Interview with Jose Perucho
Introduction
Migration is often a complex and deeply personal process, shaped by a combination of individual circumstances, systemic factors, and global dynamics. Jose Perucho’s migration story, as captured in a detailed interview, offers a vivid example of the challenges, sacrifices, and resilience inherent in the migrant experience. Jose’s journey from Michoacán, Mexico, to the United States illustrates the multifaceted nature of migration, the barriers to integration, and the complicated sense of belonging and membership in a new society.
The Process of Migration: Push and Pull Factors
Jose Perucho migrated to the United States as a teenager in 1995, a decision that was neither premeditated nor well-prepared. His journey began with a five-day trek involving buses, trains, and walking. Unlike many migrants who rely on established networks or agencies, Jose embarked on this dangerous journey with minimal support. He described the migration process as one characterized by a lack of preparation, noting that he did not have the resources or guidance typically associated with migration. The only financial support he received came from his grandfather, who gave him 500 pesos an act of generosity rooted in familial duty rather than a systematic approach to migration.
The push factors that compelled Jose to leave Mexico were deeply personal. The loss of his father at a young age and the lack of parental support created a sense of rootlessness. At just 14 years old, Jose had no clear plan or understanding of what he wanted from life, highlighting the vulnerability and uncertainty that often accompany youth migration. Unlike economic migrants seeking specific opportunities, Jose’s journey was driven by personal hardship and the need to escape his circumstances.
Pull factors, on the other hand, were less defined in Jose’s case. He did not migrate with dreams of achieving the “American Dream.” Instead, the United States was a practical choice due to its geographic proximity and the global image of opportunity it projected. However, Jose would later describe this image as a “nightmare,” reflecting the disillusionment many migrants feel upon confronting the harsh realities of life in a new country.
Integration: Navigating Economic and Social Challenges
Jose’s integration into American society was shaped by a combination of economic necessity and personal resilience. Upon arriving in California, he worked in agriculture, harvesting tomatoes, garlic, and other crops. These jobs required no specialized skills, but they drew on the work ethic and practical knowledge he had acquired from his grandfather in Mexico. Over time, Jose expanded his skill set, transitioning from agriculture to construction, siding, and framing, before eventually establishing a career in playground installation. His focus on learning trades rather than chasing immediate financial rewards exemplifies his long-term approach to economic integration.
Despite his hard work, Jose faced significant challenges in adjusting to life in the United States. Discrimination and cultural misunderstandings were part of his experience, as illustrated by an incident at a restaurant in Virginia where he and his coworkers were ignored by staff. However, Jose also encountered kindness from strangers, which he credits with helping him navigate life in a new country. These mixed experiences highlight the contingent nature of reception for migrants, shaped by both individual interactions and systemic biases.
Jose’s efforts to learn English and adapt to American cultural norms were largely self-directed. He briefly attended adult education classes but found them unchallenging and unhelpful. Instead, he relied on informal learning through workplace interactions and community engagement. This practical approach to integration underscores the adaptability and resourcefulness required of migrants who lack access to institutional support.
Membership: Identity and Belonging
Jose’s sense of belonging in the United States is complex and ambivalent. He is not a U.S. citizen and does not view himself as fully integrated into American society. His rejection of the “American Dream” reflects a broader critique of the systemic barriers that prevent many immigrants from achieving stability and success. For Jose, life in the United States has been a series of challenges rather than opportunities, shaped by economic struggles and a lack of institutional support.
Ties to his home country, Mexico, remain part of his identity, though he does not express a strong desire to return. His decision to migrate was marked by a willingness to leave behind his past, including familial obligations and cultural roots. This detachment underscores the sacrifices migrants often make in pursuit of a better life, even when the outcomes are uncertain.
Despite his critiques of the systemic inequities he has faced, Jose has found purpose and pride in his work. His career in playground installation, which combines various skills he developed over the years, allows him to contribute to society in a meaningful way. The joy he feels in seeing children enjoy the playgrounds he builds symbolizes a quiet but profound sense of accomplishment. While he may not feel fully “American,” his contributions to U.S. society are undeniable.
. Connecting to Broader Themes of Migration
Jose’s story resonates with several key themes in the study of migration. The push/pull theory is evident in his journey with personal hardships acting as push factors and the proximity and perceived opportunities of the United States serving as pull factors. His experience also highlights the role of social networks, even tangential ones, in facilitating migration. The favor owed to his father by a stranger underscore the importance of informal connections in navigating the challenges of migration.
The political dimensions of migration are evident in Jose’s reflections on systemic barriers and exploitation. He describes migration as a “big business,” critiquing the legal and economic structures that profit from the vulnerabilities of migrants. This perspective aligns with broader concepts of immigration policy, which often prioritize control and restriction over support and inclusion.
