Interview #1

IPR: My name is Ivonne Paredes Romero I am an undergraduate research student at the University of Utah and this is interview number one for the Oral History Project. Okay, alright so starting with question number one: When did you arrive in the United States?

I: I arrived in the United States in 2005.

IPR: How old were you?

I: Uh, eight.

IPR: Do you, do you remember how you felt when you first arrived?

I: I was kinda pretty excited to see my mom since she came before me.

IPR: Oh, so you’re mom was here first? And then she...

I: Yes.

IPR: oh okay, nice. So, what was your first impression? Your first memory of arriving? Do you remember?

I: Pretty big cities, more bigger than Mexico and ends up being closed quarter and not going into the big cities.

IPR: What part of Mexico did you come from?

I: [City name inaudible] Chihuahua.

IPR: Chihuahua. Nice. Do you remember what life was like back home?

I: It was kind of hard because my mom usually worked all the time. Day and night so me and my brothers would be staying with my grandma all the time.

IPR: Hmm and what was that like?

I: It was good. We didn’t have to do much just stay out of trouble.

IPR: Stay out of trouble, okay. Uh, so you, hmm (pause) would you say your family had a good support system then? What did that look like? What did your support system back home look like?

I: I would say the only support that my family got was from my mother. Everybody else just went by themselves didn’t really care about the other people.

IPR: So, who would you say you were when you arrived at the age of eight.

I: Just a little kid ready for a new life.

IPR: Do you remember anything in particular when you first arrived? LIke what stood out the most?

(Pause)

I: Just a lot of white people (chuckles).

IPR: Okay, alright umm. So, you mentioned that your mother arrived first and then yourself. Was it just you by yourself or…

I: No, I arrived with my two younger brothers.

IPR: Younger brothers, okay and how old were they?

I: They were seven and five.

IPR: Y cómo...cómo... ¿cómo llegaron? ¿En que transporte?

I: So, one of my uncles he came to the United States and he found a friend. The friend had some contacts with a lady that was able to come in to the Mexico border. Uh on there they just picked us up and crossed us over saying we were her kids and she just forgot our papers, all that.

IPR: Hmm okay. Entonces, just thinking back from your first arrival to now. What would you say… who are you now? Compared to who you were when you first arrived?

(Pause)

IPR: like what is life like now?

I: It’s much better, but still not the best.

IPR: Not the best (Yeah), okay. Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

I: Uhh… so far since it’s just me and my mom and brothers. We have been working the most [because] my mom is kinda sick and can’t work that well. So, from me having to work the full eight hours a day took some time from school, so I couldn’t really go to school and finish it.

IPR: So you went to work doing school as well? Oh... What was that like?

I: it was fine because mostly I just worked in construction or wood working. Making cabinets stuff like that.

IPR: How old were you when you started working?

I: I would say around sixteen.

IPR: Sixteen. So, you were in high school?

I: Yes.

IPR: Okay, and what was that environment like when you first started? Just working… Starting to work at the age of sixteen to help support your family?

I: It wasn’t as bad as I thought since all my coworkers they were from—again from Mexico so They would support me and help me out [to] improve on my work all the time.

IPR: Did you... Did you… miss school? Having to skip school? Or how was that situation?

I: So, I would go to school, but I would get the work mostly in the summertime (Oh okay), but more when I got older—-at—I wou— I found a job woodworking. Making cabinets I would work after school like until ten in the afternoon.

IPR: Oh okay, and did that—did that make you tired? Did that interfere with your school work?

I: Not really. I just didn’t really have much interest to stay in school, so I kind of just didn’t go to school on my own.

IPR: Okay and compared to... Did you—When you first arrived did you ever imagine yourself working that hard?

I: No.

IPR: What were you expecting?

I: A much easier life.

IPR: Easier life in what way?

I: That I didn’t have to be working at that young of an age.

IPR: And did you—how would you say your family dynamics or your family situation changed when you got here in comparison to when you were back in Chihuahua.

I: I would say, the job got a bit more easier and got more salaries than there.

IPR: The jobs got easier in what way would you say?

I: So, my mom she would work in cleaning like factories or business places compared to Mexico she would have to be working in a factory where the environment wasn’t that well established and would have to be working from eight to twelve hours sometimes.

