https://ohc.library.louisville.edu/ohms/viewer.php?cachefile=2019_181_07_cano.xml#segment1380
Partial Transcript: Oh, yes. Like I was telling you, where we lived, we have like a lot of space to plant stuff and everything. My parents used to have some plants, like the platanos.
Segment Synopsis: Her parents had a small plantation and grew coffee and plaintains; the workers who helped harvest; the harvesting; selling coffee; the bad economy
https://ohc.library.louisville.edu/ohms/viewer.php?cachefile=2019_181_07_cano.xml#segment1954
Partial Transcript: What do you think--I mean, I don't know. I don't have any kids. I'm having my first kid next month. I can't imagine what it's like to think about a family and trying to raise enough--grow enough coffee to support a family and stuff.
Segment Synopsis: Her family's joy at being reunited; how she didn't know her older brothers when she arrived; language barriers; meeting another girl at the racetrack; visiting the racetrack chapel
2019_181_07_cano
JOE MANNING:
And today is the 31st of October. I'm at Iroquois High School with Marilyn Cano.
Marilyn--do people say Marilyn or Merlin?MERLIN CANO:
Merlin.
JM:
Would you tell me how old you are and where and when you were born? And also say
your whole name?MC:
Okay. My name is Merlin Cano Hernandez. I was born in Guatemala. I came here
when I was 11 years old. I'm 17 now, and I'm currently a senior in Iroquois High School.JM:
Okay. Have you been at Iroquois for all of your high school career?
MC:
Yes. Since freshman year.
JM:
Yeah. Where'd you go to middle school?
MC:
Thomas Jefferson.
JM:
Where's that?
MC:
It's um...if you take the...expressway.
JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
You take Exit 14.
1:00JM:
Okay.
MC:
I forgot what is the street called.
JM:
So it's sort of south of here?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Is it like over by Dixie Highway?
MC:
No.
JM:
No?
MC:
I think it's east.
JM:
Oh, okay.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Fair enough. Let's see...how many brothers and sisters do you have?
MC:
I have five brothers and two sisters.
JM:
And do they live in Louisville?
MC:
Yes. Except one of my sisters. She's back in Guatemala.
JM:
Okay. And you told me she got married or something?
MC:
Yeah, she got married. She has three children. And they're trying to see if she
comes over here.JM:
Sure. Where's your family from in Guatemala?
MC:
Casillas, Santa Rosa.
JM:
Casillas, Santa Rosa.
MC:
Uh-huh.
JM:
What do you remember about Santa Rosa?
2:00MC:
Well, the weather is like...it's hot. And it's not really like here, city-style.
It's more like the forest. Where my house is located, we don't have any neighborhoods; it's just like my house and trees. And it was all green and everything away from the city. Yeah.JM:
That sounds...sounds really pretty.
MC:
Yeah. Peaceful, too.
JM:
Sound very peaceful.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
What kind of place was it that you all lived in? A house out in the country?
MC:
It was like the countryside. My friends used to own cows. And where we [were]
living was like, big enough to have cows and, like, grass to feed them and everything. 3:00JM:
So did you have to take care of those animals when you were a kid?
MC:
I was scared at that time. [laughs]
JM:
Really?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Why?
MC:
I don't know. I used to get close to the cows. But sometimes they were
like--well, I felt like they wanted to be mean to me. So I run away from them.JM:
Okay.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
So you didn't have to take care of them very much because you were scared of them.
MC:
Yeah. And also like I was little. I have two brothers older than me.
JM:
Right.
MC:
So they took care of them.
JM:
They did all that.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Okay. And so did everybody come together to the US?
MC:
Well, my older brothers were already here. My sister and my two older brothers.
4:00JM:
Uh-huh.
MC:
They were already here. And in Guatemala, it was four of us. One of them was
like 22, the other one was I think like 16, and the other one like 18?JM:
Yeah.
MC:
And I was the youngest one. I was 11.
