TRANSCRIPTION
What are your earliest childhood memories?
I guess swimming in the river, fishing, going hunting in the woods. My friends and I used to gather in the town plaza.
How was your life in Mexico?
I would not say it was hard, we had food and a home to live in but the modern things like TV and car were not there. TV's were barely coming out only 2 or 3 families in the city had them, so when we wanted to go see TV we would go over friends house to watch it.
Where and who did you live with?
With my mother and father in Sabinas Hidalgo Nuevo Leon and the whole family which was all 8 of us together lived in a two bedroom two bath house.
What meals did you eat on a daily basis?
Beans, rice, eggs, beef soup, tortillas de arina y tortillas de maiz, not too much fruit or vegetables very little.
Did you go to school and how far did you get?
I went 6 elementary school years and 1 secondary because in secondary school it wasn't free and my family couldn't afford it.
Tell me a typical day in Mexico?
When I was young, go to school, and if it was a good day at least two or three hours to spend then I would shine shoes for a little extra money, not all days were good days because Friday Saturday and Sunday were good because people would go to dances and need shiny shoes.
Did you have a vehicle to get around in?
No, the only thing I had was a bicycle and I was already 12 when I had my first bike.
Where did you first work and how old were you?
Mexico, people start very young, when I went to school I didn't work a full eight hours daily only two or three a day or every other day. On the weekends a little more, but when I wasn't going to school I would work 8 hours. I just bring some money not a lot but a little bit of help. I worked at an electrical shop repairing refrigerators, cars, TV's some things like that.
Did you have to support your family?
No, just help them, I mean the money I would make I would give it to my mother and whatever she'd give me that would be ok.
When did you decide to move to the United States?
When I was 18 or 19, you hear that other people had a good job and a car and that made me want to come.
Did you already have a family?
Yes, me and my wife only and we were 18 and 19 years old.
Explain how you came to the U.S.?
Tourist Visa, you pass and then you stay and then look for work.
When you were already in the U.S. did you already have a job waiting for you?
No, nobody was waiting for me but it wasn't hard to find a job, painting houses then in a car lot then in an electrical shop, that's all I knew what to do.
Where do you work now?
I work in a shipping company called SMT Lines and have been working there for thirty years now.
Why did you choose to stay in San Antonio?
I really don't know why, here is where we came and we decided to stay here and raise our children.
How has your life changed from living in Mexico to the U.S.?
I guess leaving most of your family in Mexico and seeing them only maybe once a year or never.
When did you become an American Citizen?
I think it was about 10 years after I came to the U.S.
Why did you take up programming in as a hobby?
It has been like 7 years ago, I love electronics and that's how I know it.
Do you regret or would like to change anything in your life?
No.
Is there anything you would like your family to know about you?
I would say, I tell you and Oscar if you work hard and improve yourself cause if I came to the U.S. and survived with no education then yall should be way better off than what I got. Hard work and education is the key to everything.
Do you like what you have become?
It's my life and I love my family especially my grandchildren, I want to see they grow and be well taken care and that's why I stress on education.
How many shoes did you own when growing up?
I only had one pair of shoes and even till this day I only own one pair as well.
Would you like to add or comment on anything we discussed?
? What I see is, first that we intervene for many years in other countries and I don't think that is right. I don't think we have the right to tell other countries how to run their own government. We go to war because our government tells us to, even though we know it is wrong. So many other things but that's ok, I could talk for hours of what the U.S. could do to maybe improve their situation for my grandchildren and their children's children.