IPR: And was the pay good, bad? How would you describe that?

I: Umm, bad because it was-she was getting paid the minimum wage.

IPR: And do you remember what that minimum wage would be?

I: I don’t.

IPR: No, okay. So things got better? (Yeah) Things got better. How would you… umm did you have any family waiting on this side other than your mom?

I: I would say my uncle. That’s all.

IPR: So just your uncle? Did you have any other resources to help you out? To integrate or help you integrate?

I: No.

IPR: Did you start school right away?

I: Uh, I think I did like right after the next month.

IPR: And what was that like?

I: Pretty hard I would say.

IPR: Why?

I: Because the language barrier I couldn’t really understand no one. They always had to go out of their way to try to explain it to me.

IPR: Did anybody at your school speak Spanish at all?

I: Um, just a few teachers. That’s all.

IPR: Where they helpful?

I: Yeah. Kind of.

IPR: Kind of?

I: Yes, just because I had to learn everything again from scratch.

IPR: From scratch... And How would you describe… did you go to school in Mexico?

I: I did.

IPR: How would you describe the experience between going to school in the homeland and going to school here?

(Pause)

I: I would say here they give you more support than in Mexico. I don’t really remember that much well, but they were always not that supportive in Mexico.

IPR: Not that supportive. Okay. Do you think you could elaborate a little bit on that? In what way would you say it wasn’t as supportive?

I: I would say first of all like transportation. Trying to get to school sometimes we would have to wake up early to just to walk to school next door, but not here. Also, like over there they don’t really give you the supplies that you need unlike here they always try to help you out. Give you the support in order to succeed in school.

IPR: So would you say, you mentioned that when you first arrived your support system consisted of your uncle and your mother, correct?

I: Yes.

IPR: Would you say… what about now? What would you say your support system looks like now? Years after?

I: I would say it’s much better just because all my brothers and I are all working, so if one of us do[es] need the help we will always help the other person.

IPR: And do you have support outside of your family as well?

I: Not that much.

IPR: So you just depend on one another then?

I: Yes. Mostly.

IPR: Mostly, okay. Are you in school currently?

I: I’m not.

IPR: Just working?

I: Yup.

IPR: What do you do?

I: I work at as an operator.

IPR: And what does that consist of?

I: Can you explain that?

IPR: Yeah, so would you-what would you say a typical work day looks like for you?

I: So my work is not really hard it's just running the machines to make the products that we have to make, (Okay) but it's just simple. It’s not really… at my job they give you at least three breaks—two breaks and a lunch time so you always gain some rest before you have to keep on going for the rest of the day.

IPR: so you mentioned you weren’t currently in school, do you have aspirations or would you-do you have any plans of going to school?

I: I do have plans to go back to school not at this moment. RIght now, my priorities are just helping out my family get out of some debt that we have and then I’ll go back to school.

IPR: And what would you like to study in school?

I: Right now, I don’t know.

IPR: Okay, yeah it’s hard to decide. It’s hard to decide. Let’s talk about-umm the summer of 2012 is there any particular event that you remember from that time?

I: No.

IPR: So, do you know-are you familiar with DACA or Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals?

I: Kind of.

IPR: KInd of, um so that announcement was made in the summer of 2012 cuando todavía teníamos a President Obama in office. Would you say that announcement or how did that announcement affect you, if at all?

I: It didn’t really affect me just because we didn’t really went to try to get it.

IPR: And would you mind elaborating on why that would be?

I: Uhh-[because]I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t really pay attention to that part, so I was just continuing with my life not worrying about that.

IPR: Okay, so you didn’t look into the program itself?

I: Kind of just because I didn’t really know that that was happening.

IPR: Oh okay. When did you ever-did you come across it other than you know, from the news? Or any like organization, school, stuff like that?

I: I would say just sometimes in the news.

IPR: In the news, so wait you didn’t pay much attention to it?

I: No.

IPR: No. Okay. Would that be-did that affect your family as well? Or would you say that it affected you?

I: I would say it did not affect my family at all.

IPR: At all? Okay. Have you ever thought-what are your thoughts on returning to the homeland?

I: I would say that I do think about going back, but just to visit not to stay.

IPR: Just to visit not to stay (Yes). Okay, so you have, you’ve never or have you ever actually considered returning other than like-permanently then?

