Esposo: Nosotros somos de Michoacan, Mexico pero nos conosimos en California. Yo me vine en los settentas y mi esposo llego en los ochentas. Yo e vivido en los Estados Unidos desde que era chico. Nos conocimos en un baile en Los Angeles. Nos casamos en California y a los veinte y dos años nos decidimos venir para Minnesota.
Esposa: Yo tenia dies y seis anos cuando me vine en los ochentas con mi tio. Me tio le dejo a mi papa que si me dejaba venir para cuidad a ninos. Y si, mi padre m
e dejo venirme y ya entonces llegue a California. Mi primer trabajo en los E.E.Uu era cuidar a dos niños. A los dies y ocho me empese a buscar otro trabajo. Encontre una compania de carne de puerco como la JBS en Worthington. Despues de conocernos, una razon para dejar California era por la violencia que habia en las escuelas y queriamos mejor para nuestros hijos.
Esposo: La razon por venirnos a Minnesota era porque tenia hermanos que ya vivien aqui. Llegamos en el 96 y nunca nos emos hido. Cuando llegamos a Worthington, nuestros hijos estan bien chiquitos. Puedes decir que se criaron aqui y para ellos Minnesota es de donde son. Igual nosotros porque ya hemos vividos bastantes anos aqui.
Esposa: Somos de Minnesota yo digo aunque no tenga la ciudadania de los Estados Unidos. Los dos somos residentes. Tenemos el sueno de hacernos ciudadanos un dia. Yo pudo conseguir mi residenci por andar trabajando en el campo en California.
Esposo: Yo obteni la residencia por la aministia y pagamos a un abogada. Yo era muy joven en esos tiempos cuando llegue a California entonces por mi papa me pudo ser residente.
Esposa: Llegando a Worthington trabajamos para la compania de puerco. Es lo unico que hemos trabajado aqui. Ahora ya estamos retirados. Mi esposo se enfermo entonces ya no puede trabajar. A vez en cuando nos vamos para Mexico para visitar en tiempo de vacaciones pero creo que no regresariamos a vivir alli por vida. Nuestros hijos se criaron aqui en este pueblo y tienen sus trabajos. Ellos han hecho su vida aqui y pues aqui tambien seguimos con ellos.
Esposo: Damos gracias a Dios por tener una casa, por tener trabajos, por tenero has
ta carros. Lo que hemos hecho aqui en Minnesota no creo que se podria en California porque el sueldo era muy bajo alla. Siento que aqui en Minnesota la gente puede hacer mas, superarse mas para tener un hogar y las cosas simples.
Esposa: Yo no hablo Ingles. Tengo que estudiar y bueno pues puedo platicar pero muchas cosas no lo se pronunciar.
Esperanza para la comunidad:
Esposa: Que no se pierde la cultura. Yo siempre desde chica ha estado muy cerca a la iglesia. Y yo cuando vine aquí a EEUU, lo primero que hice es buscar una iglesia. pero estaba muy lejos, despues encontre una mas cerca. Y luego ya que nos casamos también seguimos y después cuando venimos acá, también buscamos una iglesia. y allí estamos por eso muy llegados a la iglesia.
Esposo: Sobre el trabajo diria que la compañía nos debe de tratar mas mejor. Muchos que estan en posiciones como lideres aveces quieren abusar de la gente y eso no esta bien. Por ejempo, le preguntas a tu supervisor "voy a ir al baño" y a unos les dice que "si" pero a otros les dicen que "no". Se siente las discriminacion.
En memoria de Señor Martinez. Que en paz descanse.
Husband: We are from Michoacan, Mexico but we met in California. I came in the seventies and my husband arrived in the eighties. I have lived in the United States since I was a young. We met at a dance in Los Angeles. We got married in California and at twenty-two, we decided to come to Minnesota.
Wife: I was sixteen when I came in the eighties with my uncle. My uncle asked my dad if he would let me come to care for his children. And yes, my father let me come and I arrived in California. My first job in the US was to take care of two children. At eighteen I started looking for another job. I found a pork company in California that is similar to JBS in Worthington. We left California mainly because of the violence in schools and we wanted better for our children.
Husband: The reason we chose Minnesota was that I had brothers who already lived here. We arrived in 96 and we've never left. When we arrived in Worthington, our children were very young. You can say they grew up here and for them, Minnesota is where they are from. My wife and I would say the same too because we have lived here for many years.
Wife: We are from Minnesota. I say it even if I am not a United States citizen. We are both permanent residents. We have the dream of becoming citizens one day. I was able to get my residency by working in the field in California.
Husband: I obtained residence from the amnesty and we paid a lawyer to help us.
Wife: Arriving in Worthington we worked for the pork processing plant. It is the only thing we have worked in while in town. Now we are both retired. My husband got sick so he can't work anymore. From time to time we go to Mexico to visit on vacation time but I think we would not return to live there for life. Our children grew up here in this town and have their jobs. They have made their lives here and we also continue to stay here to be near them.
Husband: We give thanks to God for having a house, for having jobs, for even owning cars. What we have done here in Minnesota, I don't think it could be done in California because the salary was very low there. I feel that here in Minnesota people can do more, overcome more to have a home and simple things.
Hope for the community:
Wife: That our Mexican culture is not lost. Part of that culture for me has been the Catholic church. I have always been very close to the church since I was a child. And when I came here to the US, the first thing I did was look for a church. The first few I found were far away from where I lived, but I never stopped looking for one and finally, I found one close. When we got married we both were engaged with the church. Since then we have continued to actively participate with our church communities. We've never lost our touch with God.
Husband: About work, I would say that the company should treat us better. Many who are in positions as leaders sometimes want to abuse people and that is not right. For example, you ask your supervisor "I'm going to the bathroom" and some say "yes" but others say "no." You feel the discrimination.
In memory of Señor Martinez. May he rest in peace.
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