Erick Peraza and Althea Santos

00:03 Hello, my name is Althea Santos. I'm 21 years old and today is Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 and I'm coming from or I'm reciting from Los Angeles, California. And my partner's name is Erick Peraza, and he's my close friend.

00:22 Hi, my name is Erick Peraza. I am 28 years old. Today's date is Wednesday, September 9th 2020. I'm also joining from Los Angeles, California and my partner's name is I'll stay at Santos and my relationships to her. She's also a close friend of mine.

00:42 So today we're just going to jump into the questions that we want to talk about us all I see the first question on face and it comes to regarding covid-19 and the current climate in which were living in so when did you first realize that this pandemic was going to affect your life?

01:02 It was at the moment. It was like the minute that I was actually leaving. It was when we started to get emails through as of state and like actually I heard rumors going around with like the whole campus like even starting class. You were like, oh did you hear about the news about schools shutting down and I was like what's going on? You know, like I had no clue what was going on because

01:33 Like I actually didn't really know that the Titanic really was happening and the the virus actually was spreading to the United States and then we had to kind of like leave my home up rapidly and and I was like friends because my parents started to call me and what do I need to do? And they said I had to like leave my house in San Francisco. And then I had to basically had to travel to the East Bay to go to Los Angeles to drive back with my my cousin and Daya and then go

02:09 Go back home. So this was back in March. Right? And one other question is what is the biggest way your life has changed since this pandemic began.

02:25 I think like maybe my self-esteem I say maybe because like I kind of like dissociate where like I don't

02:38 Like really talk to people sometimes like I kind of like reserve myself try to stay focus in school. I kind of like notice that I sorta overworked myself. I like study all the time. So I kind of want to have like that. I went to speak to somebody, you know, so I'm really glad that we're talkin right now. So yeah, I think socially and also mentally having like that set of like ground self groundedness. I guess like crochet to be motivated and doing my work or like talking to people and socializing

03:21 Yeah, and what if anything do you anticipate it will change about how you live your life once thanks return to normal.

03:28 I feel like the set of routine that I had back in. San Francisco is definitely the most affected because now I reside in Los Angeles. So I guess the scent of foundation of like what do I do? Next is my question for myself because I'm kind of just like in the midst of like applying for graduation in and then the like the design Majors that I'm in and I double major in recent resistance studies. So the competitive system or industry of like applying for jobs is like one of the biggest things or like impacts that I have to think about and I'm also injured. Go, so it's also like the political climate that's going to affect me and what I'm going to do and how do I do it?

04:28 So what work what were you doing before covet happens? Like what were some projects that you were doing for the undocumented community?

04:39 Like Creek Ovid like back in like early 2019 when we actually first met I was interning for the dream Resource Center back out of state and so do my work was to like help students who are incoming freshmen newly transfer students and they were being assisted by me and other entrance and we help them with like through financial aid DACA recipients or non DACA recipients where we like help them with other resources that

05:17 2

05:21 Basically help them through their like immigration process and

05:28 Like help them with like Financial Resources housing on campus Because it's super expensive and then like outside resources. I also had like personal projects with normal settle which is the coordinator of the research center. And basically I helped with mini design project where it's like I do theirs out rickman's on campus and we talked about like a speakers like we had on ducky we are we under a week is basically 4 days dated dedicated - Friday for like exclusive events dedicated to the community and I think it's also in collaboration with like ideas, which you were a part of you.

06:24 Yeah Yeahs difference ideas was the student organization that supported undocumented students at a sub State and how do you think once we go back into school that likes student organizations are going to workout specially those who like who give priority to helping other students so more advocacy like how do you think that student oryx are going to be working on campus next the next time we're back

06:57 I would say.

07:00 Maybe like both have a remotely and also physically on campus. I think the way that we are living in right now because it's remote it's a lot harder to to Really address and have a meeting pending where everybody is and what they're going through. So I think that's also important to think about but ask for what it will look like when the next time we meet and whenever we know when that's going to be I think

07:37 It's going to be definitely different from where we started off kind of where students gathered and they hanged out and so we met but I feel like now for college students. It's more difficult specially incoming freshman to make those connections with other peers and and just build relationship.

08:01 Yeah, I think that's really difficult. Yeah, like I think online learning like remote learning right now is definitely a game-changer. There's different protocols to what a physical in class teaching has been to like 3 hours or 6 hours on the lake on the computer. So that each man is a lot lower than it is in a physical classroom.

