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This is [Interviewer]. Today is June 21 2024. And I am here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our community members. Before we begin, I'd like to get verbal consent for the form that we went over. Could you please say I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study?

I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study.

To get started, can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

Well, I moved here after I graduated law school. And I've been here before I kind of spent all my summers here. So it was a place I liked. And so I decided I would spend the rest of my life here.

Could you tell me a bit more about this community? How would you describe it to someone who doesn't live here?

It's a beautiful place to live. You have [DIFFERENT SOUTH TEXAS REGION COMMUNITY NAME], one of the nicest beaches in the United States, and then you're right next to [COUNTRY]. So you're right on the border. It's always nice and warm in the summers. And even in the winters, it's doesn't get too cold.

How do you think this community has changed throughout your time living here?

Well, of course, there's more houses and more people. Um, but it [STUTTER] it hasn't grown as much as other bigger cities, but it is growing.

What would you say are the strengths of this community?

The people, most of the people have lived here, and the community is small. So Everybody pretty much knows everybody. Uh, you don't have to talk to too many people before you find out who's somebody whose family is and ,uh.

What would you say are some of the weaknesses of this community?

Some of the weaknesses. Um, some families tend to have too much power. Uh, the politics sometimes, uh, you could say might be a little bit corrupt.

Could you tell me about the roles and relationships you have in this community?

Um, I'm an attorney here. So I'm pretty much in public every single day. And I know quite a few people. I know all the attorneys, all the judges and most of the politicians

What do you do for work?

I'm an attorney.

How do you think your connections in this community influence your work as a attorney?

How do my the influences what influences [CONFUSED]?

How do you think your connections in this community influence your work?

Well, whatever I do, I'm always concerned about the people that I'm going to deal with. And then since I know them all, I, uh, already know how to deal with him.

Now, I'd like to talk more about your work as an attorney. Could you tell me about how you got into this role?

I was on active duty in living in [SOUTHEAST STATE], once I got off active duty. Um, I decided to go to law school, I'd seen the Clarence Thomas, um, [THINKING] court hearings that he was having when he was nominated. And so I got interested in it, and I decided to check into becoming a lawyer.

How long have you been working?

I've been working all my life. But I've been an attorney. Uh, in 2025, it'll be 30 years.

What is it typical workday look like for you?

Crazy. I have a schedule. But it changes. You never know exactly what's going to happen in one day people call, people get arrested. People need an attorney. Um, I go in the morning, and sometimes the court has people for me to represent. I have a basic calendar. But it's every day is different. And you can't predict what's going to happen.

What does it mean to be an attorney in this community?

Well, it means that there aren't a lot of attorneys. And so it means that you help the community and, uh, the community of attorneys here is very small. Everybody knows everybody.

What aspects of your job bring you the most joy or satisfaction?

When I can help the young kids because I do a lot of juvenile work. And I take pride in in doing the best for them, because it's important that they get on the right foot at the very beginning.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

Oh challenges? I mean, you're insecure, because if somebody's gonna go to trial, you never know what's going to happen it, uh, and you really never know what's gonna happen until you see the judge and they make a final decision or you have a jury trial. So, uh, you're always on edge and [STUTTERS] and trying to be prepared to do the best.

Now let's talk about your experiences as a resident in this community. For this first set of questions, I read your statement to you. And I'd like you to indicate the extent or of your agreement, which with each one, I'll have you give your answer on a scale of one to four where one is is completely disagree. Two is somewhat disagree. Three is somewhat agree and four is completely agree. If you'd like to comment on any of the statements, please feel free to. The first phrase is I consider myself to be an American. What would you say to that for?

Four.

Using the same scale? How would you rate the following statement? I consider myself to be a Texan.

Four.

Which of the following three statements do you agree the most strongly? One, I am an I am an American, first and a Texan. Second. Two, I am Texan first and an American second, or being Texan and American art equally important to me.

Three.

The next phrase is to be a true Texan, you must know how to speak English. What would you rate this one? Using the same scale? We started with?

One or, uh, four. I totally agreed.

How about to be a true Texan, you must know how to speak Spanish.

I'd give that about a two or three.

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.

Four.

Finally, in my community, life has been pretty stable over the last 40 years, things haven't changed much.

Four.

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

Mm, during the last few decades, it's grown, the community has gotten bigger, there's more houses. I think because we're in a border city, it's easy to say that, uh, getting across going across the border and getting back across the border has become a little more difficult ever since 911. Just the border restrictions have become more difficult. So it's more time consuming. Uh, 20 years ago, the border used to be easy to get to [COUNTRY] and easy to get back. It just takes more time now.

Overall, is this a good community to live in?

Oh, yes, I'd recommend it to everybody.

What was or is the best part about being a kid or a young person in this community?

Well, I was neither so I really don't know.

Do you feel that the traditional way of life in this community is going away?

Not really, they have the community keeps their their traditions going with Charro Days and certain celebrations that go back so the heritage is not forgotten

What is your favorite sports team?

Dallas Cowboys.

How have they been doing lately?

They suck.

[LAUGHING]

What? [CONFUSED]

Did you have to do chores when you were younger?

Oh, yes.

What was the worst one?

Probably taking out the garbage.

What was the chore you didn't mind so much?

Washing the car

Did you ever get caught pretending to do a chore but not really?

Oh, for sure. I never remember it's my teeth. And I forgot to bathe.

[LAUGHTER] Some people think that it's hard for some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?

No. Boys and girls can be friends. It's easy

Did you ever tell a story about another person thinking the other person was not near you? But then turned around and saw the person was standing right next to you?

Yes.

Could you tell me about that? What happened?

I'm embarrassed. I don't want to tell you.

A lot of people think of the 1990s as a golden decade of pop music. Do you agree?

No. The Golden Age was the 80s.

What was the best decade and pop and use of music and why?

The 1980s. They rocked AC DC Ted Nugent, Judas Priest. That's where all your music came from.

Thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. If you have the time. I just have one last request for you. Before we conclude our interview. One of the over arching research questions through the home to Texas program is about linguistic changes in Texas. As part of this project, a linguistic researcher is asking that interview participants read a brief passage, which should only take about a couple of minutes. It is a short made up story about life in Texas that was created in the 1980s. And since then, linguistic researchers have recorded a few 100 Texans reading it. They use these recordings as samples of people standard way of speaking as they try to track how speech in Texas varies and changes over time. Would you be willing to read a brief passage out loud?

No, ma'm.

Great. Thank you so much. Thank you for contributing your voice. And thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with me. I really appreciate your time and generosity. If you don't have any other questions or comments. I'll go ahead and stop the recording now

Hello, this is [Interviewer]. Today is July 24 2024, and I am here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our community members. Before we begin, I'd like to get verbal consent for the form that we went over. Could you please say I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study

I consent to be interviewed? And for this audio interview, I consent yes,

Thank you. To get started. Can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

I was born and raised in [COMMUNITY NAME]. I'm 68 years old. Much of my life, I spent it here, other than the years I spent in college

Yes. Thank you. Can you tell me a bit more about this community? And how would you describe it to someone who does not live here?

I think that [COMMUNITY NAME] is a community that has obviously grown. But when I was growing up, it was obviously a much smaller town. I think when people... what some people may not know about this town is that there is a very sense of uh, community in if uh, people if something happens in the community, a crisis or a tragedy or whatever. The community comes together. And I've seen that happen in some tragedies that we've had here. And I think that that's, I think that's one of the positive descriptions of [COMMUNITY NAME] is that community spirit and that team spirit and the friendliness and , uh, but it is it is a community that has grown a lot, you know, since since I grew up here, but I mean, you know, you could used to, when I was a kid used to be able, you could walk downtown [COMMUNITY NAME]. It was no big deal, you know, to do that, and now you just don't do that anymore[SMALL LAUGH]. So, but yeah, that's, that's how I would describe it. And obviously, in other ways that it's really has, I wouldn't say improved, but just a lot more opportunities here, you know, SpaceX, you know...., the young people that are opening up wonderful restaurants and so yeah, and, and then the other thing is that we, I think of all the cities in the [COMMUNITY REGION], we have a sense of history, and you just see it in the buildings here. And, and, and I think that's important. That's important part of [COMMUNITY NAME].