JM:
Oh, you're the baby of the whole family?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Oh, wow.
MC:
I'm like the baby. [laughs]
JM:
Yeah, me too.
MC:
Oh really?
JM:
In my family, yeah.
MC:
So we all came together with my mom.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
My dad went and he came with us. He went and was in charge of us coming here.
Sure. Have you ever been back to Guatemala since you've been here? Once.JM:
When was that?
MC:
It was like two years ago. Yes, I went there for a month.
JM:
Oh, wow, a month.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Wow.
MC:
I felt...I felt weird.
JM:
Like what?
5:00MC:
I don't feel like is this is the same place as it used to be. Like where I used
to live, the village I live in, a lot of the people that are there now is people I don't know. They came and settled there. They weren't there when I was there.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
Yeah, people's not the same. They change sometimes.
JM:
Tell me more. What do you mean?
MC:
Well, a lot of people don't see you the same. And they talk to you
differently--I don't know, they think like being in the United States is--when you go from here and you don't take anything to them, like a present or something, they get mad usually. Because they think that here--they think you 6:00have the rich life. And you really don't, you have to work for it. And they--I don't know--a lot of people think you just come here--well, I understand because they've never been here. So I understand that they think that. Maybe I used to think that when I was little too. [both laugh] That it was easy to get the money here and everything.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
I don't know, I think that made me feel weird. Because people look at me
different. And they used to be like, "How you been over there?" Like, kind of being sarcastic and everything.JM:
Okay.
MC:
Yeah. And also, my own family over there, like uncles and everything, they sort
of act weird, too. I don't know, that's how I feel. I already got used to the 7:00environment here. So going back over there....Maybe like because here we have air conditioning for when it's hot. And you get to drive. And back in Guatemala, there's no air conditioning. And driving for woman is not a thing.JM:
Oh, really? Uh-huh.
MC:
Yeah. It's weird if you see a woman driving.
JM:
Oh, I didn't know that.
MC:
Yeah. [laughs] And also the education system.
JM:
Mm-hm?
MC:
If I were in--let's say, I was back in Guatemala right now?
JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
I will maybe be graduating from, like, nursing. I would already be graduating.
8:00JM:
In nursing?
MC:
In nursing maybe. And here, I'm still in high school, which there is basic.
JM:
Huh.
MC:
It's really different. Like, here, you take 12 years to get the high school diploma.
JM:
Right.
MC:
Over there, you may take 12 years to get the actual degree--like a teacher degree.
JM:
To get a college degree?
MC:
Like a college degree.
JM:
Really?
MC:
Yeah. It's really different, the way it's set up.
JM:
Huh. What do you think about that? What do you think about the education you're
getting here in America?MC:
I feel like is better here. Because back in Guatemala, even if you get that
degree and everything, it's really hard for you to get a job. And if you get a job, you're not going to be getting paid a lot. It's going to be like low income. 9:00JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
I heard this friend of mine--she told me, she already got her degree. She's
working in a bank. And she say...whenever she started, she worked for like a whole month. And she didn't get paid until like...JM:
At all?
MC:
...two months. At all. I don't know how that works. I think it's the economy
that is down. I don't know. She said she was working there for like a month or something. And she didn't even got paid yet.JM:
Did she ever get paid for her time?
MC:
Well, she did, but it took some time.
JM:
A long time.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Gee whiz.
MC:
She was working there but she wasn't getting paid.
JM:
That's hard to keep putting food on the table, if you're not getting paid.
10:00MC:
It is really hard. That's why I feel like here is better. Like, right now I'm
working at the racetrack and Walmart. The money I'm making here as a part time in Walmart and in the racetrack, that's like the money a professional would be making in Guatemala. In here, working at Walmart is considered just a normal job. It's not like.... And you get paid like low.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
But sometimes I'm like, "I'm really lucky to be here and have this job." Because
back in Guatemala is different. The money I'm making here as a part time is what a professional would be making there.JM:
Yeah, but that money goes a lot further down there in Guatemala, don't you think?
