Barbara Espinoza, Rebeca Beliard, and Jaime Espinoza

00:02 My name is Barb Espinoza. I am 30 years old today is July 23rd 2017 in Detroit, Michigan and I am with my sister about gun with my brother Jaime.

00:21 My name is Jaime Espinoza 28 years old today is July 23rd 2017 in Detroit, Michigan, and I'm with my two sisters, Barbara and Rebecca.

00:39 Can my name is Rebecca belliard and 34 years old today's dates, July 23rd, 2017. We're Detroit and Detroit Michigan and I'm with my brother and sister Barb and Jaime.

01:02 Okay. Okay. So my first question for you guys is what do you remember? What was your first memory when we first moved to, Michigan?

01:17 Can we go first and I already know answer my first memory when we first.

01:27 Mochiron that I can recall is prop. I can remember the plane ride with our dog.

01:38 DD

01:41 The first one

01:46 Mine was off the plane as we were headed to Embassy Suites on our way. And I remember thinking everything was so flat and so boring and gray and gray cuz I moved here in March of 1997. So it was I think it was the hardest winter that Michigan had for years and I remember being really cold because we didn't have appropriate apparel coming from what about what about your first day of school. What was that like

02:22 I don't remember.

02:25 My first day of school

02:28 But I remember I remember some parts of

02:33 I'm second grade.

02:35 I remember.

02:38 And I don't remember not being able to speak English, but

02:45 Yeah, I remember I was they had me on Rosetta Stone a lot and at school they had you get Rosetta Stone. I didn't because there was a girl Charla from I think her mom was from Costa Rica and she could speak Spanish. So they kind of help she kind of helped.

03:10 To translate for me. Remember the first day they're trying to tell me it was lunch time and they were they were trying to look like they were going through the dictionary trying to find the right word to say lunchtime and I think lunch is lunch and the cassini's words in Spanish that I had never heard and I was like, and they finally say, how do we say lunch and some lunch at least? They're like, yeah, and that was my first memory of it was of course his lunch related.

03:44 You do you guys remember when we first arrived that we were supposed to go back in like one or two years to remember that do you guys remember like when we knew that we were going back?

03:59 I think I remember Dad saying like yeah. Yeah. I remember something was very vague and I was kind of like I'm passing.

04:07 I go by the way, we're staying and remember that I was older and I don't remember what that was like.

04:18 I think at once we started the Green Card thing. That's when we

04:27 The whole reason that took a long time though after because we had to have the Vita's for at least five years.

04:35 So so a deer when we were supposed to go back to last year 2 or year 3 anytime you never just focus on playing outside or stay here. So was it hard for you when we first arrived or or no?

04:55 Not for me. I write I don't think I had an experience and I don't maybe just I never thought I was in a different. I mean, we only went to school we wheelchair marching School's Out by June. I don't remember having a hard time or having a hard time playing with kids. I mean, I was 11. I just turned eleven at the time.

05:17 I just remember I only remember one time when I got in trouble for not speaking English, but that was yesterday. I didn't speak very good English. I was in 5th grade and we were in class and there was you know how people get really embarrassed and their necks and their faces will turn red. And yeah well coming from Mexico and I tried to this girl and I was like your neck is red and and she got really upset and then next thing I know I'm in the principal's office with Mom and Dad because this girl claims that I called her a redneck until I think I was in high school Halloween College. Once I found out what that meant Are you serious? I never knew I was like

06:17 It's crazy. It's just really upset and now I can see why they would think that but.

06:25 I don't know. So once once we came here, like I don't know about for you guys, but I didn't see time pass, you know by the time over here like 5 years. It was I don't know. I didn't really think about it some wondering I mean, I still feel like

06:45 Maybe we're going back where I don't feel like we're here forever. So I never really felt like who do I miss the most out of everybody in Mexico, you know some wondering if you guys feel different and if you do who who do you miss most in Mexico dead or alive?

07:02 Prank grandma

07:04 Do you remember how well it what was your what was your happiest or strongest memory? She took where she took me to school every day. So I remember her I still remember her like she was here a year ago.

07:28 Cuz we are in we didn't steer.

