The Most Powerful Currency Today
Vic Sohonie (2018)
Maria
Key moments
Moments
Maria's transcript
RRTeam: [00:00:00] So can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be in Windsor, Ontario?
Maria:[00:00:33] Okay, yeah. The only thing I can say is I'm from El Salvador. And I came to Canada in 1984. Previous to come to Canada, I was in US. And the reason I came to Canada, was because my country was at war. And that time I was a single mother and I had my daughter, and I don't want to be killed by any of both sides. And my cousin came from Canada to El Salvador. And then I decided to come with him, thinking to bring my daughter later [00:01:00] because, like I said, I was scared to be killed. My daughter grew up just only with my mother, but she was suddenly three years old when I went back to my country. I live in Guatemala before.
RRTeam: [00:01:11] Okay. And when you were in El Salvador, which region were you living in?
Maria:[00:01:25] Oh. I live in San Salvador.
RRTeam: [00:01:26] San Salvador.
Maria:[00:01:28] Yeah, the capital. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:01:30] Yeah. And who were you living with at that time?
Maria:[00:01:40] At the time I live with my mother and with my daughter. I was working, I used to work in a textile company.
RRTeam: [00:01:48] Yeah.
Maria:[00:01:53] Yeah. That was until I decided, you know, to [00:02:00] travel to the US and come to Canada.
RRTeam: [00:02:17] And then at that textile company, what were you doing at that textile company?
Maria:[00:02:19] We use clothes for women. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:02:21] Yeah. And you were making the textiles?
Maria:[00:02:21] We work on line. Like somebody make a sample this skirt in one size and then the next one do. It was a line, everybody do different kind of.
RRTeam: [00:02:33] Yeah. Yeah. And what was the circumstance that led you to live in Guatemala?
Maria:[00:02:43] Oh, I moved to Guatemala and then I find the father of my daughter. Yeah. And then I lived there for a while, but we separated and then I come back [00:03:00] to my country.
RRTeam: [00:03:02] And that time in San Salvador or that time in El Salvador, what was happening?
Maria:[00:03:10] Oh, what happened is first I separated from him and also because things like... Peoples were started disappearing in Guatemala. And then I was scared to live there because I have friends, family, my husband's family side. But, but I feel like it wasn't the same. And then I called my brother and I said, I want to go back to El Salvador. And I ask him for help, and he gave me the help. And then I come back to my country.
RRTeam: [00:03:51] Back to El Salvador. And then when you returned to [00:04:00] El Salvador, what was the circumstance there, the situation there that made you decide that you needed to leave there?
Maria:[00:04:05] The country was at war, you know, the fighting is, sometimes I has to stay my house and I couldn't go to work until the guerrillas go up to the mountain and then and the soldiers go up to and then started feeling better and then I can go to my work. But in between sometimes they were fighting, you know, and I feel scared and my first thought was, I said, "Lord, help me because I don't want to leave my daughter alone." And then I went back to my house and I feel more better because my daughter and I were together. [00:05:00] Yeah. And this is why... First, I wasn't thinking to come to Canada or US because I was scared to do the border between Mexico and US and then I never think about that. But I have a cousin, he was as a citizen in Canada. And then he went to my country, he went back to my country for, take a vacation, and then I started talking with my mom because she gave me the idea. She said, "Maybe this is the time you can go. It's more safe with your family and he's not going to leave you alone." And I started thinking and I said, "For the safety of my daughter, I think I will do it." But I told my mom, you know, "I don't want to take my daughter because take a risk." I have a visa just to go to Mexico. But for you to get a visa to go US was very hard and was impossible to get it for me in that time. And then my cousin told me, "No, we're going to take [00:06:00] the Mexican visa to cross Mexico. That is the most important for us. The rest is, we know what we can do. You just go illegal and see what happen. And this is how I came to US.
And the day I cross to US, my cousin, he's the one who talk with somebody there, around the border, because we went to check the [00:07:00] border. How was the border, if I can cross or what can I do? And I can do nothing by myself. I went back to the town, Matamoros, and then my cousin said, "We have to go around to see. Maybe we can find somebody in the..." There was a hotel there. But the day he cross from US to Mexico, there was a hotel there, but on the way back he was going to look for the guy told him, "When you come back you can look for me and I can help you anything." And then we went to the place, but the building was, burned?
RRTeam: [00:07:52] Yeah. This was in Mexico?