11:00MC:
What do you mean?
JM:
Like, if I if I gave you $5 today in Louisville.
MC:
Uh-huh.
JM:
And I send $5 to one of your uncles in Guatemala...
MC:
That would be like...
JM:
That $5 will last him a lot longer.
MC:
Yeah, it would be like...let's say, $40 over there.
JM:
It would have--you could buy $40 worth of stuff.
MC:
Not really. Well. The thing is--Okay, if I buy a pen here, it's going to be $1.
But in Guatemala, if you buy a pen, it's probably gonna be like $8. Like $8's worth over there. They call it quetzales.JM:
Right. Quetzales.
12:00MC:
If I send $1 back to Guatemala they're gonna get eight quetzales.
JM:
Right.
MC:
And so it's basically like the same. Really? How many quetzales is a pen? I will
say it's like, maybe from five to ten. From five to eight.JM:
So really like $1?
MC:
Yeah, like $1 here.
JM:
Wow.
MC:
So.
JM:
That surprises me.
MC:
Yeah. Right now, family from my mom's side just came here. And there's a 14-year-old.
JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
We took her to buy some stuff and saw a pair of jeans that were like $20.
JM:
Yeah?
MC:
And she was like, "Oh my gosh, so cheap." Because she was like, "Oh my gosh, so
13:00cheap," because back in Guatemala, if she was gonna buy those jeans, it would be maybe like a hundred and something queztales.JM:
Wow.
MC:
Mm-hm. [laughs]
JM:
That's very surprising. I don't know much about figures and economics and stuff.
That surprises me, though.MC:
Yeah. And so my mom was like, well, "It's basically like the same thing."
Because, here $20 is like the same amount of queztales over there.JM:
Very interesting.
MC:
Mm-hm.
JM:
So, how long have you been working at Walmart?
MC:
I've been there for like 10 months.
JM:
Yeah?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
What's it like in Kentucky? It's been a long time since I was your age. I think
I started working when I was like 13. Can you still do that?MC:
No.
JM:
No?
MC:
You have to be 16, I think.
JM:
Have to be 16 to get a part time job?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
How many hours a week are you legally allowed to work? Are you 17 or 18?
14:00MC:
17.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
So I can do up to 30 hours.
JM:
At one job?
MC:
Yes. At Walmart, I can do up to 30 hours. Because I'm in school. And I'm only
allowed to do up to six hours a day. And we're supposed to get two days off a week.JM:
Okay. So how much do you work at Walmart?
MC:
I usually do like 20 hours because of school and all of that. It makes it
complicated. So I only do like 20 hours.JM:
When you go to the track?
MC:
On the weekends. I work on the track on the weekends. Well, when I have--now on
the weekends--like right now, we're having the break on Monday and Tuesday because of the elections next week.JM:
Oh yeah.
MC:
So I'm going both of those days.
15:00JM:
To the track?
MC:
Yeah. Because since I'm not going to school, I get to go there.
JM:
In the summers, do you go also in the mornings?
MC:
Yes.
JM:
[whistles]
MC:
This last summer I did both jobs. And I was doing the whole week in the
racetrack and Walmart after that.JM:
That's a lot of work!
MC:
It is. [laughs]
JM:
How many hours were you working over the summer?
MC:
Well, I was doing up to 34 hours in Walmart. And every morning in the racetrack.
JM:
So how many hours total, do you think?
MC:
Like, overall?
JM:
Mm-hm. At the racetrack and at Walmart for one week?
MC:
Well...in the week, maybe...I would say like 60 maybe. Because in the racetrack,
16:00you work from 5-10. And Walmart, you do like eight hours. Yeah. And since I wasn't going to school, they were scheduling me to do eight hours in Walmart most of the time.JM:
That's a lot of work.
MC:
Yeah. But my goal was to buy me to buy me a car.
JM:
Did you get one?
