Interviewer: your name? 893: {B} Interviewer: How do you spell that? 893: {B} Interviewer: Uh-huh. Are you married? 893: Yes. Interviewer: What was your maiden name? 893: {B} Interviewer: {NW} and your address? 893: {B} Interviewer: and the name of this community? 893: {NS} that's uh in Laredo Texas Interviewer: Okay and the county? 893: Webb Interviewer: and where were you born? 893: here in Laredo {NS} Interviewer: and your occupation? 893: Senior aid Interviewer: mm-hmm What do you do here exactly? Do you type or? 893: No, I don't type I uh uh help with a office work that is uh taking applications and uh filing and uh making out the time cards for the other enrollees #1 and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: well things like that that have to be done here in the office that uh don't require any typing Interviewer: uh-huh what's what's the name of this program? 893: that's the senior community service aides Interviewer: uh-huh what different things does this project do? 893: well it's a a project for uh senior citizens that is uh people that are fifty-five years or older Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and the purpose of the program is to be able to uh uh place them in a permanent job Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: where they can uh where they won't be a a public uh you know where they don't have to go to public assistance or anything #1 like that # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: where where they can do for themselves Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: earn their own money to support their families or support themselves without any public assistance Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and the purpose is to uh train them while they are in the project and then place them in uh uh permanent uh I mean within a a particular well not particular but {NW} I I get all mixed up with my English and Spanish {NW} I think I think on one and uh try to say it in the other language {NW} um my goodness well with some business firm with some other uh other uh place that won't uh that won't be the project cause the project isn't anything permanent Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 and # that is the the purpose or the goal so that uh when there is no more any more project while the the person will still be #1 earning # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # do you um do you deal mainly with with Mexican people? #1 {X} # 893: #2 well yes # yes uh uh all of us are uh are Mexicans Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: there's only one enrollee Mr Harris but he was born in Mexico #1 he's he's Anglo # Interviewer: #2 {NW} # 893: he was born in Mexico Interviewer: mm-hmm uh how old are you? 893: fifty-eight Interviewer: and your religion? 893: I'm a protestant Interviewer: well that's unusual here 893: {NW} yes it is Interviewer: um tell me about your education the name of the first school you went to 893: Well I didn't have a very much education what I had what little I have learned mostly I've learned the hard way Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: I went to school here in Laredo and in San Diego Texas Interviewer: What was the name of the school? 893: um Mary Collins or uh something I don't remember really it's been so long ago Interviewer: uh-huh and here in Laredo? 893: and here in Laredo I went to uh to Central school and uh urban Interviewer: #1 urban school? # 893: #2 urban # yes ma'am Interviewer: U-R-B-A-N? 893: U-R-B-A-H-N Interviewer: uh-huh how long you go to Central School? 893: Well uh I couldn't tell you exactly how much time I I spent in in uh schools because I would go for uh say one or two years here and then I would go San Diego and attend school over there #1 and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: there was that um I think their Central school and all together I went only about three years Interviewer: mm-hmm what about urban school? 893: urban I just finished my sixth grade there Interviewer: uh-huh why San Diego? you went to Mary Collins #1 school # 893: #2 I think # Interviewer: #1 school # 893: #2 that was uh # I think that that was the name I am not sure Interviewer: What kind of school was that? #1 was it # 893: #2 that's an # elementary yes public #1 uh-huh # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # How how far away is San Diego? 893: About eighty-five miles Interviewer: Was your family living there? 893: Well I had an aunt living there in fact uh uh her daughters or my cousins uh still live there Interviewer: uh-huh 893: they are teaching two of them are teachers Interviewer: mm-hmm how how long did you go to the school in San Diego? 893: Well I would say about uh {NS} about four years I yes all in all I would think it was four years and just like I told you before see maybe I would start school here {NW} then I would go and finish over there or I would start there and come finish here Interviewer: #1 that's the way it was you know it was # (no speaker): #2 what {NW} 893: in in going in between so that's why I attended school here and #1 and over there # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # why why were you moving to 893: Well because uh you see uh my father died before I was born then my mother died when I was two years old and I was raised by my grandmother Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh that aunt that lived in San Diego was her daughter Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh well okay so you know she wanted to go spend time with her daughter or the daughter wanted for her to #1 go spend some time with her # Interviewer: #2 Oh I see # 893: and that's the way it was Interviewer: so so you traveled around 893: that's right {NW} Interviewer: oh have you ever lived outside of Laredo? do your 893: Well not very long Interviewer: uh-huh 893: no I would I wouldn't consider living out of Laredo I mean Interviewer: uh-huh 893: I I wouldn't say you know that I have lived out of Laredo because it was for such a short time Interviewer: uh-huh what about you were telling me yesterday you had had stayed in 893: #1 in uh Chicago? for a year yes # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: from April fifty-three to April fifty-four Interviewer: mm-hmm what were you doing up there? 893: I was working in a factory Interviewer: uh-huh is is there any other place that that you stayed for a few months? 893: well in uh Missouri around the Ozark mountains Interviewer: uh-huh 893: that's I lived there for about eight months Interviewer: what was what was the name of the city? 893: uh Rolla Rolla Missouri R-O double L-A Interviewer: what were you doing there? 