Language_Harlingen_KH_06272024

This is [INTERVIEWER]. Today's date is June 27 2024. I am here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our local residents. Before we begin, I'd like you to get a verbal consent from the form we went over. Could you please say, I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study?

I be- y'know for you to. I like- I accept to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study. 

Alright, then now, to get started, can you tell me how you came to live in this community? 

So I was born here. 

You were born here?  

Yes. 1950. January the sixth, 1950. My parents, [NAMES OF INTERVIEWEE'S PARENTS]. 

And- and would you say your parents lived here all their life as well? 

Como?  

Would you say your parents lived in [COMMUNITY NAME] all their lives as well?  

Oh yes, they always did. 

Can you tell me a bit about this community? How would you describe [COMMUNITY NAME] to someone who hasn't lived here? 

All their lives. It was small, and it keep on growing. And there are lessons that you learn. And people when they leave here, they will say "I'm so glad that I live here in [COMMUNITY NAME] because everything is peaceful. And there's a lot of work and a lot of help. That some of the people will help the people if you need it." 

Um, how would you say the community has changed throughout your time living here? 

There's a lot of, um, how to say- you start growing and more work. And the pay was, would grow, you know, they'll pay you more if they use- you know, growing like- [INDISCERNABLE] I started with $2.45 an hour. When I started working, and I would do it. I was the only one working with my two kids, the older and I did it and now everything is getting in- everything that you buy is more higher. They may pay you more, but its not the same when, you will work by yourself. Now two of them have to work. The husband and the wife, you know, but it's- it's okay, because I mean- they pay more. And, uhh, it's a good community. I love it. I always have, and the people that I live with. I never tried to get- get into trouble. And I want to teach my kids not to get into trouble. With my oldest one, and then I re-, uhh, I remarried. And I live forty years. And my husband passed away three months ago. And I had [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S CHILD #1] and [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S CHILD #2] my two kids- my two oldest- my youngest, and, um, all four of them are working. They have their own family, and I never interfere with their life. They, uh, they doing pretty good. I always tell them, you know, do the right thing all the time and teach your kids the right thing to- and not to get into trouble either. They say "Okay, mom." [LAUGHTER] 

Alright, then. What would you say are the strengths of [COMMUNITY NAME]? 

 The strengths?  

Their strengths. So what would you say they're strong at? They're best at? 

There's more, uh- Not like when I was born, there wasn't a lot of buildings. And now it's more- That more people, uh, they go into college. A long time ago, they barely can go and now they do. You know, there's more support for them. Now there more, uhh, student- como se dice, loan. And, of course a lot of the parents will help them out until they get into- they would work, but only part time. Like my kids, they would work part time, and I will help them out. They had kids, I will take care of them. They will go to college. And I will always take care of my grandkids when they were small, so their parents can go to work. And, and I won't charge them. It's what's right. As long as I have my grandkids, that's all that I need it. Now my grandkids are older. And they work. And they always sit- one of them. She will always send me a letter and say, "Grandma, I'm so grateful that you take care of us, and you will feed us. And when you- when we were sick, you would take care of it even though you worked." Y'know, I don't mind because I'm happy to be at grandma, y'know? You can spoil them. [LAUGHTER] 

What would you say are some of the weaknesses of [COMMUNITY NAME]  

The weakness- when there's, uhh- there's- there's a lot of- there's some kind of some damages, uhh. You know, there's people that especially young kids they get into trouble and- oh they're doing things they're not supposed to be doing? And I don't know if they have their parents or they don't, uh, they just- the way I would you know, tell my kid "Don't get into trouble."

Um, what would you say are some of the relationships you have with this community?  

That what?  

Relationships, connections.  

Connections? Once I just- I was- I was always the most by myself because I already had time to be, uh, here I would help like in PTA or today give money to, uh, for the homeless in the community. I will try to help. And, uh, sometimes they sent me some cards are like, uh, patients that had, uh, cancer. I always help them out. I always send them a check every month. I try to help what I can. 

Um, I know we went a little bit into this earlier, so um, what did you do for work? What was your job?  

My job was housekeeping. Cleaning, I always did since I was 12. I will help my mom with the cooking. She showed me how to make flour tortillas. I would always confirm at school, I will wash the dishes cause she worked and my dad. So I always work. I mean, I like housekeeping. So that's what I get asked. It is what I get asked for me, all my life 

Uh, how would you say your connections influenced your work as a housekeeper? 

Uh, like I would work day shift for 12 years. It's more different than night in housekeeping. Because get in day you will have to clean and, uh, clean dismissals and clean office. And at night? It depends where they would put you. You will clean offices only and the other one would do, uh, this vessels. If I finished my job, so I will help you others on what they didn't. Because- it depends on what what area you're in. You will claim no dismissal. So I would finish mine and I'll go help. I always did. 