MC:
Yeah, I did.
JM:
What?
MC:
I reached my goal. [both laugh] I wanted to buy me a car, so that was like the
main reason why I was doing the two jobs at the same time.JM:
That's so cool. Congratulations.
MC:
Thank you. [laughs]
JM:
Wow, that's a big deal. That's a lot of freedom. What kind of car did you get?
MC:
I got a Nissan.
JM:
Yeah?
MC:
2012.
JM:
Really? That's like a really new--I have never owned a vehicle that new in my
17:00whole life.MC:
Really? [laughs]
JM:
No. My car right now is a 2003. And that's the newest car I've ever had in my life.
MC:
Really?
JM:
I swear to God.
MC:
Wow. [both laugh]
JM:
A 2012 Nissan, good for you.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
That's awesome.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Where did you get it?
MC:
Well, this...one time--I wasn't planning on buying the car yet. I had the money
but I was maybe--I said, maybe if I keep working and I get some more money, I can maybe a better car. And so my brother came up to me, he's like, "Someone's selling this 2012 Nissan for $4,000." And he was like, "We should go check it out. Maybe see what conditions it is in and everything." And we did. We texted 18:00the guy, and he answered really fast and he gave us the address. And right after I finished my work with the horses, we went to see it. The guy--he live in a rich neighborhood.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
And he seemed to have the money. So my brother was like, "Maybe he's selling it
just because he's getting a better one. So it may be in good conditions."JM:
Yeah.
MC:
And it was in really good conditions.
JM:
So you had it checked out and everything?
MC:
Yeah...
JM:
That seems really inexpensive for 2012 car. I don't know much about cars, though.
MC:
Yeah. And my brother was like, "He said 2012 and it looks in good conditions."
And I'm thinking like, "The guy is not selling it because something's wrong with it."JM:
Right.
MC:
He may be selling it because he wants a new one.
19:00JM:
A new car.
MC:
And also, you right. Because the guy lived in a big house, rich
neighborhood--well, I consider it.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
But then I was like, "Well, I want it." And so in that moment, we went into the
bank and got the money and give it to the guy. And then I fitted the papers and it's in my name.JM:
Okay.
MC:
Yeah. [laugh]
JM:
Wow.
MC:
And everything. And since I already have my license by then, I was good to go.
JM:
So you got insurance and everything?
MC:
Yeah. And I'm currently paying for insurance for my car and everything. I'm
proud of myself because like my parents didn't have to help me. Well, they did 20:00help me but, like, with money, they're not worried about that right now with me. I'm trying to help them instead.JM:
That is really cool.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
That is really very, very impressive. I was not that responsible when I was your
age, not even a little bit. I was pretty irresponsible, actually.MC:
And my mom is like 60, and my dad is 64. My dad drives but it's kind of
difficult for him because his vision is not that good and everything. He got diabetes and high blood pressure. So it's kind of dangerous for him to be driving. And since I'm the one that sometimes is the most at home, I take care of, like, taking them to buy food for the house. 21:00JM:
Uh-huh. Mm-hm.
MC:
Or whenever I have the free time, we go out. Yeah, because like, sometimes
they're all the time at home, and--JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
--I don't think that's really healthy.
JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
So I'm just asking them if they want to go somewhere and do some stuff.
JM:
Like what? What do y'all do?
MC:
Sometimes we go to the park, Iroquois Park. My dad likes to walk. And my mom
just likes to be out of the house.JM:
[laughs]
MC:
She's like, "I don't like to be in the house." [laughs] So we go and have walks.
Or sometimes they're like, "We should go to eat somewhere else." Or my mom is like, "I didn't cook today. We should go out to eat somewhere."JM:
That's cool.
MC:
We should go to Mexican restaurants or there's this restaurant called La Guanaquita?
JM:
Yes, I love La Guanaquita.
22:00MC:
Yes. We usually go there sometimes.
JM:
What do you like to get there?