893: I was uh living with uh my other husband cause this is my this is this is not the one I married the first time Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 {NW} # I was living he was in the in the service and he was stationed in uh Fort Leonard Wood Interviewer: uh-huh {NS} those the only other places besides Laredo 893: #1 no so # Interviewer: #2 lived in? # mm-hmm um have you been very active in in church or in clubs or 893: well I attend church although I am not active in their in all of their activities because of uh well now because of my age and because of lack of time #1 and # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: what have you maybe it's laziness I don't know {NW} Interviewer: have have you done much traveling um do you 893: no not much I've worked for the Laredo Theaters for about uh oh ten or twelve years and whenever I would uh have my vacations I'd go for a few days to Monterrey or #1 someplace # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: but uh no not not what you would call a extensive traveling Interviewer: mm-hmm Monterrey Mexico? 893: yes ma'am Interviewer: uh-huh uh what were you doing? you worked for the theaters? 893: yes ma'am Interviewer: doing? 893: well I was uh I did a little bit of everything because my um actual job was uh managing the concession stand Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: but then oh our manager decided to close up for the win- for winters Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: because there there was wasn't enough uh patronage so uh and he would change me around to the other theaters in town #1 and that's how I # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: I uh learned how to the duties of a door girl of a ticket uh girl of a uh purchasing merchandise and #1 things like that so # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 {X} # Interviewer: #2 does it {X} # 893: thing that's right Interviewer: uh what other work have you done? besides working for the theater? 893: well uh way back in about nineteen fifty fifty-one that's when uh my other husband took off and left me with five small children Interviewer: mm 893: and I had to make a living for them Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and I used to work at a a packing shed where they would uh pack and grade vegetables Interviewer: mm-hmm here in Laredo? 893: #1 here in Laredo yes ma'am # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: with the Cropmen brothers Interviewer: mm-hmm anything else besides that? 893: no ma'am Interviewer: um tell me about your parents where they were born and 893: well my father as I said before uh I was uh my father died before I was born and my mother died when I was two so all I I can tell you is what I I've been told Interviewer: mm-hmm what what did you hear about them? 893: well uh nothing much just that uh my mother was uh a kind of person that uh whenever she did something it had to be just so it had to be right exactly the way it was supposed to be not the you know like sometimes we say uh Interviewer: well I'm gonna sew this dress just to take a stitch or two it so it won't come apart no she had to do it 893: very specially {NW} everything that she did was was had to be #1 perfect almost # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # you said uh yesterday she she wasn't born here in Laredo 893: no she was born I think I'm not sure whether it was uh {C: Spanish: Guerrero} or {C: Spanish: Oromir} but it's a little town in in the state of {C: Spanish: Tamaulipas} Interviewer: in the state of where? 893: {C: Spanish: Tamaulipas} Interviewer: #1 how how do you # 893: #2 T-A # M-A uh U-L-I-P-A-S Interviewer: and she moved here when 893: when she was about seven months old Interviewer: what about your father? where do you think he was born? 893: he was born in Corpus Interviewer: Corpus Christi? 893: Corpus Christi Texas yes ma'am Interviewer: did you uh ever hear anyone say how much education they had? would you know if they #1 could read or write # 893: #2 no I # I I couldn't tell you I'm sorry Interviewer: uh-huh what about the work that they did? 893: My mother was uh well since she was the baby of the family she never had to go out and work Interviewer: uh-huh 893: and uh well after she got married well in in during those times where it was not uh usual for a a housewife to #1 to work # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: So she just took care of us #1 she was just a housewife # Interviewer: #2 what about # uh-huh what about your father? 893: well I I don't know really I couldn't tell you Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: {NW} Interviewer: you never heard anyone say what work he did? 893: uh no ma'am I I never did we never did bring up uh you know that #1 subject at home # Interviewer: #2 yeah uh-huh # I guess you didn't um which you lived with your grandparents? 893: with my grandmother Interviewer: which? 893: yes Interviewer: #1 which grandparents? # 893: #2 my on my # mother's side maternal grandmother Interviewer: uh-huh tell me something about her where she was born and 893: oh well she was born in uh in {C: Spanish: Saltillo} {C: Spanish: Saltillo Coahuila} that's in Mexico Interviewer: {NW} 893: S-A-L-T-I double L-O uh C-O-A-H-U-I-L-A #1 C-O-A-H-U-I-L-A # Interviewer: #2 U # #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 {C: Spanish: Coahuila} # Interviewer: #1 # 893: #2 # Interviewer: what about her education? 893: no she uh she didn't have much education because uh well we've all always been very poor #1 and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: uh well she worked hard uh before and after she was married that's what she used to tell me and uh she uh she decided that her children were not going to have it as hard as #1 as she did # Interviewer: #2 Mm-hmm # 893: and uh that aunt that I told you about that we would go stay with in San Diego she uh went to a Holding Institute she graduated from Holding Institute Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: she became a teacher and then uh my uh uncle who was her brother Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: uh was a paymaster for the Pullman Company #1 the the # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: you know rail road uh I don't know whether it still exists or not Interviewer: uh-huh 893: and my other uncle was a carpenter {NW} and then uh {D: mother} well she had five #1 there were two boys and three girls # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # mm-hmm 893: and uh my other aunt no she she never worked Interviewer: mm-hmm what sort of work did your grandmother do? 893: well just housework you know that was about the only thing that she knew uh what to do because uh {NW} Interviewer: #1 she couldn't have been # 893: #2 during # uh during that time you know when she was growing up while they there were not the advantages or facilities that there are now even when I was used to go to school we we never had this opportunities of uh going to college with a government loan or anything like that it was it was kinda hard Interviewer: was um what about your grandfather do you do you remember him? #1 or # 