So, uhm, now since you mentioned housekeeping, can you describe to me what a typical workday looked like for you? 

What they like for me?

What- does- what did your work day look like- like what did you do for your work- like, what tasks did you do for your work? 

Oh, it depends on the area they would put me. Like at night, uh, I worked 15 years in day surgery which in that area, I had to clean the rooms they use because they would put them into another floor. So I had there. I had 32 rooms in there. So every time they change a- the patient, I will clean the room and I will clean, y'know my little area they get- the nurse's station- that nurse, uh, the head nurse office and restrooms, public restrooms. 

You mentioned day surgery. Would you work-  you worked in a hospital?  

Yes.  

So it was housekeeping for a hospital?  

Yeah, It was in a hospital. That's why I say I worked 42 years but I- in houske- in day surgery, I worked 15 years so I knew what to do. 

What did you enjoy most with housekeeping? What brought you the most satisfaction? 

Because what do you- I always liked cleaning and I like the people that I work with. The nurses and I had nurse. They knew who- who I was and what I did and I knew them too, get alo- get along too very well. I just loved it. [LAUGHTER] 

What would you say were your biggest challenges with housekeeping, like was there- like what issues did you not like with housekeeping? 

Both chara- [INDISCERNABLE AUDIO] I mean- some of them would, uh, como que, would do less work. Because I mean, they, uh, had a lot of these pieces would do it in some kind they clean, uh, did, uh, outside cleaning like the offices or the restrooms. But I try- like I didn't mind helping them out. I always like to help so we can finish and not get out late. Because if you had a lot of work, like I- at night, I will get in at three o'clock in sometimes we'll- we'll get out at two o'clock in the morning. Because it was a lot of work. Because sometimes they will take me out from day surgery, so I can help them out with dismissals. So then I had to go back and hurry up clean day surgery. So I will try- I will try to help, we'll try to help each other. 

Now I'm going to, I want to talk a bit more about your experiences of a resident of this community. So for these set, next set of questions, I'm going to read a statement to you. I would like you to indicate to which extent of the statement you agree with- you agree. You can you're going to answer on a scale from 1 to 4, where one is completely disagree. Two is somewhat disagree. Three is somewhat agree, and four is completely agree. If you'd like to add any more other comments or statements or your personal touch to the, to your answer, feel free to do so. So let me read the first statement. I consider myself to be an American, would you say that you completely disagree? Somewhat disagree? somewhat agree or completely agree?  

Completely agree.  

Why would you say that? 

Why would I say? Because I'm very proud to be an American here, and I was born here. And I like the community from [COMMUNITY NAME]. 

I'm gonna, okay, let's, we're going to continue to the next statement, and we're going to use the same set of scales, okay? I consider myself to be a Texan. Would you completely disagree? Somewhat disagree? Somewhat agree or completely agree? 

A Texan? 

Yes.

Well I was born in Texas, [COMMUNITY NAME], Texas. You know, and when dad settled down, we will go visit or, uh, do some work like in the fields. It was okay todo, you know. I get to be at- people get in trouble? They never did they go work over there. And we would, sometime we'll come back to where we were. We're from [COMMUNITY NAME], we will meet different people. 

So you would agree you consider yourself a Texan?  

I agree. 

Okay. Do you consider yourself- I'm going to read the next three statements but we'll go one by one though. And which one you agree the most strongly with, okay? I am an American first and Texan second. I am a Texan first and American second. Or being Texan and American are equally important to me.  

The third one.  

Alright. The next phrase is to be a true Texan, you must know how to speak English. To what extent do you agree with this or disagree? 

You don't have, uh, to speak just English. You can speak both English-English and Spanish. Because it depends on your, uh, your grandparents, great grandparents. 

It doesn't matter you would say it doesn't matter whether to be- you can speak. You don't have to speak completely English to be a Texan. 

Mhm. [APPROVAL] 

Okay, what about "To be a true Texan, you must know how to speak Spanish?" 

No. 

And the next phrase is "In my community, you can do everything you want and get everything you need, even when you don't speak English."  

Yep.

Okay. And finally, "In my community, life has been pretty stable over the last 40 years. Things haven't changed much."  

That's right. 

Okay, now I'd like to hear from you about the community itself. What are some things that have changed in this community during the last few decades? 

Sorry, I don't know what to say. 

Would you say anything has changed over the past few like during your lifetime? What would you say anything has changed? And if so, what?  

Well just, uh, know, you know there's things that, uhh, come with it. That you get help and or you help people or just in between that you get to know, to another community. I mean because that they used to pay at very low prices, but that when the community is growing, well you get paid more, but everything will be.  

So you'd say it has the community has changed, but in terms of overly increasing price.  

Mhm. [APPROVAL] 

Okay. Would you say this is a good community to live in?  