Jose’s integration journey illustrates the multifaceted nature of adaptation. From economic struggles to cultural adjustments, his story reflects the uneven and contingent process of becoming part of a new society. His experiences also underscore the importance of context in shaping migrants’ reception, as local communities, workplaces, and institutions play critical roles in determining outcomes.
Conclusion
Jose Perucho’s migration journey offers a rich and significant perspective on the complexities of migration, integration, and membership. His story highlights the resilience required to navigate the challenges of migration, from the treacherous journey to the ongoing struggle for stability and belonging. It also underscores the systemic barriers and inequities that shape the experiences of undocumented immigrants, challenging the simplistic narratives often associated with the “American Dream.”
Through his work and personal growth, Jose has found ways to contribute meaningfully to U.S. society, even as he remains critical of its systemic shortcomings. His story serves as a testament to the strength and adaptability of migrants, while also inviting deeper reflection on the policies and practices that shape their lives.
Kimberly: [00:00:00] Hi, my name is Kimberly Brock, and today I’m going to be interviewing my mom’s boss Jose about his migration from Mexico to the U. S. A. This interview was conducted on Tuesday, November 26th at approximately 5: 53 p. m. Okay, so first, state your name, where you’re from, and where you were born, or when you were born.
So, your name, where you’re from, and what year were you born.
Jose Perucho: Hi, my name is Jose Perucho, and I’m from Michoacan, Mexico, born in 1977.
Kimberly: Okay. Alright. What year did you come to the US and how did you travel here? So whether that be plane, car walk,?
Jose Perucho: um,
I think it was August when I left hometown of Mexico.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Uh, I took the train, I took the bus, and, uh, probably like five or six days of walking. [00:01:00]
Kimberly: Okay. did you migrate alone or with others and who? So anybody special you came with ?
Jose Perucho: No Um, well, there was a lot of people
Kimberly: with you?
Jose Perucho: With me, but none of, I mean, none of them.
Kimberly: But you didn’t know them?
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: Okay interesting
Jose Perucho: It was just basically me and a bunch of strangers.
Kimberly: Okay. did you use any agencies to help you? And if so, how did you find them? So any like. People that you paid to help you get here, or?
Jose Perucho: there is no help.
Kimberly: No help?
Jose Perucho: Like, there is no agencies that help, you know, like, whatsoever. Basically, it’s the, uh, Well, I mean, I guess the, the way, in my case, it worked out is, uh, , I wouldn’t say it’s a sad story, but it’s, it’s, it’s a story. Uh, my dad had passed away when I was ten. And,This was, um, 95 years later, I decided to just, you know, take a journey. I didn’t, you know, at the moment, I have no idea where I was heading to. [00:02:00]
And, uh, when I arrived to the border south of the U. S., Um, there was, like, a lot of just, a lot of guys just, you know, like, they went straight to the phone, making phone calls and, you know, like
Kimberly: When you first arrived?
Jose Perucho: Before . Okay. This was on the border, south of the border.
Okay. And, uh, among those people that I was in, they were like, who’s gonna help you? I’m like, helping me. What?
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: Because nobody had explained me
Kimberly: what to do?
Jose Perucho: what to do. Right. How to advocate.
Jose Perucho: Okay. And, uh, I think we were like 30 of ’em.
Kimberly: 30? [00:03:00]
Jose Perucho: Yeah. I mean, people from North, from everywhere.
Kimberly: And what do you mean by you say everywhere?
Everywhere in Mexico or?
Jose Perucho: Everywhere in Mexico, South America.
Kimberly: Different countries?
Jose Perucho: Like different countries, like I mean like, And uh, I didn’t know what to do, so I just like, well, that was, It was my, like a first barrier to me, like a first wall, like I mean like, So, I was in Tijuana for like two months.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Because I mean like, I didn’t know anybody in here. So, like, two months later, uh, it was like a local store with the phone like, you know, like, uh, pay phone, and the phone ringed. And, uh, apparently my dad had, uh, did a favor to some guy, like, way back ago.
Kimberly: Oh, wow. And, uh, So before this even journey was planned?
Jose Perucho: Correct.
Kimberly: Okay
Jose Perucho: Before me and my dad, I mean, had been, and, uh, Right. So, this guy gets ahold of me He was like, uh, my name is blah, blah, blah. And, uh, you don’t know me. I don’t know you. But, uh, I’ll say, there’s only one thing I can say, you know, like, I owe a favor to your dad. And, uh, I’m willing to repay that by helping you. [00:04:00]
Kimberly: Right. Was this man in US or was he still in Mexico or was he like in the middle ?
Jose Perucho: he was here. He was in the us.
Kimberly: Okay. All right. Um, how long did it take to prepare for migration? So as far as paperwork, saving up money, the whole process before?
Jose Perucho: there’s no prepare. There’s no such a thing.
