Elisa Ayala and Ruth Valsing
Recorded
December 2, 2023
Archived
December 2, 2023
00:00 minutes
Audio not available
Interview ID: osh000117
Description
One Small Step conversation partners Elisa Ayala (29) and Ruth Valsing (66) sit down for conversation in Jackson, Wyoming. They talk about politics within their respective communities, how to better understand the place where they live, and reflect on how where they've come from shaped their beliefs.Subject Log / Time Code
Elisa Ayala (EA) and Ruth Valsing (RV) express why they wanted to have this conversation.
RV reads EA’s bio and asks her how long she has been in the US and in Jackson.
EA asks RV about who has had a big influence on her: her mother and father who were curious. EA’s biggest influence was her grandmother.
RV talks about first realizing what politics were because of her mother’s involvement in the League of Women voters.
EA talks about growing up in Mexico and working for her community as an elections officer who counted votes.
RV asks to learn more about elections and the voting system in Mexico.
RV talks about her political values that were shaped by her father’s work in government. The Government should provide services for people and “even the playing field”.
When EA talks about her political values she focuses on Mexican politics specific to current president, AMLO, because she says she doesn’t know much about US politics. Asks RV which news outlets she recommends for her to be more informed.
EA talks about how Catholicim and indigenous spiritual practices are blended to influence her faith.
EA believes that her actions on earth are the only reality she knows. There may not be a heaven or hell or any transcendence.
RV talks about doing the right thing to make her life the best it can be, rather than an afterlife.
EA talks about being misunderstood as an English language learner. Also because she is not the “normal” Catholic she is misunderstood by Americans regarding her spiritual beliefs.
RV says she doesn’t worry about how people feel about her and thinks if they’ve misunderstood her its probably because she didn’t communicate well.
EA asks RV how she can better understand the Jackson community.
EA talks about what she will take away from the experience: to be more open and more confident in sharing.
RV reads EA’s bio and asks her how long she has been in the US and in Jackson.
EA asks RV about who has had a big influence on her: her mother and father who were curious. EA’s biggest influence was her grandmother.
RV talks about first realizing what politics were because of her mother’s involvement in the League of Women voters.
EA talks about growing up in Mexico and working for her community as an elections officer who counted votes.
RV asks to learn more about elections and the voting system in Mexico.
RV talks about her political values that were shaped by her father’s work in government. The Government should provide services for people and “even the playing field”.
When EA talks about her political values she focuses on Mexican politics specific to current president, AMLO, because she says she doesn’t know much about US politics. Asks RV which news outlets she recommends for her to be more informed.
EA talks about how Catholicism and indigenous spiritual practices are blended to influence her faith.
EA believes that her actions on earth are the only reality she knows. There may not be a heaven or hell or any transcendence.
RV talks about doing the right thing to make her life the best it can be, rather than an afterlife.
EA talks about being misunderstood as an English language learner. Also because she is not the “normal” Catholic she is misunderstood by Americans regarding her spiritual beliefs.
RV says she doesn’t worry about how people feel about her and thinks if they’ve misunderstood her its probably because she didn’t communicate well.
EA asks RV how she can better understand the Jackson community.
EA talks about what she will take away from the experience: to be more open and more confident in sharing.
Participants
- Elisa Ayala
- Ruth Valsing