Thank you for sharing. How do you think this community has changed throughout your time living here? I know you kind of already expand-

Yeah, I sort of said already. But I mean, I think what has changed is more and more people are moving here. I mean, they're moving here for opportunities. You see a lot more people here now that, you know, when you look at them, you you just know that they're not from here, but that they've moved here. So, I mean, I think there's just been so many reasons for that. The university, you know, the increase in higher ed opportunities, and plus all the, you know, industrial slash economic stuff, like, yeah, like SPACEX, obviously. I mean, I hate to keep mentioning them. But yeah, yes

Thank you. What would you say are the strengths of this community?

I mean, I really think it's the that team, the team spirit. Um, Um, You know, that's, I think that's really the strengths of this community. And I think also that it's has a, even though it's grown, I mean, it has a sense of, it still has the feel of a small town, but you know, or the feel of when I grew up here, so. But I mean, so I think all those are kind of what makes this place so special. And of course, that we're close to Mexico, and, you know, we're not very far from the beach. So, you know-

Yeah, that's good. I agree. What would you say are some of the weaknesses of this community?

Um [PERIOD OF HESISTATION]. Well, I think one of the my, one of them is that, you know, we don't, I don't sometimes see a lot of it, [PERIOD OF HESISTATION,] you know, not opportunities, but like, I wish we had more flights out of here. Yes. You know, I mean, we have, I have...I don't mind going to [NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY NAME] If I have to go to [NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY NAME], I will, but I don't do it very often. But I just think if we had some more of those kinds of opportunities. And, and, and, I think sometimes, while I do talk about this team, community team spirit, sometimes you do see some of the divisions in the community. And it would kind of be nice if everybody worked together you know? And but, you know, I think we're making progress in those areas. But still, I'd like to see more of that. So I guess that's, I guess that would I mean, I mean, I remember people used to say, "oh, there's nothing to do here." And I hear it sometimes still. But they just I think that they don't know that there is stuff to do here. So yeah, now, so maybe the idea of maybe promoting a lot more of that, that good stuff that's happening here and making people feel like well, there is there are things to do here. There are so say

Thank you. Can you tell me about the roles and relationships you have in this community?

So I was born and raised here. Um, went to public school. Um, very proud that I was in the last class, of [COMMUNITY NAME] High School. And people always say, Oh, I didn't know there was a [COMMUNITY NAME] or high school. Yes, there was. And so the class of 1974 was the last class to bear that name. And then it became [HIGH SCHOOL NAME] , in the fall in. And so I'm very proud of that. But so I was, you know, I went off to college, and came home. And I was, I worked in television news, channel four, so I was a reporter. And I mean, I was there 17 years. So I did a whole bunch of stuff. But I would think that that's kind of a role I had in the community because I did cover the [NAME OF CITY NEWSPAPER]And then and then from there, I went to work at [LOCAL UNIVERISTY NAME] in communications, and I saw was very involved in, obviously, what was going on there. But also in the community. I mean, I've done I've been on boards and stuff like that. And but now I'm retired. And so I I edit a magazine called [MAGAZINE NAME]. And so we're always looking for ways to promote the [COMMUNITY REGION] promote [COMMUNITY NAME] And so um, you know, I think, and I serve on several boards today, so that's kind of my relationship to the community. I mean, and I was born and raised here. So I'm, I'm a [COMMUNITY NAME]-illian (like civilian, but with community name in front.), and as they say, I think that's what they call it.[LAUGHS]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing. Now, I'd like to talk more about your work in the past. And today. Could you tell me about how you got into the role that you're in today? I know you mentioned you're in a couple of boards, and also do [LOCAL MAGAZINE]

LOCAL MAGAZINE]. Yes. So [LOCAL MAGAZINE] is a magazine. It's all about local, local food, local nature, local community. And so that really came somewhat by accident. I mean, I was getting, I was getting ready to retire. And then COVID came and didn't retire. And then the publisher of the magazine grew up here too. And so, and I knew her as a child, I mean, she's much younger than me. And so she came home for for COVID right. And I was looking to move to Texas and move back to Texas. And, and it was just really a just a conversation about what was going on in the community. And then, you know, we always talked about food. And so I said, Well, you know, I said, I've always loved this magazine, I picked it up in [CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY], [CENTRAL TEXAS MAGAZINE]. And I said, I've always thought it should be that you could do that in the [COMMUNITY REGION], because I think there's a lot of good stories out there. And and so then it was, you know, well, how do we do it? And then we just did it. And so we publi- we started publishing, um,um during COVID. I mean, in 2022 by the time we got it going and everything, but it just pause it for a second.

Yes, of course.[PAUSES AUDIO] The next question is, what is the typical workday look like for you? Or what's it like?

Well, since I'm retired, I don't have the eight to five ritual, you know, which I really don't miss either. But I'm in so not typical days. Just, I get up in the morning, you know, I go workout. And then I do then I spent a couple of hours on the magazine, because it's not only like right now we're working on the Fall issue. So we're on deadlines, but we're always planning for future issues. And we it's not only the magazine, but we do events, we do shoot events based around our issues. Yes. And so in that that's a that's What I spend some time on or then I spend time on all the other stuff that I do, like, on these boards, like I'm on the other [SCHOOL BOARD] And then and then I do a lot of work with [UNIVERSITY NAME] So I'm very involved in [UNIVERSITY NAME] and as an alum, and so I do that kind of work and and then we're planning our 50th high school reunion. So that takes a lot of work to right now. So it's a little bit of that. And then just and with the magazine, there's always people, we have to meet people, you have to call and you know, a lot of, so that takes up a lot of my time. So it's a little bit of all that, you know, and then, and at [UNIVERSITY NAME] , I'm on the I'm on the [UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NAME] and the [UNIVERSITY NAME] development boards. So those are, you know, those keep me busy. But, um, so that's kind of how I Yeah I've been involved in [UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOSIATION NAME] work since. Well, since I left I graduated 1978. So, I mean, we've been involved. I've been involved in that works since I came home to work here and in, you know, I'm ready to like, I think people should as an alum, I think you owe that to your school. So...

That's amazing. We appreciate it. Yeah, [REDACTED PERSONAL CONVERSATION] The next question would be What aspects of your job bring you the most joy or satisfaction?

I think in terms of the editing, the being the editor of the magazine, I think it's I'm meeting new people. And you know, you really meet people that have a passion for what they do, whether it's, whether it's cooking, whether it's birdwatching, caring about the environment. And so, I think, I think, not only meeting those people, but also you also learn from them. It's not you don't know. Sometimes you just don't know everything in the [COMMUNITY REGION], you know, you really don't, you learn new things about the [COMMUNITY REGION],. And so I think that's probably the most exciting, passionate part of the job. And, you know, people are beginning to know our magazine, and I think and so it's really nice to hear positive feedback. And so, yeah, so it's great.

Thank you for sharing, kind of, on the other side of things, what are the kind of what are the biggest challenges you face doing this?

Um, there's never enough time in the day, you know, to do to do that. And because, you know, and also the other things that I do, but you know, because you have to have a, I mean, I'm retired, so I have to have some time to, you know, decompress right, so and so it's a balance, and you know, I think I've figured out the balance. So yeah, that's kind of like the like when I get done. here, I'd have to go home and work on some copy. That's us. So, um, but yeah, I just mean, but I think that's for everybody. The balance of time and not enough time. There's never enough time and, and how to balance all that. I mean, I think that can apply to a student and to anybody really huge. I mean, you tend to I tend to juggle a lot.

Yes. So, thank you for sharing that. I'd like to talk more about your experience as a resident of this community. Okay, for each for this first set of questions. I'm going to read a statement to you. And I'd like you to indicate the extent for your agreement on each one. Okay. I'll have you give your answer on a scale of one to four where one is completely disagree, two is somewhat disagree, three is somewhat agree, and four is completely agree. If you'd like to comment or elaborate on any of the statements, please feel free to. The first phrase is "I consider myself to be American." Would you say? How would you rate that on a scale of one through four?

I completely agree.

Thank you. The next question is using the same scale, how would you rate the following statement? I consider myself to be a Texan.

I completely agree.

Which one of the following three statements do you agree with most strongly one, I am American first and Texan. Second, two, I am Texan first and American second or three, being Texan and American are equally important to me.

The three, three.

Thank you. The next phrase is "To be a true Texan. You must know how to speak English." Well, will you rate this one using the same scale we started with?

I think somewhat agree somewhat.

