Interview assignment:

 

For this assignment, you will conduct, transcribe and analyze a structured interview.

 

Review the interview questions we prepared in class. Select 10-12 questions you would like to use and put them in an order that makes sense. Usually it’s best to start with easier questions like “where were you born?” and then only at the end get into deep questions like “was it worthwhile to migrate?” You can add additional questions as needed. Remember that the migration experience and how policies/programs helped the person or made their life more complicated are the main subject of our interviews.

 

Decide who you would like to interview. It can be someone you know well (a relative or close friend) or not so well (a neighbor, or the parent of a friend, or a classmate). Ask the person if they would be willing to be interviewed for your class. Some things to let them know: the interview is for a class, not for publication. You will use a pseudonym or omit their name and you can also change or omit identifying details (if the person says they are from a very small town, maybe you can use a pseudonym for the town). They have a right to skip any questions or stop the interview at any time.

 

A note about consent. We believe in nonviolent research methods, meaning: do no harm. While the questions you ask may stir up powerful feelings, at no point should your interviewee feel obliged to participate or obliged to answer any specific question. Barreling forward if your interviewee is emotional or uncomfortable will usually not yield good information and it’s unkind. It’s important to take the lead from your interviewee and proceed when and how they feel comfortable and willing. Be ready to suggest they have a glass of water, take a break, etc. Often participating in an interview like this can be very meaningful, even therapeutic, in which a person has the opportunity to narrate and reflect on their experiences, but they should do so feeling comfortable and supported, never coerced.

 

Schedule your interview with your interviewee, following COVID safety protocols (virtual or phone interview, or interview outdoors at 6+ feet distance, unless you are already living with them). Ask for permission to record first, and then be sure to record using the voice recorder on your phone or zoom (practice this first and be sure it works!). I suggest putting your phone in airplane mode while recording because calls/texts can stop the recording even if you ignore them. Using the interview questions you developed, interview them.

When you have completed the interview, use the recording to transcribe 2-3 pages of the interview. Transcription means to write word for word what was said. If you conducted the interview in Spanish, the transcription should be in Spanish. If you conducted it in Spanglish, the transcription should be in Spanglish. Do not translate the transcription. You need not include (unless you want to) coughs, “mmms” and “ums”. But you should include every word spoken. Choose which section of your recording to transcribe carefully, because 2-3 pages of transcription may only be 10-15 minutes of a longer interview. Pick the section that you think is most interesting and relevant to our course. The transcription should read like a play:

Alyshia: Good morning! Let’s get started with this interview.

Natalia: Great. I can’t wait!

When you’ve finished transcribing, you will write a 2-3 page analysis of your interview highlighting and analyzing how immigration policies and programs aided or inhibited the person’s migration experience. So, if your interviewee said something about how they had to travel from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico before going to New York or they had to go from Ecuador to the US/Mexico border they may be explaining how options for migrating legally were not available to them.

Finally, include a 1/2 to 1 page process paper in which you discuss who you chose to interview, how it went, any difficulties or surprises you had in doing the interview, and how it felt to do it.

So, at this link, you will submit a document that includes the following sections:

1. Interview transcription
2. Interview analysis
3. process paper

All together this will be 5-8 pages of text. Due 3/11/2021. Post on the discussion forum because we will all be reading and working with each other’s interview data.

Interview assignment:

 

For this assignment, you will conduct, transcribe and analyze a structured interview.

 

Review the interview questions we prepared in class. Select 10-12 questions you would like to use and put them in an order that makes sense. Usually it’s best to start with easier questions like “where were you born?” and then only at the end get into deep questions like “was it worthwhile to migrate?” You can add additional questions as needed. Remember that the migration experience and how policies/programs helped the person or made their life more complicated are the main subject of our interviews.

 

Decide who you would like to interview. It can be someone you know well (a relative or close friend) or not so well (a neighbor, or the parent of a friend, or a classmate). Ask the person if they would be willing to be interviewed for your class. Some things to let them know: the interview is for a class, not for publication. You will use a pseudonym or omit their name and you can also change or omit identifying details (if the person says they are from a very small town, maybe you can use a pseudonym for the town). They have a right to skip any questions or stop the interview at any time.

 

A note about consent. We believe in nonviolent research methods, meaning: do no harm. While the questions you ask may stir up powerful feelings, at no point should your interviewee feel obliged to participate or obliged to answer any specific question. Barreling forward if your interviewee is emotional or uncomfortable will usually not yield good information and it’s unkind. It’s important to take the lead from your interviewee and proceed when and how they feel comfortable and willing. Be ready to suggest they have a glass of water, take a break, etc. Often participating in an interview like this can be very meaningful, even therapeutic, in which a person has the opportunity to narrate and reflect on their experiences, but they should do so feeling comfortable and supported, never coerced.

 

Schedule your interview with your interviewee, following COVID safety protocols (virtual or phone interview, or interview outdoors at 6+ feet distance, unless you are already living with them). Ask for permission to record first, and then be sure to record using the voice recorder on your phone or zoom (practice this first and be sure it works!). I suggest putting your phone in airplane mode while recording because calls/texts can stop the recording even if you ignore them. Using the interview questions you developed, interview them.

When you have completed the interview, use the recording to transcribe 2-3 pages of the interview. Transcription means to write word for word what was said. If you conducted the interview in Spanish, the transcription should be in Spanish. If you conducted it in Spanglish, the transcription should be in Spanglish. Do not translate the transcription. You need not include (unless you want to) coughs, “mmms” and “ums”. But you should include every word spoken. Choose which section of your recording to transcribe carefully, because 2-3 pages of transcription may only be 10-15 minutes of a longer interview. Pick the section that you think is most interesting and relevant to our course. The transcription should read like a play:

Alyshia: Good morning! Let’s get started with this interview.

Natalia: Great. I can’t wait!

When you’ve finished transcribing, you will write a 2-3 page analysis of your interview highlighting and analyzing how immigration policies and programs aided or inhibited the person’s migration experience. So, if your interviewee said something about how they had to travel from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico before going to New York or they had to go from Ecuador to the US/Mexico border they may be explaining how options for migrating legally were not available to them.

Finally, include a 1/2 to 1 page process paper in which you discuss who you chose to interview, how it went, any difficulties or surprises you had in doing the interview, and how it felt to do it.

So, at this link, you will submit a document that includes the following sections:

1. Interview transcription
2. Interview analysis
3. process paper

All together this will be 5-8 pages of text. Due 3/11/2021. Post on the discussion forum because we will all be reading and working with each other’s interview data.

[KEVIN FELICIANO (he)]

 

LTS 360

Professor Galvez/ Professor Silva

Kevin Feliciano

Kevinfeliciano29@yahoo.com

 

 

Section I

 

Interview Transcription:

 

Kevin: Good afternoon, so I am here with a friend of my sister who let me interview her. So, what’s your name?

Samantha: My name is Samantha Figueredo Botello.

Kevin: Where were you born?

Samantha:  yo naci en Bolivia, en La Paz, Bolivia.

Kevin: How old are you?

Samantha: Yo tengo 20.

Kevin: How old were you when you migrated to the United States?

Samantha: I was uhhm, 5ears old.

Kevin: Did you wanted to migrate?

Samantha: I don’t, no tenia un choice, para mi era como el proximo step de mi vida, se que tenia que venir para aca por el trabajo de mi mama.

Kevin: How onf did it take, that process?

Samantha: un dia, venimos en avion. Proceso de aplicar mas o menos?

Kevin: Si mas o menos

Samantha: Si, mas o menos como un mes, creo, a mi mama le dieron trabajo y nos teniamos que ir.

Kevin: En que trabaja tu mama?

Samantha: United Nations, las naciones unidas, mi mama er arecepcionista para la embajada boliviana.

Kevin: What was your first job?

Samantha: Fui, hostess, de un restaurante, Sugar Queens.

Kevin: Do you call yourself an immigrant?

