However, childhood memories have popped up in Cambridge in unexpected ways. For instance, Randolph has run across several of her childhood friends within the Cambridge community.

She even tells the story of a co-worker whose cousin married one of Randolph's relatives in Haiti.

Such an event is no longer so unusual. The Haitian community in Cambridge--concentrated in Fresh Pond and Central Square--has swelled since the early 1980s, Jeune says.

Cambridge has a unique attraction for immigrants, Jeune says.

"People like to come here," Jeune says. "They feel that this is where the influential political people are."

While Randolph admits that she knows very little of life in America outside of Cambridge, she says that it is a "special city."

For example, Randolph spent four years in America as a non-English speaker, but she says there was no shortage of friendly help.

"I didn't know a lot of people in Cambridge back then," she says. "But even if you speak English or you don't speak English, you will find someone to help you."