Yes, 

Yes? Okay. What was or is the best part about being a kid in [COMMUNITY NAME]? 

You know, depends, I believe the kids let you know that right now they have games, like baseball, soccer, you know, for kids who won't be able to get into trouble, they have things that they learn, you know, especially with the parents we'll put them on. So they wouldn't get into trouble. [LAUGHTER] 

So you'd say there's a lot more activity for kids then there once was.  

Mhm. [APPROVAL] 

Okay. Would you feel or do you feel that the traditional way of life of this community is going away?  

What would you mean by that mija?  

Like, would you say its culture or customs or its practices are going- are vanishing, going away as time moves on? 

What can I say about that? Probably depends on where you live. The higher you go into places it's more, sometimes it's difficult. And over here, what you just stay with what you learn from your parents, or your grandparents. I don't know. 

That's alright. Um, would you say certain practices then have changed? Like, let's say, the common practice here of the panaderias? What do you say that tra- traditional way of life has changed that practice or no?  

What mija, what do you mean? 

A way of life- Basically, has things changed, moving away from from its culture? 

I mean, you know, if the years pass by, pues everything changed, it's not the same. You know, like, like I told you, that parents or their grandparents, they will tell your kids what to do best for themselves, because they're not going to be here all the time. So for them not to get into trouble, to do better for themselves, and to have a good life. [LAUGHTER] 

This one's gonna take a little bit of a turn. What is your favorite sports team? 

Softball.

Softball. 

 Yeah, it's where I met my husband. He always, was always the time with the softball. And he would take [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S KID] in [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S KID]  where there was more, he would take them with- with him. And I always tell [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S KID] "Be careful with dad." "Don't worry, mom. I know what to do." [LAUGHTER] She was something that was her dad with softball. But that's how I met my husband. 

Would you say there's this particular team you look into now with softball, or do you not keep up with it as regularly? 

I try to, you know, see it in TV because I keep always busy with the kids and their grandkids I just see it on TV because that's how I look- I tell them, that's how I met [NAME OF SPOUSE] Cause I'm very, you know, that's what I liked. So, baseball. 

Alright. Did you have chores when you were younger?  

Chores? 

Like household chores? 

Like at home?  

Yes.

Oh yes. Well in summer, my dad will give us the lists for the three of us. For us to do. And I- my brother, he will not start his until he knows that my dad will be coming. He would go through everything- [LAUGHTER] to do his chores but my dad always gave us chores to do which was good because of that my mom and dad will be having a lot of things to do at the house or outside so we'd- we -we would do it. We would obey our parents. 

What would you say was the worst chore? 

Of doing? Feeding the chickens. [LAUGHTER] We had to go inside there and get the eggs. Sometimes the chickens will not let us. Clear what the chickens, but we love it the three of us would get together. Yeah, my dad build a hole, and he would , como se dice, um, put a tub and he would put water so the ducks can get in and swim but it was fun. Being a kid, we learn by our parents. 

What would you say was your favorite chore? 

What was my favorite? Cleaning.

Just the cleaning? 

Cleaning, I always liked cleaning. 

Like it didn't matter like whether it was sweeping with a broom or cleaning the toilet or something? 

I remember a long time ago. Every Saturday, you had to sweep and mop, clean the furniture. Clean the window and put wax on the floor. And I will do that. But nowadays different. It's not the same anymore. [LAUGHTER] But I always do that. And me and my sister and I, and, uh, and cooking my mom taught me how to cook and he would make flour tortillas when I was 12. I learned. but I was helped my mom because she worked and I didn't want her to be tired. She will be tired from coming to work and then come home. That's why I always help my mom and when I got married the first time she cried for me. [LAUGHTER] I'm like, "Why are you crying? Because I'm not coming to clean your house mom?" [LAUGHTER] But I'd always go anyway, would help her out. I will go in the bus and come to- to the house and and do her cleaning, and her washing them.  

So I know you mentioned your brother would wait till your dad was coming back to start doing his chores. 

Yeah, cause he knew he would get out until four o'clock. He knew so he would get away around 2 o' clock through the window and start his. Okay, so he knew he was coming. So me and my sister, but no, we would do ours. But anyway, we would help him out so he won't get into trouble. 

So not once would you say you ever got caught not doing a chore?  

No. 

[SURPRISED] No? [LAUGHTER] 

Not me, because I knew I had to do it. But that would do be on the weekends or in the summer, we will do that. It will give us at least work to do. My dad, so I'm very proud of my parents and my grandparents. 

Alright, now this question is going to take a different turn. Some people think it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?  

To be friends?  

Yes, for a boy and a girl to be friends? Do you think it's possible or no? 

Well it depends. 

Depends? Why is that?  

