Juanita Leija (Nee Esquivel) was born on May 6, 1940 in Piedras Negras, Coahila Mexico. She was one of eight children. When she became pregnant and in search of a new start, she migrated to San Antonio in hopes of improving her life and that of her son-to-be. My first job was working as a housekeeper in Henry B. Gonzales's- in his downtown San Antonio home, where my pay was $12.00 dollars a week. However because of some circumstances, I left their home to go to another household where they paid me the same for much more work. Finally I moved to the Emerson residence were I got paid $25.00 dollars a week and room and board... I had to do all the cleaning, ironing and cooking for the household. A couple of things I remember about my duties were that I had to learn how to answer the phone in English. I also had to learn how to read a cookbook to make American food since all I knew how to cook were Mexican dishes (Tortillas, Enchiladas). "Mrs. Betty Crocker" was my close friend in the kitchen.
(Interviewer: Maricela Mendez, Palo Alto College Student, Maymester 2003)
Jesus Pichardo was born on June 30, 1950 in Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico. He was the only boy of six children in his family. I was nine years old when I started to work. I worked with planting seeds at the farm. At the age of eighteen, I started the training for the military service . I only went one week a month. I did it to workout and train myself how to handle arms.
As a child Jesus always wondered what it would be like to live in the United States. When he was all grown up Jesus decided he needed something more in his life, so at age 28 he packed his bags and headed for the United States.
(Interviewer: Angelica Pichardo, Palo Alto College Student, Spring 2003)
EUROPEAN
Annette Constandine(nee Athanasia Dekazos)was born in Merkovouni, Greece (a village just outside the town of Tripoli), on May 20, 1952 to Tasso and Maria Dekazos. She received the opportunity to come to the United States to live with Frank and Theodora Charvat of Atlanta, Georgia (her aunt and uncle). Her parents wanted her to have the chance for a better life than she could ever have back in her village. So she immigrated to the United States in 1962 and was adopted by the Charvats. I remember my aunt wanted to take me shopping to buy some clothes and shoes, and various things, and I could not understand the need to buy more than one of something. She wanted to buy me several dresses, and several pairs of shoes, and underclothes, and I remember I kept saying "But I HAVE a dress! But I HAVE a pair of shoes!" This is something that we sometimes laugh about together now...
(Interviewer: Patricia Constandine, Palo Alto College Student, Maymester 2003)