Thank you. How about "To be a true Texan you must know how to speak Spanish"?

Somewhat agree.

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

Agree, completely agree. Yeah.

Finally, "In my community, life has been pretty stable over the past 40 years, things haven't changed much."

Disagreed.

Thank you. Now I'd like to hear more about you. From the community itself. What are the some of the things that have changed in this community during the last few decades?

Well, I think the opportunities in not only in, in higher ed are but in jobs. And and I just think the growth of the city. And the more not in the more opportunities but also more to live in here. The quality, the quality of life. Yeah, the quality of life. Yeah, I think, you know, yeah, that sounds good.

Thank you. Overall, is this a good community to live in?

Yes. Yes. And I hear that from people who have moved in to live here or have moved here for their kids, you know, who have moved with families? I mean, I hear that from a lot of young people that come here and, and, and enjoy that camaraderie with other young people. And but yeah, I do. Thank you certainly have good weather. [LAUGH]

Yes. What was or is the best part about being a kid or a young person in this community?

[PAUSE] Well, I think it's very different than when I was growing up. Honestly. When I was growing up, there were a lot of things we could do. I mean, even something as simple as walking to the park, or, you know, walking to school, you know, I mean, can't do those things anymore. So but, but I think that there's, there's a lot of, there's parks here, and there's um, places for students to go for kids to go and enjoy. And then you know, even something like a farmers market, you know, things like that. So I think that all those are kind of the good things in here in the community and you just but you know, you just have to, you have to take advantage of it. I mean, I mean, you have to make the step to be part of all that and, and then there's just a lot of opportunities to be involved in something that you might be passionate about and and it's it's your it's your role to seek that out and find it in. And, you know, there's also like, opportunities for like young people to learn about to get involved in the in the city or to get involved in, learn about what they can do to make it better. You know? I think that's it.

Thank you. Do you feel that the traditional way of life in this community is going away?

What do you mean "the traditional way of life"? Like, the way I grew up? I mean, in some Yes. I mean, I mean, I think the sense of the small community was smaller. And we were able to do things differently, that we can't do now. I mean, even like the theater across the street, the [LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATHER], yes, that's a beautiful old theater that that was the only theater in town, and everybody came to the theater and to see the movies there. And so we can't, I mean, that's, we don't have that anymore. Although I'm think they're going to do something. But I think that, that, maybe that sense of community, while it may be gone, or maybe in another way, because of, you know, everything, you know, everything changes and towns grow. But, you know, it'd be nice to keep that, but I think there's other things here that like the team spirit and things like that, that that maybe have replaced that part of it, not maybe replaced it, but that's still an important part. And it really was way back when so that's kind of stated, that's the idea of, of people always helping people or, or even, not even only that, but like, you know, if someone believes in something like, I mean, I'll give you an example, the Amelia Earhart statue, the woman who really made that happen. That was, I mean, she's old, she's much older than me much, much older than me. But, I mean, she believed in that and, and now that she's done that, that certain person has done other projects in this city. So I mean, so I mean, that I don't know how I got on that subject. But, but, um, but the idea that if you're passionate about something and you care about your communities, then you there are opportunities to do that. And even this person wasn't even from this community. She moved her because her as her husband was from here, so um, so yeah.

Thank you. What is your favorite sports team?

The Texas Longhorns.

And how have they been doing lately?

We're ready. Aren't you ready for the SEC already? It's gonna Yeah, man. I'm ready for football. Yeah, it's gonna be exciting. It's gonna be very, it's gonna be different, but it's gonna be exciting. Yeah.

Will you be at the Games?

Oh, yeah. I have season tickets. So I'm always in Austin for the football games. So yeah. I'm excited. I think everybody's excited about it. I was there for the celebration, SEC celebration. It was fun yeah, it was. Initially, I wasn't sure about us going to the SEC. But you know, I think I've gotten used to it now. So yeah, I'm excited about it. Yeah.

I'm excited. I'm excited for those games. The next question is, did you have chores to do when you were younger?

Oh, yeah, we did. Yeah,

What was the worst chore?

You know, [SCOFF] we had wood floors in our home. So my mother would, we would always have to wax 'em. And back then you did it. On the you would lay out all the wax on the floor. Right? And then you and then we would my mother would rent a polisher. And so the polisher was easy, right? But, but we had to help. Do that. rub that in. But also the other thing was cleaning windows. Oh, I couldn't stand doing that. Yeah. Yeah. I think those two things are probably the most challenging, you know?

And what was the chore? You didn't mind so much

I mean, I mean, washing dishes, you know, hanging up clothes. I mean, you you know, you're you don't I mean the idea of hanging up clothes on a clothesline and then smelling the clothes is so different from getting them out of a dryer. You know, and so I always remember that smell of the of the clean laundry. Being, you know, yeah, those two um, Yeah, I didn't mind doing any of those. I mean, we cooked. We help cook. So you know, yeah. Nice.

And did you ever get caught pretending to do a chore but you weren't actually doing it?

Oh, I remember we were painting the painting some of the bedrooms and. And it was my brother and I. And we weren't into it. And so we just started tossing the paint around and got in trouble. And in trouble for that, that was not a chore that we were excited about doing it, but we had to do it. So...

Thank you for sharing that story. Some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?

Oh, I don't agree with that at all. Yeah, some of my best friends are boys. So no, no, I have some of my No, I don't agree with that. I think it's, I think everybody can be friends. Yeah.

Thank you. Did you ever tell a story about another person thinking the other person was not near you, but then turned around and saw that that person was standing right next to you?

It will, it didn't happen to me that way. But I was in a group of people with a group of people. And they were talking about the person. And when the person turned around, she thought I had said it. And and I was just standing there listening. I mean, I was just standing there. And so yeah, I got grief for it. [SHRUGS]. And I mean, it was all solved eventually. I mean, there was discussion about I never really said that. And, you know, but um, but yeah, I don't. I don't. I don't think its like though, the way it's happened, like the way the question is, but it's just that way that you're part of a group. And I mean, you know, there's that line, you know, the messenger gets killed? Well, you know, you always have to be careful about to be wary. And we should laugh that we would, we would, okay, but you look around first before you say something, you know. So you never know. Never know. Exactly. And you never know. Because even if it's somebody that you don't know, or like, I mean, you never know, because that person could eventually could become your boss. When I say you were up for some I mean, you know, you just can't. Or are...

How everybody knows everybody? I learned that at [UNIVERSITY NAME]. Everybody just knows everybody's so you have to be careful.

I mean, that's that's same here. Yeah. Or everybody's related to somebody here. [LOOKS UP] Oh, God, you have to be so careful in his town about that. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah...

The next question is a lot of people think of the 1990s as the golden decade of pop music. Do you agree? And if not, what was the best decade of pop music?

You know, honestly, what were the songs in the 1990s? I don't even know. I think the best decade was the 50s in the 60s, even though that's not I was not my I mean, I was I was young. I mean, because I obviously grew up in the 70s. Right, or I never really liked the music of the 70s that much. But I think the 50s in the 60s was really the fun stuff. So...

Do you have any any favorite artists?

Oh, let's see. Well, HMM Well, you probably don't know who it is, but I really like Wayne Newton's music. [LAUGHS] We Yeah. And I mean, and but you know, there's is there's just in the 60s that was just so much. There's so much really good music. Yeah. I mean, even the 70s Like, I love Neil Diamond, you know, I mean, but I don't know if he's, I guess he would be part of the 60s too. So yeah, yeah. Yeah...

Thank you for that input. I'll go home and listen to some . Yeah,

you're when you get this great song called Danka Shane, that's really one of its-, have you seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

I haven't. Okay. Okay.

It's a great movie.[BIG SMILE] Yeah, you gotta watch it. And there's a great, they sing that. What's his name? Matthew Broderick X. sings that song in there. And it's a wonderful scene. Yeah, you should see that movie. It's really good.

I will add that to the list. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. If you do have the time. I have one last request for you before we conclude our interview, and that would be reading that passage. Some backstory on that one of the overarching research questions about the home to Texas program is about linguistic changes in Texas. And as part of this project, a linguistic researcher is asking that interview participants read this brief passage, which only take a couple of minutes about one to two. I think it's a short made up story about life in Texas. That was created in the 1980s. And since then, linguistic researchers have recorded a few 100 texts insane it and they use these recordings as samples of people standard way of speaking, as they try to track speech changes throughout. Okay,

So you're doing it just strictly on linguistics and?