893: #2 no I don't # I really don't remember him Interviewer: #1 did did he die # 893: #2 no he died # when I was about four years old Interviewer: did would you know when he was born or 893: no I I'm sorry no I couldn't tell you I know it was some part of Mexico but uh I couldn't tell you the exact Interviewer: #1 well it it was Mexico? # 893: #2 uh uh town # yes it was Mexico yes Interviewer: um would you guess about his education would you say probably 893: well it was just a fair Interviewer: uh-huh what sort of work did he do? 893: he was a shoemaker Interviewer: where um what about going farther back? on your mother's side of the family do you know can can can you trace your ancestry? #1 back to Mexico? # 893: #2 mm # Interviewer: #1 # 893: #2 # No I got to know my great grandmother Interviewer: uh-huh 893: she died when she was eighty years old and I was about eight years old at the time Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: she was a very hard-working lady she was short and she was very good-looking not because she was my great grandmother but and uh she was very jolly Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: so was my grandmother in fact she died uh saying a joke because she she died of a heart attack Interviewer: uh-huh 893: and she was talking to some neighbors and uh they were laughing about the jokes and she you know that she made up or {NS} Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: what have you and uh she was always uh #1 in a good mood most of the time but not always most of the time she was # Interviewer: #2 {NW} # this is your your 893: #1 my my uh grandmother and my great grandmother both # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm uh-huh # where where was your great grandmother from? from Mexico? 893: from Mexico Interviewer: did let's see your um did I guess your your mother was an American citizen I suppose 893: #1 my mother no she was born in in {C: Spanish: Ciudad Guerrero} like I said but she was uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 she came to the United States or here to Laredo when she was seven months old # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # well what about your um your grandparents? did they live in the United States? 893: oh yes Interviewer: #1 were they were they citizens? # 893: #2 they they uh # uh no they were not citizens they never became united uh U-S citizens but they lived here for a long time Interviewer: uh-huh what about your great grandmother? did she moved into Laredo? 893: yes yes all of us uh uh have lived here for oh for years Interviewer: uh-huh 893: but I think uh well I think my great grandmother came with my grandmother when and my grandfather when uh when they came to to Laredo Interviewer: #1 {X} # 893: #2 so all of them # together Interviewer: I guess you have a lot of relatives still in Mexico though 893: well no uh to tell you the truth I only have a cousin who lives in Mexico city but other then that all of my my uh relatives are here in uh #1 somewhere in San Antonio California San Diego Texas uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 I have a cousin in Michigan and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 we're all scattered over here in the United States # Interviewer: #2 oh # do you visit Mexico ever much? 893: uh no not anymore not anymore that uh ever since I quit uh working for the theaters I don't I don't have any vacations that my my trips to Mexico have have ended. Interviewer: but what about just going across the bridge? do you go 893: No not too often I don't go very often because I don't have any means of transportation and uh the only thing that uh I like to go years ago was because uh #1 things were cheaper there # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: uh at that time but not anymore things like the groceries and and things like that buy there are just about as as high as they are here Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: so it won't it'd just uh wouldn't pay to to go all the way over there and come loaded down with uh with big bags of groceries when you can buy them for the same price over here Interviewer: uh-huh um what about your grandparents on your father's side? #1 did did you know them # 893: #2 I # no I never knew them uh-uh Interviewer: did you know anything about them? where they were born? 893: #1 no I uh # Interviewer: #2 were they from Corpus Christi? # 893: I couldn't tell you no I'm sorry Interviewer: #1 you didn't know anything # 893: #2 no I didn't # #1 I never because uh well I uh I don't know things # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: you know that kinda thing that uh #1 when the son dies when they don't care about uh # Interviewer: #2 yeah # 893: whatever family he's left behind or anything {NS} so I never really uh got to know #1 any of them # Interviewer: #2 that's really unfortunate # 893: yes it is {NW} Interviewer: um was was your father uh Mexican? 893: #1 yes # Interviewer: #2 do you # 893: #1 yes uh-huh # Interviewer: #2 {X} # He was from Corpus Christi but was #1 {X} # 893: #2 yes he was he # yes of Mexican descent uh-huh Interviewer: uh-huh 893: he was a U-S citizen but uh of Mexican descent Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: yes I've I've gone through a lot of hardships now I can say in my in my uh my later years I mean now that I'm I'm old or uh I I'm having it a little bit better thank God {NW} Interviewer: that's you did have your parents died 893: mm-hmm Interviewer: that's young um what about um you've been married twice? 893: yes Interviewer: um tell me about your your first husband where was he born? 893: well he always said that he would had been born in New York actually I I couldn't swear to that {NW} Interviewer: um was he Mexican? 893: no he was Anglo Interviewer: uh-huh um you were separated or divorced or #1 something # 893: #2 yes # we were divorced uh he left when in nineteen fifty-one Interviewer: uh-huh how old was he then? 893: then? Interviewer: uh-huh 893: at that time? he was about forty-five years old he's uh about seventy two now I think Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: yeah I guess no seventy one because he was born in nineteen three Interviewer: um what was his religion? 893: he didn't have any he didn't like any religion of any kind Interviewer: uh-huh what about his education? 893: no he didn't have much education he joined the uh the service when he was uh pretty young #1 and # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: that's where he he acquired his education with them Interviewer: #1 he was always in the service? # 893: #2 and then # yes he was in the service for about twenty-three years Interviewer: in the army or? 893: #1 in the army # Interviewer: #2 mm # 893: #1 # Interviewer: #2 # um what about your your present husband? he's 893: he's uh a United States citizen but of Mexican descent also Interviewer: uh-huh how old is he? 893: he's uh fifty-five I'm older than he is #1 {NW} # Interviewer: #2 oh # what about his religion? 