07:36 Mine was probably why I think your grandma was would be the personal I think everybody that we saw.

07:47 You heading for me? It was a hard point. I think maybe when I was old enough to know that they had made their own lives and they had kind of forgotten about us or just kind of moved past the point that ruin are going to come back. Yeah, and you know, they just kind of stopped inviting us to holidays and was just expecting. You know what I mean? Stop telling us about the details of their lives and I think for me it was really hard and I think maybe see Mom goes through that too like to be forgotten by your own family where we had grown up and I can't Patty was like a second mom to us and that's how I describe them. Like like Yokai be aired on that all of our cousins like they were like brothers and sisters and I think it was hard for me to see them.

08:40 Move past the fact that we weren't there anymore because we stopped going back. Yeah. I think it was a I think it was just part of the process, but that's how I felt that too because and I enjoy nothing more like my best friends growing out. They're the ones that taught me, you know, all bad things and all good things getting older and once we move tier they never I mean mind you that we were all like teenagers are like young young people.

09:14 But yeah, I also felt.

09:16 Abandoned because they never really made an effort to contact us and then and then once we got older like we've became young adults, they didn't really but I didn't make an effort and they didn't you know, so it's it's almost like

09:32 I have friends here. That know me better than their own family, but then there's that like strong bond, you know, so.

09:41 Interesting

09:43 Tell them he let me go back to my list and see.

09:49 Okay.

09:51 This cigar on what has been the happiest moment in your life.

09:59 Well, mine's easy, yeah, I know I have Christina now Casino my little Christina so she's 3 years old now and I think she just came in she just brought a life and the light to my life and I think to her family like I was away I see her playing with you guys the way I see her remembering you guys going to seeing her grow up I think is it just like take happiness to the another level?

10:31 I don't think I have a happiest.

10:43 I pick a couple maybe not three.

10:46 I want to know is got married.

10:54 Best price on a 6 out between the most right now.

10:58 I didn't do that. First summer that we were here. I didn't know was probably the happiest time of my life when you guys were playing at the pool. I remember you guys like being at the pool all day language didn't matter because kids will you played hide-and-seek? We played every single game outside that you can think of that doesn't require a language. We played it well and there must have been really fun for you guys cuz you guys were younger and then when we first came and we lived at the apartments at the townhouse, we never got to play outside when you lived in Mexico City. So when we came here you guys were like you guys are like Stray Cats night time. I don't know how Mom in mom come out and look for you.

11:58 Like the neighborhood kids, but but that seemed like I was really jealous of you guys because I was older and I didn't really have any friends and you guys made friends right away, you know, it would like the neighborhood gang and then you guys will go out and do all kinds of crazy things like remember the the the Pennies on the railroad tracks. I mean, I was like I want to go out and that was to roll by then. So I was always really jealous of you guys and I would definitely like weird. That's that's really cool. Okay. Well what has been your saddest moment in your life.

12:48 You can pick a couple if you want.

12:56 Well, I think for me it was probably when.

13:02 When Dad told us he was getting divorced mom.

13:05 I think really yeah, I remember that. I think I made a big deal.

13:19 Moved out by then.

13:23 Back the drama queen. I remember telling dad like like this, isn't you you've always taught us to fight for what you want. You've always told us you have to work hard at things in that family is always first and like I don't even know you and I think

13:39 I think that time that like exact conversation remember everybody was sitting in the living room of our house to Novi. We finally had the team like the family meeting that I wanted from you was doing now so divorce. Yeah, and I think it is day like I think you know and we were already older. I think I think that you were like, I was wondering I think I was a person that Lisa is coming.

14:08 So that would be probably one for me about you Jaime.

14:14 I think I was pretty sad for all of us.

14:19 For me well

14:24 I probably

14:28 I want to jail.

14:31 Yeah, that was pretty pretty tough. Mom. I think I think Mom.

14:39 Will never forgive herself for that. It is probably the best thing she did for me and she knows that now it was the low point in my life.

14:54 Did you at the time did you realize that mom was doing a good thing for you or the Dietrich? It didn't take me long to realize but yeah the time.