Well now, um, a lot of them go, uh, they will tell their parents, "Mama I'm going to this place." And then later they would know what you went through. Right? Okay, it's true. I mean, good enough, as long as I don't get into trouble. Because you know that. But you know, they'll say that "I'm going over here mom." And you end up going somewhere else. [LAUGHTER] 

So I take that as a no. [LAUGHTER] 

I guess. 

Okay, um, this one's gonna be a little bit of a weird question. It might take some a couple of retries. Did you ever tell a story about another person thinking the other person was not near you. But then turned around and saw the other person standing right next to you? 

It depends on the person that you be friends. Or you will know that that person would not, uh, say something about you. And then later on, you'll find out what that person said. So you had to be very careful. On what you say about that person. [LAUGHTER] 

Did it ever happen to you? 

Oh, yeah. 

Oh.

It happened to anybody. 

Good. Can you tell me a bit more about it?  

You know, you would say, uhh, [LAUGHTER] life if you would go to another friend and you would tell her. Oh, yeah. "You know, you better not say anything. Okay, because either way, you're gonna get it. Okay, okay. Okay." And anyone else don't say you got into trouble. I thought it was okay. I mean- that you would not say anything you're not supposed to. Because you knew you get into trouble and with your parents especially. But it was okay with the friends I had. I try not to get into trouble. 

You just wouldn't do it as often.  

Yeah.  

Don't want anyone having you on your back or target on your back. Okay, now this one's a controversial question. I hope you're ready. A lot of people think that of the 1990s or the 90s as the golden decade of pop music. Do you agree? Would you say the 90s was the golden decade of pop music. 

What you mean mija about sings, songs? 

Music so, would you- in the 90s, a lot of pop music was a lot of a big rave. In your personal opinion, would you say it was the best, that 90s? 

Well, it depends on the music that you will listen to. Like me, I like to hear music from the 60s 70s 80s because ahora, uh, mi familia core puro poodle Gritar. Just screaming. You hardly understand what they're saying, but there, that's just what a lot of kids now and days like. It depends on what, you know. 

So you'd say the six, the 60s and 70s music that you listen to were way better than what came out then. 

Oh, well- I will listen to it. You know pero. I would rather listen to 60s 70s, 80s. You know, like- como la musica muy differente? That doesn't- like today. But anyway, I will listen to it with my great- with my great-grandkids listen to it as I listen to it. [LAUGHTER] But that's okay. 

You do listen to it for them. 

Yeah.

All right. Well, I want to thank you for your answers. Before we finish, It's- this part usually one of our other overarching research questions is to study linguistic changes in Texas. So we have a very short made up story about Texas and it's completely voluntary. Would you like to read it so we can study the linguistic changes for our research? 

Where do I read this? 

I have a passage right here.  

To read it?  

To read it out loud. 

I live in Texas all my life. I was born in Travis County. And when I was five, we moved to a farm near Whitehouse, which is southeast of Tyler. I like growing up in the country- in the country. When my chores were done. I ride my horses, climb trees, or hike down on the creek to fish or swim. One time we tie a rope to a limb of a cypess tree, and we'd swing out  wide over the swimming hole and drop into the water. I pretend to be Tarzan, swining on a vine. In the spring, I'd fly kites, and on summer nights, we'd catch fireflies-- but we called them lightning bugs. Once in a while, we'd have fights with corn cobs or pinecones. In the winter, we build a fire in the fireplace and pop popcorn and roast peanuts and pecans. I guess I was a livewire. When I was 19, I went to work in Dallas at a Firestone tire store. I didn't like city life, and for a long time I go home every chance I got. Mama would always cook my favorite foods: fried okra, Hoppin John- that's just rice and black eyed peas- and pecan pie. We had a lot of good times. But going home is not the same now. After Daddy died, Mama sold the farm and moved to Tyler. I'd rather be living on a farm right now instead of here in the city. But my wife and kids don't understand me when I gripe about city life and talk about moving to the country. My oldest child said, "Daddy, that's crazy. I just die if I had to live on a farm." I almost cried the first time she said that. I know Texas is changing. But I try to make sure we don't lose touch with other roots. While we may live in a city, I want my kids to have a good feeling for the land. Have a sense of place and take pride in being Texans. If they lose our tie in the land, the price of progress is too high. 

All right, well, thank you for your wonderful contribution to this interview and these questions. If you have- if you don't have anything else to say or do you have any other things to say. I will end the interview right now. 

Um I like, you know my kids know that my husband passed away. All the four of them would take one every week. I will go with one, go to the other one. They don't want me to be left alone. And like that, I can see my grandkids. Like this Friday, I told [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE'S CHILD], "I'm going to go to your house to be with the teacher. That's what my husband will call the little one: teacher. And [NAME OF GRANDKID] and [NAME OF GRANDKID]." I'm very proud of my grandkids and my four kids. That's all. Thank you.