893: he's a uh well he claims he's a Catholic although he goes to uh to my church more often than he does uh Catholic church Interviewer: how how did you happen to be Catholic I mean to be protestant if you don't mind my asking you 893: #1 {NW} # Interviewer: #2 it just seems # every everybody here seems to be Catholic 893: #1 um-hum # Interviewer: #2 I'm really # 893: #1 well # Interviewer: #2 surprised # 893: ever since I was a little girl my grandmother used to take me to the Methodist church services Interviewer: uh-huh 893: and I liked their hymns and I liked their sermons and I liked uh well everything you know that uh pertains to the protestant uh religion and I whenever I was in San Diego we used to go my cousins and I used to go the Catholic church Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: because there wasn't any protestant church at the time there Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh I learned a few uh uh well how to uh recite the rosary and uh you know prayers and uh good things that I learned from the Catholic church but then at that time the the mass was said in uh in Latin #1 and I didn't understand Latin # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 so then uh uh later I started going to to the protestant church again and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: I enjoy it a whole lot more because I know what what is being said I know what goes on Interviewer: is it conducted in Spanish? 893: yes Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 uh-huh # Interviewer: do you go to the Methodist church or 893: no I go to the Baptist Interviewer: uh-huh 893: I go to the Baptist church Interviewer: um what about your husband's education? 893: well no he didn't have a chance to to be educated because uh his parents uh well at that time you know the the people thought that uh education was not very important Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh being that he's such a big man he was an overgrown uh overgrown child Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 while they # he was put to work Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and he started working when he was very young Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: so he didn't have any opportunity to to be educated Interviewer: mm-hmm is he able to read and write? 893: #1 oh yes he reads and writes and he # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: #1 understands uh English everything that you you'll speak to him in English he understands every word # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: but he cannot carry on a conversation Interviewer: mm-hmm what about um the work he does? what 893: he's uh a heavy equipment operator #1 with uh Webb County # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # is he very active in church or clubs or 893: uh no Interviewer: #1 does he drive # 893: #2 no # #1 no he's more of a homebody than than anything else # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # where are his parents from? do you {D: when they came to the United States or} 893: mm no I I couldn't tell you anything uh on his his uh about his family Interviewer: #1 are they all Mexican? # 893: #2 no I don't know # they are of Mexican descent yes yes uh-huh but uh I couldn't tell you whether they are uh {NS} #1 citizens United States citizens or or whatever # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # what was your uh mother's maiden name? 893: {B} Interviewer: uh-huh do you know about your great grandmother's? 893: her Interviewer: #1 maiden name no # 893: #2 maiden name # Interviewer: your grandmother's maiden 893: my grandmother's maiden name was {B} Interviewer: when did you learn English? which 893: when I was about seven years old uh we were staying with uh my aunt in San Diego and uh she thought well as I told you yesterday during my time when we started school when at the age of eight years and uh she thought that I would I would be better off if I started uh speaking English before I actually went to school so Interviewer: uh-huh 893: I was sent to uh well it was not a a private school in fact it uh this lady was a teacher and she was related to us Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh she was a distant cousin or something Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh you know uh she would teach me she taught me how to read and write and {NW} spell and little things like that like as if I were attending Kindergarten Interviewer: in English? 893: in English yes ma'am Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 mm-hmm # Interviewer: how comfortable do you feel in English? which language do you like best? 893: well I like both but uh as I mentioned before I get all tangled up with {NW} with both of them because at times I think of something that I want to say and I think about it in English and I want to say it in Spanish or vice versa Interviewer: uh-huh 893: but I enjoy speaking both in fact uh I taught myself how to read Spanish Interviewer: #1 oh really? # 893: #2 and write Spanish # uh-huh my grandmother used to buy a um a newspaper that was called La Prensa from San Antonio she used to buy it on weekends on on uh Sundays and I used to get that paper and look it over and I wanted to find out what was what was on that paper Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: so I started putting my letters together and uh I uh well I made myself uh #1 uh understandable in when I write Spanish # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: #1 you know people know what I'm I'm trying to say or # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: or whatever Interviewer: when you're talking to your um to your friends do you speak only Spanish usually or do you speak a combination? 893: a combination of both Interviewer: This {D: Tex-Mex} 893: that's right uh-huh Interviewer: when you go to Mexico are are you able to speak just Spanish? {D: pretty you} 893: oh well yes there are a few uh a few persons who uh well now I don't know there maybe a whole lot more but then when I used to go there there were a quite a few persons who who know how to speak English Interviewer: mm-hmm so then you'd speak just a mixture? 893: #1 no I would # Interviewer: #2 Spanish and English # 893: I would use I would speak Spanish all the time Interviewer: uh-huh you're you're able to do that #1 {X} # 893: #2 yes uh-huh # yes Interviewer: what about um your husband he's more comfortable in Spanish? 