Absolutely, yes. So if you would be reading- willing to read it. Sure. You want me to read it now? Yeah. Out Loud and however you would like. Okay...

All right. I've lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County. Do I say that? [INTERVIEWER NODS] Okay, let me start over. I've lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County. And when I was five, we moved to a farm near White House, which is southeast of Tyler. I liked growing up in the country. When my chores were done, I'd ride my horse, climb trees, or hike down to the creek to fish or swim. One time we tied a rope to a limb of a cypress tree, and we'd swing out wide over the swimming hole and drop into the water. I'd pretend to be Tarzan swinging on a vine. In the spring, I'd fly Clyde kites, and on summer nights we'd catch fireflies, but we call them lightning bugs. Once in a while we'd have fights with corn cobs or pine cones. 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 save life. And for a long time I'd go home every chance I got. Mama would always cook my favorite foods fried Oka, Hot fried okra, okra hopping John. That's rice and black eyed peas and pecan pie. We had lots 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 says, 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 our 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 ties to the land, the price of progress just too high

Well, thank you for adding your voice to the collection though. We appreciate that kind of research.

Yeah. And so I've just can you pause or do [PAUSE AUDIO]

And what is it typical workday look like for you?

Right now, very busy. Only because I'm getting acclimated to everything that, that the libraries, it's about. Also with the community, althought I'm from the, from here from the [REGION], each city, it's a little bit different. And so I'm originally from [DIFFERENT CITY], two towns away from here. And so I'm getting to know, another community.

Hi, this is Nathalia Chavarria. Today is June 5 2024. And I'm here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our community members. Before we begin, I'd like to get a verbal consent for the form that we went over. Could you please say I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study

I consent for this interview.

Okay, to get started, can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

Pardon?

To get started? Can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

I was born here.

You're born here, like, 

[COMMUNITY NAME], Texas.

Okay. Can you tell you a bit more about this community? How will you describe it to someone who doesn't live here?

It's very unique in the sense that uh you almost feel like you're in another country. 

Okay, what do you think about the border? 

Uh I live here, like maybe a half a mile from the river um. I'm very proud to live here. Yet at the same time, of course, there are quite a few problems with people cutting through my, my fence and my farm and my animals getting out, which is very disturbing. But other than that, I'm very happy because I do get to get to go to Mexico and do some shopping every two or three weeks. And um it's very pleasing. 

All right, in your time living here how has the community changed?  

Oh, my goodness [CLEARS THROAT]. I'm kind of old. So I remember, you know, the um city limits [CLEARS THROAT] being um [LAUGHS] so to speak just right on top of the hill. And now it goes clear out pass the hill and pass another hill. [GIGGLES] And, and uh, I mean, it goes out um just three or four miles out further then then then um where it was when I was a kid. And it's rather interesting that just a block away from my house uh. I lived outside of the city limits then um was the city dump uh. And um, as a matter of fact, right now, a school is built on that [COMMUNITY ELEMENTRY NAME] 

Oh.

is built on that um landfill [CLEARS THROAT]. So you know, I've I've seen many things change. The airport used to be two blocks away. Now it's 12 miles out, they used to be right where the mall is right now. I mean, not the mall, the [COMMUNITY GROCERY STORE] and [STUTTER] the stuff on the east side of um [STREET NAME] street. That basically speaking uh, it has been uh rather exciting to see the growth. 

Interesting, okay, where are the strengths of this community? 

What was that?

The strengths of this community? 

[CLEARS THROAT] Basically speaking, I would say that uh we have a very good school district um I feel that uh many doctors have literally come out of [COMMUNITY NAME] that many rather well known professionals and um so that speaks very highly for our educational system here in [COMMUNITY NAME]. And uh I have been very proud of of all of our graduates the way they continue they go on to college and and um trying to uh get a profession that uh could be a life sustaining uh job.

Interesting, okay, and as we have strengths we have weaknesses, where are the weaknesses in this community? 

I would say the biggest weakness is um uh our corrupt politicians. We've had uh about seven different ones thrown in jail for up to even 10 years for their corrupt activity. But um besides that [CLEARS THROAT] I'm very proud of [STUTTER] the fact that [SIGH] I served for eight years on the school board and um I feel like that that um we did quite a bit that was very productive for our community [CLEARS THROAT] several bonds and things like that that will that went through and and um the last one that that I remember that was a uh [STUTTER] big deal for [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME]was the um SAC. 

Okay. Can you elaborate more why was that an issue?

Pardon?  

Why was that like a big thing and on [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME]? 

What was that?

What was it a big thing in [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME] like the SAC?

Well, the the fact that um [CLEARS THROAT] it the bond went through so that we could have um the um football field and um [STUTTER] all of that activities [PHONE RINGS] stuff out there. [INTERVIEW STOP COMMUNITY MEMBER RECEIVED AN IMPORTANT PHONE CALL]

Alright, so…

Basically speaking, it was um it was a uh [STUTTER] very big deal as far as um [STUTTER] you know trying to push it through. And it [STUTTER] went through. And I, if I remember correctly it was something, I don't know is uh many million dollar uh activity uh um for the activities Student Activity Center, which we call SAC.

Okay I see, yeah, I've been there a couple of times, it's pretty big. Um can you tell about the roles and relationships you have in this community?

The what?

 The roles and relationships you have in this community?

The what?

The roles? And the relationships?

The roles?

Yeah, like your roles and relationships in this community. The role?

Where is that?

Over here, about the roles and relationships you have in this community. [LONG PAUSE, Participant READS THE PAPER]

Roles and relationships. What I understand about that is [CLEARS THROAT] maybe I shouldn't say it, but [SIGH]

[SMALL LAUGH]

People putting in their relatives, their real close friends, into certain positions. Other people being strike as stricken out of being able to have a job because they're given it to a friend. That has been very common here. As a matter of fact, I will say this, my son in law was not given a job. And other people were given jobs, just I mean, he was highly qualified. But as they say um, things got better for him. Anyhow. He got a lot more money elsewhere

That's great.

So it was a blessing in disguise. 

That's great. I'm happy to hear that. What do you do for work?

Well, now I'm retired. But um what I did when I was um working, basically speaking, I was in charge of the music department in a small Bible College here in[ COMMUNITY TOWNS NAME] that my father started in 1945. And um I was born uh. That first school year, I was born in 46. And so basically speaking [CLEARS THROAT] uh , it was um just really, very, very exciting. Very good.

Did you study anything? Did you went to school?

Yes um. From high school, I went to uh Bible college, and I got my degree there. Then I went to [CITY IN MEXICO] and uh lived there for three years. And um uh enjoyed it thoroughly back then I wouldn't enjoy it, now. It's too big. But um basically speaking um uh I came back to [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME] in '73. And so I've been here ever since.

Interesting.How do you think your connections in this community influence your work?

[ASKING IF PHONE WAS STILL RECORDING IN SPANISH]

Si.

How do what?

How do you think your connections and this community influenced your work?

Connections? 

Yes. [LONG PAUSE]

Like, like what, how do you understand that,

Like back then when you were like in,

Cual es? [ASKING WHAT QUESTION IT IS ON THE PAPER]

Es esta [POINTS AT PAPER, LONG PAUSE]

Basically speaking, I would say that, anytime you do your job, you are going to be influential in some way or other with other people. And um, of course, you're always hoping that your influence is positive on their lives. But um basically um lot of times you are able to progress because of uh friends that you have known uh help you through your um daily walk of what you're trying to accomplish. 

Okay, now that we've talked more about your work, can you tell me about how you got into this role? You already mentioned how you're  into the work?

Yeah, here basically speaking like I said, I was in [CITY IN MEXICO] [CLEARS THROAT]. And uh the, the man who was in charge of the music department was basically kind of trying to retire and get out and, and go do something that he had always dreamed of doing. So he stopped by and invited me to come back to my hometown [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME] And that was in '73. And so uh like I say, I've been here ever since um. And uh that's the way I, I got this particular job it was through um uh a man that worked with my father, but, but um my father had nothing to do with bringing me back.

Okay. All right. How long have you been working there?  

I worked are close to 30 years.

Oh Wow. Okay. And you were teaching how to play instruments?

Uh, a little bit, not not much.

Okay.

