Oral History of Reyna S.
have any money. I had to get a job I remember working in a factory. That was the only job available to me (she stared outside for about a minute) those were hard times for me.
Reyna Soriano is a 39 year old mother of two. She was born and raised in Mexico. We both sat on the couch on a Tuesday afternoon. The Sun was setting and we talked about immigration. Throughout the interview, you can hear the television and a dog barking in the background.
Immigration, I’ll tell you the problem with immigration is security anyone can come nowadays. Sometimes I think that people are coming here for the same reason. When I first came, I wondered, Is immigration really a big problem? Immigration isn’t a problem now. Well, it used to be. Everybody came to America because they wanted better lives. I used to hear a lot about immigration during 2001 and last year. N
ow, I barely hear about it, I mostly hear about the economy. When I first came, I used to hear about a lot of different people coming in, but now I don’t mostly hear or see anyone coming to the United States of America or maybe because I am not there when they come. Immigration did a lot to America in my opinion [Immigrants] help the economy and take jobs the most people don’t want.
I remember when I came to the United State. I was only 18 years old.
When I first came, I thought “Now I could improve my life and give myself and my future family a better life”. Luckily, I didn’t come alone. I felt more comfortable with my husband, brother - law and my mother -law at my side. I didn’t have a single dollar in my pocket I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t Immigration, I’ll tell you the problem with immigration is security anyone can come nowadays. Sometimes I think that people are coming here for the same reason. When I first came, I wondered, Is immigration really a big problem? Immigration isn’t a problem now. Well, it used to be. Everybody came to America because they wanted better lives. I used to hear a lot about immigration during 2001 and last year. N
ow, I barely hear about it, I mostly hear about the economy. When I first came, I used to hear about a lot of different people coming in, but now I don’t mostly hear or see anyone coming to the United States of America or maybe because I am not there when they come. Immigration did a lot to America in my opinion [Immigrants] help the economy and take jobs the most people don’t want.I remember when I came to the United State. I was only 18 years old.
have any money. I had to get a job I remember working in a factory. That was the only job available to me (she stared outside for about a minute) those were hard times for me.When someone talked to me in English I would talk back in Spanish and they wouldn’t understand me. It was very hard to understand someone, so I had take classes I took these classes for three years but I still have trouble in some words. [But], I am getting a little better everyday with my sons helping me out. Life was hard when I first came I didn’t know how to get around in the city I couldn’t ask for directions because I didn’t know any English.
Everything here is expensive. You have to pay for everything, back in Mexico you don’t have to pay tax for everything and it’s not very expensive. Everything was much different when I first came. I saw a lot old buildings, the streets were dirty and now a lot has changed. Now, I see modern buildings being built every where, the streets are much cleaner and there is less crime. If I had the chance of going back to Mexico, I would go because my mom lives there and I want to help her out, my brother is disabled and they need me.
During the years that I have lived here, I have faced many challenges I needed to learn English. I didn’t have any money. Socializing with other people [was hard].Those were difficult times for me. I remember one friend who helped me a lot. She taught some English. She also helped me with getting a better job.
She showed me other people who can help me. Yeah, she was a good friend. Yeah, I have good life here. I wouldn’t change anything; I have everything here expect my mom and my other brother. If only they had come with me. Living here improved my life. I always wonder “if I never came to America would my life have been different?”
Everything here is expensive. You have to pay for everything, back in Mexico you don’t have to pay tax for everything and it’s not very expensive. Everything was much different when I first came. I saw a lot old buildings, the streets were dirty and now a lot has changed. Now, I see modern buildings being built every where, the streets are much cleaner and there is less crime. If I had the chance of going back to Mexico, I would go because my mom lives there and I want to help her out, my brother is disabled and they need me.
During the years that I have lived here, I have faced many challenges I needed to learn English. I didn’t have any money. Socializing with other people [was hard].Those were difficult times for me. I remember one friend who helped me a lot. She taught some English. She also helped me with getting a better job.
She showed me other people who can help me. Yeah, she was a good friend. Yeah, I have good life here. I wouldn’t change anything; I have everything here expect my mom and my other brother. If only they had come with me. Living here improved my life. I always wonder “if I never came to America would my life have been different?”
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