“[The challenges in my life] made me stronger and [taught me to] value my life and family.”

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Lucina Diaz at a celebration for school volunteers!

interview audio

Lucina Diaz migrated to the United States in her twenties with her husband. She is the mother of two children, Brayan, 13, and Jacqueline, 8, and first lived in Kentucky until moving to Los Angeles.

Lucina Diaz, 36 years old, is living in her home watching her children grow and go to school, her greatest inspirations in life including her husband.

While migrating to America, she suffered many challenges, leaving her parents behind since she had never left her country and parents. She made it too Kentucky and then was able to make it to Los Angeles. California.

She had also suffered her grandmother’s death. This was devastating for her because her grandmother was like a second mother for her, always taking care of her and being there for her. Unfortunately at the time of her death, she was in America and could not attend her funeral.

 

Transcript:

Brayan  Reyes: What Inspires you most in life?
Lucina Diaz: Being healthy and my children to be healthy also, your father and me and that my children study and go to university and get a career.
BR: So your family inspires you the most?
LD: Yes they are 
BR: So what’s the saddest moment you’ve ever experienced?
LD: Coming to the United States and leaving my parents.
BR:Why was this a sad experience for you?
LD: I’ve never left my parents and never came to a country without knowing it, face the changes and a new life with more people, you don’t have you own space and work hard and those changes make you sad and stressed.
BR: So how did you come to Los Angeles?
LD: At Los Angeles, I came because your father came for and we got together and we live together and still together till this day.
BR: So what’s the funniest experience you lived?
LD: When I was pregnant with you, I vomited because of this horrible smell. This experience was funny but very embarrassing.
BR: And why does your family inspire you?
LD: Well because I want the best for you and Jacqueline, the most important thing in my life, which I want the best for my children because I want them to have what I couldn’t have, which is a good education for I want you to study and have a career.
BR: When you came to America, how do you think your parents felt?
LD: I think my parents felt sad too
BR: Why sad?
LD: Well because you don’t know what can happen during the journey and they don’t know if you’re going to get thee safe because during the trip, many things can occur. Also they wouldn’t know when can they see you again.
BR: In the future, would you like to see your parents again?
LD: Yes of course.
BR: Would you do anything to see your parents again?
LD: Yes because it’s been many years without seeing them, like 19 years without seeing them. Yes I would like to see them and hug them and say how much I love them.
BR: In your life, have you lived through a very tragic time, like someone’s death?
LD: Well yes the death of my grandma because I loved her so much. She was like my second mom besides she was very strict, she wanted us to do things right and behave well and would get mad at us if we didn’t listen and even though we listened, she would still scream at us and since she lived close to us, you get used to her and you care for her very much. I also was in America and I wasn’t there when she died.
BR: With everything that has happened in your life, has it made the person you are today?
LD: Yes because it’s made me stronger and value my life and family.
BR: So with everything that has happened in your, would you go back and change something? Like a decision you regret? 
LD: Ummm I feel everything is good but like something I’ve thought about it but no I haven’t.
BR: Mhm so thank you for time and yea Ma.