893: oh yes uh-huh Interviewer: what about your um your grandmother I guess she was 893: well she didn't know how to speak English Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 no # uh-uh she understood a few words but uh I mean she she couldn't uh speak it Interviewer: mm-hmm #1 she # (no speaker): #2 what are 893: pardon Interviewer: go ahead 893: she could speak I mean she could read and write Spanish Interviewer: uh-huh 893: very well but uh no not not English I guess she never had the time Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: #1 to learn or the patience or whatever # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # what about most people? your age or most people living in your neighborhood you know that are your age which are they about like you? able to speak both English 893: #1 both and # Interviewer: #2 and Spanish # 893: Spanish yes in fact most of the enrollees that uh that are that belong to this uh project most of them are able to speak both languages Interviewer: as as well as you are? {X} are they as comfortable in English as? 893: yes I think they are yes I I've never carried on a conversation in English Interviewer: #1 {NW} # 893: #2 with them but # but I guess it's alright with them {NW} Interviewer: what about the older generation they're more Spanish than than English 893: than English well uh I have these cousins that I was telling you about who live in San Diego one of them is a counselor and the other one is a teacher and she #1 majored in in Spanish cause she loves the Spanish language # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # mm-hmm 893: she went to Mexico when oh when she was a young girl when she was just came out of school #1 she # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: went to Mexico and she just fell in love with the correct Spanish language so she she took it up and uh she majored in it and she speaks uh very very good Spanish I mean the perfect Spanish Interviewer: mm-hmm people don't speak the correct Spanish here? 893: no not here uh-uh we use uh well words that are not uh well that are not the the correct ones in Spanish although it's you know it's generally used generally spoken that way Interviewer: uh-huh 893: but not the what you would call the the perfect Spanish Interviewer: uh-huh if if you went to Mexico City now um would people and you're talking to people there would they sort of laugh at you and say she's from 893: #1 uh no they they would know yes they would know that I'm that I was from that I'm from Texas # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: #1 yes they they they know the difference the same as # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: #1 from uh with uh us with people that come from Mexico # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: #1 they they take them right away by their uh appearance or by their # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: accent or the some of them have a kind of a singsong #1 uh dialect or whatever you call it to their to their uh speaking # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # yeah that's what some of us was telling me this morning 893: mm-hmm Interviewer: but but I think they'd treat you though would they would they just say you sound different or would they say 893: #1 no I guess # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: #1 I guess they would just go along and uh just ask me you know if if I # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # 893: lived here in Texas or where I was Interviewer: #1 but would they accept you? # 893: #2 from # oh yes uh-huh yes there's no discrimination in Mexico Interviewer: uh-huh is there any discrimination here? 893: well not here in Laredo but uh in other parts of uh of Texas and uh farther #1 north I believe there there there is # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # what about in San Diego? 893: #1 oh no San Diego is just a little little town and uh everybody knows everybody else and uh # Interviewer: #2 do you mm-hmm # mm-hmm 893: their people over there are friendly and uh very easy to get along with Interviewer: is that on the border 893: San Diego no it's a Interviewer: #1 you said that {X} uh-huh # 893: #2 Do you know where about eighty-five miles from here yeah uh-huh # #1 you know where Freer is don't you? # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: well it's right next to Freer Interviewer: oh I see so it's it's not it's closer to this county than it's 893: yes it's uh #1 well I believe it's Duval county and and # Interviewer: #2 Duval county # 893: #1 and then Webb I don't know how it works but it's not too far away # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # mm-hmm um how do what about the younger generation are they more how's their lang- what's their language like? do they it is better in English and worse in Spanish or? 893: #1 well uh no now now that uh it's compulsory that they take Spanish # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: I have a granddaughter who's uh thirteen years old Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and she sometimes corrects me and my Spanish and she loves Spanish she goes to Holding Institute also Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 and uh # Being that in Holding most of the students are from some parts of Mexico Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh she gets along very well with 'em and she has uh learned better Spanish than #1 than I ever spoke # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # Where is Holding Institute? 893: it's uh oh on the north side of side of uh of town Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm oh so it's {X} # 893: #2 it's uh yes it's here in Laredo uh-huh # uh you know where Woolco department store is don't you? Interviewer: I think so 893: well it's farther down from Woolco Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and then you take uh little roll to your left there's it's a very good school Interviewer: #1 do a lot of students from Mexico go to school in the United States? # 893: #2 oh yes mm-hmm # yes a lot of uh a lot of the uh students from Mexico in fact attend uh um Holding Institute and they're a type of Christians so it's a Catholic school and uh {C: Spanish:San Augustin} that's another Catholic school and uh yes we have a quite a bit of uh of uh students from Mexico come to to uh Laredo to to study Interviewer: mm do you think um Laredo and the Mexican Laredo are are they pretty much the the same? to me it seems like it was sort of like one community you know I mean it seemed like people here had friends just across the border 893: #1 oh yes mm-hmm # Interviewer: #2 people go back and forth does it it does it seem that way to you? # 893: #1 yes # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: yes uh-huh and in fact I have a a daughter who's married to uh a boy who's who's uh well he is a a citizen a United States citizen except he was born in Mexico Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and um he has an aunt who lives across the river in the other Laredo Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: #1 and uh once in awhile we go visit her uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 two or three times a month