Samantha: Yes, I do, pero esa identidad es un poco dificil, is tricky, en que situacion puedes definirte como imigrante con todo lo social que esta pasando, hay que tener cuidado.

Kevin: What languages do you speak?

Samantha: I speak English and Spanish, mallormente ingles.

Kevin: What were your expectations when you came here, of becoming a US citizen?

Samantha: Yo commence cuando tenia como 10 years old, mas o menos, yo pense que duraba como 1 a 2 years, pero no, se tardo more than 10 years, y eso que mi caso era relativamente facil porque. MI prima lleva ya como 15 years para que le respondan y no le responden. A mandado su caso y no le ha llegado nada.

Kevin: Where do she sends that paperwork to?

Samantha: United States immigration services? Para mi fue muy diferente porque mis padres vinieron de forma legal y yo era muy joven, pero au nasi se tardaron mucho, por eso digo que a mi prima se le esta hacienda mucho mas dificil, ella vino para aca a los like 23 years old y no ha podido aun lograr obtener la cuidadania. Si eres mayor de edad o tienes el record de ir a la carcel o algo asi pues es mas dificil.

Kevin: Do you feel it was worth it to immigrate?

Samantha: Con todo pasando horita si, como por ejemplo, yo tengo 2 tios que viven en Bolivia que fallecieron, y es por el govierno, los hospitals no tienen las cosas basicas, no hay orden, medicinas, y hay mucha corrupcion, y los partidos politicos no ayudan a la gente. Es raro decir eso porque vivo aqui, y pues no se en realidad como es vivir en Bolivia ahorita.

Kevin: What benefits do you think you gain in the US?

Samantha: Bueno puedo hablar ingles, estoy estudiand en la univerdad, Tambien tiempor de pandemia tengo healthcare, tenos free testing o practicamente puedes ir a test, mas oportunidades aqui, mis papas estan bien y tinen trabajos buenos, hay un sistema mas justo aqui.

Kevin: What limitations did you first face?

Samantha: Me hacian bastante bullying.

Kevin: Porque?

Samantha: Porque teni un accento,yo no entendia lo que me decian y se aprovechaban. Soy low income, mi familia es low income, yo nunca me sent ilow income pero es una realidad, discriminacion, pero y a me acostrumbe a como hablar a la gente. Depende mucho donde vives y la comunidad, con quien vives, y que resources tienes alrededor.

Section II

Interview Analysis:

After interviewing Samantha, I was able to identify some common difficulties and challenges that immigrants faced before, during and after becoming a US citizen. In her particular case it seems that it was a smoother transition compared to her members of her own family. But even though her parents had come here legally to work for the Bolivian Embassy in the US, it would automatically gain citizen status, I mean, she started the process when she was 10 years old, she is 21 years old now, went to high school, college, and it was not until 2 years ago when she finally received citizenship. It doesn’t sound right out of the bat, it sounds frustrating that a person has to wait this long without knowing what could happen to her if things go crazy, like she explains how this past 4 years, with all the news and Trump policies and attitudes towards immigrants, she felt unsecure and not safe. Sometimes I would think like, why don’t people just try to get in the country the correct way, fill out the paperwork and wait it out. But there a hundred if not thousand cases similar to Samantha that even doing things correctly, it takes an unacceptable time to go through that protocols. The system has to change, there is no other choice, the rules sometimes seem to be invented just because, for example, I had a friend from Brazil, she had a summer/student visa, that allow her to stay an exact number of days in a row, which I never fully understand. She had to take a flight to a not US Caribbean island, stay there for the night so that the visa would reset, therefore go back to Orlando, Florida. We, as residents, or at least me, find all this hard to grasp and fully understand. Why is this so complicated and unfair at the same time, how can we fix this issue without making others mad about our “safety” as a country.

The best example that I feel more familiarized with is with the immigrants from Dominican Republic going to Puerto Rico in small boats they called “yolas”. They would put as many people as they can and navigate through the Caribbean Sea for more than 3 days. Those stories were always so scary to hear, like imagining being in pitch dark ferocious currents with sharks right below you just waiting for you to dip in. I would always ask myself, why would they do that, they must be crazy, I felt like this for a long time, I have seen this since I was 5 years old but was not aware of what I was seeing, and now as an adult, you go back and analyze these things and the perspective totally change. Then you think, it has to be bad enough for them to risk their lives, go for the gamble, and hope for a better life, everyone should be able to pursue a better life regardless of where are you from, or what color of your skin you have. In Puerto Rico, Dominicans are well known for their hard work, they are very happy, tough people. It is a very good example of migrating people, I have had the opportunity to meet people from Dominican Republic in Barcelona, Spain, Italy, Washington State and here in New York, I’ve heard you will meet a lot of Dominicans in Alaska as well, my point is, they are one of the hardest working people I have witness in my life, I have big respect for their culture and their braveness.

Section III

Process Paper

First of all, my interview person falls from the sky on Friday afternoon. I was going to do my interview on one of my friends from Tanzania, another from Jamaica, both said yes but never replies to as what time was more comfortable for them to do the interview. Sometimes you have to read between the lines, some people might say yes because they don’t like to say no, or maybe don’t have too much spare time, or the spare time they have they don’t want to spend it talking to Kevin who never calls me, lol. My sister came to visit from California, and I invite her for lunch at my house, she brought her girlfriend who is from Bolivia and migrated here when she was 10 years old. I was like, hey can interview you for a class I have, is very simple. She said of course and everything went smoothly, her story was very unexpected to me, I didn’t even know there was an embassy from Bolivia here. I really enjoy doing the interview but it felt a little bit rushed, I would like to do a more calm interview with more in depths questions like, how was the process of applying for schools while not being a citizen yet, did it work as her favor or against her, what tips would you give people from Bolivia if they want o come here, or/and would you recommend to immigrants to risk it and just come here and start working and hope for the best?

 

 

 

 

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[Ashley (she/her/hers)]

Interview Transcription
Ashley Alvarez LTS 350
Ashley: Ok vamos a comenzar, la primera pregunta es su nombre?
Manuela: Manuela Hermenegildo
Ashley: Su otra apellido
Manuela: Ramirez
Ashley: Ramirez..y donde naciste?
Manuela: En la República Dominicana
Ashley: En que parte?
Manuela: La Vega
Ashley: Okay, qual idiomas do you know?
Manuela: Espanol
Ashley: Que otra?
Manuela: English
Ashley: Okay…cuántos años tenía cuando viniste pa ca?
Manuela: veinte y ocho
Ashley: Y el proceso para hacer la residencia?
Manuela: Vino y me quede y tuvo un hijo aquí y con hijo se puede hacer la residencia
FIVE MINUTE BREAK –
Ashley: ¿Su primer trabajo?
Manuela: En un factoria
Ashley: a donde?
Manuela: en el treinta y seis con el octavo avenida
Ashley: Que tipo de factoría?
Manuela: De costura
Ashley: So, why did you immigrate?
Manuela: Because we lost the job in the Dominican
Ashley: ¿Qué trabajo?
Manuela: we had business there, we had a mercado
Ashley: Why’d you lose it?
Manuela: Because it was the revolution then and we lost everything in that place
Ashley: Oh okay
Manuela: So we decide to come to new york
Ashley:Y.. How long has it been since you’ve been to DR? Cuánto tiempo hace?
Manuela: Tres anos
Ashley: ¿Qué sabes del [revolución]?
Manuela: De la revolución?
Ashley: si
Manuela: Que los militares y los civiles se pelean por un presidente que vía, por el presidente que llamaba Juan Bosch que ello querían y fue un golpe de estado, quitaron el presidente de juan bosch y se peleaba uno con otro los civiles y los militares y entonce pidieron ayuda a los Estados Unidos y aquí lo mandaron un grupo de..de militar y ello ayudaron a combatir la guerra qué hicieron pa lla en Santo Domingo.
Ashley: Y este fue después Trujillo?
Manuela: Como quince anos despues de trujillo
Ashley: Gracias por hablar conmigo sobre de esto
Manuela: De nada