MC:
Pollo con tajadas.
JM:
Tajadas? What's that?
MC:
It's like...tajadas...let me make sure...[looks something up on her phone?]
Platanas....It's basically like banana, but they fry it.JM:
Oh. Plantago? Plaintains?
MC:
Platano.
JM:
Platano?
MC:
Mm-hm. Platano.
JM:
Is that what you said? Oh, okay.
MC:
They call it tajadas because they fry it.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
So I don't know, they call it different.
JM:
Yeah. Plantain in English.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Okay, so pollo con platano.
MC:
Mm-hm.
JM:
That sounds delicious.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
Wow.
MC:
It's really good.
JM:
Do y'all have platanos in Guatemala?
23:00MC:
Oh, yes. Like I was telling you, where we lived, we have like a lot of space to
plant stuff and everything. My parents used to have some plants, like the platanos.JM:
Like a tree?
MC:
Like a tree. That's where we used to get our platanos.
JM:
Really?
MC:
[laughs] Yeah.
JM:
I've never had a banana tree. How do you get them--how do you get the platanos
out of them?MC:
They usually get a little plant.
JM:
Oh, okay.
MC:
And they plant it like--they used to have the plants that make coffee, the
coffee plants. And they used to plant the little plants of platano, like in the middle of that. And so--JM:
Because they like the shade or something?
MC:
Yeah, the shade, for the coffee plants.
24:00JM:
Oh, I love hearing about that.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
So the platanos gives shade to the coffee.
MC:
Mm-hm.
JM:
And then how do you harvest the plantains?
MC:
They used to hire workers and--you know, like whenever the coffee was ready to
be taken off the plants?JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
I don't know how to explain it.
JM:
No, it's okay. I totally understand what you're saying.
MC:
And the workers--even I sometimes, they used to teach me how to do it. And they
used to cut it and then get into [unintelligible] and then get it on the car. And they took it--they weighed it. And took it to the places what they used to 25:00buy it.JM:
Really?
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
I mean, so they--Wow, that's incredible. So you would help--a couple things
about this. I find this type of stuff very interesting. Especially just because I like really have a lot of respect for farmers-- --and I just know how important that is.MC:
Yeah. Yeah.
JM:
But also, I'm really interested in the process of these things. So what do you
remember about harvesting coffee? Like, what time of year was it? Was it really hard? What did you have to do? Was it fun? Things like that?MC:
Okay. Yeah. It was like--usually, it starts around this time in Guatemala. And
it depends, like, how big your plantation is.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
And...it's not really hard? But...you have--like your hand will get like really
26:00[dirty?] and maybe tired. They use to tie baskets on the waist? [both laugh] And cut it. Each basket weighed like 25 pounds, whenever you were finished moving it.JM:
Wow, that's a lot for a little kid.
MC:
[laughs] Yeah. I usually didn't do much.
JM:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
MC:
That was like my goal during the whole day. And other people used to do like 100
pounds in the day or more.JM:
And these people--
MC:
I used to do like 25 pounds.
JM:
Yeah? And so your parents would hire workers from...around the neighborhood?
MC:
Not from the neighborhood. They used to come from other places.
27:00JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
We can say, like...that was their work. Like in the neighborhood? Not a lot of
people--they had their own plantations, so they would take care of that. And we would get the workers from other places like Las Flores. I forgot what was the other one called. It's like places that are really far away. And that's their job.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
Yeah, that's like the job they know and everything.
JM:
So these are other places in Guatemala?
MC:
Mm-hm. Las Flores is one and the other one, I can't remember it. I forgot. Los Pocitos.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
I forgot the other one. There is--Buena Vista.
28:00JM:
Buena Vista?
MC:
Mm-hm.
JM:
Okay. So these people would just travel around through Guatemala working on the
different coffee plantations?MC:
Yes. Yes.
