Interview Transcript
Angeles Jacobo
Q: What's it like working in the fields?
A: In the morning, it is okay because we are together and we are talking. But then when it is getting late, like at noon, everyone is tired and we just want to go home and rest. It is really hard.
Q: So you don't want to do this for the rest of your life?
A: No. It is really hard. I have been doing this for 5 years since I came to Idaho, and I don't like it. When it is sunny and it is really hot, we used to go and drink water every time we get out of this field. It is really hard.
Q: You must really respect your father for doing this for you?
A: Yes
Q: He is an incredibly hard worker?
A: Yes
Q: What do you think of your dad?
A: He is really nice with us even though we are women because most of the Mexicans parents think that if they have daughters, they don't have to go to school and study because they cannot marry and that's it, and my dad thinks different. He thinks that we are supposed to study and have an education so that when we marry, we can help our husbands and I like the way he thinks. He is always supporting us in everything we do.
Q: What do you think of the Judge Gutierrez?
A: He is really famous and I like him a lot. I see him as a role model, I want to be like him and help others in whatever I want.
Q: What would you like to do? How come?
A: I want to be a lawyer, because I like to help people. I see there are a lot of disadvantages for Hispanic people here, maybe because we do not know English, or because we work in the fields. Sometimes there is discrimination and I don't like that. I want to be a lawyer and help my people to go on and their children to study and have an education. I will do whatever I can to help them.
Q: That is great and this summer, you are doing what?
A: I am working as a teacher assistant.
Q: And what about your education here, wasn't it difficult to get started?
A: Yes, it was really difficult because I did not know enough English to go to high school. I didn't have any teacher who spoke Spanish so it was really hard for me, but I did it.
Q: What made you keep going though?
A: My dad. He is always telling me to study really hard so that I don't have to work in the fields the rest of my life. He is always telling me, "Angeles, study really hard so that one day you will be a lawyer or something you want to be." He says "if your capacity is not enough, you can be a secretary but I don't want everyone in my family working in the fields, especially my youngest daughters. I don't you guys to be working in the fields." That is what he tells me and then my mom, she is always supporting me to study and do my homework.
Q: If there was something you could see improved about Idaho education for Hispanics, what will it be?
A: More bilingual teachers. We are in a small town, Marsing, but we need bilingual teachers because when I started 9th grade, I didn't have any so that is one thing I will say.
Q: And tell us, did you go to Judge Gutierrez's swearing-in?
A: Yes, I was there and there I heard a lot of things about him. I did not know him, it was the first time I met him and one of his friends was reading his background. I heard that he was working in the fields and that he dropped out of high school and then he went back to get his GED and he studied to be a teacher and then he continued to study because he wanted to help Hispanic people. I was like, I can't believe he dropped out of high school and now he is an attorney, I was so impressed with him. And I said, I want to be like him, I will work in the fields and I know that I can do it because he did it.
Q: Why did you go to the swearing-in?
A: Because Gypsy, our CAMP coordinator told me she was going to be at the swearing-in and she wanted to take me because I want to be a lawyer. So she was like "if you want to go, I'll take you" and I said "just tell me what time and I will be ready to go." And she was like "we're going" and then we went.
Q: Is there anything that I forgot to ask you that you think is important? A lot of people criticize so many immigrants coming from Mexico and how do you respond to that criticism? They get angry that their tax money is going to support you?
A: Probably they think that they are helping us a lot but I think that it is vice-versa or we are helping each other. Because without us working in the fields, they will not be able to have enough money because we have a lot of people that are immigrants and they don't do their tax return so all their money goes to the government. I think they are helping from us and we are helping us from them.
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