Interview Analysis
Based on what my grandmother was willing to share, she fled the Dominican Republic because of her failing business and because of the ongoing Civil War at the time. However she mentioned she was able to migrate to New York with a visa and then gaining her citizenship three years later. Meaning coming in as a refugee was not an available option for her. This was due to the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, where only 6% of visas went to refugees. This percentage only declined as more immigrants came flowing in from Asia and Latin America. The Civil War resulted in bombing on the capital and political opinions were weaponized causing my grandmother to leave her home in the capital to the countryside where things were slightly more safe. Refugee status is granted to those outside the United States who are enduring persecution due to race, political opinion, religion, and nationality. Luckily she was able to get a visa in time before the Civil War ended.
She mentioned that obtaining citizenship was much easier and faster because she was pregnant with my uncle when she came into the United States. This was and currently is a common theme called birth tourism or “anchor baby” where someone from another country seeks to give birth elsewhere so their child can obtain citizenship and eventually gain their own citizenship. Of course she did not plan on being pregnant once arriving in the states as she was fleeing her country during rough times. The 14th amendment backs up her son (my uncle’s) birthright to a U.S. citizenship status.
Migrating within her country must have been difficult considering she had lived in the heart of the civil war, the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. She already had my four year old mother and three year old Tia with her and decided to go to her parent’s house in La Vega for safety. When she left for the United States she had to leave her two young daughters behind and work in a factory, a common job for immigrants back then in the 1960s. Four years later once she had her citizenship, it was much easier for her to petition her two daughters to come to the United States, both arriving at the age of 8. However, their younger brother had more rights than the whole family combined which says something about how unfair citizenship and immigration status is in America.

The Process
I knew from the start that I would interview my grandmother because I always knew there was more to her story and so much history tied to it. It also helps that we live under the same roof and she is vaccinated so we’re both safe. Before this interview I had only known the basis of her immigration which was, she had a visa, overstayed said visa and eventually gained citizenship. Despite being Dominican American I did not know what my country had gone through and how difficult it must have been for her. She has lived through a dictatorship under Trujillo where she saw friends being taken away, spied on, and threatened and then to be driven out of her home years later as an adult in her late 20s experiencing war in a place she calls home. This whole process reminded me of how strong she truly is, she talks so calmly and casually as if it were nothing. I hope to do more research on the country she hasn’t visited in three years.

[Rosalina Santana (she/her)]

Rosalina Santana 

LTS 360- A01 

March 11, 2021 

Prof. Galvez 

Prof. Silva

Interview Assignment

 

          Part 1. 

Rosalina: Hola, ¿cómo está usted? 

Rafael: Muy bien gracias y tu 

Rosalina: Bien, Gracias por preguntar. Podemos comenzar con la entrevista. 

Rafael: Si claro. 

Rosalina: Está bien, comencemos por las preguntas más sencillas. 

Rafael: Está bien, empecemos. 

Rosalina: ¿Cuál es su nombre completo? 

Rafael: Rafael Gomez Eduardo. 

Rosalina: ¿Dónde nació?

Rafael: San Francisco de Macoris, Republica Dominicana 

Rosalina: ¿Dónde creció ?

Rafael: Yo crecí en un cambio de salcedo. 

Rosalina: ¿A qué edad decidió migrar a los Estados Unidos?

Rafael: A la edad de 30 años. 

Rosalina: ¿Y por qué decidió usted migrar a esa edad? 

Rafael: Por razones económicas, sueños, y para darle una mejor oportunidad de vida a mi familia. 

Rosalina: ¿Cuáles idiomas usted sabe? 

Rafael: Espanol e ingles. 

Rosalina: ¿Cuál fue el proceso de migración? 

Rafael: De Santo Domingo yo salí un primero de Diciembre de 1989, salí de la ciudad capital hacia Haití, salimos una noche y llegamos al otro día por la mañana a la ciudad Puerto Príncipe . Duramos un día esperando una visa para Panamá . Al otro día vino en la tarde con los pasaportes visados de 16, nosotros éramos 16. Ahí fueron y nos recogieron una guaguita y nos fuimos al aeropuerto de Puerto Príncipe para tomar el vuelo a Panamá. En Panamá duramos una semana  el haciendo gestiones para conseguir visa para México. A la semana volamos para Mexico ahi tuvimos problemas. 

Rosalina: ¿Cuáles fueron estos problemas? 

Rafael: Duramos un día trancados en unos cuartos calientes, quemándonos, sudando trancados sin comer, el hombre salió volvió y dijo tenemos problemas tenemos problemas tenemos que devolvernos para Panamá, tengo que conseguir los vuelos para Panamá con teniamos visas para Panamá  y nos deportaron para Panamá , pero el vuelo fue con escala a Nicaragua. Ahí amanecimos en Nicaragua en eso era eso tiempo de un presidente dictador que había, había una guerrilla, hay en Nicaragua amanecimos cuidados con reguero de guardias en la puerta en del Hotel que nos llevaron y al otro dia con a la cinco de la mañana fue y dijo levántense que nos vamos para Panamá de nuevo, llegamos ahí nos hospedaron en un hotel ahí comíamos lo que nos llevaran, lo que aparecia que nos llevaran de parte de él, ahí duramos una semana más, duramos un poco más de la semana duramos como 18 días del mes de diciembre. De ahí el hombre se fue para Santo Domingo y volvió parece que hizo los contactos para México de nuevo. 

Rosalina: ¿Cuánto tiempo duraron en México ? 

Rafael: De ahí volamos a México nos hospedaron en un Hotel y nos dividieron en grupos para que de la Ciudad de México mandarnos para Tijuana en guagua, en esa guagua duramos tres días y dos noches corriendo nada más . Nos daban 15 minutos para que hiciéramos los que teníamos que hacer y otra vez a correr uno se cansaba sentado y parado y le dolía el cuerpo entero. 

Rosalina: Que pasa desde tijuana a Estados unidos? 

Rafael: Desde ahí nos dividieron en grupo de 10 otra vez y decían se van estos 10 y desde ahí era a caminando por los desiertos y yo quedé en el primer grupo porque toman los pasaporte el que saliera. Ahí correr mucho, caminamos mucho, luego nos recogió una guagua y tuvimos que tirarnos en la guagua corriendo y desde ahí nos llevaron a una casa mudo, todo el mundo mudo. 

Rosalina: Porque tenían que ir mudos? 

Rafael: porque dijo el que nos llevaba en coyote que era para que no se oyera la bulla de la gente. Nos metieron a una casa cerrada calladitos. De ahí llamaron a la familia de aquí para que nos mandaran los vuelos ya que estamos en territorio Americano, para volar en vuelo local, ahí yo dure 5 dias en la casa donde estamos en California. 

Rosalina: Cuál fue la primera impresión al llegar aquí? 

Rafael: llegue aquí el primero de enero de 1990, con una nevada y un frío y pisar nieve por primera vez. Por suerte aquí estaban los primos mios y mi Luis el hermano mío. Y me recogieron me llevaron donde iba a vivir mientra se pudiera. 

Rosalina: ¿Cómo fue al comienzo ? 

Rafael: ahí duré un tiempo viviendo y yo me adapté y pensé en irme para Santo Domingo otra vez porque yo allá trabajaba tenía mi colmado y mi casa, y cuando llegué aquí en el medio del mundo sin nada. Me dio depresión, yo no dormía. 

Rosalina:  ¿Cómo fue después de todo esos problemas, cómo obtuvo su residencia? 

Rafael: conseguí una señora para casarme y hacer mi residencia y duerme 5 años y medio para hacer mi residencia. Después de eso volví a Santo Domingo y cada año yo iba. Pero durante esos 5 años pasé mucho trabajo. 

Part 2. 