Jose Perucho: it’s like a like unleash though, you know, like you unleash the dog
Kimberly: and you just did it
Jose Perucho: Right
Kimberly: Okay. Um, what was your biggest obstacle you faced during the migration process? So Not here or before but during the transition on the way here. What do you say is he biggest obstacle you faced? I know you faced a lot [00:05:00]
Jose Perucho: There is no obstacle and you gotta be mentally strong to do to overcome everything because The biggest obstacle is like growing up without parents.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: It’s It’s no joke.
Kimberly: I can only imagine
Jose Perucho: Like
I don’t know, I don’t know how to explain it, but
Kimberly: So you would just say a sense of support, maybe? Or somebody to guide you?
Jose Perucho: Nope.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Like, for an example, what would you do if your parents vanished, like, and left you alone, like? There is no one for you, I mean like, call for help or, or, or, or get some support, like none, not even advice, like, my entire life here in the U.S., the biggest obstacle is myself. You know, because the moment you break down, you get tired, then you know, like, what do you do? [00:06:00]
Kimberly: Right. There’s no help.
Jose Perucho: There’s no help.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: And there’s no agencies that help.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: And migration, to my point of view, is a big business.
Kimberly: Mm hmm. Very Much
Jose Perucho: For the government, for the lawyers, and for the people.
And a lot of people make tons of money, and they’re not even lawyers. They call it human trafficking, but I mean like, it’s, I mean
Kimberly: They’re not doing it for the right reasons, per say?
Jose Perucho: Well, there’s no right reason whatsoever. I mean, it’s just all like, Legal stuff Because, man,
Kimberly: it’s a lot.
Jose Perucho: is a lot because, you know why? Because I mean, like supposedly we are crossing the border
Kimberly: mm-hmm .
Jose Perucho: But if you look at in the, the border across us. Right’s a big difference. [00:07:00]
Kimberly: Yeah. Okay. Um, so what are some specific events in your home country that made you leave?
Jose Perucho: I was just, I was just like a 14-year-old kid.
Kimberly: Just looking for new opportunities?
Jose Perucho: Not even that. Like, I have, when I was 14, I didn’t know what type of life, you know, or I didn’t even know what I wanted.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: And when I got here, like, I just like, basically what I do is enjoy the day as it comes.. Because it’s hard, you know, when When we’re tagged by undocumented, you know, because I mean, you can’t plan anything, because there’s no such, like, there’s no guarantee whether you’re going to be here for tomorrow, for a year, two years, so there’s no plans for us, I mean, we basically live day by day, you know, like, I mean, it’s, it’s different, you know, like, for other cultures, you know, like, I mean, like, the Chinese people, when they migrate here, they, they don’t turn back. [00:08:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: As you know, like. For example, a lot of, like, uh, I’ll say specific Mexico. If you, if a Mexican get deported He can’t cross the border the next week or the same day or same evening, same month. But most of these people, like, like, like Chinese people, I mean, like, Once they’re deported, I mean, they’re thrown in the other side of the ocean.
It’s, for us, it’s easier, like, we like, I mean, And America is a continent. It’s not a country. So, it’s North America, America, South America, Central America. So, like, it’s, it is screwed up politically also. Yeah.
Kimberly: Okay. why did you choose U. S. over, over any other country? So, anything unique that, that drew you to US specifically? [00:09:00]
Jose Perucho: Because of the land. Like, if you can get on a bus, obviously, like, if it was Europe, then, like, I know 14 year old kids with no parents are going to be able to get, like, a passport, and, uh, financially have, like, money enough to, like, to go to a different country. Obviously, you have, you need to get on a plane to go to, uh, a different country.
Kimberly: So would you say obtaining resources is easier over here?
Jose Perucho: Nothing is easy.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: These, a lot of people, like, a lot of people think that it’s easy, but When, when you guys are struggling here, we struggle ten times more.
A lot of, lots of, lots of, uh, like, obstacles at that point. The language. The food, shelter, I mean, work, and, uh, the privileges. [00:10:00]
Kimberly: Okay. We’re going to talk more about all this stuff. I’m not ignoring you, but I have a certain thing. Um, did you have any connections in the U. S. who encouraged you? Family, friends, workers?
I know you talked about the man who called you. Anything else? Any connections here before?
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: Okay., was there any misconceptions or surprises of life in the U. S. after arrival? So, was there anything that was the opposite of what you thought you were going to feel?
Jose Perucho: Um, it’s actually like, a lot of people think it’s the American dream, but it’s, it’s more of a mirror.
Kimberly: And what do you mean, you said mirror, what do you mean by that?
Jose Perucho: Huh?
Kimberly: what did you describe it as? [00:11:00]
Jose Perucho: Nightmare. A lot of people dream of coming to America, but it’s a nightmare.
Kimberly: A nightmare, a nightmare, okay. I thought you said mirror. Okay, If not U. S., where else might you have gone?
Do you have any other places, maybe, in the back of your mind, or was it just always U. S.?
Jose Perucho: It was, it was never the U. S. But
I think I think the problem is, you know, like, the news, like, like Trump said, fake news. When all that goes on TV, worldwide, America, you know, like, the greatest, and you know, that draws a lot of attention.
