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My name is Eilene Lei and I was born in New York City on September 3, 1989. I went to Stuyvesant High School and I currently attend Macaulay Honors College at Cuny Baruch. I have spent most of my life in Elmhurst, Queens.
My father immigrated from China in 1985 and two years later my mother joined him in America. Both of my parents immigrated from the rural part of China. They both grew up in large families (my father has 4 brothers and a sister, my mom has 2 sisters and a brother) and they both began to work in the fields at a very young age. They came to America because they wanted a better opportunity for themselves. When they came to America, they settled in Elmhurst, Queens, where my father's brothers all resided. My parents spent most of their time around Chinese people and preferred tradition over assimilation. They relied on what other members of the Chinese community knew when it came to making decisions. Growing up in America my entire life, however, has caused my brother and me to become more accustomed to the American culture than our Chinese culture.
I have never been to China, but hope to make at least one trip in the future. Inside the household, however, Chinese is the main language that is spoken and of course, rice is eaten every night for dinner. Though my parents enjoyed staying within the Chinese community, they wanted my brother and me to have American names and encouraged us to embrace the American culture. Growing up in Elmhurst, Queens, I was exposed to many types of cultures. The neighborhood consists of immigrants from a vast variety of places. After I graduated middle school, my family moved to Manhattan though I still spend a large amount of time in Queens, since most of my relatives still live there.
A Little About Me: I am a huge Yankees fan.
The Office is the best show ever! That's what she said! =)
Email: eilene.lei@baruchmail.cuny.edu
