Interview of Veronica Mendoza by Andy Reyes // I miss my family. Being away from your country, you learn to value your customs.
Interview of Veronica Mendoza by Andy Reyes
Hi Veronica, could you tell us about yourself and what you do?
Hi, I’m Veronica Mendoza, I’m a housekeeper.
In which country do you currently live?
I live in California in the USA
How many years have you been living in California?
I have been here for 16 years.
Have you ever been discriminated for being an immigrant?
Yes. In FoodMaxx. They discriminated against me for not speaking the language, they yelled at me and threw my things.
What do you miss the most about your country?
I miss my family. Being away from your country, you learn to value your customs and nowadays, thanks to the new technology I can see my parents through a webcam. Unfortunately, my mother was in the hospital for a week and I could not be with her. My parents are growing old and it’s hard not to be there.
How many hours per day do you work?
Sometimes I work 11 to 12 hours a day.
How your life have changed since being in the USA?
I have matured, I have become independent, my children can have a good education. Obama made great changes for the education of children without papers.
Do you plan returning to your home country one day?
Yes, but sometimes I think that my life would be already different from my age, it is very difficult to find a job in Mexico.
What is the most difficult thing you have been through while being away from your country?
I was a victim of terrorism. They put a homemade bomb in the place where I was with my family, after that I lived with post traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.
What would you like people to know about you?
Living far from your country is very hard, but I am grateful to this country, although the work is hard and sometimes difficult, I love this country that has given me so much.