Jose Perucho: Not in my case, because I mean I was young and dumb.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: like, I just was kind of like, I was like a leaf, you know, whatever the wind kind of like, carried me away, so, but uh, I never had, I never had any plans. [00:12:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: I never had any dreams of like, doing what we’re doing,
Kimberly: You never had a set goal, you just, you just did it.
Jose Perucho: I just live day by day, like, and a lot of people like, a lot of people are so eager about money, like money doesn’t impress me either. Right. I can have a lot of money and I can, I can work my butt off like I’m broke.
And I can, I can walk down to a fancy restaurant with uh, with my work boots and full of money and this and that and you’re like, I mean, we do get stared at I guess.
Kimberly: Yeah. Okay. Um, how did you finance your journey to the U. S.? So did you have any savings? What, what type of money did you use to, you know, travel or to eat along the way?
Was there any loans you did or anything?
Jose Perucho: Nope.
Jose Perucho: Um, well, actually, yeah, there was one person that helped me. Um, I think my grandpa, cause, uh, back in the 1940s or something, when, uh, when the U. S. was at war, they were like short on manpower, like, for the fields and it was like, just working cause all the, uh, all the U. S. They were at war and, uh, I think, I think my grandpa was here back in the 1940s or 1950s. [00:13:00]
Kimberly: Oh, wow.
Jose Perucho: Because I remember that every time that, you know, like, I was a kid, you know, like, and, uh, he would, like, he would start, like, talking in English and, like, at the moment I just thought that he was, you know, like, crazy because I didn’t know what he was saying.But, uh. I told him that I was, that I was heading this way. And he gave me 500 pesos at that time.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: And, uh, and that was it. I, you know, like I’ve never, I don’t plan anything. If I, if I’m going to do something, I’m just going to do it. It doesn’t matter what it costs. You know, money like, I mean, I don’t, I don’t prepare myself to spend it. [00:14:00]
Like to like, I don’t prepare myself like financially to, to make a few steps to achieve something. So like. I’m more about like learning and gaining experience. And it works, you know, like a lot of people like, like when you plan a trip, you save up and this and that, you know, you, you, you come up with a budget, how much you want to spend, you think, I mean like, but then you also limit yourself, you know If you go over that limit.
Kimberly: Okay. And you say, your grandpa, how did you talk to him? Was it just over the phone? A quick phone call?
Jose Perucho: No, uh, he was, uh, when I was, when my, when my, , when my dad died, I was, my grandpa and my grandma was kind of like the only person that kind of like, um, care about me. And, uh, my grandpa, like, he was teaching me how to, how to work in the, in the farm that they had. [00:15:00]
Jose Perucho: In mexico, and they taught me a lot. You know, like, and, uh, I hated when I was a kid, when I was doing it, and I used, I used to, I mean, believe me, I, I just, that day, that moment, I just can’t, I couldn’t stand my dad, my grandpa, but now everything that they taught me when I was a kid
Kimberly: ingrained in you?
Jose Perucho: Everything that I, that, that they, uh, that I learn, I put in use.
Kimberly: Right.
Were there any unexpected financial challenges during or after migration? So I know we talked about during and before, but let’s say when you first got here, like automatically when you first got here, did you have any money situations?(00:16:00]
Jose Perucho: Like, I never See,when, uh, for someone like me, like, that I don’t depend on money, like Having money and not having money, there’s a, there’s a huge advantage. Because if you’re a different person with money, then who you are when you don’t have any money.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: So
Kimberly: Money wasn’t even on your mind.
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: Where did you first settle in the U.S. And Why did you choose that location? So what was the first area?
Jose Perucho: It was uh, Madera, California[ Harvesting like vegetables. 00:17:00]
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: And I end up there because of some like The guy who helped me, he was establishing a place in that area.
Kimberly: The guy that called you before?
Jose Perucho: Yes And, uh, he gave me a roof, he gave me a room.
Kimberly: Oh, wow.
Jose Perucho: And, uh, but nothing’s free. The moment I, the moment we shook hands, he, he was like, Rent is that much, food is that much, transportation is that much, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Before I even knew what I was going to be doing for a living.
Kimberly: Right. And when you say Harvest Vegetables, were you doing like a field job?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Through him?
Jose Perucho: Not through him, but, you know, like, in that area.
Kimberly: In that area? Okay. Alright. And did you have any specific reason why you chose that location, or just him giving you the opportunity?
Jose Perucho: Uh, basically I ended up there because he [was, you know, he was there and, uh, like, I mean, I had nowhere to go. And, you know, like, I mean, it just, at that moment, I was just kind of like Watching the, , area or basically preparing for my next move. 00:18:00]
Kimberly: Right. Okay. Uso I know you just talked about him giving you housing and food.So, did you rely on friends and family or anybody here for housing and food or other needs?