or so maybe # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: not quite so often at times but uh yes people just as much as uh they come from from Nuevo Laredo here just as much as people from here go over there maybe to uh #1 you know some people just like to go have dinner over there because of their # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: well they their meals are are very very rich and very tasty {NS} and uh Interviewer: you sound like their 893: yes I sure do #1 I I like Mexican food very much # Interviewer: #2 {NW} # they don't have as good Mexican food here? 893: well the places that I've uh I've visited sometimes and I've asked for Mexican food well no uh-uh I think I prefer it a whole lot better at home {NW} Interviewer: um you you said you've moved around um to San Diego a lot when you were a child what uh when you were living here in Laredo did did you move much in Laredo? or 893: #1 no no ever since I uh # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: I came out of school that was uh I mean well I I had to quit school in nineteen twenty-nine #1 and ever since then I # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: I'd stay put Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: with the exception of uh that time that I'd tell you that I went to Chicago in fifty-three and then uh and uh to Missouri in forty-one Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: #1 and then to Chicago in fifty-three that was the only # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: the only time that I've been away from here and I don't think that I'll be able to live anywhere else but here Interviewer: {NW} um I'd like to get an idea of what the house that you grew up in looks like just sort of a floor plan you know where the sketch of you know this room is here and then there was you know do you think you could sort of make a 893: #1 I am very poor of drawing # Interviewer: #2 just a # #1 well just {NW} you don't have to give me a drawing # 893: #2 {NW} I I'll uh # I'll I'll tell you how it was and then you go ahead and draw it cause I'm very poor at drawing really Interviewer: okay #1 I'm not very good either # 893: #2 {NW} # it was just um a small a three room house and uh well the secretary and myself were talking earlier about that that uh nowadays you know anybody is able to uh to afford a #1 a telephone uh uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 a sewing machine or a washing machine and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: things like that that uh uh during my uh youth only rich people could afford them Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: see I never thought that I'd at one time I'd be able to to have a telephone or own a car or anything like that but uh that's what I say that now in my later years well yes I'm I have been doing a whole lot better thank God Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 {NW} # #1 now that uh now that I need it the most because # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 when I was young my life could take all the hardships you know # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: and uh now I don't think I could Interviewer: #1 you hear so many # 893: #2 {NW} # Interviewer: rich people living in Laredo does it what's how do people feel about that? is there much resentment 893: well no no well uh from my point of view #1 is that that yes I would like to live in a better place than than # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: than what I do and I would like to have a a better car naturally and I would like to have uh better uh clothing and everything but #1 uh no I don't resent other people that uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: that have a whole lot more than than I do in fact my uh cousins the ones that live in San Diego they are very well off #1 all of them # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: and I I don't uh I don't resent their being that we grew up together #1 you know and # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: being that we belong to the to the same uh family and everything well I don't resent their having a whole lot more than than I do because well I I figure that uh #1 God gives each us what we deserve or what we're able to cope with and uh # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: I'm very well satisfied and I thank God for everything that uh that he that he had given me because it's through him through his through his mercy that uh #1 that I am able to have what little I have # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 and I enjoy it in fact uh now I'm # Interviewer: #2 mm # 893: #1 I'm uh trying to redo my my kitchen # Interviewer: #2 {NW} # 893: #1 and I feel very proud because uh I am able to do it myself and not paying somebody else you know to do it for me # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm mm-hmm # #1 now you are just beginning to enjoy life # 893: #2 {NW} yes that's true # Interviewer: um what you say you had lived in a three room house? 893: #1 yes uh-huh # Interviewer: #2 like what shape was it square or? # 893: uh no uh let me see let me think for a moment I know the the the roof well at that that time you know it was it it came to a point Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and then there was a a front room and then the the front room and the kitchen and then on this other side there was another room Interviewer: so it was it was shaped like how big was was the front room a square room? 893: yes uh-huh yes {NS} #1 that's the front room # Interviewer: #2 so that's the front room then # 893: right next to it was the kitchen Interviewer: like what size how? 893: well about half as big as as the front room Interviewer: #1 like that and then how far down? # 893: #2 uh-huh # well Interviewer: #1 down {X} here uh-huh # 893: #2 about the same yes uh-huh # and there was another room here on this side Interviewer: how big? 893: #1 about uh as big as this yes # Interviewer: #2 as big as {X} # how far over does it go? 893: right on there over here uh parallel to this uh about Interviewer: #1 is that about right? # 893: #2 yes uh-huh # Interviewer: #1 should it be a little bigger? a little smaller? # 893: #2 and uh no no I guess that that's about the right size {NW} # Interviewer: okay what's the name for this room? 893: the front room Interviewer: uh-huh {NS} and this is? 893: the kitchen {NS} Interviewer: what about this? 893: and this is that's was just a well it's a bedroom Interviewer: mm-hmm was this front room used as a bedroom too? 893: yes uh-huh {NS} Interviewer: how where was the front door? {NS} 893: uh the front door was facing uh east Interviewer: which? 