08:29 Definitely personal experiences from your past that helped you prepare for the strength crisis. And how is this experience difference?

08:47 Can you repeat that question one more time? So are there any experiences from your past that helped you prepare for this crisis? And how is this experience difference?

09:00 I think it's definitely a different experience because I I don't think anything before my past. I've actually had me for about I was so focused on like school. Like I've been like ever since I got to the University address of State move to San Francisco. I've been so education and like doing so much of the work on my own like figuring out what to do with the university need what I'm going to do with my education and degree and then all the sudden stops, you know, you don't know what's going to happen next and then went up in 7

09:59 There's a switch and station internal internal voices in my head saying, oh my God, what are you going to do? Like because you're stuck like I'm so like I think to answer your question, and I actually don't know if

10:22 I have a set plan for the heck. Do I feel like I don't think I was prepared for it and but I'm trying my best to like cope with it and be present with my family now then because I was so focused on working and just like very much overworking myself and to think of it now like I have a chance to like really balance something out with my life and like asking is vulnerable questions that I've actually had in the back of my head instead of like asking myself right now you about yourself and self isolation.

11:04 I could question. I think I was always.

11:16 I feel like back in San Francisco like preco bed. I was always feeling alone. But like when the pandemic Hampton and I felt like what it is now, like what it's like to actually feel alone. Like how you have to stay home. You have to be kind of just have to prove yourself at the moment. But at the same time like I think I'm more closer to home now and home is like my definition of being with my family because I was always alone in San Francisco. So I think she answer your question. I I feel closer to home. I am more with my family I think about more of my friends now, then I wasn't at the house because I was just like constantly working.

12:10 So in self isolation has self-isolation brought up any memories or emotions. You haven't thought about in a while.

12:21 Yes.

12:25 Like the

12:29 Oh my gosh, I actually like what really big emotions that I had her like all over the place like from what we're living in right now like the environmental like climate change the fires that are happening in, California.

12:49 The political climate of like the presidential election black lives matter.

12:58 Me graduating. So there's like a bunch of emotions that I can't fully process because everything is happening all at once so

13:10 But like what I feel right now is like I'm kind of angry. So I have questions for myself and for other people like how do we not resolved? But how do we work through it? And how do I get better from it?

13:34 Yeah, yeah, I feel like a lot of people are definitely gaining A New Perspective of who they are in their emotions. And yeah, I think we're all going through it a different day. So I definitely feel how how you could be feeling cuz I felt that way like that anger like you started your senior year at a university and I started my first year at a graduate program. So it's not we're how we wanted to start. It's just what was step for us. So who do you feel connected to these days?

14:05 I feel close to you by just talking about you right now. I'm like really happy. We're talkin. I think I think my family because I'm home a lot more and making more home cooked meals for my dog cuz I've been away, but I think

14:34 Just being able to like just talk to you and talk about my family. I think I've been good clothes. I feel reconnected. I want to talk to you and then I also think my partner and I let people that really helps like talk through this pandemic and through the emotions that I've had like on and off, you know.

15:10 You and me are now connected in this like virtual sense before we were connected in San Francisco because her bus from LA and we had a lot of similarities. So it was cool being able to swim in the Bay Area but have someone from LA with you and now we're in this pandemic and we're so connecting but now I think from a more like a deep friendship that we have. So I find it interesting that we just connect now in different ways and I think a lot of these were connecting in different ways to so yeah, that's the truth. Let me follow up if you could ask anyone from your life living if you could ask anyone from your life living or dead for advice on getting through this who would it be and what would you ask of them?

16:01 I like this question cuz it's talking about descendants and acid and ancestors. Sorry.

16:10 But my grandma her name, it's my dad's. Mom Nasir my gosh. That's also another level of like emotional like something but I would ask them. What would they do in a situation where a pandemic starts and then you would have to kind of like adopt Where You Are.