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: Okay. what resources helped you settle in the U. S.? So, any community organization, churches?
Jose Perucho: Nope.
Jose Perucho: Believe me, it is, you know, like, it’s funny, you know, like, I started, like, nodding my head when, when I see all these, like, media saying that the, that the churches are getting funded and helping, it’s like, believe me, I, at this point, almost 30 years in the U.S., I have never got a penny from help or any agency. [00:19:00]
Kimberly:, Wow, were there any social ties or relationships that made settling harder? So anything back home that you missed or regretted?
Jose Perucho: Nah, nothing, nothing to look back because the moment I decided to like, migrate to the U. S., uh, I have approached my mom and told her that I was gonna Make a, make a trip and she was like, she asked me as a favor not to leave yet. She was like, soon I’m gonna die and once you bury me then you can leave and if you choose not to ever come back again then so be it.
Kimberly: And how, how old were, was she at that time? When you left?
Jose Perucho: l I think she was like thirty, probably thirty four.
Kimberly: Okay. And you said you were fourteen?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Fourteen. Okay.
Okay. So you probably. Probably 15, 16. [00:20:00]
Kimberly: Okay. so when you got here, how did you learn about the American cultural norms, laws, and daily life? So just being an American and doing all the things, who taught you some of those things?
Jose Perucho: Streets.
Kimberly: Streets? Okay, what do you mean by that?
Jose Perucho: Just they know, streets.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Um, there’s a lot of laws that, you know, like, I don’t know. I was gonna go to school, , like, adult schools. But, it was too late when I decided to do that. And, I, uh, I signed up myself.
Kimberly: Like highschool?
Jose Perucho: Like high school.
Kimberly: Like a GED program?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: I went, uh, there was, uh, there was a program down on, uh, Chesterfield.
Jose Perucho: And, uh, it was gonna be Tuesdays and Thursdays for, like, two hours. I waited for two weeks and it was too boring. But they were way behind.I was basically way ahead of it. So like I’m just wasting my time here. So I decided not to go anymore. I only attended that class two weeks. [00:21:00]
Kimberly: Okay, so I know you said you originally landed in California.How did you get from there to Virginia? I know you live in Kentucky as well. So explain that process.
Jose Perucho: Greyhound.
Kimberly: Greyhound? Okay. And what made you choose Virginia?
Jose Perucho: Um, at that point, uh, when I, when I moved from Cali, I, I met up with one of my like, third cousin, that he was residing in California.
Kimberly: Mm hmm.
Jose Perucho: Well, actually not residing, he was, he was working in Virginia at the, uh, dairy farm.
Kimberly: Okay. Do you know where that was? The dairy farm?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Like, where at in Virginia?
Jose Perucho: Amelia, Virginia
Kimberly: Amelia. Okay.
Jose Perucho: And, uh, he worked there for like, probably like 20 years.
Kimberly: Oh, wow.
Jose Perucho: And he was like,I’m heading back to Virginia. Do you want to follow me? But he was like, strictl, he was like, I’m not helping you and get to get you to get work or shelter or nothing. Like, all, all I gotta do is follow me like, you know, like, like a dog, you know, when he follows you . So now like, sure, lets go. And, um. and here we’re still. , [00:22:00]
Kimberly: Okay. What was your experience like learning English? I know you said you took some classes. Did any of that help you or just describe your process learning English.
Jose Perucho: I took, I, I was gonna take the, uh, the English classes to learn how to read and write.
Kimberly: Was that in California or was that here?
Jose Perucho: here
Kimberly: Virginia.
Jose Perucho: Well, in California it’s Mexico, right? Like right. Hardly. Lot of, I mean, like there’s other people that speak English like. Have you ever been there?
Kimberly: No, I haven’t, but of course I know all about it.
Jose Perucho: California was Mexico, so
Kimberly: Okay. So you didn’t really have to speak English there until you got here?
Jose Perucho: Correct.
Kimberly: Alrighty Did you face any cultural misunderstandings with Americans? Any examples?
Jose Perucho: Um, So
Kimberly: Did anybody like, take you the wrong way that caused a big impact?
Jose Perucho: Nah. Okay. Like, I think, I consider myself lucky because there’s been a lot of people, like strangers that I run into. And, uh, they show me some, like, there’s a lot of good people in here too. I mean, like, there’s bad people, there’s good people. And, uh I consider myself lucky because I run into a lot of good people.
Kimberly: Well you’re very well spoken! [00:24:00]
Kimberly: Talk more about the kind of work you did when you first arrived.
Jose Perucho: Hravesting tomatoes, garlic, grapes, almonds, pistachios. Strawberries, what else?
And, uh, drinking on the weekends were, we didn’t have anything to do.
Kimberly: Lol Okay., so did you have to retain, retain or learn new skills to qualify for the job?
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: You didn’t have to come up with anything or know anything? Did you already know any prior skills from back home that helped you? I know you talked about your grandpa and your dad teaching you a lot.