893: {NS} it's over here Interviewer: uh-huh {NS} then you stepped out the front door and would you be in the yard or did you 893: no we would be out on the porch it had a it had a front porch Interviewer: #1 how far? # 893: #2 and um # #1 oh oh let's see # Interviewer: #2 how far around the house did it go? # 893: {NS} it was about uh the width of the of this room Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 and # say about uh Interviewer: to there? 893: five or six uh feet uh wide I guess Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: it's been so long ago {NS} Interviewer: did you have a a back porch too? 893: no we didn't Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 uh-uh # here the kitchen had another ano- another door and when we went uh out this door then we would be out in the yard Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: #1 and this room had another had a door also that uh that went to the # Interviewer: #2 {NS} # 893: to the yard {NS} Interviewer: mm-hmm {NS} what about the house that you live in now? 893: the house I live in now well it's uh it has uh two bedrooms a front room a kitchen and a bathroom Interviewer: mm-hmm could you make a sketch of it or #1 you tell me # 893: #2 you do it for me {NW} # well uh you go this way there's a there's a this is a front room Interviewer: uh-huh 893: and this is the kitchen Interviewer: what you say just draw straight 893: #1 to well no # Interviewer: #2 yes well # 893: that's that's the front room let me see I'll I'll help you a little bit {NS} this the front room where my kitchen is longer than my front room but it's about as wide Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and then over here I have a another bed room {NS} that's a that's quite long because it comes this way Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: see? {NS} this way and then it's parallel to this to this wall here Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: well over here I have another little a another little room next to this long one now this this doesn't belong there {NW} I have another living room here another bedroom right here Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and then on this side is the the bathroom Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 so this is the front room # and this is the kitchen these two these two are bedrooms and this is the Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 the bathroom # Interviewer: {NS} 893: #1 kitchen yes ma'am # Interviewer: #2 this is the kitchen? # this is the front room? 893: the front room yes ma'am Interviewer: do you also use it for a bedroom? 893: #1 no uh-uh it's just a # Interviewer: #2 it's just # 893: front room well once in awhile when my daughter comes from Dallas I have a what ya call a hide-a-bed Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and uh but it's #1 about once a year that we that we use it as a bedroom but otherwise it's just a # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: a the front room that's all Interviewer: uh-huh what about a porch? do you have a porch? 893: yes yes I have a porch right along here {NS} right along here Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: and this uh this bedroom sticks out a little bit #1 {NW} # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: {NS} Interviewer: did you ever hear a another name for front room? 893: {C: Spanish: sala} Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 {C: Spanish: sala} that's a {C: Spanish: sala} # or a living room Interviewer: uh-huh 893: #1 like uh like uh # Interviewer: #2 which room do you which one do you usually # 893: like the moron who was dying and he went to the to the living room {NW} Interviewer: um what about a a little room off the kitchen where you can store cannabis and extra dishes and things 893: well I have uh a homemade uh pantry Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: underneath uh my sink Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: where I store my uh my groceries and my uh pots and pans and uh what have you and then I have some cabinets up on the Interviewer: #1 {NW} # 893: #2 on the walls to store my dishes # Interviewer: mm-hmm what do you call pantry in Spanish? is there 893: pantry? Interviewer: #1 is there a Spanish name? # 893: #2 uh # yes there is {C: Spanish: despensa} Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 {C: Spanish: despensa} {NW} # Interviewer: um do you ever have live in a house that had a fireplace in it? 893: no I've always liked a fireplace I've always wanted one but uh no I I have never been able to to acquire that Interviewer: uh-huh 893: maybe later on {NW} if I get to live long enough Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 {NW} # Interviewer: um you know what on the fireplace the thing that the smoke goes up through you call that the 893: {C: Spanish: humo} Interviewer: #1 or {X} # 893: #2 or no the fireplace you mean # Interviewer: uh-huh 893: {C: Spanish: chimenea} Interviewer: but what about the English word? 893: um the {NS} fireplace or uh mantel Interviewer: uh-huh 893: mm-hmm Interviewer: what what is the mantel? 893: the mantel I believe is is what goes uh on top of the of the fireplace Interviewer: the thing that you set things on? 893: yes uh-huh Interviewer: there's a a part on the floor on the fireplace you know 893: #1 mm-hmm yes uh-huh uh-huh mm-hmm # Interviewer: #2 they're made of brick or rocks come out a little bit # what would you call that? {NS} 893: uh no I have no idea Interviewer: #1 uh-huh have you ever heard it called hearth or hearth? # (no speaker): #2 what it's called {NW} 893: #1 oh yes a hearth that's right H-E-A-R-T-H that's right a hearth # Interviewer: #2 uh-huh # #1 is it {X} to your {X} uh-huh well {X} # 893: #2 yes uh-huh I would call it that well I couldn't think of it at the moment # Interviewer: um {NS} what about the things that you lay the wood across on inside the fireplace 893: oh yes the uh oh yeah yeah yeah {NS} the um I know that it has something to do with the iron {NS} Interviewer: did you ever hear 893: #1 and yeah andirons andirons uh-huh # Interviewer: #2 andirons or long irons or {X} irons uh-huh # and say if um at night you would take a big piece of wood and set that toward the back of the fireplace make it burn all night long do you have a name for that? {NS} 893: fire it up I don't know maybe if you make me a a uh Interviewer: #1 {X} # 893: #2 {X} # Interviewer: a back stick or back log 893: #1 a back log no I've heard of uh of logs but not a back log being that I never had a fireplace exactly what # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: I'm not able to tell you much about that Interviewer: #1 well I would ask ask you some of these things anyway if you know tell me if you heard of them or if you use a word or something # 893: #2 mm-hmm mm-hmm # Interviewer: um if you were gonna start a fire what kind of wood would you use? 893: drift wood or chips or um dry wood Interviewer: mm-hmm did you ever hear of kindling or lighter 893: yes uh-huh kindling lighter fluid Interviewer: uh-huh 893: yes uh-huh Interviewer: what is kindling 893: kindling I believe is uh those uh uh dry tips or uh or uh you know just uh pieces of uh bark or whatever Interviewer: #1 just small planks # 893: #2 that's it yes uh-huh # Interviewer: mm-hmm and the black stuff that forms in the chimney 893: soot Interviewer: mm-kay and what do you have to show to {D:light} the fireplace 893: flashes Interviewer: and how about things that you have in the house that the thing I'm sitting in is called a 893: chair Interviewer: what about something that longer that two or three people can sit on 893: a sofa Interviewer: uh-huh any other names for that 893: a divan Interviewer: #1 is that the same # 893: #2 a divan # a sofa or a couch Interviewer: uh-huh is that all the same thing? 