JM:
Do you remember when they would--that time of year like when people started
showing up? Do you remember those times of the year?MC:
Well, they didn't just like show up. They would--let's say, my dad already had
the connection with them.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
So he would just call them or be like, "Oh, this job is going to start and we
need people."JM:
Sure.
MC:
And they would bring their families and everything.
JM:
Really?
MC:
Young people would come too, like my age.
JM:
Really?
MC:
Yes.
JM:
Where would they stay?
MC:
Usually, my parents will have a house prepared for them.
29:00JM:
Really?
MC:
Yeah...My parents used to own--well, the place I told you about is really big.
So there was a house near their roads. And it was big enough, so they would give it to them so they can stay there while they do the work.JM:
And how long would it take for them to do the work on the property?
MC:
Well...I don't remember clearly.
JM:
Mm-hm. That's alright.
MC:
But I would say maybe like a week because--well, I will say more than a week
because my friends used to own that--own a plantation, it was really close to the house.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
But my dad also owned this other land. It was like an hour away from our house.
30:00JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
So what they would do is wake up early in the morning, and the car was...do you
know those open cars? Toyotas?JM:
Yeah.
MC:
Yes, the car was one of those so they would take the people there and travel to
the other place...JM:
And work there.
MC:
And work there. It was like a colder place and everything.
JM:
Oh.
MC:
It was really good for plantations.
JM:
Wow. It was a little bit colder, like a little bit higher up or something?
MC:
Yeah. Yeah. It was colder. We can say the weather was like what it is right now here.
JM:
Oh, wow.
MC:
And that's where my parents are originally from.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
Mm-hm.
JM:
So your parents had a lot going on down there.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
That's a lot to take care of and a lot of responsibility. And so they grew
enough coffee--I mean, that was part of the family income-- 31:00MC:
Yes.
JM:
--for the year. My goodness. Did you ever go with your dad or your mom to to
sell the coffee?MC:
Yes, I used to go.
JM:
What was that like?
MC:
Because...they used to go back to the city and sell it. Well, Dad would get the
car full of it. And then take it to them and see what was the price. My friends usually had a person who they took it all the time. But sometimes they would make exceptions because other places were paying more money for it.JM:
Mm-hm. Mm-hm.
MC:
And everything.
JM:
Yeah, it's big business. Coffee is big business.
MC:
Yeah, but right now--last year, I heard from my parents, because my brother
still owns some over there, and his father-in-law is taking care of it. And I 32:00heard they say, the prices are going down.JM:
That's not good.
MC:
It's not. This year, I haven't heard anything. But last year was kind of bad and
sad for a lot of people because the prices were really low. And some people that's how they get their money and it's a lot of work.JM:
It's a lot of work. And it's not because people aren't drinking coffee. People
drink a lot of coffee.MC:
Yeah.
JM:
My goodness.
MC:
This economy...going down.
JM:
What do you think--I mean, I don't know. I don't have any kids. I'm having my
first kid next month. I can't imagine what it's like to think about a family and trying to raise enough--grow enough coffee to support a family and stuff.MC:
Yeah.
JM:
But what do you--but also in my mind, I'm thinking of this place you're talking
about. It sounds very beautiful. And it sounds like a beautiful place and a nice 33:00way to make a living. What do you think it was like for your parents to decide to leave everything and come to America?MC:
Well...my mom was really, really happy on coming here. Because my brothers that
are here-- --for her, it was like 15 years without seeing them. So she was excited to see them and everything. And they were excited over here to see them--us--too. My brothers here didn't know me. Since I'm like the youngest, they didn't know me. [interrupted by speaker announcement] Yeah, like I was 34:00saying, my mom was really excited, and my brothers here were really excited. I wasn't sad to leave, and I wasn't happy to come here. Because I didn't know.JM:
Mm-hm. Mm-hm.