I realized the various difficulties experienced by immigrants who come without documents. It is a challenging situation before arriving in the United States, during the adaptation process, especially during being a resident of the United States. It seems unfair that a person has to go through so many difficulties to have their immigration status and legal documents. Like this process of migrating “illegally,” they have to go through so many complicated processes until they reach their lives in this immigration process. It seems very unfair to me that not all the people who want a better future not only for themselves but also for their family and do not have the opportunity to do so legally and safely. All the people who want to migrate to have a better life can obtain it in a more accessible way and not have to do it in such a dangerous path for their lives. This expensive and challenging process is to fix their immigration status when they arrive in the United States without documents. For example, Rafael, the person I interviewed, went through many things and spent a lot of money to obtain his residence or green card. In addition to all the money he invested and that, some of the many attempts were in vain because they took his money and did nothing; in addition to having to risk marrying without love only to fix his immigration status, without having the security that he was going to be able to obtain his residence or that they were to import him to the Dominican Republic. Then I left everything on the island and start from scratch again in a new country and with contemporary culture.

 

Part 3. 

For my interview, I had two people in mind, who were my grandmother and my uncle. But then I ended up interviewing my uncle. I had told him about a week ago, I think, and he said yes. On Sunday, he told me, you want me to do the interview today, not to do anything, and I said yes. I invited them to my house, I gave him coffee that he likes a lot, and I also gave him some snacks. Then we started talking. He began to tell me about what had happened during a month that lasted to reach the United States and how they separated him from my grandmother and another sister from him that they came just when they decided to visit the United States. The truth was he was very conversational with the one about his migration process. I also knew many things that happened to get here. A phrase that he said too caught my attention was, “Happy is he who comes in a legal way that does not have to go through so many difficult things.” This caught my attention because the “legal” immigration process is complicated; I can’t imagine how difficult it is to go through all this without documents and much more when he has depression and doesn’t want to talk to anyone. He can’t sleep for all the difficult circumstances that he had to go through for a month. Without any call, come alone and come with his sisters and leave her abandoned without knowing anything about them after seeing the American dream.

 

[Misael Calderon (He/him/his)]

Interview Transcription

Misael: Bienvenidos. Te voy a preguntar de cosas de cuando estabas migrando a los Estados Unidos. Mi nombre es Misael Calderon y con la primera pregunta empesamos. Endonde naciste?

Herica: Republica Dominicana.

Misael: Cuanto anos tienes?

Herica: Cinquenta y siete.

Misael: Cuanto anos tenia cuando migro a los Estados Unidos? Si se acuerda.

Herica: Trenta y ocho.

Misael: Cuales fueron las rasones que usted tenia para migrar a los Estados Unidos?

Herica: Para una mejor vida familiar.

Misael: O como una vida mejor para tu familia?

Herica: Si.

Misael: O tabien. Cuanto tiempo duro para llegar a los Estados Unidos?

Herica: Seis anos.

Misael: O entonces usted planio eso por seis anos?

Herica: Si.

Misael: O tabien. Cual fue su primer trabajo cuando llego?

Herica: Empleada de un cashier.

Misael: O como en una bodega?

Herica: Moneygram.

Misael: O tabien. Y como obtenio ese trabajo y cuanto tiempo desde que llego le duro para obtener ese trabajo?

Herica: Obtuve el trabajo a los dos meses de estar aqui en los estados unidos via amistades.

Misael: O amistades en los Estados unidos?

Herica: Amistades de mi esposo que ya estaba aqui.

Misael: Y cuale fueron algunas dificultades que usted tubo que superar para entrar a los Estados Unidos?

Herica: Tramites de papeles.

Misael: Transmites de papeles?

Herica: Si transmites de papeles.

Misael: Como muchisimos papeles?

Herica: Si muchos.

Misael: De ciudadania y cosas asi?

Herica: De nacimiento, de analysis physicos…

Misael: O y usted tenia que ser ciudadana para entrar a los Estados Unidos?

Herica: No.

Misael: Tabien. Y se pregunta que vida habria tenido si se hubiera quedado en la Dominica Republica?

Herica: Si.

Misael: Y cual vida es esa una mejor o peor?

Herica: Peorrr.

Misael: Y que beneficios cres que obtuvo en los Estadon Unidos que no estaban en la Dominica Republica?

Herica: Primero que mis hijos tengan una buena educatcion, segundo ayudar a mi familia en mi pais.

Misael: Entonces su familia no hico suficiente dinero para estar como muy bien en la Dominica Republica?

Herica: No no tienen las posibilidades.

Misael: O y hay mas en los Estados Unidos que aya?

Herica: Si.

Interview Analysis

I think that Herica spoke of things very plainly and didn’t really harbor any negative emotions into the process of migrating to the U.S. Six years is a very long time to wait in order to move someplace else. She had a plan and she sought it out. This shows me that people come from different situations and though they’re not all too bad, most migrate to better their lives. Her husband had already been in the country and helped her secure a job. Her experience seemed rather normal and based on her answers to my questions, I can tell that she is happy she made her decision to migrate and believes her life is better now as opposed to the alternative which was to stay in Dominican Republic.

Process Paper

I think my interview could’ve gone a lot better. I feel like ten to twelve questions isn’t enough to truly get to know a person. I wanted to ask more things that would really get down to the specifications of that person’s hardships. Things such as why her husband was in the country before her, or why was the only job that she could secure a cashier job, or simply if she had a degree and if it helped her get employed. It is an interview though and not an interrogation so I can’t pry too much on the person’s life. That being said though, I wish I could’ve roused more emotion in my interviewee, but I guess the topic just didn’t bear a strong significance to her.

[Emely]

Interview transcription

LTS 360

Emely: Hola, como esta?

Barbara: Bien gracias

Emely: Que bueno! Donde nace Barbara grullon?

Barbara: En la Republica Dominicana, Caimito La vega

Emely: ¿Cuantos años tienes?

Barbara: 79 anos

Emely: ¿Qué edad tenías cuando llegaste al pais?

Barbara: 19 años

Emely: Cual fue el motivo de venir aqui a los Estados Unidos

Barbara: Mi tia me invito, y yo estaba en el colegio, le pedi permiso a la monja, y me dieron dos semanas.

Emely: Cuenteme un poco de su historia del viaje

Barbara: Cuando yo vine, vine de paseo por dos semanas, pero entonces mi tio, me dijeron que no, que me quedara que ellos me iban a ayudar hacer la residencia, entonces yo me case y a los tres meses yo hice mis papeles.

Emely: Que tan dificil fue cuando llego a los Estados Unidos?

Barbara: Bueno, yo estaba muy rara, porque imaginate dejar mi familia y vivir en una casa que no conozco, pero esta todo bien y estuvo bien todo.

Emely: ¿Por qué emigraste, porque decidicio venir a los Estados Unidos y que le motivo a quedarse?

Barbara: Me motivo quedarme, porque yo era mjuy pobre en Santo Domingo, entonces al mi tio decirme, que podia quedarme y que era un progreso para mi, que me quedara, entonces yo me quede.

Emely: ¿Cuál fue su primer trabajo?

Barbara: Mi primer trabajo fue en un factoria pequeña, yo fui a buscar trabajo y me dieron ese trabajo, de pluma de avestruz

Emely: Y cuánto dinero ganaba en ese tiempo?

Barbara: 45 Dolares a la semana

Emely: Qué desafíos u obstaculos enfrentó cuando llegó a los Estados Unidos?

Barbara: Bueno, porque no encontraba mucho trabajo, porque no tenia social security, despues que me case fue que saque el social security.

Emely: ¿Sientes que valió la pena emigrar a los Estados Unidos?

Barbara: Si valio mucho la pena.

Emely: ¿Se arrepientes de haber dejado su casa por un futuro mejor?

Barbara: Bueno, me hizo mucha falta, pero tuve que quedarme.

Emely: ¿Cuál fue la reacción de su familia ante su decision de quedarse en los Estados Unidos ?

Barbara: Bueno, yo tuve que hacer una llamada a Sor florencia, que fue la que me dio el permiso, y entonces ella me dijo: “yo sabia que tu te ibas a quedar, porque todo el que va a Estado Unidos, se queda!”

