An audio recording of an oral history of Laura Gamboa. Gamboa was born in Cuautla in the Mexican state of Morelos south of Mexico City and lived there until she was twenty-one years old. In Cuautla her family had a refreshment stand. Over time the area became increasingly populated, and more and more people opened similar business of their own. Laura noted that sales began to decrease and that the family had less control over which products they offered for sale. Laura moved to Washington County with her two daughters to join her husband and her mother who had relocated there a short time earlier after spending about six months working in Madera, California.
Laura found work ironing shirts at a dry cleaner, and took English classes at Saint Matthew Catholic Church and at Portland Community College in Hillsboro. She eventually secured a job with Oregon Childhood Development Coalition where she served as a teacher.
?Giores” (name changed at narrator’s request) was born in Colima, Mexico and spent most of his adult life in Mexico City before relocating to the United States. Giores found life in Mexico City fast paced, uncertain, and stressful. After working at a number of different occupations there he moved to Oregon—a place that he had some knowledge of through a relative. Starting with fieldwork, he transitioned to landscaping, and now works as a painter. Giores obtained his GED after relocating and lives in Cornelius. He and his wife are enrolled in the microbusiness program at Adelante Mujeres; they hope to begin a tax preparation business and create more financial stability for their family.
Giores talks about the reasons why he left Mexico and the pull of the “American dream” that prompted him to relocate. He speaks about the difficulty of the border crossing. The experience inspired him to write a short piece about the border crossing of an individual named Juan. An excerpt from that piece is included at the end of this transcript, shared with the permission of the narrator. Giores elaborates on the process of adjusting to life in Washington County. He explains his relationship with Mexican culture, the country of Mexico, and the ways that he remains in contact with family members there. He also offers his opinions on English-speaking U.S. culture and society. Though work in the United States has not been easy, Giores has overall felt well treated in Washington County and recalls the support of volunteer English teachers and the appreciation that bosses and clients have demonstrated for his work accomplishments. Interview is in Spanish. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Eduardo Corona. Corona was born near Mexico City. He graduated from Mexico City’s Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana with a major in Business Administration. He moved to California in 1999 to work for a U.S.-based company with multinational operations, and then moved to Beaverton, Oregon to work for a telecommunications company that was opening a branch in Mexico. After a work-necessitated return to Mexico and several changes of employment, Eduardo and his family moved back to Oregon. He began working as the director of the small business development program for Adelante Mujeres; the program provides Spanish-language instruction and support for men and women in Washington County who are looking to start their own businesses. Eduardo recalls the work opportunities that brought him and his family to Oregon, and compares his life in Oregon to his experiences in both California and Mexico. He mentions instances of discrimination in Washington County, but believes that overall he and his family are comfortable in Hillsboro. He shares his perceptions of the community of Hillsboro, and talks about the opportunities that his work with Adelante Mujeres is helping to create for Spanish-speaking individuals residing in the county. Eduardo is proud of his Mexican identity and culture, and appreciates the ways that his children retain Mexican values while incorporating U.S. culture into their lives. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Lorenzo Rubio, including his chilhood in Mexico, moving to North Plains, and life on the Tankersley farms. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Lorenzo Rubio, including his chilhood in Mexico, moving to North Plains, and life on the Tankersley farms. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Maria Romero, including childhood in Mexico, life in Texas, work at Bird's Eye Cannery, and disussion of the formation of Centro Cultural. There is an index and a transcript of this interview.
A video recording of an oral history of Maria Refugio Granados about her life in Mexico and transitioning to the U.S. with help from Bienestar. The interview takes place in Hillsboro, Oregon. Granados was born in Cuto De La Esperanza, Michoacan, Mexico. She begins recounting her childhood in Mexico, how she met her husband, and when she had her children. She discussess the factors that motivated her to migrate to the U.S. and her experience as a Mexican woman in Washington County at that time. She lives with her two grandchildren, who she considers to be children of her own. She tearfully explains how she took over their custody following the death of her daughter, the mother of the grandchildren, and shares details of her grandchildren's journey to the U.S. At minute 29:00, Maria Guadalupe Ayala, Granados' 11 year old granddaughter, walks into the interview. Granados continues to share further details of her transition to the U.S., how she dealt with the language barrier, overcomming her fear of public transit, and a humorous story about her first (and last) day of work. At minute 34:35, Granados show photos of her family and proceeds to describe family traditions and celebrations. She briefly talks about her mother and what she learned from her and at minute 42:00, Granados' granddaughter answers questions about her experience in the U.S. For the remainder of the interview, Granados continues to discuss the celebration of traditions and Mexican holidays, like Mexican Independance Day and Day of the Dead, and the difference between celebrating in Mexico versus the U.S. This interview is in Spanish. ////////////// Una grabación en video de una historia oral de María Refugio Granados sobre su vida en México y su transición a los Estados Unidos con la ayuda de Bienestar. La entrevista se lleva a cabo en Hillsboro, Oregon. Granados nació en Cuto De La Esperanza, Michoacán, México. Comienza contando sobre su infancia en México, cómo conoció a su esposo, y cuando tuvo a sus hijos. Ella comenta sobre los factores que la motivaron a migrar a los Estados Unidos y su experiencia como mujer mexicana en el condado de Washington durante ese tiempo. Ella vive con sus dos nietos, que ella considera ser como sus propios hijos. Ella explica con lágrimas cómo se hizo cargo de su custodia después de la muerte de su hija, la madre de los nietos y comparte detalles del viaje de sus nietos a los Estados Unidos. Al minuto 29:00, Maria Guadalupe Ayala, nieta de Granados, entra a la entrevista. Granados continúa compartiendo más detalles sobre su transición a los Estados Unidos, cómo lidió con la barrera del idioma, superando su miedo al transporte público y una historia humoroso sobre su primer (y último) día de trabajo. Al minuto 34:35, Granados mostrar fotos de su familia y procede a describir su tradiciones familiares y celebraciones. Habla brevemente de su madre y de lo que aprendió de ella y al minuto 42:00, la nieta de Granados responde preguntas sobre su experiencia en los Estados Unidos. Por el resto de la entrevista, Granados sigue hablando de la celebración de tradiciones y dias festivos mexicanas, como El Día de la Independencia de México y el Día de los Muertos, y la diferencia entre estas celebraciones en México y los Estados Unidos. Esta entrevista esta en Español.