15:09 I don't think she even realize what the consequences would be. I think she was just trying to

15:15 But I think she did the right thing. Yeah.

15:20 That's something that I think if we if we had had aunts and uncles nearby. I don't know that we would have had the different troubles that we've had. You know, I like from

15:33 We are like the cousins, you know, pretty much Mom on her own.

15:39 You know that it wasn't that was traveling then I feel like if you have cousins are like people like kids that you're close to buy close friends are not the same when it's your cousin's your family. I feel like it would be easier to stay out of trouble or get in trouble together, but I think that would have been so different because there that would have had to you had you would have had to put Jaime in the same country is down or the you bring bring them over. I don't think it would have and then mom being a mom being in the place that Mom was in her life, then I mean, you know battling through depression. I mean, you have to give her so much credit for taking that step I think so I think of mom like okay by the time mom with my age she already had three kids and she was working and she was doing all these things and I can't imagine like I mean

16:31 I can't imagine a not knowing how to speak English.

16:37 You know, you're from working full-time to not working at all. So that was one of the biggest sacrifices. I think she really did.

16:51 But

16:53 I don't know. I always wonder even now I still wonder whether it was a good thing.

16:59 Like a net what was that a net gain us coming here or not? I think it was for sure.

17:06 You know because on the bright side, you know, we all got to.

17:12 Grillfest good people

17:16 You know we got to do whatever we wanted to do and we're not influenced by all the

17:21 Things that they have in Mexico right now and you know it. Ends and you know that whole like

17:30 I don't know. I don't even know what to call it. Like it's more than that. Like I think we're so Legos really such a big blessing. I mean to be one of the people that get to the move to the US and have the opportunities that we got to have like, you know, learning a new language seeing other people and put a good school go to good schools. And I mean, I don't know if you guys remember dad took us to Niagara Falls like we had an experience that so little people

17:58 We'll die and we'll sacrifice to have to come over here and they will do it legally and they will go through so much and we had we got to do that to Dad's work and I just I feel like that was just dumb, you know, when people complain about immigrants. I just

18:16 I think I see it from a different set of eyes and I just find myself so lucky to be here and I and I'm really happy that Mom and Dad took that decision for us. And then I think if I was in the place that they were at this point in my life, I wouldn't do it. Yeah, I were just so brave to have just up and left everything. We love everything. We really did.

18:42 We really dead. Do you wish sometimes that we would have some of like I don't know Grandma stuff for jewelry or like, you know, like family. I don't know where illooms her. Whatever.

18:55 Give me know. I don't know. I just objects to me. We would know more about the family or be more connected to them. Like for example, we know we're not close to Dad's family at all. Do you think I carry a sometimes to know like where we came from?

19:16 Just getting to know just getting to know my our family better, but

19:23 But yeah, I guess.

19:27 Yeah, you miss that but I think social media helps to make it a bit easier. Like I know I know you're not into the whole Snapchat for example, like okay so grandpa. I asked me to be a friend on Facebook and I like I got so offended and then you want to be my friend on Facebook like it's weird. So

19:56 I don't know. How do you even start that you know, like all these years later. Like I've complained, you know, I complained about it so long and now he has his friend.

20:08 Now what?

20:10 It happens like that happens even to my like even think about it. The people that first moved here like the first immigrants like the generations that you know, now they don't know where their family came from or anything like that. So I think it is part of moving and just immigration in general is just yeah, but I just feel like sometimes you see okay, for example, like you meet people and they're like, oh, you know, like my family's like German Heritage Irish her we're having to migrate. Do you speak the language are like and they're like, no. I don't want to lose that now, but I think I'll now especially with you and you don't mind being friends. Now you have you guys going to have Roots a little bit of everywhere like you assimilate it's like you you assimilate but that costs you something related. I wanted to ask you, how me, how come you go by Jamie and not timing?

21:08 Literally because I'm just I don't want to take the time to correct people say anything. No, it's not know why he got to explain to them and when you have to explain yourself.