Emely: ¿El proceso de migración fue diferente de lo que esperaba? ¿Por qué?

Barbara: Sinceramente todo fue muy bien, me case, hice mi papeleo aqui, me fui a Santo Domingo, fui al consulado alla, y nisiquiera me preguntaron nada.

Emely: ¿Extrañaste tu país de origen?

Barbara: Mucho, Mucho.

Emely: ¿Te preguntas qué vida habrías tenido si te quedaras en tu país de origen?

Barbara: Viviria mas pobre, no hubiera conseguido lo que pude conseguir.

Emely: ¿Qué beneficios cree que obtuvo en los EE. UU.?

Barbara: Bueno, del trabajo yo sacaba mi dinerito y se lo mandaba a mi papa y a mama en Santo Domingo, despues yo pedi a mi mama y mi mama se paso aqui como 28 años.

Emely: ¿Cómo era el país antes de partir?

Barbara: Alla, el pais estaba muy peligroso en ese tiempo, porque en esos años mataron a Trujillo, a Trujillo lo mataron en el 1961, y yo vine en el 1964 y estaba muy revoltosa la cosa.

Emely: ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que visitó su país natal

Barbara: Hace un año, que vine de vacaciones que iba para Guatemala a pasarme una semana por alla y conocer, y tengo un año sin ir a mi pais por la pandemia.

Emely: ¿Como fue el proceso para convertirse en ciudadana?

Barbara: Yo tenia un negocio aqui y con ese papel, mas la edad que tenia, me la dieron en español, yo lleve el papel del negocio y de una vez me hice ciudadana.

Emely: Bueno eso es todo, señora Barbara Grullon, muchas gracias por concederme esta entrevista y fue una experiencia buena escucharla y escuchar su historia.

Barbara: Gracias!

 

 

Interview Analysis:

After interviewing Barbara, which is my husband’s Grandmother and we call her “Tina” I see a pattern of what a lot of people did during that time around 1965, when the Dominican Republic was kind of crazy a couple of years after of Trujillo’s assassination and the war of April, a lot of people where coming to the United States. At that time, it was so much easier to change your name and your age for documents purposes, she definitely went throughout some challenging obstacles, but she was also able to figure it out because of the help she had from the uncle and aunt, and got lucky that she married short after her arrival, because of this she was able to create a better life for herself and her family, which allowed her to provide and give the best for her children, she has two children, Ana Grullon and Neftali Grullon they are now doing well and both have their families, because of an opportunity that Barbara had to come to the United States she could have better opportunities in this country. She also retired at 55 with her husband and they were able to build a house back in La Vega, Dominican Republic and a business next to it and she is so grateful for that, that’s why she says if she wasn’t for that she was going to be still living in the Dominican Republic and not able to move on.

 

Process Paper: When Professor Galvez mentioned about the interview I automatically knew it was going to be her. She was lucky she got stuck here in the pandemic, because we were able to care for her and the other grandmother, and that gave me the opportunity of the interview, the process was easy, I told her a couple of day before and she was happy to share her story with me for the class, and during the interview everything was good, she got a little nervous but she did it great.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Emely.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Emely.

[Juliana Hernandez (She/Her)]

Part I

Juliana: Today I will be interviewing my old friend Perla Perez.

Juliana: Hello Perla thanks for taking time to help me with this interview, I really appreciate it. Would you like the interview in Spanish or English?
Perla: Hi Julie, no problem, I will be really happy to answer all your questions. English is fine.
Juliana: ok, cool.

Juliana: So, the first question is. Where were you born and how old are you now?
Perla: well, I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and I’m 30 years old.

Juliana: ok, and how old were you when you migrated and how was your experience?
Perla: I came to the United States when I was 17 years old and it was a challenging experience due to my age and the language barrier.

Juliana: But why did you migrate and how long did it take back them?
Perla: I migrate to the United States because I was a minor and my mother did the petition for my permanent residence. The process of the petition took close to 2 years until I got the interview in the consulate over-there.
Juliana: ok

Juliana: What was your first job?
Perla: I got my first job here in NY as part time in a retail store while I was studying English.

Juliana: So, what languages do you speak?
Perla: I speak Spanish which is my native language and English that I enforced it after I started college. I knew the basics of English before I came to USA like simple stuff.

Juliana: Yeah, same here.
Perla: 🙂

Juliana: What were your Expectations when you first started the process of becoming a citizen?
Perla: Every dream of immigrants that come to this country is to become US citizen and once I reached the time frame required, I sent the application. My expectations were simple: pass the exam at 1st attempt and that’s exactly what happened.

Juliana: What challenges did you face when you came in this country?
Perla: The only challenges I had was to dominate the language as much as possible. As I mentioned earlier, I came because my mother did the permanent residence petition, and I was a minor.

Juliana: Was the process of migrating different than you expected? Why?
Perla: The process of migrating I think it was easy because I get use to the system with no major complications.

Juliana: Would you go back if you have the option?
Perla: To be honest I don’t think I might go back to live in the Dominican Republic since I prefer the USA system in the majority of the stuff that we face on a daily basis.

Juliana: Do you wonder what life you would’ve had been if you stayed in your home country?
Perla: I don’t picture myself what kind of life I might have if I never decided to come. I was thinking about working in Marketing and that was not the career choice I have now.

Juliana: What limitations did you first faced?
Perla: The only limitations I had on the beginning was to know well the train system since it was something I never seen before and NYC is a huge city, and it takes times to know it well.

Juliana: Thank you so much for taking time to meet up for this interview.
Perla: It was a pleasure to speak with you too. Take care.

Part II

After the interview I realize how similar but also how different a life of two person can be. Perla hadn’t had it to easy, she had to study extra and sacrifice most of her time so she can reach her American Dream. It is sad how a person rather to migrate to a different country just because the system from their own country always fails them. I’m not saying the United State is better than others, but it does gives chances to move on toward a better future with a better economy and better opportunities. One of the things that made her prosses easier was the fact that she was a minor back them and it was her mother who claim her so she could be able to come. She mentions that two of her biggest limitation was to learn English and how to use the subway system. Sometimes when I am waiting for a train, I had people asking me “Do you speak Spanish?” and when I say yes you can see the relief on their faces before asking any question regarding the subway (cual tren puedo cojer para uptown? este tren se para en la 42?, etc.) Is clearly that learning a new language is not easy, especially for a person who have never spoke the language in their entire life. Perla struggle at the beginning but she was young and a dream that pushed her forward. Now after over 10 years she is able to speak English fluently and are living her American dream. She graduates with honors and now works in a high position for City Bank. Like I mention before, our system is not the best but is better than other countries. Therefore, many migrants rather come to the United Stated than staying in their countries.

Part III

For my interview I was hoping to interview my grandmother just because I had always been curious of what make her migrate and why. Unfortunately, her mental health right now is not the best, she suffers from dementia and it is hard for her to remember. My second option was my mother-in-law, but we couldn’t agree on a date. So, I end up interviewing one of my closes friend Perla. We weren’t able to meet up because we were very busy but thanks to technology, I was able to interview her.¬¬
Perla and I met over ten years ago when we both were taking ESL classes. I decide to interview her because I thought it would be interesting to learn how even though we both met trying to learn a language in a different country from where we both lived and graduated from high school. The true is that I was born in the United State and I never had to struggles to become an American citizen. In Perla case she had to deal with paper and struggle to become an America citizen while going to school for a degree.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Juliana Hernandez (She/Her).
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Juliana Hernandez (She/Her).

[Leslie Garcia Ciriaco (She/her)]

Student Name: Leslie Garcia Ciriaco

Date: March 9, 2021

Nationality of the person being interviewed: Mexican

Leslie: Ya Jefa estamos listas, digame sus nombre por favor.

Isidra: Me llamo Isidra Ciriaco.

Leslie: Cuanto tiempo llevas en America?

Isidra: 21 años seguidos pero vine aquí por primera vez desde 1989

Leslie: De donde vienes?