I: No.

IPR: Why not?

I: I’ve been seeing a lot of news from my homeland. It’s kind of bad and dangerous uh we don’t really want to get involved with all that so we would rather just visit and not stay.

IPR: Do you have family back home still?

I: I do.

IPR: You do. Do you keep in contact with them?

I: Just my grandma.

IPR: Just your grandma. Has your grandma ever come and visit?

I: She has.

IPR: And what is that like? Do you rememebr the first time she came to visit?

I: No, not really.

IPR: Would you mind explaining why-so from my understanding all your family like your nueclear family your mom your siblings and yourself relocated here, but not your grandmother.

I: No.

IPR:WHy not?

I: Uh-for her she didn’t really want to come to the United States and leave everything she had just because most of her family still in mexico and her husband also all her property and everything like that.

IPR: So what would you say—so umm (pause) so taking all that into consideration just given the the you know the current political climate going on in the country right now. Has the possibility of returning-like what does the possibility of returning mean to you? Does that change just with what is going on around currently? Or does it affect your thinking about it at all?

I: To return permanently or just to visit?

IPR: Either one.

I: Right now to stay no. It’s getting worse, so I would rather just visit and not get caught up in all that.

IPR: So would you say that-what about the political climate here in the U.S? It has become slightly more conservative with the new administration. Does that worry you at all?

I: It does.

IPR: In what way?

I: Just because if things get worse sometimes I would think we have to go back to something that we tried to escape in the first place.

IPR: Yeah. Um (pause) so given (pause) how would you identify then?

I: Identify who?

IPR: Identify-or who would you say you are as a person living in the U.S

I: As of right now, I would say I am still an immigrant not having my papers, but I do have my work permit so that helps me support my family.

IPR: Would you-and your- so, this work permit does it change the way you feel about being in the U.S? Just does it provide any sort of safety to you? A form of visibility?

I: No.

IPR: Why not?

I: The work permit doesn’t really do much except just being able to get me a job that’s all.

IPR: So, you don’t consider it-would you say you consider it um—just in terms of being able or being seen as a contributing member of society it doesn’t-does it grant you that levarge in comparison to if you were not to have one?

I: I would say kind of yes.

IPR: How so?

I: Just because it does make me feel like I am part of of the United States, but once my work permit expires all that is gone.

IPR: What are your feelings in having to renew that?

I: A bit terrifying just because I may have my work permit one day and then I would be getting a letter or call saying that my work permit was cancelled or like that.

IPR: Do you mind me asking how often do you have to renew that permit?

I: Every year.

IPR: Every year? Would you say after every renewal you get a sense of-what is that process of or what is that like after your permit gets renewed? Do you feel a sense of relief? Or would you say—what does that feel like?

I: I would say that I feel relieved just because I’ll be able to keep my job and not have to go back to construction where the environment is always outside working in the cold or really heat weather.

IPR: How long have you had the work permit?

I: Two years.

IPR: Two years and what was the feeling of having that document now um for the past two years in comparison to when you did not have access to it?

I: I would say that I was able to get a much better job, much better opportunity to grow on the job.

IPR: So did you mostly just work construction then in the past? (Yes) And why do you think you gravitate towards, or why those jobs in particular?

I: Just because they didn’t really needed your work permit. It’s just all hispanic people trying to get the job done since not a lot of people want to do that.

IPR: How would you describe the work conditions?

I: Umm, bad. Determining how it was the weather if it was in the summer it was really bad with the weather becaues you have to be working in the heat and also you had to keep drinking water and also work.

IPR: And did you have any—or how would you describe your experience working in that field just emotion wise? Did you enjoy it? Did you, you know, think maybe I need to get something better etc? Just along those lines?

I: I kind of enjoyed [it] just because I like doing… I like, like, building stuff. I like the kind of work environment I just didn’t like the conditions of it.

IPR: The conditions of it okay. Yeah, I understand. That makes-that makes sense. And what about now? So, could you describe your emotions of getting-the first time that you actually had the work permit? What was that like? What did that feel like?

I: I would say I was really happy just because I was able to get a much better job, a much better payment.

IPR: How did you-how did you come—did you have to go through that process of getting that documentation on your own or did you have-? How would you describe that process towards getting that document?