MC:
And I know it was like going to be really different and everything. I remember
this one time when I was already here. They took me to church in Churchill Downs--the chapel. And I haven't seen her in a long time, but this little girl, she's like the same age as me right now. Well, she was the same age back then. And she's speaking English to me and she was like, "Do you want to go play?" And I look at my other brother that was already here like, "What' she say?" Because 35:00I couldn't understand, I felt really bad. Because I couldn't understand anything she was saying. It was, like, a big transition for me. And it was really weird too, because back in Guatemala, let's say I was the only child at home.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
So I used to play with my dolls by myself, and I was okay. And when kids came
over and visit, sometimes it was weird. It was like, sometimes I used to be happy and play with them. I remember doing food out of dirt.JM:
Doing what?
MC:
Food. Out of dirt. I used to put water on the dirt and make the food. [both
laugh] I used to back then. And then here, I wasn't the only child. Because I came here and I met my nephews and nieces. 36:00JM:
Oh, okay.
MC:
Which, it made it weird because I was 11. And one of them was like nine years
old. So I was his aunt--JM:
Right.
MC:
But we were kind of like the same age
JM:
Same age, yeah.
MC:
I've been an aunt since I was like one year old.
JM:
Right. Because you had older sisters.
MC:
Yeah. Because I have older sisters. And it was really weird because I wasn't
used to being around other kids all the time. So whenever I was in the departments were...weird for me. Because back in Guatemala, everything was open.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
And like, if you go outside it was like trees around and you didn't have
neighborhoods and everything. It was more like country. And here it's like city.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
If you go outside, you're not really going to see like a view of trees and everything.
37:00JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
And I came here in April, so it was still kind of cold. And then meeting my
brothers, it was weird, too, because I didn't know them at all. They have a video where they recorded me when I just came to the airport. And one of them is like, "Are you going to hug me?" And I was like--I didn't want to hug them because I was like, "I don't know you."JM:
Mm-hm. "I don't know you."
MC:
"I don't know you." [both laugh] So why am I supposed to hug you?
JM:
Right.
MC:
That was me. Yeah. And it's fun to see in the video.
JM:
That's funny. That sounds like a big transition that was a lot for you to take on.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
What do you remember? I liked hearing that story about being at the chapel. Do
you remember that girl? Did you go play with her?MC:
No.
JM:
You didn't?
MC:
I didn't because...later on, I got to know her more. And later on, I learned
38:00more words in English. Her father was Mexican. But her mom was from here. So she didn't know Spanish.JM:
Really? Huh. Uh-huh.
MC:
So I couldn't go play with her because she didn't know Spanish, I didn't know
English. So I was like, "How are we going to communicate?" Yeah, and later on, I heard more stuff about her. She's really nice. I haven't seen her in a long time. But I heard...something. Some things have been going on. Some things have been going on around her.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
And she was home school[ed]. And then like, I always noticed that some of the
other kids in the chapel--I don't know why--they weren't really friendly to her. 39:00It was...later, like when I understood more English and everything, I noticed that. I don't know why they did her, like, to the side. And I'm always been that person, like, if I see something like that, I feel bad and sad. And I just go to that person and talk to them.JM:
I'm the same way.
MC:
Yeah.
JM:
I don't like--I don't like to see somebody be picked on.
MC:
No. So that's what I used to do--like whenever I saw her, I always tried to talk
to her.JM:
Mm-hm.
MC:
Yeah, but then I heard something happened to her dad or something. I haven't
heard from her. She hasn't been on the chapel the longest [time] now.JM:
Do you still go to the chapel?
MC:
Yes, I do.
JM:
So Chaplain del Rosario is who does the services?
MC:
They change it.
JM:
Yeah?
MC:
The chapels that used to be there?
40:00JM:
Uh-huh?
MC:
They changed. The Spanish chapel was William. That was his name.
JM:
Okay.
MC:
And the one who did it in English--I forgot his name. But both of them are gone.
They changed them.JM:
Julian and Ken?
MC:
I think it was him. And now I think it's--
JM:
Joseph?
MC:
Joseph and--[cuts off abruptly]