Isidra: Yo soy de un pueblo que se llama Huixtac, Guerrero. Yo vivia allí toda mi infancia. Me casé con tu padre cuando tenía 20 años y vine aquí a los Estados Unidos con tu padre. Cruzamos la frontera un año y medio después de nuestro matrimonio. Necesitábamos ahorrar mucho dinero y teníamos que limitar nuestra comida para esos días. Teníamos tanta hambre que no quería pasar por todo eso, me enojé con tu padre porque yo venía a los Estados Unidos definitivamente era algo que no quería. Tardamos 8 días en llegar aquí. Cuando llegamos conocimos a alguien que nos iba a dar un lugar para quedarnos. Pero no fue lo que esperábamos. Era un apartamento de una pareja casada, pero había 20 hombres que se quedaban ahi tambien y que recientemente también cruzaron la frontera. Dormíamos todos en el suelo y teníamos una covija fina. Yo siendo la única mujer a excepción de la esposa fue muy incómodo.

Leslie: ¿Cómo terminaste aguantando eso?

Isidra: Lo aguante durante un par de meses, le seguía diciendo a tu padre que nos mudara y tuvimos muchas discusiones por eso. Seguía diciéndome que le diera tiempo para ahorrar dinero hasta que le contamos a su primo sobre la situación. Habían decidido compartir apartamento y compartir la paga. Aunque no ganó mucho, le dije que lo tomara y lo resolveremos juntos. Me quedé embarazada de Luis a unas semananas despues. 

Leslie: ¿Qué piensabas después de tener a Luis? ¿Tuviste ganas de progresar?

Isidra: Honestamente, no quería, siempre quise quedarme en mi pueblo, pero tu padre era el que tenía la determinación de progresar. Quería algo mejor para sus hijos, no quería que ustedes sufrieran como lo hicimos nosotros.

Leslie: ¿Qué sentiste después de tener a Luis?

Isidra: Estaba triste porque sentía que había dejado toda mi vida atrás por algo que ni siquiera quería. Estaba perfectamente bien con quedarme aya. Hablé con mi suegra por teléfono un par de veces y me dijo que si volver era lo que me hacía feliz que volvera. Pero le expliqué que no podía dejar a su hijo, que el no quería volver. Hasta que un día se lastimó y necesitava reposo en cama durante un par de meses. Cuando escuché la noticia supe que tenía que regresar para ver cómo estaba y cuidarla.

Leslie: Entonces, ¿volviste?

Isidra: Si, volví por un par de años. Cuando volví descubrí que estaba embarazada de Gabriel. Le dije a tu padre y él estaba molesto porque debería haberme quedado en los Estados Unidos al menos esperar hasta después de dar luz. Tu padre fue a visitarme a mí y a su familia cuatro veces a lo largo de los años. Lo extrañaba mucho. Terminé teniendo Angélica 5 años después que Gabriel. Tu padre empezó a cansarse de la situación y siguió insistiendo en que volviéramos. Estaba muy indeciso con esto porque venía con más riesgo.

Leslie: Sé que terminaste regresando, pero ¿como fue el momento en que viniste con papá y cuando viniste con mis hermanos diferente?

Isidra: Fue mucho más difícil no solo físicamente sino mentalmente. Lo intentamos dos veces antes de tener éxito en la tercera. Fracasamos porque nos atrapaban desde que tus hermanos eran pequeños y no podían correr lo suficientemente rápido. No tuve a nadie ayudándome en el camino, solo yo. Me sentí tan mal por llevarlos conmigo en ese horrible viaje. Luis llegó a ir con tu tío, lo recogió y lo llevó a Texas para descansar y comer donde vivía el, y luego lo llevó a Nueva York con tu papá. Tuvimos que estar en un coche con otras personas sin aire de afuera durante días. Teníamos agua, pero el cuerpo está tan caliente y deshidratado que no fue suficiente. Además, les di la mayor parte del agua y la comida a tus hermanos. Gabriel estaba enojado conmigo todo el tiempo, me gritaba una y otra vez “esto es tu culpa” “Quieres tanto estar con tu marido ahora míranos sufriendo” “nadie te dijo que volvieras a México “” No quiero ir más, vete tu, yo quiero volver con la abuela “y mucho más. Fue muy doloroso porque era tan nino que no entendía que iba a tener más oportunidades. Que podamos comer mejor, vivir mejor, que todo sea mejor que la situación que vivimos en México. Caminamos por el desierto durante 4 días. Gracias a Dios, dos jóvenes me ayudaron con Gabriel y Angélica. Los cargarían sobre sus hombros y caminarían. Intentarían entretenerlos.

Leslie: ¿Cuáles fueron los sentimientos que tienias cuando llegaste aquí?

Isidra: Cuando finalmente llegamos aquí fue tan agotador pero aliviado. Finalmente lo habíamos logrado. Gabriel estaba enojado con Juan por todo lo que pasó. No quería estar con él. Nos dijo que extrañaba a sus amigos y familiares. Que perdió todo eso por nosotros. Vinimos en agosto de 1999, por lo que todavía teníamos la oportunidad de inscribirlos en la escuela. Pero cuando entraron a la escuela surgieron más problemas. No sabían inglés, no conocían a nadie ni al barrio. No sabían qué tipo de comida tenían aquí. Simplemente no conocían este nuevo mundo y estaban molestos por eso.

Leslie: Cuando miras hacia atrás a los años, ¿te sientes orgullosa?

Isidra: Ahora si, ¡todos hemos logrado tanto! Todo ustedes trabaja, puede pagar las cuentas, no tener que pasar hambre nunca, siempre tener comida en las mesas, hacer las cosas que le gustan, es como si no tuviera límites.

Leslie: ¿Por qué es eso importante para ti?

Isidra: Ustedes son mis bebés, siempre he querido lo mejor para ustedes. Tu padre y yo no queríamos que vivieran en el pueblo toda su vidas. Simplemente no estaba destinado para ustedes, estás destinado a cosas más grandes y mejores.

Leslie: ¿Hubo momentos en los que te arrepientes de tu decisión?

Isidra: Venir a los Estados Unidos no fue algo de lo que arrepentirse. No quedarse aquí y regresar a México por esos pocos años sí lo es. Sí, ustedes tienen más oportunidades, pero Gabriel y Angélica tienen más límites que tu y Luis. Tuviste los beneficios de ser ciudadano estadounidense.

Leslie: No creo que debas arrepentirte de algo que sentiste bien en ese momento. Eres nuestra madre al final, siempre te amaremos y apoyaremos tu decisión. No estábamos allí para sentir lo que sentías, así que creo que está bien. Ahora, ¿qué es lo que más te gustó de México?

Isidra: El campo abierto, el aire fresco. Las fiestas definitivamente, la gente de aya realmente se preocupa por los demás. Como el pueblo es tan pequeño, todos conocen a todos. Todos estábamos unidos y nos apoyamos.

Leslie: Cuéntame sobre tu camino hacia la residencia

Isidra: Todo sucedió tan rápido lo que me preocupó porque muchas personas que conocíamos lo intentaron varias veces con diferentes abogados y no pudieron conseguirlos. Así que hacia el final del proceso, cuando querían entrevistarme, tenía miedo de que me deportaran. Quería que el proceso se acavara y estar bien sin papeles. Tenía miedo de no volver a verlos.

Leslie: Pero cuando te arriesgaste y obtuviste la luz verde, ¿te cambió?

Isidra: Sí, lo hizo, me reí de mí mismo. No soy una persona muy arriesgada pero después de esa situación, aprendo que si no arriesgas nada no obtendrás nada en la vida.

Leslie: Cuando regresaste a tu pueblo, ¿cómo te sentiste?

Isidra: Estaba tan feliz de ver a las personas con las que crecí. Al estar de nuevo en mi casa, recordé tantos recuerdos. También estaba feliz de volver a pasar un par de años con mi madre antes de que muriera.