But um mostly I was involved um with choirs, men's choirs, men's,uh ladies choirs, mixed choirs. I was also involved in teaching um music theory. Plus um, I did do quite a bit of voice training.

Okay, how was like a normal workday for you? How did it look like?

Well [CLEARS THROAT] , of course, as long as it was the class, there was a schedule I had to follow. But basically, where um [CLEARS THROAT]  a very large portion of my job was been dean of students, married students and single students, boys and girls, uh I was always in uh, in the middle of whatever. Like, you could say problems, some of them would have with each other. In other words, not to say fighting. But of course, you know, their, their differences of opinion. And so therefore, sometimes there are conflicts, but basically speaking, it was very good, because I was able to, you know, help all of them solve their problems.

Okay.

And it was even uh having to do with them [CLEARS THROAT]  their health issues also.

Oh wow, okay. What does it mean to be um in your job in the community?

What was that?

[LONG PAUSE POINTING AT THE QUESTION IN THEIR PAPER] Like a music teacher in your community, how was that?

Really um, my job [SIGHS] didn't really [SIGHS] uh have much relationship with the community, other than where we [STUTTERS], I was with uh  choirs, many, many, many times, like in uhat Christmas time, we would go to the mall and sing, we would go to the old people's homes and then sing, and and basically speaking, you know, try to [STUTTERS] help people get a little bit of a uh little bit of joy and also uh a little bit of uh a little touch with what is basically uh at that particular time will Christian uh Christian Christmas music, the basically,

Okay, all right. What aspects of your job bring you the most joy or satisfaction? What aspects of your job brought you the most joy or satisfaction?

[CLEARS THROAT] Well, basically,[STUTTER] basically speaking, where I dealt a lot with with people, [MIC GOT HIT] it was such a satisfaction to be able to see that you you help them uh triumph in life. And the main thing I would say, is the satisfaction to see them uh go back to their hometown, or go to a uh various different uh places in the world um. To you know, basically, like all of our students would, would come from places like um Spain, Portugal, um not Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Central America, several, you know, from, like South America, and even Mexico, the Dominican Republic. Uh and now like several of the Spanish speaking people that the school has, have come from Africa, there's a Spanish speaking there in I think it's called Giana [GHANA?], or I can't remember but it's on the the west coast of of Africa. And and it's uh an area there that they do speak Spanish, that's what they speak. 

Oh wow, it's very interesting. Okay, we're gonna move forward with the research questions from PI. And we're going to talk about the resident or your experience as a resident in this community.

Okay.

The first set of questions, I'll read a statment to you, and when I'd like you to indicate the extent of your agreement with each one. I'll have you give [PAUSE] I'll have you give your answer on a scale of one to four? Okay, I'm gonna ask you several questions.

Okay.

And one being you completely disagree, two you somewhat disagree, three is somewhat agree, and four is to completely agree, okay.

Okay.

Okay I'll let you to comment on any of the statement please feel free to okay, if you want me to stop at any point, let me know too. 

Okay.

Alright, so the first the phrase is I consider myself to be an American. Will you say that you [PAGE TURNING] completely agree, somwhat disagree?

Completely.

You completely agree? [Participant NODS IN RESPONSE] Okay, using the same scale, how will you rate the following statement? I consider myself to be a Texan. 

Oh, absolutely four.

Four, okie dokie. Which of the following three statements do you agree with the most strongly? I'm American first and Texan. Second, I'm a Texan first and American second, or being Texan American are equally important to me. 

[LONG PAUSE] No number one, I am an American above being a Texas.

Texan. Okay. The next phase is to be true Texan you must know how to speak English. What will you write this one using the same scale we started with?

One.

One? Okay, how about to be true Texan you must know how to speak Spanish?

Absolutely one. 

Okay. 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.

One.

Okay. Finally, in my community, life has been pretty stable over the last 40 years, things haven't changed much. 

Uh, three.

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

I would say mainly growth uh. And um part of that has been because of the casino. The casino has brought in many, many, many hotels. And um like when I was here, there was maybe one or two and they were real, very, very small. And uh now it's almost you stop and think how can it be possible that there would be so many hotels and be filled? You know, it just it just incredible uh. And also the fact that that uh about 20 or so years ago, uh a huge mall came in and then across the uh street from the the mall uh a very large, like soft shopping center came in. And so it has been very, very huge and growing. 

Okay, overall, is this a good community to live in? 

Oh, yes.

Yeah? Why would that be?

I would say the the diversity of uh um even the races that are here we have Chinese uh, Filipinos uh, Africans uh, African Americans uh, we have um um just, you know, quite a few different races. But yet at the same time, [COMMUNITY TOWN NAME]has been known to be a very, very friendly community. 

Okay. What was or is the best part about being a kid or a young person in this community? 

[CLEARS THROAT]I think that the main thing that I um especially received was being able to be fully bilingual. And I'm so proud to be uh a even though I'm an Anglo uh uh , I have been very proud to say that my first language was Spanish. And uh yet at the same time, I'm going to brag, but it's true. I speak better Spanish than many, many Mexicans. I mean, it's incredible, though, a lot of times they will even ask me, Are you Mexican? And I will say yes. [LAUGH] 

[GIGGLES] Yes. Um, do you feel traditional way of life in this community is going away? The traditional way of life? 

In a way, I would say, yes, the traditional way of life has been um depleting, uh going away. And yet at the same time, I try to accept the fact that all the time there is change. And I do not want change to really [MIC GOT HIT] bother me. Although I will have to say that there are quite a few things that have been changing, that are very difficult to accept. And I'm going to say one of them [CHAIR SOUND]. I'm not going to state that about um gays and lesbians, but the one that does bother me quite a bit, is it is becoming very, very standard now, for a young boy and young girl to start living together before they get married. That that does bother me. It bothers me because I think that that uh you are cheapening yourself. You are really um um in in a possible way of your spouse, your, your friend all of a sudden saying "I'm not married, so I'm going someplace else." And generally speaking, this is my opinion, the one that gets hurt the most is the girl. And and so even when I was teaching Sunday school, I would tell them and tell them and tell them. And it seems rather strange that almost all of the kids that were in my Sunday school class today are living together. 

Interesting. Okay? What's your favorite sports team?

Pardon?

What's your favorite sport team? 

[LAUGHS] I am not a sportsman.  

Oh.

As a person of sports very much at all.

Okay.

 I do enjoy um seeing certain games uh. Sometimes I I have even watched golf. And I don't really know nothing about golf. [LAUGH] And and then some people say, How can you sit there and and watch the? I don't know, you know, it's just I guess,[LAUGHS] I guess I just, it's rather impressive that someone can hit a ball and make it fall in a hole[ LAUGHS]. Two blocks away.

[LAUGHS] Yeah.

[LAUGHS] But anyhow, no, I, I do enjoy uh. You know, some, but I'm just not really into into sports. I've, I've always considered myself a person that enjoys working more than than playing. And um that has been something in my life that that, that if I'm not working, people say, "Huh, you need to quit and then the rest?" Well, to me, that's, that's my sport. 

It, has it been like that all your life?

Pardon?

Has it been like that all your life?

I would say yes. But you know, as a kid, when my father would put me to work sometimes I would think he was trying to have a slave. [LAUGHS] 

[LAUGHS] yeah I see.

But that's just children, of course.

Yeah, of course, talking about that. Do you have any shores when you grew up? As you were young?  

Did I have what? 

any chores?

Chores?

Yes.

yes. And I think that that was very, very uh fruitful. For me. I always had rabbits, chickens or something that I had to take care of. And the one thing that I learned from my parents, and even my grandparents, is, you know, like, when you go out to do the chores, remember, your animals enjoy fresh water, just like you enjoy clean water yourself. And um one day, I remember my grandfather chewing me out because I didn't really rinse the water container for the chickens. And he said, "Well, how would you like to be drinking water, you know, in something like this". And, and as I've been doing the chores, I've noticed that every time I go out to give them like fresh water, maybe even they already had water. But once you take them fresh water, they, they start drinking right, right away. 

Oh wow.

Cows, sheep, chickens, they all uh they enjoy, you know? So basically speaking, when you have a chore to be doing every day, it's very important. And then I'll go one step further. With this hot weather. If you don't gather the eggs daily, they almost fry out [LAUGHS] 

Yeah [LAUGHS] 

in the barn.[LAUGHS] 

Yeah,this is weather horrible. What was the worst chore? 