16:47 But

16:49 I think also like I would ask my grandma cuz she was a teacher she had a PhD back in the Philippines. It's a good decision. Like cuz I'm thinking about getting a master's in education because of the work that I've been doing school. So like ask her if that's a good decision, but she was also an educator but like

17:19 I would ask her how much you feel during this American life because I I don't see her and I obviously didn't I didn't grow up with her as much because she liked passed away when I was like three. So I think I would talk to her a lot more asking her. What should we do? How could be better prepared for this time? If she was still alive we've gone through other stuff, maybe not to this extent but they also have some experiences with like traumas and how to get through things. So yeah for us being you and this whole

18:07 World crisis definitely think relying on her on our family. It's a great way to cope with this. So what are some things that bring you Joy? Hope Comfort right now and what has been was challenging activism that's going through social media is hoping that which I think is extremely important because

18:40 I don't think like strongly that the activism today that's going on right now in social media or let's say in a classroom. Was it as strong as it was like maybe 2 years ago or few years ago like it's so I feel like say the least it's more potent.

19:04 Because of like how everybody is not advertising but saying the word out through graphic design through Flyers at the through the purpose in that goes in like everywhere around the country.

19:24 From like the United Kingdom two-year, California

19:31 And I think that's extremely very important because that's hope that's what we Define as hope is that we're fighting for something to change and yet. The the changes that weaves that already has happened or still are resurfacing. So we're trying to

19:56 Learn a little bit more try to find a way to keep that. Hope to remain consistent. I think that's one of the biggest things that is happening from last summer or like this whole entire the start of the pandemic just like all the all the other voices that are trying to be heard right now.

20:25 Yeah, so has this. Of. Of time that you think differently about your life in any way?

20:35 Yes, because I feel like I spoke out more about my opinions to my Phantom my to my friends and my family. That were in.

20:51 Like like I dress.

20:55 How do I get my family if there's a bit of like staying that racism is like a fine line, you know like and we don't talk about that much because they only think that it's about somebody skin color or what they perceive them to be. So I try to really teach my folks, like let them know that it's more than that. It's more than their skin color or their appearance and also about their mental health about whether living how their living how the institution and how the government is really like, what is it called? They treating them and it's it's definitely about the community that they're living in to definitely something there. Has me over.

21:55 Talking about it and why I like argue about it because I think it's definitely something wrong if all these things were happening and we were back at the University. I think we would be having their friend discussions with her peers. And now I see it as us more educating our family son. Why certain things are happening or why this movement starts. So it's also different. I think a lot of things have shifted for us and the sense that we're no longer like in a classroom environment discussing things with other Pierce and I were like in our living room talking about it with like our families. So yeah a lot A lot has changed in that sense with with cold and advocacy for sure. And is there anything that you've learned during this time that he hopes to carry forward with you?

22:53 Yes.

22:57 There's a lot of things I think having uncomfortable conversations with people is the one thing that I definitely learned trying to spend them because I'm not a lot of people or for me per se don't have those conversations with many other people or my friends. So I think that someone where I could speak in a situation and that's expected with the other person beating and uncomfortable terms like say

23:34 Just about the topic of racism and black lives matter movement, even my sexual orientation.

23:45 In like how I'm still figuring out my own identity and even like private conversations, you know simple as that.

23:58 I think that's also what I really learned is to have.

24:04 Is to break the Silence with hugging in the situation or a conversation with you?

24:16 At this moment right now, but I think

24:32 One memory

24:35 I've been home all day.

24:42 I think being able to just reach out to you like family from afar Zoom meetings that I'm having with my instructors with peers being able to still do the work like while you're at home. I think that that's what memory that I'm going to have cuz I think we're all coming back more resilient from this you see a ride where it's so used to being at an office or at a classroom and everything is now done through Xoom. So if we could get the resume interview stupid person

25:22 But yeah, that's yeah a lot of a lot of memories for sure and I will you remember this time or described it to those who do not have who have not experienced it?

25:35 In like one word just in general. So I think for us we feel it stronger, but what about like students who are in middle school or Elementary School and don't really understand the gravity of the situation like in the future. How would you describe this moment?

25:56 I think

25:58 One of my instructors said it she said he was like one of the dark periods of time which is definitely true. But also I thought I wouldn't describe it as something like it's a jar. Of time but it's more like a shadow that were looking at at ourselves because this was the time to like four flats.

26:25 What?

26:28 Like what we're going through a shadow where you have to reflect on.

26:39 The pandemic like to us and what we felt what it was.

26:48 I think it's like a personal experience.

26:52 Like how

26:56 My goodness, you know, I think a lot of things have happened when you and I were young that we probably might not have understood like like specific Wars like Iraq war or when 9/11 happened like we were there but we don't really understand like that feeling yeah of what's going on, but now you and me have experienced this and in the future, like people are going to be asking doing documentary sending all these things and like we live through it. So we're going to have an interesting perspective for sure. And if the quarantine ended tomorrow, what's the first thing you do?