I: So, I was able to get the—my work permit due to some circumstances in my family. That’s the only way I was able to get it.

IPR: would you mind sharing or elaborating a little bit more on that?

I: Um I was able to get my work permit due to some domestic violence in my house with my step-father.

IPR: And would you, would you describe that, like, due to those circumstances that lead to this like how did that affect the way you felt about the situation?

I: I don’t know.

IPR: Okay, that’s fine. That’s fine. Hmm, are you—did the rest of your siblings have the privilege of having that documentation?

I: Yes, except for one.

IPR: How would you-would you say that the environment or the- the family situation when that came in has it changed much? Within your family?

I: I would say yes just because after we all got it everyone started to see—tried to figure out the home life now instead of just depending on one person all the time.

IPR: And how would—could you describe the feelings maybe the reactions from your mother as well being the-having having of been the head of house to now being able to see, you know, her sons getting work conditions; better opportunities. Would you mind sharing some of her feelings or perhaps what you’ve seen?

I: I would say she was happy, but mostly relieved that-that we were able to get a work permit we could start thinking about our own life and not just staying home ruining(?) our life, but just keep on going forward with our own life.

IPR: Has your—has your mother or head of house or your family together ever discussed what, like, what would you say um has changed or is different in comparison to when… Would you consider yourself to be less cautious, more cautious, or just in the way you go around-go about life now pre-documentation versus with documentation?

I: i would say more cautious just because if we do something stupid we could get our work permit taken away.

IPR: So would you say there’s feelings of (pause) of relief, but also like conflicting—(Yes) Conflicting feelings? Okay. and what does or how does that make you feel?

(Pause)

I: I wouldn’t know how to say it.

IPR: Oh, that’s fine. Let’s see. Let’s talk about the future now. Just what would you say or like your dreams… do you have dreams?

IPR: And where would you… where would you like to see yourself then?

I: Uh… finishing school. Having already gotten a house for my family and having a better job.

IPR: Do you have an ideal job in mind?

I: As of right now not really, but I’m thinking about it at my job I have the opportunity to grow and be—having a further position in there.

IPR: Would you say your job offers that? Better work opportunities? (Yes) Yes. And, would you say they are accessible or how would you describe the work environment?

I: I would say my job will give you all the oppor—everything that they can in order for you to improve and become better at my job.

IPR: So you like your job? (Yeah) You like it. Awesome! Do you have any concerns just regarding um or actually do you having any last words um if you could um say go back in time to the eight year old boy that stepped foot on U.S soil for the first time what would you say?

I: I would just say don’t stop going to school just because for me I stopped kind of going to school in the last two years of high school and that really messed me up because I’m not really at the really high level I’m supposed to be to be—like in college.

IPR: And what or what advice would you or message would you like to give to yourself? To your future self, you know, in regards to what you hope to accomplish like dreams, hopes, plans for the future?

I: Just keep looking ahead.

IPR: Also, there’s one thing that we didn’t really address, but i would like to just quickly um if we could talk about it right now. Why Utah?

(Pause)

I: I wouldn’t be able to say why. We tried Phoenix and Las Vegas, Nevada also Colorado, but that didn’t seem to work that well with the job. The economy. Here it’s kind of in a balance of having a good job, but not having a—have to pay a lot for bills and all that like over there in the different places.

IPR: So, you-would you-could you elaborate on how. Like, what do you mean with the balance and work?

I: So, like for example in Colorado it was really good place—they paid more, but you also had to pay more for rent, groceries, bills. Here, it’s not the best, but it’s not the worst. They give you just enough money to get by with after you pay all the bills.

IPR: And do you see yourself staying in Utah or would you like…?

I: I would say I would stay.

IPR: You would stay? (Yeah) Why?

I: Just because I’ve been living here for most of my life.

IPR: So you don’t—do you have...um. So you’ve been living here for most of your life so how you describe Utah? What would you say Utah means to you?

I: It’s kind of like home because I have all my friends here and I feel my family.

IPR: So, if you could describe it in one word it would be…

(Pause)

I: I wouldn’t know how-what to say.

IPR: Okay, yeah that’s fine. That’s fine. Um, any last words? Comments?

I: No.

IPR: No? Okay. Well thank you so much for participating!