Worst chore?  

Yeah, the only thing like "I can't like I'm tired of this." Like, when you were growing up.

I, I guess I was the type of person that you know, you just did what you had to do. And uh [STUTTER] I really wasn't really a gripe or I'd just go ahead and do it. I don't really remember anything being special that I just did not like, 

I see. So you really enjoy doing the chores.

Yeah, mhm.

Taking care of the animals.  

Yeah.

 All right. Some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?  

What was that?  

Some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends? What do you think of that? 

[LONG PAUSE] I've never thought that's hard. 

Oh.

[PAGES TURNING] I think that um basically speaking, it's almost a natural instinct for girls to like to visit with boys and even boys to like to visit with girls. So I've never considered that being something hard at all.  

Alright, Okay. Can you ever tell a story about another person thinking the other person was not near you, but then turned around and saw the person was standing right next to you? 

In a way, Yes. Because uh I've actually heard people speaking about the gringo and so forth, so on thinking that I don't know Spanish. And then it's rather interesting for me to uh turn around and say,"Que decias?"

[LAUGH] That's very, is it very common? 

Uh not necessary. No, [STUTTER] because basically speaking, I've not really necessarily been an eavesdropper, someone that's always listening to what other people are saying. So basically speaking, no, I don't I don't think that's really been a big problem. 

Okay, had ever happened to you that you were talking about someone and that person was right next to you, or

[CLEARS THROAT]

behind you. 

Uh maybe once or twice, you know uh,I I think it's kind of uh natural that something coincidentally would happen like that. But  um basically, if I ever had have anything to say about somebody else uh, I, I would, generally speaking, I guess, you know, not necessarily, I, I would necessarily make sure that that um I was where no one was around other than the person that I was talking to.  

Yeah okay. All right. But think of the 1990s as the golden decade of pop music. Do you agree? 

Of what now?

[Points at the question on the paper] This one.

[LONG PAUSE] That that question is rather hard for me to answer because I don't read let's listen the 90s. See, I got married in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. So that would be when I had already been married about 20 years. So my oldest child would be close to 20, 21, 22 um. I don't really remember much about music like that. Being pop. 

Okay.

Being pop. I really don't. I, I just can't answer. 

All right. Well, if that's the case, then what's like your favorite like decade of music. 

I really like classical music. I, I do kind of like the Luis Miguel type of music, you know, the the popular uh singers songs. But um I, I do remember that there were certain eras of of different groups of people that would sing that, that I really liked. But mainly mainly, it was back like in the 60s and the early 70s.  

Okay, okay.

But I would say really? No, I would say mostly in the 60s. 

Okay.

When I was like in high school.[LAUGHS] 

Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay. Well, thank you so much for the answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. If you have the time, I just have one last request for you before we conclude our interview. One of the overreaching research questions through the home to Texas program is about linguistic changes in Texas. As part of this project, and linguistic researchers asking the interview participants read a brief passage, which should only take a couple of minutes. It's a short made up story about a life in Texas that was created in the 1980s. And since then, linguistic samples of people's, no, excuse me, linguist researchers have recorded a few 100 Texans reading it. They only use this recordings as samples of people's standard way of speaking as they try to track how speech and text has varies and changes over time. Will you be willing to read a brief passage aloud?

I will try, I was never a good reader. But uh, if I can kind of look over first and,

Okay, yes.

Uh maybe then I would be able to read it.

Sounds great, here you go [SHOWS HIM THE PASSAGE IN HIS COPY OF ANSWERS]

[LONG PAUSE] And uh basically the thing I read what's here 

Yeah aloud yeah, please. 

[CLEARS THROAT] I've lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County. And when I was five, we moved to a farm near White House, which is south east of Tyler. I lived growing up in the country. When my chores were done. I'd ride my horses, pine trees, or hide down the creek, hike down the creek to fish or swim. One time we tried to rope a limb on a cypress tree and would swing out wide over the uh, swimming hole and drop into the water. I'd pretend to be Tarzan swinging on a vine. And in the spring, I'd fly kites and on the summer nights I'd catch fireflies, but we called them lightning bugs. Once in a while we'd have fights with corn cobs or pine cones. And the winner would build a fire in the fireplace and pop popcorn and roast peanuts and popcorn. I mean pecans. I guess I was a live wire. When I was 19 I went to work in Dallas at a fire uh, Firestone Tire store. I didn't like city life. And for a long time, I'd go home every chance I got. Mama would always cook my favorite food, fried okra, hoping John... hoping or hoppin john, hoping I guess, John's rice and black eyed peas and pecan pie. We had lots 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 says "Daddy, it's crazy. I just die if I had to live on a farm." I almost cried. When my first time, she said for the first time, she said that. I know Texas is changing. But I tried to make sure we don't lose touch with our roots, when we may live in a city, while we may live in a city, I want my child and my kids to have a good feeling of the land, have a sense of place and have time for being Texans. I've, if they lose, if they lose our ties to the land, the price of progress is too high.

Thank you so much for the interview and for reading the passage.

Bueno. You are welcome. No problem at all.

This is Yanitza Reyna. Today is June 13, 2024, and I am here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our community members. Before we begin, I'd like to get verbal consent for the form that we went over. Could you please say I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study? 

I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study? 

To get started, can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

Uh, I was born in this community, from my parents, [BOTH PARENTS NAME]. And my parents we-, my father was from [COMMUNITY NAME]. My mother was from Mexico then came back. Uh, moved to [STUTTER], to the United States in the 50s.  

And could you tell me a bit more about this community? How would you describe it to someone who doesn't live here? 

Uh, typical small town USA um. Only difference is we're a border town and, and, and our population is is high in Hispanics. 

And how do you think this community has changed throughout your time living here? 

Mm, as far as population it's, it's really grown. Uh, but we're still, I still consider ourselves a small town. It's easy, easy to get around. Compared to other cities. 

Would you say, um, there have been industrial projects that have grown and businesses?

Oh, yes, yes. Businesses and industrial projects definitely have, have increased in our city. 

And what would you say are the strengths of this community? 

The fact that we're border town and, and, and our population can up to double during the day, with all the people coming in from Mexico, which greatly uh, influences uh, or helps uh, my line of work, which is a restaurant, but it, I'm sure it does the same for other businesses in town.

And how would you say it affects uh, your job or the town as a whole, when the bridge closes down? 

We do see the less traffic of course, less sales. But we also uh, the way it affects me is that a lot of my workers are from Mexico. So I have to worry about how they're gonna to come over. Otherwise, we're going to be short staffed. 

And what would you say are some of the weaknesses of this community? 

Uh, weaknesses? Uh, well, right now we're experiencing all the people that are migrating to the United States. And it's, it has hurt business. I think it's hurt um, travel into [COMMUNITY NAME], not from Mexico, but from people for some reason, I think are scared of what's going on here in town. And we have a lot less traffic like from with, within in the United States, not from Mexico, but within the United States. 

And could you describe uh, the situation going on in [COMMUNITY NAME] currently? 

It's not as bad as they say in the news. Everybody keeps saying that it's bad. Even the people that come down and, and, and, and you see them on, you see getting interviewed on TV, uh. They say it's bad, but it's not as bad as everybody thinks. I think it, like I said, it hurts us, with my uh, workers coming over. But other than that, no. People said there was going to be high crime in the area. We haven't really experienced that, at least not me. 

And could you tell me about the roles and relationships that you have in this community? 

Uh, roles and relationships? Uh. Well, since it's a small town, a lot of the uh, I know a lot of the high officials in town. A lot of them were in school with me and uh, my brother, but uh, he's with the police department at a high position. So uh, I do have a lot of contact with the, with the, the politicians in town.  

And what about personal? Are you a father? 

I am a father uh, I have three kids uh. Two of them have moved away. I got one that's about to leave um. And my wife also works here in town for the school district. 

And what do you do for work?  

I'm a general manager for a fast food restaurant, for [FAST FOOD RESTAURANT NAME]. I've been here for 37 years. 

And how do you think your connections in this community influence your work as a, uh general manager? 

Uh, as how I influence uh, well, a lot of the people that come down, the younger kids that come work here, uh I know their parents. So uh, I feel like we have like a bigger connection with them. A lot of them I actually, kids of people who started to work here when I first started back in the 80s. So I think I have a special connection to a lot of my employees. 

