hunger were suffering hunger and poverty. But they and poverty. But they never knew what the never knew what the destiny was waiting for destiny was waiting for them.them.

THE STORY…THE STORY…

At the turn of the 20th century, Europe was At the turn of the 20th century, Europe was entering into a deep depresion. Jose vazquez entering into a deep depresion. Jose vazquez Iglesias, who lived in a rural area just outside Iglesias, who lived in a rural area just outside Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, died, after a Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, died, after a prolonged ilness, leaving behind his wife and prolonged ilness, leaving behind his wife and nine children in extreme poverty.nine children in extreme poverty.

Mrs Vazquez had heard about the Americas. Mrs Vazquez had heard about the Americas. People referred to the South America as the People referred to the South America as the land of opportunities. Maria and Isolina were land of opportunities. Maria and Isolina were now in their late teens and their mother felt now in their late teens and their mother felt she was left with no choice. The girls had to she was left with no choice. The girls had to go to Argentina to work and help to sustain go to Argentina to work and help to sustain the family.the family.

The twins, who were only seventeen years The twins, who were only seventeen years old, were really afraid of this journey, old, were really afraid of this journey, knowing they had to be in an unknown knowing they had to be in an unknown country without their family. But Maria country without their family. But Maria wasn’t alone at all. An atractive and brave wasn’t alone at all. An atractive and brave boy called Jose, followed her from Spain.boy called Jose, followed her from Spain.

It was not easy for them when they arrived It was not easy for them when they arrived to Argentina. Eventually,they found jobs as to Argentina. Eventually,they found jobs as asa maids with a wealthy European family asa maids with a wealthy European family in the city of Buenos Aires. The pay was a in the city of Buenos Aires. The pay was a pittance, and what they earned, they had pittance, and what they earned, they had to send home. Fortunately, they both lived to send home. Fortunately, they both lived in and had plenty food available. in and had plenty food available.

Maria always kept in contact with Jose. Maria always kept in contact with Jose. They used to meet at the markets They used to meet at the markets when the girls did the shopping for the when the girls did the shopping for the household.household.

Ten years later, when fortunately Jose Ten years later, when fortunately Jose found a job in an important factory in found a job in an important factory in the downtown area, he could finally the downtown area, he could finally marry his lovely Maria. A year later, marry his lovely Maria. A year later, they had their first and only child, they had their first and only child, Robert.Robert.

►Maria and her child, Maria and her child, RobertRobert

► Robert at schoolRobert at school

► Robert with his Robert with his schoolmate, Albert.schoolmate, Albert.

► Robert, 3 monthsRobert, 3 months

► Robert,14 years old Robert,14 years old with his uncle.with his uncle.

MIGRATIONMIGRATION

► BUENOS AIRES, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINAARGENTINA

►GALICIA, ESPAÑAGALICIA, ESPAÑA

► BUENOS AIRESBUENOS AIRES ►GALICIAGALICIA

Galicia is an important region which lies in the Galicia is an important region which lies in the north of Spain. The Vazquez family live in a north of Spain. The Vazquez family live in a small town outside Santiago de Compostela. small town outside Santiago de Compostela. It was really a rural area with some It was really a rural area with some important churches and public buildings. important churches and public buildings. The houses in the village were mainly flat The houses in the village were mainly flat and made of sotone. There were not tall and made of sotone. There were not tall buildings in this small village. The scenery buildings in this small village. The scenery was beautiful, quite and the land was mainly was beautiful, quite and the land was mainly agricultural. agricultural.

The city of Bs As stood in stark contrast. The city of Bs As stood in stark contrast. Maria and Isolina couldn’t believe their Maria and Isolina couldn’t believe their eyes as the old transatlantic carrier eyes as the old transatlantic carrier approached the Rio de la Plata approached the Rio de la Plata astuary. There, stood multi-storied astuary. There, stood multi-storied buildings all in a row, towering over a buildings all in a row, towering over a buzzling port. Buenos Aires was an buzzling port. Buenos Aires was an emerging new city and they could emerging new city and they could smell the wealth. Little did they know smell the wealth. Little did they know they had arrived at ‘La Perla del Plata’they had arrived at ‘La Perla del Plata’

OLD DOCUMENTSOLD DOCUMENTS

► Certificate of Certificate of serviceservice

(1941)(1941)

► Firefighter Firefighter certificatecertificate

(1948)(1948)