Leslie: Sé que no lo tuviste fácil, has pasado por muchas cosas para estar donde estás. Estoy realmente agradecida por lo que has hecho por mí y por mis hermanos para tener éxito. Gracias por contarme tu historia y darla a conocer.

Isidra: Espero que esto sea útil para todos, especialmente para tu clase. Bye!

 

SECTION II

Hearing the story just made me dislike how the way things are concerning immigrants even more. The immigration policies are different compared to 20 years ago. In a way, it was easier back then because money talked. The immigration policies could be flexible if you have enough money. They are policies that are corrupt if you have the right amount of money. They would let you pass, pretend to not see you, wouldn’t scan your fingerprint, etc. I feel like you could’ve got more away from it back them because of lack of technology. You didn’t have to report as much, you could blame it on other things and easily wiped your hands away from the situation. The policy is stricter and to the point. They are more specific to what is not allowed, there is much less room to negotiate your way out. 

In a way, it has been a little more open on the opportunity. Like how DACA opened more doors for the children. It leads to much room for opportunity and education. Yes, it had its guidelines but it benefitted a lot more people than not having that program open up. It has been shown that people who are immigrants have been progressing, getting more higher-up job opportunities, graduating high school and college, achieving their degrees. There are much more improvements on the immigration policies but we have come a long way.

 

Section III

I found this as an opportunity to learn about how my mother got to the U.S and how her experience was. We went to my living room and I started to talk about the project and eased into telling her I wanted her to be the person I am going to interview. Once I told her she agreed and said it’s a story that should be heard. 

When she told me about her experience about getting here and how it was like, it made me realize she wasn’t the only one that felt nor went through this. I believe it was perfectly normal to feel what she felt, she came into this whole new world where their first language isn’t English. When she told me about her experience of coming here it got us emotional I’m not going to lie. We were crying throughout the interview and I couldn’t help but only admire my mom. It got me emotional because a lot of people don’t always make it here alive. Anything bad could have happened but thank god nothing happened. This experience of what my mom went through opens your mind by showing you what goes on in these trips and how risky it is just to get here. It shows us that people do not come here to take jobs from American citizens but how they come here for a better life and better education for their kids. People live in worse conditions than how I imagined and just come here to push forward in life. This represents many Latino’s lives on how they would risk anything or everything for their children to have a better future and not live the life they had. My mom didn’t want my siblings and me to go through what she went through so she came to the U.S for us to have a better life 

The experience I had interviewing my mother was filled with so many emotions. Just thinking about how she came with my brother by herself with all the obstacles she faced. I believe that at first many people didn’t want to attempt it because it was something new and dangerous. But when people saw that Latinos got through it and changed their whole life around that got others motivated to want to come here. The opportunities here are amazing you just have to work hard and go after them. It makes me value what I have now and where I am at in my life. People wished they were here, getting an education, working for their own money, people died wanting this, and everyone that had this should be grateful!

[Andrew Rivera (He/Him)]

Interview Transcript
Andrew Rivera
LTS 360
Prof Galvez/ Prof Silva
ajrivera23@gmail.com

Section One

Andrew: Good morning, today Saturday, March 6th I am here with my grandmother discussing some hot button questions, but first things first, what is your name?

Ines: Ines Rodriguez

Andrew: Where were you born?

Ines: I was born in San German, Puerto Rico

A: How old are you now?

Ines: Is this to make sure you don’t forget my birthday? Im 71

Andrew: How old were you when you first migrated to the United States?

Ines: I was around, 10 years old when we came to stay in New York, it wasn’t easy but we made do but for us it was easy, we just hopped on a plane and here we are

Andrew: Did you want to migrate?

Ines: at first no, it was strange but the stories we heard of a bigger and better place, that and there was no telling your great grandmother no

Andrew: What are the languages you speak?

Ines: Spanish and English

Andrew: What was your first job?

Ines: my first job was being a secretary at an old building firm, you were probably too young to remember but you did come to visit me with your mother some days

Andrew: What were some difficulties growing up after you migrated?

Ines: more or less of what we tell you now, don’t go out too late, stay away from undesirables, but back then it was worse, much worse. We didn’t tell you everything but we told you enough

Andrew: What were some of your Expectations, you said you heard stories but what were they?

Ines: We always heard the stories of a better life, opportunities for everyone, everyone can be treated the same. All they had to look at was your last name to know that wasnt true all the time, most of the time they couldnt stand looking at a Spic like me and your grandfather but boy it was fun to prove them wrong

Part 2

As I sat in the interview and went over the recording, there were more times than I could count how I pressed play and replay over and over again, because each time it played it made me realize how much I didn’t really know about my own grandparents and what they had to do and live by. There is only so much the documentaries could tell you, how terrible the neighborhoods were, how hard it must have been with already difficult prejudices that have been in the squaller. While yes they had it much better than others I can’t help but wonder what they had back then compared to what we have now and all I could consider is how much easy and spoiled things can be, and when people say how hard it is, it brings me to wonder exactly what hardships are they referring to, but i feel privilege now that i have someone in my family that experienced this and that i could hear just more than someone else’s story, there’s someone close to me that experienced and lived it themselves

Part 3

For the interview originally I wanted to interview my grandfather on my fathers side but unfortunately i’m not fluent in spanish enough to understand him, while yes I can understand what he says, the way he speaks makes it difficult for me to write down or listen to what he says. My second option was my great aunt, my grandmother’s sister who lived in Puerto Rico for all her life and only migrated to the united states several years prior, i recall the times when i use to visit her the times we did go to puerto rico, it was fun to be in a place with so little technology, the houses however were just so beautiful and colorful, but alas the zoom calls were always difficult with the wifi due to her being up north near albany, but alas the best options are usually the ones closest to home. My grandmother was laughing through the whole interview too, it was hard for either of us keeping a straight face but it was enjoyable getting to hear her story and see her expressions when she told them, and it made me want to ask for more in the future

[Alyshia Gálvez (she/her/hers)]

Your grandmother sounds like an interesting woman! Were you in a rush with the interview? It seems like a lot of the questions, and therefore the answers too, are rushed and abbreviated. It would be nice to learn more. Some of the things you reflect on in the analysis didn’t come up in the interview and would have been good to discuss: like narrowly missing the elimination of quotas after the 1965 Immigration Act, or being eligible for citizenship because of pregnancy. Pregnant women are not given special treatment in regularizing their status– did she wait for that baby she was pregnant with to turn 21 and sponsor her? If so, that’s a long time to wait, no? How did your grandmother see herself benefiting from or being harmed by the policy landscape she faced upon migration?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Alyshia Gálvez (she/her/hers).
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Alyshia Gálvez (she/her/hers).

[Josmairy frias]

Josmairy: Buenas tardes, aquí me encuentro con Pedro abril para realizarle una entrevista. Hola Pedro como estas ? 

 

Pedro: Todo bien Josmairy 

 

Josmairy: Bueno pues ya iniciaremos la entrevista primero comienza mi diciendo Dónde nació? 

 

Pedro; Yo soy nacido en Colombia 

 

Josmairy: ¿De qué parte de Colombia ? 

 

Pedro:  Bogotá la capital de Colombia 

 

Josmairy :  ¿Cuántos años tienes?

 

Pedro:  49 años 

 

Josmairy: Y qué edad tenías cuando emigraste aquí a los Estados Unidos ? 

 

Pedro:  Tenía 40 años 

 

Josmairy: ¿ por qué tomaste la decisión de emigrar a este país ?

 

Pedro: La verdad no tenía la decisión fue como decimos en Colombia un carambolazo una amiga de mi mamá, me dijo que porque no me venía que yo tenía una visa y la visa en ese tiempo la daban por 5 años ya al otro año se me vencía, entonces me dijo aprovecha entes que se le vence, viene al menos conoces si no le gusta Pues no se queda  acá. Y Ella llevó a Bogotá, me llevó el pasaje. Ya solo tenía que hacer mi maleta y venirme para acá 

 

Josmairy:  Y porque usted tenía visa si no tenía pensando emigrar a ningún país ? 