And now I like to talk more about your work as a general manager. Could you tell me about how you got into this role? 

Actually, I left for, I left [COMMUNITY NAME] and when I graduated from high school in '85, I moved to [DIFFERENT SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY NAME] to go to [TEXAS UNIVERSITY NAME] I didn't do too good in school,[GIGGLE] which sent me back to town uh. And my mother told me like you didn't want to go to school, get to work. This was when [FAST FOOD RESTAURANT NAME] was a brand new business back in '87. And I, I walked over here and then gave me an opportunity and, and I was blessed that uh, with the family I've been working with. 

And how long have you been working here? 

37 years. 

And what does the typical workday look like for you? 

Oh, right now, [STUTTER] it's daytime. I got an early shift. I come in at five in the morning, which I love. And I'm out by at least 1pm. So I got the rest of the day free. 

Yeah. And how does that compare to, have you worked night shift?

I've worked. When I first started, it was basically the other way around, I was working night shift coming out like a two in the morning coming in at four or five in the afternoon.

How would you compare those two?

Uhh. Now because of my family, and I'm able to enjoy them more, I, I think I like it better. When I first started, I didn't really care. If I got out late. Uh, the only difference was that I would get home like a two in the morning and my energy was pumping because I was used to being up late and my wife was asleep because she needs to go in early. 

And what does it mean to be a general manager in this community?

Uh, well, I think that uh, I need uh, to be conscious of, of, all the teenagers that are working right now uh. And, and when I think that we always tell our, our younger kids that work in here that we've been in that position where they have to go to school, and work. So we just try to make sure that they um, work like uh, don't get out too late, because we know how hard it is to be studying and working at the same time. 

Um, do you cater to their needs, like being able to multitask and handle both school and work? 

Oh, I think, I think we help a lot of younger generation develop. Some of them are really shy. So when they start, we notice that they struggle, but I think it helps them um, develop some of their character uh. And um, little by little they start learning or they can do things two things at the time, at the same time, as opposed to when they first started. 

Do you think, um, contribute to their development of the real life world?  

Definitely, definitely. Especially because amazingly, we notice how much is kids struggling out with money, like with simple like getting change out of a dollar but uh, little by little here, they learn it and, and we know that helps them in school. And like I said their character building while they're working here uh, uh. Their interaction with the customer helps develop. 

And what aspects of your job bring you the most joy or satisfaction? 

The employees uh, all the employees I've gotten to know here uh, since I've been here 37 years, and I've been blessed with a great crew. A lot of my employees have been here for over 20 years, especially my breakfast crew. We've gotten to know each other's kids, we got to each other, to the parties uh. When they get baptized, we. So we, we really do feel like a family here. 

So you have relationships, work relationships, but also personal relationships.  

Personal relationships. Yes. 

And what are the biggest challenges that you do face in your work? 

Right now uh? At work you said right. I think right now my biggest challenge is the night, night shifts, night crew. But that's kind of, kind of like common sense. Because my night crew uh, the turnover is really high. Because it's high school kids that they know that if they quit here, they can go across the street and work at [OTHER FAST FOOD RESTAURANT] or go across the street and work at [ANOTHER FAST FOOD RESTAURANT]. So I do struggle with my night crew ,uh. But that's about the biggest challenge right now.  

And how do you think um, you'll slowly find a solution to that? 

We try to make sure that we retain whoever we do hire, that they stay with us for as long as possible. 

Okay, and now let's talk more about your experiences as a resident of this community. For this first set of questions. I'll read a statement to you. I'd like you to indicate the extent of your agreement with each one. I'll have you give your answer on a scale of one to four or one is completely disagree to a somewhat agree. Three is somewhat agree. I'm sorry, where one is completely disagree, two is somewhat disagree, three is somewhat agree and four is completely agree. If you'd like to comment on any of the statements, please feel free to. This phrase is, the first phrase is, I consider myself to be an American. Would you say that you somewhat agree, completely agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree? 

I- Oh, I completely agree.  

And would you care to explain why you feel that way? 

Uh- I'm not really sure how. I was born in the United States. So I consider myself, well I do consider myself an American, American, of course, but I know that I have some, some uh, some of my uh, my family was born in Mexico so I, I do feel uh, some part of me is, is from Mexico. 

By using the same skill, How would you read the following statement? I consider myself to be a Texan. 

I agree. 

Do you do any like Texan festivities? Like, um, watch football games?

Yeah, I do watch football but I think that's more American to me.  

Oh that's true. Anything Texan that you might think of? 

Yeah, uh.   I'm trying to think like, because I was gonna say rodeo, but they have rodeos in other states. Yeah. I'm not sure what to answer that.

Are you a big fan of the UT Longhorns?  

Oh, definitely. Yes.  

And which of the following three statements do you agree with the most strongly? I am American first, Texan, Texan second, I am Texan first and American second. Or being Texan and American are equally important to me. 

I think I'm American first and then I'm then Texan.

Okay. The next phrase is to be a true Texan. You must know how to speak English. What would you rate this one? Using the same scale we started with. 

I completely disagree. 

Um, would you want to explain why you disagree?  

Because uh, I consider my mom Texan, even though she immigrated from Mexico. And uh, she doesn't speak any English at all. But I do still consider her Texan. 

Has she been here like, half of her life or for a little bit?  

She started, she started living here when she was about 16 years old.  

So it's been a while. Okay yeah, I also see you're point. Uh, the next, how about:  To be a true Texan, you must know how to speak Spanish. 

Yeah. No, I disagree. 

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. 

Okay, I'm sorry, can you repeat that? That was confusing. 

Okay. In my community, you can do everything you want and get everything you need, even when you don't speak English. 

I somewhat agree. But I think that your chances of, of, of advancing uh, more in life uh, in the United States is if you learn English. 

Um, I do see that the test for driving was only offered in, in English before and now they did.

They did both. 

Both. So I think that's a good opportunity. But I also do understand where you if you learn English, you have way more opportunities in life. Especially here in the United States.

Yeah, I think so. Even though here uh, um. We sometimes get a lot customers that get upset that we speak to them in Spanish. We noticed that a lot. Um, and it's, it's customers that speak Spanish because I've spoken to them in Spanish before. But for some reason uh, their attitude is if you're in the United States, speak English. 

Yeah. Now I like to hear from you about the community itself. What are some of the things that have changed in this community during the last few decades?

Population, of course, uh the size of the community, um the new businesses that are in town, the traffic in town has really increased. Um. 

How would the, how would you say the traffic has changed um? Especially um, would you, how many years did you work the night shift? 

I work my shift for about, like about I'm gonna say 12 years,

12 years. And was there like a difference in traffic?  like when you would come into work or at night? 

At night  No, I think, I think now we have more traffic at night in town than, than we did before. Because before uh, after 10 like the town was dead, like there wasn't that much traffic now you can see a lot more traffic. But I, I think it's understandable because now we have other businesses in town that stay open late so there's more people now. 

Overall, is this a good, good community to live in? 

I think it's a great community. Honestly, I think it's a great, even though like I, I  sometimes convince my kids to come back. And they just like the life in [DIFFERENT SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY NAME]. Um, but as far as maybe because uh, I don't know, I was gonna say because I was born here, but they were born here. But I just like the, the slower pace of life in town. 

What was or is the best part about being a king, a kid or a young person in this community?

Okay, I'm sorry. 

What was or is the best part about being a kid or a young person in this community? 

The best part of being a kid in this community. You know, I think it's a little different when I was a kid uh, because for the same reason, life was slow. Um, the pace of the town was much slower ,um. I don't know if it's just in [COMMUNITY NAME] but when I was a kid life was uh, much simpler. We spent more time outside, I think technology had a lot to do with that, that were everybody is on their phone and doesn't want to go out. We used to stay out late, um. My mom allowed us to stay out late. But I think it's a little different now. But I, a lot of it has to do with technology. 

So you would say uh, when there was no technology that it was better?

I, I think it was better as a kid, [CHUCKLE] you got to experience more, I think, I think growing up you got to mature a little faster. And because believe it or not, I used to have uh, when I ,when I first got married, and my brother in law was like, seven, eight years old. He worked, he used to go to [COMMUNITY NAME ELEMANTARY SCHOOL] you know,  [COMMUNITY NAME ELEMANTARY SCHOOL]?

Yes.

