Okay, I don't know how many people can relate but my parents were immigrants. I said were because they're citizens now and have been since I was 10 years old (I was born in the states).
Anyway, my dad has no problem finding work because he has people skills, he can read and write in English and speaks it fairly well. He has had some educaction. My mom on the other hand is tough to find work for. Before my parents moved to Austin they worked for themselves because we lived on the coast where everyone was pretty much a fishermen (we had our own boat) and made good money.
My mom is usually good at studying because she manage to learn English and pass her citizenship test on her own because she had the drive for it. She kept up with her English lessons for a while but stopped because gossipy Laotian women (who were suppose to be her friends) so my mom stopped. My mom is a sensitive person. The gossip thing is a big part of why my dad would never move anywhere or live in a neighborhood of more than one Laotian household, we always lived among white surburban (it's just easier to ignore your neighbors that way if you don't like them).
Anyway, that was over ten years ago and since my mom never kept up with her English lessons all that she learned gradually faded away. She has absolutely no school, not even from Laos. She was raised by her grandmother because her parents were always moving around (something to do with my grandpa's job) and eventually came to the US. She didn't go to school so she could work the family field and support her siblings (which were A LOT). She pretty much sacrificed everything for her family.
Okay, sorry I'm straying.
Anywho. My mom currently works as a cook at this Thai resturant but the ladies she works with tend to pick on her, not sure why. My mom is not a confrontational person, she's very passive (I wish she was more aggressive and would stick up for herself) and kind of meek. They gossip and talk all sorts of BS like she can't hear them but she doesn't say anything. I hear about it because she tells my dad about it and my dad tells me about it. Now, I've met these ladies so I know my mom isn't exaggerating. I was there one day to work (because I guess one of the owners wanted me to try it out) and the old lady who was training me to waitress (something I've never done before) was so impatient. She kept saying over and over (at least 20 times) that there's no room for another waitress, there's plenty of people and not enough money. I didn't say anything (didn't want to cause my mom trouble) but was thinking "Shut up already, I heard you the first 10 times!" The old lady acted like I was trying to steal money and their job or something. Geez. I was only there for the day though, I didn't care for the job I just wanted to see for myself how these ladies really are. From what my mom told me I just assumed they'd be younger but these were grown women my mom's age and older. Yet they gossip and bullied like immature high school girls. Everyone (except my mom) working there is Thai. That lady kept bitching to the other workers (two other guys, waiters) about how slow I was working blah blah blah. She was speaking Thai to them like I couldn't understand (not sure if she knew I could understand or not because I spoke mostly English to my mom). The guys were telling her in Thai to calm down because I was still new to this, it was only my first day afterall.
Urgh. Okay, straying again, sorry. My mom works there still but my dad wants me to find her another job because one of the owners is bitching at her about something. I think it's a new owner because my dad knows the one that hired my mom and he's a nice guy.
Basically I need help finding a job for my mom in the Austin, TX area. She's a great cook.
The only other skills she has other than cooking is that she's great with plants and she can sew.
She's working on her communication skills and trying to better her English.
My parents aren't struggling or anything, they can live off of my dad's income comfortably but my mom's not a stay-at-home type. She gets a little strange when she's at home doing nothing for too long. Besides, since I'm in college the money she makes usually goes to my rent here in Houston. I tried to tell my parents they don't have to pay my rent but they refuse to accept no for an answer. Now my mom is having health problems, most of it is from having to work at that damn resturant.
Suggestions on types of jobs would be nice too (and don't be a smartass and say those "Thai massage" places, it's not funny, in fact it's down right insulting).
Anyway, my dad has no problem finding work because he has people skills, he can read and write in English and speaks it fairly well. He has had some educaction. My mom on the other hand is tough to find work for. Before my parents moved to Austin they worked for themselves because we lived on the coast where everyone was pretty much a fishermen (we had our own boat) and made good money.
My mom is usually good at studying because she manage to learn English and pass her citizenship test on her own because she had the drive for it. She kept up with her English lessons for a while but stopped because gossipy Laotian women (who were suppose to be her friends) so my mom stopped. My mom is a sensitive person. The gossip thing is a big part of why my dad would never move anywhere or live in a neighborhood of more than one Laotian household, we always lived among white surburban (it's just easier to ignore your neighbors that way if you don't like them).
Anyway, that was over ten years ago and since my mom never kept up with her English lessons all that she learned gradually faded away. She has absolutely no school, not even from Laos. She was raised by her grandmother because her parents were always moving around (something to do with my grandpa's job) and eventually came to the US. She didn't go to school so she could work the family field and support her siblings (which were A LOT). She pretty much sacrificed everything for her family.
Okay, sorry I'm straying.
Anywho. My mom currently works as a cook at this Thai resturant but the ladies she works with tend to pick on her, not sure why. My mom is not a confrontational person, she's very passive (I wish she was more aggressive and would stick up for herself) and kind of meek. They gossip and talk all sorts of BS like she can't hear them but she doesn't say anything. I hear about it because she tells my dad about it and my dad tells me about it. Now, I've met these ladies so I know my mom isn't exaggerating. I was there one day to work (because I guess one of the owners wanted me to try it out) and the old lady who was training me to waitress (something I've never done before) was so impatient. She kept saying over and over (at least 20 times) that there's no room for another waitress, there's plenty of people and not enough money. I didn't say anything (didn't want to cause my mom trouble) but was thinking "Shut up already, I heard you the first 10 times!" The old lady acted like I was trying to steal money and their job or something. Geez. I was only there for the day though, I didn't care for the job I just wanted to see for myself how these ladies really are. From what my mom told me I just assumed they'd be younger but these were grown women my mom's age and older. Yet they gossip and bullied like immature high school girls. Everyone (except my mom) working there is Thai. That lady kept bitching to the other workers (two other guys, waiters) about how slow I was working blah blah blah. She was speaking Thai to them like I couldn't understand (not sure if she knew I could understand or not because I spoke mostly English to my mom). The guys were telling her in Thai to calm down because I was still new to this, it was only my first day afterall.
Urgh. Okay, straying again, sorry. My mom works there still but my dad wants me to find her another job because one of the owners is bitching at her about something. I think it's a new owner because my dad knows the one that hired my mom and he's a nice guy.
Basically I need help finding a job for my mom in the Austin, TX area. She's a great cook.
The only other skills she has other than cooking is that she's great with plants and she can sew.
She's working on her communication skills and trying to better her English.
My parents aren't struggling or anything, they can live off of my dad's income comfortably but my mom's not a stay-at-home type. She gets a little strange when she's at home doing nothing for too long. Besides, since I'm in college the money she makes usually goes to my rent here in Houston. I tried to tell my parents they don't have to pay my rent but they refuse to accept no for an answer. Now my mom is having health problems, most of it is from having to work at that damn resturant.
Suggestions on types of jobs would be nice too (and don't be a smartass and say those "Thai massage" places, it's not funny, in fact it's down right insulting).
just get her out of that environment she's currently in. it can't be healthy for her. 