 

Pedro: Yo pertenecía a una empresa y ellos me han sacado la visa  porque venían iban a mandar a Miamia hacer unos seminarios de seguridad electrónica de un atracón.

 

Josmairy: Entonces si usted no tenía planeado quedarse aquí ¿qué lo motivó? 

 

Pedro; Mi motivo primeramente es que a los dos días de llegar acá yo llegué un sábado a la medianoche, el lunes a las 7 de la mañana ya me fui a trabajar. Fui ayudante de unos ecuatoriano.

 

Pedro; Y empecé a trabajar en construcción y un día trabajando lo acá. Yo al momento hice el cambio en pesos colombianos y era mucha la diferencia Entonces eso fue lo que más peso para quedarme acá porque vi que con mi esfuerzo yo podía darles un mejor nivel de vida a mi familia. 

 

Josmairy: Entonces me comentó que su primer trabajo fue? 

 

Pedro: Sacando piedras en Manhattan sacando en una construcción sacando rocas y rompiendo rocas y tirando los afuera.

 

Josmairy: ¿cuando ganó ahí ? 

 

Pedro: 100 dólares al día. 

 

Pedro: Yo no pensaba en tener documentos porque yo lo veía muy muy complicado Es más, Yo me pensaba devolver para Colombia pero en un momento me encontré con una mujer que supuestamente me enamoré de ella. Si no me hubiera encontrado con ella en el 2014 me hubiera devuelto para Colombia  

 

Josmairy : entonces usted entró a los Estados Unidos con una visa de turismo Entonces en ese proceso de estar aquí se enamoró se casó y con eso tuvo entonces sus papeles legales.

 

Pedro: exacto, si no me hubiera caso no hubiera quedado aquí 

 

Josmairy: qué desafíos enfrenta cuando llegó aquí a este país? 

 

Pedro: El idioma y la supervivencia aquí porque quieres sobrevivir que diga sobrevivir 

 

Josmairy: ¿Qué problemas de supervivencia enfrentó ?

 

Pedro: Estar uno solo solo solo solo completamente solo Entonces como la soledad es tan grande se fue acá en conseguir y conseguir trabajos ya en ese momento que yo dije a conseguir trabajos informales y dure trabajando 7 días de la semana. Yo no descansa ningún día. Lo hacía para mantenerme ocupado y no pensar en la soledad. 

 

Josmairy: El proceso de migración fue diferente a lo que esperabas el proceso de obtener tus documentos el proceso de llegar aquí fue lo fue algo diferente a lo que esperaba? O  no esperaba nada? 

 

Pedro: No, como no lo tenía mi mente Entonces yo no tenía  expectativa de Cómo ser un proceso esos cuando ya me casé con una persona americana. Ya todo el círculo social, que me conoce a mí me dijeron cómo qué proceso debe que tocaba hacer. 

 

Pedro: Entonces ya empecé a afrontar el proceso con dificultad económica. Con dificultad del idioma con todo lo empecé a enfrentar y hubo muchas muchas muchas cosas que me pasaron el proceso.

 

Josmairy: Me podría si se siente cómodo dar un ejemplo de algunas cosas que le pasó en el proceso de obtener su su su migración aquí sus papeles? 

 

Pedro: complicado que fue el proceso que cuando encontré que diga me deje de mi ex esposa Y ella tenía que acompañarme en mi proceso está la segunda etapa de la residencia permanente ya me dejó tirado y yo estoy apunto de quedar deportación

 

Josmairy: y que sintió en ese momento ?

 

Pedro:  yo le comenté a mi amiga que era mi abogada de que me arrepentía de haberme quedado aquí y ella me dijo usted no sabe Cuántas personas. Deberían prestar su lugar acá, No diga eso te doy una oportunidad muy grande. Íbamos a meterte hasta la última milla y que pase lo que tenga que pasar 

 

Pedro: Primero Dios ya pasó, pero me tocó sufrir y pagar mucho dinero  por el hecho de que se había separado de su pareja y no continúa ayudándolo y usted tuvo que enfrentar ese proceso solo. 

 

Josmairy: Te preguntas qué vida hubieras tenido si te hubieras quedado allá en Colombia? 

 

Pedro: Si me preguntaba y yo me imagino una vida.

Con sentimientos encontrados porque estoy con mi familia, pero no tendría el recurso económico que tengo acá pronto Aunque Aquí tengo recurso económico, pero a costa de casi de mi salud, Porque trabajo mucho, pero es el esfuerzo que hago. Pero los hago por mis hijos porque con todo esto del Covid ahora más pienso que ellos deberían de estar aquí. 

 

Josmairy: Qué tan difícil fue Cuando llegaste a 15 que mencionaste que enfrentas te enfrentaste lo del idioma lo del hecho de estar solo pero para ti que fue como lo más difícil. Cuéntame un poquito de tu historia Cuando llegaste aquí. Qué fue lo más difícil? 

 

Pedro: Lo más difícil que supere fue lo de migración y luego me falla la salud que tengo. 

 

Josmairy: ¿me puedes contar un poquito de salud? 

 

Pedro: En mayo del 2015. Estando en el primera etapa de los taxes con mi ex esposa tuve un enfrentamiento con ella terrible, el 30 de abril de 2015 y me afectó tanto que quiera abandonar todo y desaparecer Y ver qué haré en viro en migración en viro es cómo quedar por fuera de migración también adicional en el dinero que me tocó pagar y todo lo que me toca pagarle más allá porque yo ya retomé los taxes y yo no tenía dinero, no tenía trabajo.

 

Pedro: Entonces me dio un Stroke. los doctores me dijeron que el estrés tan alto que tenía me lo causó

Estuve un mes sin trabajar conmigo medio lado sin movimiento, básicamente muerto. 

 

Pedro: Pero las cosas no quedaron ahí, mi ex esposa quería que yo también le pagará a ella un alto dinero porque por ella fue que podía obtener los documentos. Y una vez más mi salud falló me dio un ataque en el corazón en medio de la calle. Fue un momento muy difícil para mí porque estaba totalmente solo. 

 

Josmairy: y que paso Pedro cómo pudiste obtener tus documentos ?

 

Pedro: Gracias a Dios mi abogada me ayudó y le mostramos a migración todo el daño que me causó esa separación y con eso obtuve un perdón y con mi green card. 

 

Josmairy: Si pudiera devolver el tiempo te hubiera quedado en Colombia ? 

 

Pedro: claro que si.. porque me he perdido disfrutar el crecimiento de mis hijos y el no poder estar con ellos en eventos importantes. 

 

Part 2

 

 My interview was a bit direct, I was hoping to have more details, but I am aware that when people go through trauma they decide to forget it and remembering them brings them sadness. For Pedro, the family is the most important thing, since he always grew up with his family, for that same reason he mentions that he never thought of emigrating to another country because he understood that what he needed was to be close to his children but that turned into another reality when he saw the economic opportunity that he could give his children by working here. Also in the interview he mentions how he fell in love and through this he was able to begin the process of his documents, but things didn’t go well, and she left him alone in that process. I imagine how hard it must be for you to return to the same place you were before or worse because being undocumented, he would not be able to see his family. And it is very sad to see how people take advantage of each other’s immigration status, because Pedro tells how his ex-wife wanted to benefit from it. 

 

Part 3 

The process of my interview was a bit stressful because the interview was going to be done with a friend of mine but she had a family emergency so I had to find a person at the last minute, and I wanted to do the interview with an immigrant who has a history with many efforts . Thank God my good friend Pedro volunteered to do the interview. I had to record like 2 times because my dog was barking or someone was knocking on the door. I also felt that Pedro did not remember many things that is why he did not give me the answers with more details, even when we entered the deeper topic I could notice that he no longer wanted to continue talking because he was getting sharp eyes. But apart from all that I enjoy doing the interview and being able to learn in all the struggles that an immigrant can go through just to give their children a better future.