Did those skills help you know what to do?
Jose Perucho: Um I started work when I was, uh, like, like 12 years old.
Kimberly: Okay. And what were you doing then? Like the same kind of field work or whatever you could, building?
Jose Perucho: I’ve been, when I was a kid, my, \, my uncles from my dad’s side of it, they were like, I mean, again, at that time, I hated them because they, uh, they had me like, I felt like I was on a leash.
I wasn’t allowed to play, like all the kids, they were like, hey, do this, do that, you know, they always kept me busy. Like, one of my uncles had like a, like a small convenience store, um, and he would, he would make me clean like the, um, the cabbages. Cause I’d be like, when they buy wholesale, like all the products, then they’re like, I’ll be, I was cleaning like the onions, like the, jalapenos and all the produce. a lot of the stuff. And then, like, uh, they had, like, uh, My grandpa had, like, a cattle. And I was always doing something, [00:26:00]
Kimberly: Always busy.
Jose Perucho: Always busy, and, uh, That was one of the days I hated because of it, like, I feel like I was,
Kimberly: You hated doing the work back then, but now, that’s all you know.
Jose Perucho: That’s all I know how to do. and When, uh, my, my cousins, like, at my age, they were like, basically, like, they, they did whatever they wanted, you know, and I felt like a slave.
Kimberly :Yeah, you were doing the work while they were having fun.
Jose Perucho: Yeah, but um, I, I look at it, you know, right now when I realize, like, okay, then maybe they did all that to keep me focused anddon’t stay in a lot of trouble because of it
Kimberly: I understand. Did your education or credentials from home help you get a job? You didn’t really have any credentials from back home? [00:27:00]
Jose Perucho: No credentials, no school education.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: Didn’t go to school.
Jose Perucho: So, focus on your school now that you have a chance, an opportunity to, to do something good.
Kimberly: How long did it take you to feel financially stable after settling? And stable can mean anything to you. So, anything that you felt was enough to, to get your life started.
Jose Perucho: Well, stable is, it’s kind of complicated, you know, cause I mean like, To be able to be stable in this country, basically The economy needs to be stable. Healthy.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: Because when the economy goes out, it doesn’t matter whether you’re white or black or whatever.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: We’re in the same pot, so, um, I never, I was never in the position
Jose Perucho: Not even at this moment, you know, [00:28:00]
Kimberly: Okay, so how did people in your local community treat you on arrival? So, you can start with California and then here, so. People around you, anybody you met, how did they make you feel emotionally? Did they make you feel like you belong here? Were you an outsider?
Did anybody help you emotionally?
Jose Perucho: Well, there was one specific guy that, uh, I think he knew my grandpa. And, uh, he approached me the moment that he saw me, he was like, what are you doing here? Your grandpa has these, has that, blah, blah, blah. And you know, like, what are you doing here? You don’t, you have no need to be here.
Like, you know, like, what is he talking about? Like, whatever my grandpa has, that’s it, it’s not, that’s not mine.. I mean, so, and I was like, I just ignored it. Like, you know, well, you might be right, but that’s it, it’s not mine. So,
Kimberly: So he was kind of faulting you for, for being her?. maybe not faulting, [00:29:00]
Jose Perucho: but questioning me probably.
Yeah. But, um, like. See, I never had a hand, nothing was handed to me, so like.
Kimberly: So for him to kind of say that you had the handout, but you didn’t.
Jose Perucho: Yeah, at this point you’re like, I feel like I’m the one that’s handing everything out.
Kimberly: Right. Did you experience any discrimination or racism in any of these states or locations and how do you respond to that?
Jose Perucho: Um, I think I’ve been in a couple of places, a couple of things, twice. There was once, I was in Roanoke, we walked into a restaurant, uh, Wings, Sport Wings or something, we walked up in there and there was a waitress. And, um, she was, like, cleaning some, um, tables. She, uh, she saw us walking in and she ignored us, like, like we were, like, like we were nothing.
Kimberly: When you say us, do you mean, like, you and some friends?
Jose Perucho: I mean, we were working, uh, like, literally across the street from that, uh, restaurant.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: And, uh, five minutes later, some, some lady walks in. And she smiled and greeted, she was so friendly, so kind, and we were like, you know, like, what the heck.
Kimberly: But the other lady didn’t say the same. Oh to somebody else?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Wow, okay.
Jose Perucho: But, uh, and we sat there for an hour
Kimberly: Beforeyou got any service?
Jose Perucho: Before we got any service, she didn’t. so we just left the place.
Kimberly: Wow.
Jose Perucho: Cause, like, , you know, like, people, like, who, like, think they’re better than something, they’re just idiots [00:31:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: Like, you think you’re better because you’re pale and you speak English. Look, I speak three languages, and I don’t feel that, I don’t think I’m better than anybody.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: So, like, there’s a lot of smart people. If you go back in the past, the history, like, the history, all the history is really bad. I mean, the entire country was made, built by immigrants. Right, right. Elon Musk, the owner of Budweiser.
