First generation Italian immigrants, more often than not, arrived in the San Joaquin Valley with very little knowledge of the English language and nearly no money, but they possessed a deeply engrained work ethic. From the start, businesses recognized that the newcomers from Italy made fine employees. Since most had come to this country for better economic opportunities, and because there were often family members back home who were waiting to join them here, the drive to take whatever positions were available, no matter the conditions, was prevalent. It was common for young men to hold down two or three jobs - one to live here and the others to save to bring their families to America.