The church is right across the street, uh. For some reason, my mother in law used to get me out of work to go pick up my brother in law to cross him across the street. So you can go to catechism.

Oh wow.

And do you feel? Do you feel that the traditional way of life in this community is going away? 

 And I was like uh, when I was a kid, I used to be all over town [CHUCKLES] , at that age. I guess we're more over protective now.

I think it has, uh. But again, I think it has to do with technology. Let me give you an example, um. Growing up whenever we, there was dinner, breakfast or lunch served at my house, we all used to sit together at the table. And nowadays uh, like my kids, they want to go to the room, they want to get their food, go to their room, or eat later. And that's one of the things that I like insisted on. If I was picky on anything. I was like, we're gonna have dinner, we're all gonna have do it like as a family and put your phones away. I don't want you sitting at the table uh, with your phone in your hand. That was one thing I that got really strict on for some reason. Even my wife agreed, uh. It also allowed I think it allowed that that time to sit down with your family. You know, bonding, you get to talk to your kids find out what they're feeling what they're going through in school, instead of just sitting there because I've, I've gone to other family members houses and I see that everybody's sitting at a table but everybody's on their cell phones so like there's not much conversation going on. You don't. 

Yeah, you're, you're in the same room. 

 Yes. But it's like if you're not there. 

Um, what is your favorite sports team? 

Uh, any sport? [CHUCKLE] 

Uh, yeah. Your favorite sport. 

Oh, football, the Cowboys I guess. Texas teams I guess I'm Texan, Cowboys, basketball: Spurs, uh. I was gonna say college football. Yes, UT Longhorns. But UTSA long-Roadrunners because of my kids are at UTSA. I went to UTSA for one year so. 

And how, how have they been doing lately? Do you know? 

The Cowboys have been struggling for a lot of years. [BOTH CHUCKLE] Spurs well they're rebuilding. Hopefully, they can rebuild fast so we can get those uh, championships this season's over, like we did in the past.  

And did you have- 

And the Houston Astros but they're not cheaters.

Okayyy.. [LAUGHS]. And did you have to do chores when you were younger? Or no? 

Oh, definitely. It my, my father passed away when I was only seven years old. So my mother started working. And uh, since I was the middle child, I was in charge of uh, like my two older brothers used to work already. So I was in charge of my mom would get up early at five in the morning, cook breakfast, cooked lunch. And I was in charge of heating up all that food before my brothers went to work. And if they come home for lunch, I have to feed the work, and then clean the house while they were out, uh. But there were chores, but I- that I had to do. But I think it's, uh, also I needed to help my mom because I knew she was working like all day.  

Mhm. And what was the worst chore that you had? What would you say?

One thing my mom used to do every summer is for some reason she wanted to paint the house. So every summer I had to paint the house inside and out. And it was always this crazy colors like a dark, a bright green or a bright yellow. Or next, the next year she wanted everything blue. So I hated painting it, to up to now I hate painting. Like I- if we have to paint something at home, I won't do it. 

And what was, what was a chore that you didn't mind doing so much? 

I guess the housework uh, because even now I-uh, when I'm, everybody's at work, or my wife's at work, my kids are in school, uh. I like to do housework cause it-, put music on do housework and it gets my mind off of uh, work. Um I- the work I do here and, and just gets me to concentrate on something else.  

And did you ever get caught pretending to do a chore but not really doing it?

No, I don't think so.  

And some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?

It shouldn't be? I think it is. I think it's a little hard because everybody's gonna have a different point of view. A girl has a different point of view as a boy. I don't think it should be hard for boys and girls to be friends. My wife for some reason, some of her best friends have always been boys, uh. I'm not the jealous kind. But I for some reason she'd always told me ever since she was growing up she was I used to for some reason, my best friends were always uh, boys for some reason.

And did you ever tell a story about another person thinking that the other person was not near you, but then turned around and saw the person was standing right next to you? 

Like speak behind somebody's back, and they caught me? 

Yeah.  

Mhm. That hasn't happened to me. 

No? Okay. And a lot of people think of the 1990s as a golden decade of pop music. Do you agree?  

Of music? No, not the 90s. [CHUCKLES] The 90s you said right? 

Yeah.

To me. I think it's the 80s. That's the best, uh. Maybe because I was a teenager during the 80s and, um. I guess everyone's gonna have a different point of view. You're probably gonna think like, when you were a teenager, that that's the best decade for music. But besides, I think the 80s, uh, we had, uh, MTV was introduced, uh. A lot of different um, types of music started coming up uh, pop music, uh. It was the end of disco for sure. Uh, but we started getting like rap. A lot of different uh, genres of music started coming out. And um, yeah, no, I think the 80s, somebody from the 90 probably that grew up in the 90s came up with that question. 

And do you have a favorite song that you might um, think about when you think about the 80's? 

A lot- a particular song? No. I just liked a lot of Bon Jovi, uh. But as far as a particular song, no, just no, yes uh. I like um, the song boys of summer by uh, I can't remember the name right now. But that was one of my favorite songs during the 80's, boys of summer. 

How would you spend your time listening to music? Back then?

You know it was different back then because nowadays you can just look for the song that you want-

Mhm, oh okay.

and it's there on your radio. Back then you had to wait for it to come out on the radio station or you had to go out and buy the,

The record.

The record, yeah. So it was different. Or, you could record on the radio but you always try to record where you don't hear the DJ talking,

Oh, okay.

So as soon as he stopped talking you started recording. And then that's how you would build up your collection.  

[LAUGH]

And then that's how you would build up your collection.  

Yeah, so you would say technology is efficient sometimes but..

Yeah it is, and, yeah. And there's something about purchasing the music, the records and actually putting them on, I think uh, I think it was something that a lot of people didn't experience, and I think they missed on. Experience other than that? 

And would you like um, me to know anything more about your experience um in [COMMUNITY NAME]? Any last words? 

No, I, I- still think uh, small town life is the best, uh. You know everybody, uh. If something happens in town, you always, you always find out like who it was and who they're related to. And I think I, I really enjoy it. The only reason I would move out of here is to follow my kids like, like to [DIFFERENT SOUTH TEXAS REGION COMMUNITY NAME], but other than that I would still live in [COMMUNITY NAME]. 

I understand. Okay, so thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me if you have the time. I just have one last request for you before we conclude our interview. One of our overarching research questions throughout the Home to Texas program is about linguistic changes in Texas. As part of this project, a linguistics researcher is asking that interview participant read a brief passage, which should only take a couple of minutes. It's a short, made up story about life in Texas that was created in the 1980s, and since then, linguistic researchers have recorded a few hundred Texans reading it. They use these recordings as samples of people's standard way of speaking as they try to track how speech and Texas varies and changes over time. Would you be willing to read a brief passage out loud?

Yes. 

Great. Thank you so much. Whenever you're ready, could you read this page out loud? 

"I lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County and when I was five, we moved to a farm near Whitehouse, which is just southeast of Tyler. I like growing up in the country. When my chores were downe, at I'd ride my horse, climb trees, or hike down to the creek to fish or swim. One time we tied a rope to a limb of a cypress tree and we'd swing out, we'd  swing out wide over the swimming hole and drop into the water. I'd pretend to be Tarzan swinging on the vine. In the spring, I'd fly kites, and on summer nights we'd catch fireflies, but we call them like li-lightning bugs. Once in a while we'd have fights with our corn, fights with corn cobs or pine cones. In the winter we'd build a fire in the fireplace and pop popcorn and roast peanuts and pecans. I guess I was, I guess I was live wire. 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'd go home every chance I got. Mama would always cook my favorite foods fried okra, Hoppin' John-- that's rice and black-eyed peas--and pecan pie. We had a lot of good times, but going home is not the same. Now. After dad, after daddy died, Mama sold the farm and moved to Tyler. I rather be living on a farm right now instead of here in the city. But my wife and kids don't understand when I gripe about city life and talk about moving to the country. My oldest child says Daddy, that's crazy. I'd just died. I'd just died 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 our, with our roots. While we may live in the city, I want my kids to have a good feeling for the land and have a sense of place and take pride in being Texans. If they lose our ties to the land, the price of progress is too high." 

Thank you for contributing your voice to the collection. And thank you so much for taking your time to share your experiences with me. I really appreciate your time and generosity. If you don't have any other questions or comments, I'll go ahead and stop the recording.  

Yes, thank you.

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,