Kimberly: Yep.
Jose Perucho: So.
Kimberly: Yeah, y’all do a lot behind the scenes that, that makes up the country. Um, Did you form any relationships with any other immigrants along the way? And how did your relationship differ from a regular relationship with anybody else?
Jose Perucho: [00:32:00] Well, the best way to, like, to interact with different, uh, people from a different, uh, country, uh, different part of the country, like, you just, you gotta, you gotta be open minded.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: Because the moment that you think that you’re better than somebody, like,, You’re basically living like a Lifetime opportunity to go because I have worked with the Koreans Chinese people and they like believe me like I love Korean food and I can eat there like three times a day if I could you know, but uh There’s a lot to learn like
Kimberly: right
Jose Perucho: from different people.
Kimberly: Everybody experience is different.
Jose Perucho: correct
Kimberly: Okay
Jose Perucho: you know like AndI mean, I don’t know about you, but, like, Mexican, there’s a lot of Mexican restaurants and, like, I mean, and, like, it’s a variety of, food, you know, like, I mean, I think a lot of people don’t realize that, you know, like, but when, when people from different parts of the world come into the United States, they’re not just bringing their, like, uh, [00:33:00]
Kimberly: They’re bringing their culture.
Jose Perucho: They’re bringing their culture. They’re bringing, like, new experiences, new ideas, new, I mean, like.
Kimberly: Have you ever been to Harrisonburg, Virginia?
Jose Perucho: Yeah.
Kimberly: Yeah, that’s where I go to school at and it’s a big area where immigrants come and like everything, like barbershops, restaurants, grocery stores, are all from, from immigrants,.
What emotions did you feel when you officially became a U. S. citizen?
Jose Perucho: I’m not a U. S. citizen.
Kimberly: How has you coming here changed the relationship of anybody else? So do you have anybody else that, that when you got here they, they maybe envied you or maybe were a little jealous or affected your relationships with anybody? [00:34:00]
Jose Perucho: Yeah, there’s all kinds of people. Like, see, here’s the thing. A lot of people, like, they only see the, uh, the peak of the iceberg.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: But that means, like, they don’t see the sacrifices that someone makes.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: I don’t believe in luck. And I don’t, like, I don’t trust , my own shadow because, you know, when it gets dark, it vanishes. So, working your butt off, you can achieve anything you want. And don’t, don’t rely on luck, because luck does not exist.
Okay. If you can fake it until you make it, and [it’s a lot of sacrificing, like, to, and it also takes a lot of people, like your mom, like Shawn, like Rachel, like, I mean, like, believe me. If, if you have a long journey. Then you better be surrounded with some good people.
Kimberly: Ok this is the last question then I will ask you about your job
Kimberly: Do you feel American or do you still feel connected from back home? Or do you really feel the American dream as they say?
Jose Perucho: Well I don’t believe in that American dream. It’s a nightmare
Kimberly: Or tell me how, how you feel about yourself today. If that’s a better question.
Jose Perucho: Today I feel feel like I wasted a lot of time. [00:36:00]
Kimberly: What do you mean by that? Do you feel, let me ask you this. Do you feel proud of yourself or do you feel like right now where you are today is enough or is that enough?
Do you want to accomplish more? Like, is there still more to go? Do you feel like you’ve, you did a lot?
Jose Perucho: This is nothing. Like, I know it’s gonna sound like I’m going over the chart, but uh,going back on the question that you have about financial help and this and that. Um. I think the country would have been a better, better grounds if there was such a help because a lot of people have like the [courage to work the butt off to accomplish something but there is these obstacles. 00:37:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: that the government sets.
Rules Laws, obstacles, you can’t, you need this, you need that, but the moment that you make it. The government is the first one to
Kimberly: help you?
Jose Perucho: No.
Kimberly: The opposite?
Jose Perucho: It’s the first one that wants to cut.
Kimberly: Oh, for money,
Jose Perucho: I think they should, uh, like
Kimberly: So you’re saying you want more resources.?
Jose Perucho: They should, I think they’re should be more resources, like, helping people. Doing kind of like, I don’t know if you noticed or not, but, uh, there’s lots of smart kids from different countries, like, and the government, they give scholarships to these kids.
If you apply that to, like, adult, but it’s not, nothing to do, I mean, like there’s gotta be some sort of a help. If there is, I’m unaware of it. Because, like, we all, I mean, like, deep down, we’re all equal, like, you have dreams, you want to do this, you want to do that, you know, like, but it’s like, like a puzzle.
If you don’t have all the pieces, then you can’t, you can’t work that puzzle. You can never finish it. [00:38:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: And a great example of that is, you know, like, Sean, I don’t know if you’ve heard of him. You’ve probably heard of Sean from your mom. Uh, I met his father back in 99. Okay. And at that time, he was probably like 50 some years old.