27:32 Oh my goodness. I think I am.

27:39 I just go outside feel like oh my God, it's over or is it really over a question myself, but I think for the safety for me and the partner that I want to see I am probably just going to like go outside and just get fresh air probably look in the clouds and be like, oh, is it really 16? You know, we both lived in the Bay area for a while so gloomy and cold and now they were both back in the day. We can really enjoy the sunshine as much as we want soon. So that's going to be indoors.

28:29 Oh my goodness. Is there anything you would want to say to me given that we're living through this at the moment.

28:40 I'm really hoping to like see you in person then to be virtually talking to you right now.

28:51 I think I might like that like we could talk right now because

28:58 It's been awhile since I talked to you last talk to you because you've been busy with grad school. I've been busy with my senior year of undergrad but I'm just grateful for this moment that we are able to reconnect we're constantly reconnecting and in San Francisco you and me would hang out as much as we could and then midterms for finals would come and for a while. We were just stop talking and then we would reconnect and have like movie night food or do something fun. And it has been the same since of pandemic started and we're both back in La will be at home for a while, especially during the summer and I think I only saw you like twice maybe at the most and then since coming back and then

29:58 Since we started school and everything, so that's nice. It is nice to be here with you for sure. And can you tell me can you tell me about the person who has been the kind I see you in your life.

30:12 In my life

30:18 And say my mom.

30:20 She has so much patience. She like even when I'm angry like she knows how to deal with it. Like she knows how to talk to me, and I'm not sure if that's the nurse in her but she's not the one you're like a care person and I'm really grateful for that. Nice. And it would I feel like that feels nice though. I know I'm back in San Francisco. We only have mostly our friends to rely on which even add points. You don't really want to like throw that burden on them, but it feels good to just be at home and all that you have like unconditional love and no matter what stages are going through like your family's are for you so that's pretty nice for sure.

31:08 Yeah, but I think the you taking your time right now is good to know. We've always had a great connection. And yeah, we've always like stuck through it through things together with just now who has made the biggest impact on your life. And what's one thing they talk to you.

31:37 I'd say my partner we've been going for three years maybe more than that now because it's been months and it's after a year. It's crazy right now. So kind of make is happy right now, but

31:55 Yeah, I like and what he's really taught me is to keep moving forward to stay resilient.

32:06 Yeah.

32:09 And what do you who do you think you've had the biggest impact on so far? So who have you had that impact on?

32:18 My little brother my brother used impacted my little brother, by the way that I talk to him and hold a conversation with him so I could see it in his like actions and behaviors. So I try to really reach out to him because majority of the time I was at school, so he's going out and he's like 15. I think I've definitely impacted him.

32:48 Yeah, it is very interesting yet because when we're both the way like life continues and I also had at the time I had 10, I had 11 year old sisters and then when I got back they were 13, so I missed a couple years with them and seeing them grow. So yeah things happen fast and

33:16 If you were to have a happy place a place you could visit it in your mind when you're feeling down. What would that place look like and who would you who would be there with you?

33:27 Well, the place that I find most comforting is the beach being honest and I'm having the waves crush on this and learning how to boogie board and Surf and the person or the people that are around me and my family may be having a barbecue. I just I just I'm sitting there and I had one of the visions that I had was being in the water and my grandma was there. So having got secret Mormon of like my grandmother holding the top of my shoulder on the top right corner at top right shoulder and that I did a good job and then

34:26 Is there a is there anything you want to share that maybe I didn't ask about or any feelings you might have.

34:42 What I just wanted to say like how I'm really grateful that we got to spend a little time together talking recouping like they always do I think it's very precious and this time of moment that we feel more intimate with other people because we're away from them and they're really deep and down like ourselves with our emotions and be as vulnerable as we can things even when were far away from each other or From A Distant because we're just going to say no I want to thank you for inviting me to this with you. I know when you asked me I immediately said yes right away because I know you and me like we always thought of like great Rapport and our friendship. Just I feel like even though it's been short because I've known you at the most Thing 2 years, but we've grown together and I've noticed that and I'm happy that our friendship continues to grow.

35:42 So I'm thankful for you. Yeah, I'm thankful. Thank you for doing this with me. Of course.

35:52 I really hope I sent you.