893: yeah I think so yes Interviewer: which would it be called in Spanish? 893: {C: Spanish:sofa} Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 {C: Spanish: divan} # {C: Spanish: confidente} Interviewer: {C: Spanish:con-} 893: {C: Spanish: confidente} Interviewer: is that the same thing? 893: yes some people call it that Interviewer: uh-huh what sort of things would you have in your bedroom to keep your clothes in? 893: a closet Interviewer: mm-hmm is that built in? 893: yes mm-hmm what about something like that that's not built in? a wardrobe or a um yes it's called a wardrobe it's a piece of furniture that uh with uh doors that that you can {NW} #1 you can either hang your clothes there open up and put 'em in drawers or # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: uh now what else {NS} Interviewer: what about something just with drawers in it? 893: a chiffonier or uh Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: uh Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 chest of drawers or some # Interviewer: what does a chiffonier look like? 893: it's a just a if uh you know a it's a piece of uh furniture that has four or five drawers it all depends on the size Interviewer: mm-hmm is is that a Spanish name too? 893: #1 chiffonier # Interviewer: #2 chiffonier # 893: no no I've always you know I've always uh heard it as a chiffonier or a Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 chest of drawers # Interviewer: it's a name of the word 893: uh-huh Interviewer: um something that you can have in windows to on rollers that you 893: #1 shades # Interviewer: #2 pull down # uh-huh and the covering on the house the top of the house 893: roof Interviewer: and things along the edge of the roof to carry the water off 893: the either the #1 the rain spout or something like that no? # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # mm-hmm what about when you um I don't I don't haven't noticed this design around here but if you have a house in an L do you know what that is? it's it's where you build onto the house 893: oh yes Interviewer: there's a low place #1 there on the roof where the two roofs come together # 893: #2 mm # Interviewer: did you ever hear a name for that? 893: no I don't think I have Interviewer: oh 893: #1 maybe if you # Interviewer: #2 {X} # 893: maybe if you mentioned it I might have heard about it and didn't know what it what it was Interviewer: Did you ever hear of a {D: bally} or an ally of a roof? 893: #1 no no I never have uh-uh # Interviewer: #2 no {X} # um say you have a lot of old worthless things like old broken furniture that wasn't any good anymore do you say 893: they were antiques Interviewer: or it's no good at all you say it's just 893: rubbish Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # 893: #2 or # trash or Interviewer: #1 uh-huh # (no speaker): #2 discarded uh 893: uh Interviewer: #1 items or # (no speaker): #2 uh-huh Interviewer: where would you store things like that that you don't know what to do with? if you don't wanna throw it away but you don't have any use for it 893: in a shed Interviewer: okay do you ever hear people talk about a junk room or a lumber room or store room 893: yes uh-huh Interviewer: #1 what what'd they # (no speaker): #2 well they they 893: a store room you can you can store whatever you doesn't uh #1 you don't have any space in the house for for certain things or # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 thing that you don't want to get rid of because of sentimental reasons or what have you # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 {NW} # Interviewer: #2 and # a woman would say if her house is in a big mess she'd say I have to 893: clean the house or uh I have to straighten out or uh pick after the the children or something Interviewer: and the thing that you would sweep with would be 893: #1 the broom # (no speaker): #2 Interviewer: and say the broom was in the corner and the door was open so that the door was sort of hiding the broom you'd say the broom was 893: hidden Interviewer: where? 893: behind the door Interviewer: uh-huh and years ago on Monday women would get all their dirty clothes together and #1 do the 893: # (no speaker): #2 do their laundry Interviewer: uh-huh did people used to use the word laundry? 893: #1 yes I've always or the wash you have to do the wash or do the laundry or # (no speaker): #2 Interviewer: Uh-huh. then after you wash the clothes then you have to 893: iron Interviewer: uh-huh and a long time ago um there would be something a a big black thing out in the yard to heat water and to boil the clothes in 893: yes the the big pot Interviewer: uh-huh 893: uh-huh Interviewer: did you ever have to do clothes like that? 893: #1 well yes yes during my uh my childhood years we used to do that yes # (no speaker): #2 Interviewer: how'd they how'd they wash the clothes? 893: well they would uh first they they would be soaked and they would be Interviewer: #1 mm-hmm # 893: #2 scrubbed some # then they would be scrubbed again Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: in uh in with uh well at first it would would be soaked just in plain water Interviewer: mm-hmm 893: to take all the dirt out and then they would uh be washed in in a soap and a #1 and water cold water # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 then they would be put in that pot to boil # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: #1 they would be taken out of there and scrubbed some more # Interviewer: #2 mm-hmm # 893: and then rinsed and then hang up to dry Interviewer: I guess by that time you would spend all day 893: all day {NW} Interviewer: um something that you could use to heat up water to make hot tea in? 893: a tea kettle Interviewer: uh-huh did you ever use the word kettle? did you ever call that pot a kettle? 893: um uh yes uh-huh you mean the pot where we used to boil the clothes in? Interviewer: #1 #1 uh-huh we call that a kettle # 893: #2 # 893: #2 yes uh a kettle uh-huh # Interviewer: um to get from the um first floor to the second floor in a two story house you'd have? 893: a stairway or staircase Interviewer: uh-huh what about to get from the porch to the ground? 893: from porch Interviewer: uh-huh