Mexican Immigrant's Story
Marco is a chef that traveled to America from Mexico, but he does not have his papers. He works 12 hours a day in a cramped and hot kitchen cooking Mexican food for a popular Philadelphia neighborhood restaurant. He is a respectable man that enjoys working hard to make money to send to his family and help his children get through school. During an interview, I was able to capture some of the highlights of his journey as well as the hardships that he has gone through to come to this country.
"I know it is a crime, and for that I apologize, but maybe someone will understand my necessity and they understand the reason that I am here."
ORIGINAL SPANISH INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Hola tengo cuatro años viviendo aquí en US, soy de Puebla México no fue fácil llegar aquí al cruzar la frontera, pero gracias a dios que yo pienso que por la ayuda de el, yo estoy aquí por qué a pasar d tanto peligro de animales, la temperatura de calor por la mañana el frío por la noche la poca agua que nos acompaña en el transcurso del camino yo tarde ocho días en cruzar la frontera con los peligros antes mencionados gracias a la ayuda de dios. Porque gracias a su ayuda estoy aquí. Pasé muy cerca de los oficiales d inmigración que patrullaban la frontera con la ayuda de dios no corri ni nada yo por eso digo que gracias a dios por el yo estoy aquí porque yo solo vine a trabajar de estos cuatro años que e estado aquí he tenido muy buen trabajo e conocido gente Americana muy buena que me admiran por mi sencillez y unidad a las cuales agradesco y respeto por el trabajo que me dan y me respetan por el buen trabajo que les brindó. Mi meta es trabajar mucho para poder sacar a mi familia adelante yo solo estoy aquí para salir adelante no estoy aquí por otra cosa mala . Tengo hijos por el cual necesito trabajar para poder sacarlos adelante darles un buen estudio para que ellos no pasen por el peligro que yo pasé por eso le doy gracias a dios y a los Estados Unidos porque aunque es un delito estar de ilegal aquí. Pero yo solo estoy aquí para trabajar no por otra cosa mala. Se que es un delito el cual pido perdón, pero quisiera que entendieran mi necesidad y me comprendan por el cual yo estoy aquí muchas gracias a un Mexicano que se considera una persona respetuosa y trabajadora. Soy de Zacapoaxtla Puebla. Gracias.
Hola tengo cuatro años viviendo aquí en US, soy de Puebla México no fue fácil llegar aquí al cruzar la frontera, pero gracias a dios que yo pienso que por la ayuda de el, yo estoy aquí por qué a pasar d tanto peligro de animales, la temperatura de calor por la mañana el frío por la noche la poca agua que nos acompaña en el transcurso del camino yo tarde ocho días en cruzar la frontera con los peligros antes mencionados gracias a la ayuda de dios. Porque gracias a su ayuda estoy aquí. Pasé muy cerca de los oficiales d inmigración que patrullaban la frontera con la ayuda de dios no corri ni nada yo por eso digo que gracias a dios por el yo estoy aquí porque yo solo vine a trabajar de estos cuatro años que e estado aquí he tenido muy buen trabajo e conocido gente Americana muy buena que me admiran por mi sencillez y unidad a las cuales agradesco y respeto por el trabajo que me dan y me respetan por el buen trabajo que les brindó. Mi meta es trabajar mucho para poder sacar a mi familia adelante yo solo estoy aquí para salir adelante no estoy aquí por otra cosa mala . Tengo hijos por el cual necesito trabajar para poder sacarlos adelante darles un buen estudio para que ellos no pasen por el peligro que yo pasé por eso le doy gracias a dios y a los Estados Unidos porque aunque es un delito estar de ilegal aquí. Pero yo solo estoy aquí para trabajar no por otra cosa mala. Se que es un delito el cual pido perdón, pero quisiera que entendieran mi necesidad y me comprendan por el cual yo estoy aquí muchas gracias a un Mexicano que se considera una persona respetuosa y trabajadora. Soy de Zacapoaxtla Puebla. Gracias.
ORIGINAL TRANSLATED ENGLISH INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Hello, I’ve been living in the U.S. for four years. I’m from Puebla Mexico and it wasn’t easy to get here by crossing the border, but thanks to God and by the help of Him, I’m here. We faced a lot of danger from animals, the hot temperatures during the day, and the cold during the night, the little amount of water that we had during the length of the trip. It took me eight days to cross the border with the dangers I previously mentioned, thanks to God… I was extremely close to the immigration officials that patrolled the border, thanks to God I didn’t have to run or anything, which is why I say thank God that I’m here because I only came to work. I have been working for four years that I’ve been here and I’ve had very good work and I’ve met very nice American people that I admire. I appreciate the respect that I’ve gotten for being able to work for them. My goal is to work a lot so I can bring my family up, because I’m the only one here to come out ahead. I’m not here to do anything bad. I have kids that I need to work for so I can bring them up and give them a great education so they don’t go through the danger that I went through. I give a lot of thanks to God and to the United States because although it’s illegal to be here, I am only here for work and nothing bad. I know it is a crime, and for that I apologize, but maybe someone will understand my necessity and they understand the reason that I am here. I am a Mexican that considers myself respectful and I work hard. Thank you.
Hello, I’ve been living in the U.S. for four years. I’m from Puebla Mexico and it wasn’t easy to get here by crossing the border, but thanks to God and by the help of Him, I’m here. We faced a lot of danger from animals, the hot temperatures during the day, and the cold during the night, the little amount of water that we had during the length of the trip. It took me eight days to cross the border with the dangers I previously mentioned, thanks to God… I was extremely close to the immigration officials that patrolled the border, thanks to God I didn’t have to run or anything, which is why I say thank God that I’m here because I only came to work. I have been working for four years that I’ve been here and I’ve had very good work and I’ve met very nice American people that I admire. I appreciate the respect that I’ve gotten for being able to work for them. My goal is to work a lot so I can bring my family up, because I’m the only one here to come out ahead. I’m not here to do anything bad. I have kids that I need to work for so I can bring them up and give them a great education so they don’t go through the danger that I went through. I give a lot of thanks to God and to the United States because although it’s illegal to be here, I am only here for work and nothing bad. I know it is a crime, and for that I apologize, but maybe someone will understand my necessity and they understand the reason that I am here. I am a Mexican that considers myself respectful and I work hard. Thank you.
From the interview, it is obvious that Marco understands that what he is doing is illegal. He knows that he could get in trouble or get deported, but even still, he thanks the people that have helped him and hopes people will understand his story. To the left, Marco cuts onions to create a delicious appetizer dish for the restaurant. The guacamole is made out of aguacates y cebolla (avocados and onion) with a mix of pico de gallo and lime juice. His shift starts at 10 in the morning, but he needs to get there early in order to prep all of the food for the day’s activities. His tasks include but are not limited to: cleaning shrimp, cutting fruits and vegetables, checking stocks, making empanadas and burritos for later pre-made use, cleaning his station, etc. When he is on duty, he must make sure to prepare all orders correctly. At rush times, he can have upwards of 30 orders at once. Although he is not working alone in the kitchen, it is an obvious group effort in which he must achieve maximum effort.