21:31 What's wrong about that though? Well, when you have to do it like so much. It's like you want to cut all that out your you do realize that you're

21:52 But how does that feel I don't think about it. Why do you think, Jaime because you remember we lived in Novi the girls like him. He was riding his bike and all the girls you like.

22:08 Give me the courage to say hi me, but they couldn't so they said hi me. Where did it come from? Cuz I remember someone writing your name is like high like hi. Hello, and then meet me at that come from and they try to pronounce that the girls were after you. Yeah ways.

22:40 Why why?

22:44 But that's interesting cuz you never really cared about girls too much. I wish we didn't know did you have any more girlfriends that we didn't know about? Oh my God.

23:02 Maybe not. Or maybe yes, the one and only time that mom found a girl in the house if I'm okay. What is your from your side of the story from your side door thinking you're smoking weed in Rambo. Remember? I've never seen Mom exit that day. If you haven't to turn into the Hulk pounding back and I think we're going on. I remember when I was there this poor girl's screwed out of your room.

24:02 Okay, what did she look like a girl the girl runs out the door?

24:13 Uber driver who ran out of the house at the house and then Mom goes into your room and then we realize that she forgot her bra so fast, how old are you? He was smoking pot while we left about it afterward bad for her.

24:51 Yes, but at the same time I think maybe she was a little bit relieved because we didn't know any girlfriends at the time and I will say I know why he doesn't I know why he thinks we were in the house. She probably thought no one was home and get away with it. I remember how one down but that was not my thinking at all.

25:21 Yeah, that was telling that your idea either right that will always be Infamous, but I will say that if that had been Barb or me, that would have been a different way and nobody would be laughing. Yeah, nope. Even with dad even though I think Dad would dad's always been the more like Liberal Liberal parent. Yeah, but even then I don't think you would have been okay with that. I think we would have got to talk. Did you get to talk after that? No, everyone laughed about it?

25:54 The Seattle now this story. I'm pretty sure I told that numerous times.

26:01 What's your favorite dinner table story?

26:05 It's such a good one though. I think it was just mom's reaction. She was like

26:16 I have been like Mom. What are you doing? Like Garner your interview like Mom?

26:27 I've always been impressed with Mom but I've always been a little bit disappointed that she doesn't push herself harder because sometimes you know, I go to stores and you know, there's always someone who doesn't speak perfect English and doesn't speak perfect English, but she speaks pretty good, but she's afraid to speak and then she speaks the less he perfects it. So she doesn't realize that she can also be you know, one of those ladies and religion she like

27:03 You know, it's kind of funny because you know, it's supposed to know if it

27:13 It just seems like it takes our confidence away more than give her your remaining put Siri like in an inferior stay of it just like she feels like she's always going to ask permission to do anything.

27:35 Interesting. Okay. I'm going to change gears.

27:43 Who has been the biggest influence in your lives?

27:50 4 Min Xavier

27:59 We mean well, I mean

28:03 What is it about him that that?

28:07 I mean it was like he was like that father figure for me in like

28:13 You know back then I wanted to do what I want to do, but there was nobody to tell me and he did that in.

28:24 You know, it's not me. I mean you just you know, everything from my the way I do I run my business the way.

28:35 I treat other people now it's like

28:39 Yeah, he was probably for sure the biggest influence in my life.

28:47 Xavier is a guy who was when I was in my lowest point. You know, he, you know, help me out Mentor me and

29:00 Help me, you know, just how did you meet him when he's older, right?

29:09 Thank you. Ski is like yeah. She's like 45. How did you meet him? How did you get a job with him? Is that how it all started? You you got a job with him and meet him first and then he was like, hey, I have a job and I knew each other through coach message. It's you and imma make coach and then you know, he me and him knew each other and then he hooked me up with Xavier Xavier at the time wanted to sponsor somebody wanted to do something nice and

29:48 Hook me up with him. And you know the rest is history.

29:54 Okay, Emoji, Barb 10 minutes.

29:59 I think mine would I hate to say this and I kind of hate to hate to say this, but I think it would be dad.