Kimberly: Did you meet him here in Virginia?
Jose Perucho: Yeah. Okay. he was a superintendent at the company that, uh, we run into, we work in. And, he was, , He was one of the first guys that kind of like approached me differently, like with respect. 00:39:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: And uh, I met him and then I met his son and then like it’s been like more than 20 some years and he has helped me a lot, like.
Not financially, but, uh,
Kimberly: Emotionally, maybe?
Jose Perucho: Like, the, uh, because when I started doing playgrounds, uh, I got into playgrounds because of him.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: And when I met his father, uh, I was a concrete finisher.
Kimberly: Okay.
Jose Perucho: But, what I do and what I did in the past is, you know, like, every job that I, that I went, that I end up, start working on it, My, my whole idea was like, go to work in that place and learn the trade.
Learning. I was not there for the money. 00:40:00]
Kimberly: You just wanted the skills.
Jose Perucho: I wanted the experience, the skills. And cause when I was working with Sean, he was, I think it was back in 2007 when the economy was down. And, uh, he was paying me 500 bucks a week.
Kimberly: What year was that?
Jose Perucho: 2007 or 8.
A lot of people, like, They don’t get it, you know, like, I know we all need money.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: You know the saying that, you know, If you teach a man how to fish, You’ll feed [him for life? Yeah. Well, it’s the same principle. Okay. You learn the trade, And then make something out of that. Right. But if you go after the money, You can make 50 bucks an hour, But if you don’t know what you’re doing, You’re gonna run out of money, spend a lot of money, 00:41:00]
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: No experience.
Kimberly: Right. So, fast forward to today. We know you’re a big boss and everything now. So, tell me, tell me about your job, your, what you do from the ground up. Start from the beginning. How have you became you today?
Jose Perucho: Well, um,four years of Concrete finishing.
Kimberly: with Sean? No. Or somewhere else?
Jose Perucho: Somewhere else.
Jose Perucho: Um, and then I, I studied all the concrete, like the temperature, the mixture, and all the good stuff. And I learned everything that was, that I could possibly learn in concrete. And then I got bored, so I decided to do something else.And then I went to do siding. Siding. From siding I went to like, end up doing framing, like additions, garages, and this and that. And, after that, I went to playgrounds. Okay. And, uh, luckily on playgrounds, it’s a trade that requires concrete, framing, and all of that combined. [00:42:00]
Kimberly: Absolutely
Jose Perucho: So, I feel like all these trades that I’ve learned is has helped
Kimberly: you contribute to what you do now?
Jose Perucho: Correct. That, helped for me to achieve what I did and it helps me make my job look so easy.
Kimberly: Okay, and what is your business called and what do you do specifically? Or what is your business about? [00:43:00]
Jose Perucho: Uh, business, play tech. Um, we sell commercial playgrounds.
Kimberly: Okay. And is that only in Virginia? Is it anywhere?
Jose Perucho: Um, it’s basically everywhere. Like, I have probably worked, like, more than half of the states. I have worked in Virginia, Maryland, PA, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Chicago, Indiana, Iowa. Tennessee. North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut.
Kimberly: So basically almost everywhere in the U.S
Kimberly: Last but not least, is there anything or any advice you want to give to anybody listening or anybody in the same journey that you’ve came? Anything you want to say to anybody?
Any advice that’s always stuck with you? [00:44:00]
Jose Perucho: Well, The advice is, enjoy the ride, enjoy the life, they need to enjoy what they’re doing.
Whether it’s picking up trash, or cooking, or cleaning, There’s a lot of money being made everywhere. Like, Enjoy it. You can, you can start up a company collecting trash, garbage. You can rent out garage bins. You can rent dumpsters. You can establish a company, uh, like house cleaning company. Concrete finishing, anything. See, here’s the thing, you know, like, a lot of people don’t appreciate the, the hard work, you know, like when you go to Wawa, when you go to the mall.
When you go to the mall, it’s all like, Shiny, pretty, and this and that. [00:45:00]
Kimberly: But somebody had to do that.
Jose Perucho: prior to that, there’s mud, there’s people like me, busting, sweating, starving, tired, building something so, so the people can enjoy and admire like, the buildings, you know, because, I mean, like, skyscrapers and playgrounds, even the playgrounds.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: A lot of people don’t realize the, the hard work.
Kimberly: They take it for granted. [00:46:00]
Jose Perucho: Correct.
Kimberly: Right.
Jose Perucho: And you have no idea the smile that I see on the kids, you know, like if we’re building a playground, I’d be in a place where, like, there’s no playground and there’s like 60 kids surrounding it.
Jose Perucho: Screaming, shouting, like, is it ready yet? When is it going to be ready?
Jose Perucho: And the moment when you say it’s ready, they just start screaming and crying in the playground,
Kimberly: All righty. Thank you!
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