30:11 Unfortunate fortunately or unfortunately, I think fortunately because I think at the time of my life where I was growing up I was able to see Dad as you know, I'm a hard worker and he started out with nothing and became something and you know kind of has always pure persevered bike started out as a male guy at his work and then he now works. You know, he now works at Tesla self-taught engineer, you know, like it's just it's that for me. It's at like American dream kind of a story where if you work really hard for what you want you can you can do it and with NYC unfortunately was because at the time I thought the dad was like the most honest and you know transparent.

31:00 Family purse family-oriented person. I would always put Family First and for me, that's who

31:08 Growing up. That was a figure that I wanted to look up to and I still do I see on fortunately is because you know you grew up and I think as a kid you have a veil and growing up once you realize who your parents really are and that there are you everybody's damaged goods but you really see them with that kid, feel well, but the way I understand that but you know, it's unfortunate that you have your now your hero growing up you see their flaws and and there was there they're not very pretty flaws and I seen their flaws that kind of hurt the family but at the end of the day, I think he's still the most inspiring person that's really impacted me and I work ethic and how I see my life and my family and what I want out of a partner and you know,

31:57 I feel the same. I think I will I think it's Dad and also Mom, I have Dad moments now where I say things and I'm like

32:06 I'm Dad Dad. I feel like yeah, I have the dads had because I always want to do things right and I don't want to settle for anything less than that and it's really hard because I always thought that everybody was the same and it's really hard to see that most people are going to be those mediocre. Like I just want to get my paycheck come in get out.

32:29 So that's that's that's a blessing but it's also kind of a purse and I will also see Mom because I grew up when

32:39 I remember when they let you know when I was younger and they were so in love and then we're both working and mom was this like beautiful lady with three kids, you know, so smart she got anything done and you know, I always felt like yeah, you can look good. You can kick butt and you can you can have it all and things can work while they were I don't know if you guys remember when Mom and Dad were really in love and they were really happy together remember that.

33:11 I know and I think that's I mean same thing. That's what I really always looked at for a partner. So

33:22 Okay. Well, we only have like 5 minutes.

33:28 What's your last question? What are you proudest of today?

33:37 Person like any achievement. I'm proud of our family now.

33:47 How close we've

33:50 Come

33:53 That's pretty good.

33:55 That's pretty good. And I think mine's along the same lines are like I'm really proud of our family and where would come you know, like again we started out with us not knowing anything about this country and now

34:08 Like the Jaime and he's an entrepreneur and he Jamie Jamie is an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur and he did MMA mixed martial arts. And when he went pro, I mean he was undefeated where you were at like 11:11 fights on if you didn't know whenever whenever he was on the on the stage, no one ever beat him. And and for you back Rebecca you I mean persevered you're a mechanical engineer doing what you love and you just never ever settle for anything less than what you deserve it and and Sons from Mom like she pulled herself out of depression where she should have probably been medically, you know, like hospitalized and she was in a bad place in her life and and she just pulled herself.

35:08 Away from it and then you know Dad where he is. He's working for Tesla now and and for me like I I graduated from college and I and I do what I love and I have Christina and I have you guys and I just think everybody's happy now, especially when there was such a time that everything was so Troublesome a night. I really thought that you know, we would never I read there was a time where I thought like you guys were too toxic. I need to get out to where now I think we finally have a healthy happy family connection error.

35:46 May not perfect, but

35:49 It's good enough for us.

35:52 Do you guys have any questions for me?

35:55 No, look at the time how good

36:04 Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

36:08 Crazy, you know time goes by really fast.

36:13 I think in 10 years.

36:17 I'm going to be the best aunt. I hope I can travel to more places. I hope I can finally get to Camp outside with the bugs. I hope I can become a

36:34 A good Outdoors person and I hope that we can still I hope that we can get closer to her family in Mexico and maybe take back some of that.

36:45 Culture that we kind of lost a little bit remember how we first moved here Dad was like, oh no Spanish in the house. And then after like 5 years, he was like, okay no English in the house.

36:59 Yeah, I would like to you know, for example, I would like Christina to be able to speak Spanish without an accent. That would be cool.

37:10 That's headed. Well, that's something that we can all work on ya.

37:14 With her most of the time me Jamie.

37:28 Thanks guys brought to that.