Maria:[00:07:57] Yeah, in Mexico, Matamoros. And then we started talking. [00:08:00] But my cousin, he's a good to talk with people, you know, and he talked with the owner of like a daily store, something like that. And then the owner at the store said, "Oh I know somebody maybe can help you to cross." And then this is how I cross to US because my cousin make a friendship with this man, and this man get the connection with the one who was going to help me to cross. They were so nice family. Even his wife said, "If United States doesn't want to take you, [00:09:00] tell them to send you back here and you gonna be my daughter." And then even as things happened, you know, in the border, but I feel safe when I went to speak to the person who is going to cross me the border because his wife was, we are going to be in a car, but his wife was going to be with me when I crossed the border.
RRTeam: [00:09:33] Really?
Maria:[00:09:33] Yeah. And then that is how I feel safe in some way. And also because I pray, you know, I pray a lot to God to say, "Lord, if you want me to go to Canada, help me to cross US." And I cross US with His help. And in that time I don't know English. I understood when the car cross in front of me said "Immigration," I said "Immigration!" But the lady told me a joke and then I laugh, but I didn't know why she did it. But she told me, it's because if I don't tell you that, you're going to be nervous and they going to notice you are illegal. And I said, "Oh thank you."
RRTeam: [00:09:45] Do you remember what the joke was?
Maria:[00:09:45] I don't remember exactly.
RRTeam: [00:09:45] But it was funny enough.
Maria:[00:09:45] Yeah, yes it was. Maybe seconds, you know, just to make while the Immigration car cross in front of us. Yeah. And then her husband, he met us in one of the streets and, what's the name of beside Matamoros? I forgot.
RRTeam: [00:09:46] So, her husband met you on the US side, or on the...
Maria:[00:09:47] Her husband drop us on the Mexico side and we had to walk and then now he's going to meet us at the US side.
RRTeam: [00:09:47] At the US side.
Maria:[00:09:47] Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:09:47] Do you remember which part of the US you crossed into?
Maria:[00:09:47] Was at Matamoros.
RRTeam: [00:09:47] Matamoros...
Maria:[00:09:48] Yeah. And I was thinking it was the rivers from what I heard before. Right? I [00:10:00] was thinking the river was long, [00:11:00] you know, I don't know in my mind, you know. But actually the river was like, how do you call this bar, small thing?
RRTeam: [00:11:49] You can say it in Spanish if you want.
Maria:[00:11:49] Un arroyo.
RRTeam: [00:11:49] Okay, got it. Small.
Maria:[00:11:55] Yeah. And this is how I crossed there. And then I feel safe [00:12:00] and because I pray, you know, I said, "Okay, I am thinking we are okay now." Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:12:06] So you crossed the river?
Maria:[00:12:08] Yeah, it wasn't like a river, like I said, you know, but yeah, we crossed there and because her husband dropped us in like a farm, in between the farm. And then when we cross this little, you know...
RRTeam: [00:12:25] So you crossed by foot?
Maria:[00:12:27] Yeah. We, we cross by foot. His wife started walking with me.
RRTeam: [00:12:31] Oh wow.
Maria:[00:12:32] And then suddenly I see the houses different and I asked her when we going to be in Texas, and she told me, "We already are in Texas." And I said, "What?" Yeah. And then when I was there, I was nervous, because I was thinking how about if Immigration is walking around here and because my pants [00:13:00] got wet a little bit in the bottom. And then I was scared and that was my point, when I cross, when I was in Texas. Because like I said before, I saw the cars, right. And I understand Immigration.
RRTeam: [00:13:18] Right.
Maria:[00:13:21] But then we met her husband. Yeah. Yeah. I think God helped me because he didn't charge too much money, like people pay, you know. Like I said, I pray for that, for everything.
RRTeam: [00:13:38] And then when you arrived in Texas, what happened to these people? Where did they go and where did they take you?
Maria:[00:13:45] Oh, okay. The driver, the husband of this lady, he told my cousin where to wait for us. For a little bit we miss him, you know, but finally we [00:14:00] get to the place. And he miss us too in one of the times he was around the area where we are supposed to meet, because I'm not sure what happened, but the lady, she told me I miss my husband. I think he already crossed, maybe we crossed late, into the place where we has to go to meet him, but the second time he was around, he got us. And then we jumped into the car and then he drove us to the place where my cousin was supposed to meet us and then...
RRTeam: [00:14:35] Also in Texas.
Maria:[00:14:35] In Matamoros. And he told my cousin, the time he has to cross the, what is the Immigration, you know...
RRTeam: [00:14:53] The border?
Maria:[00:14:55] No, not the border. It is a place where the Immigration, the officers [00:15:00] can stop us and deport us...
RRTeam: [00:15:04] Checkpoint.
Maria:[00:15:05] Checkpoint, yes,
RRTeam: [00:15:05] Yes. Yes.
Maria:[00:15:06] Yeah. He told what time, and then he said, "Okay, you have a time, and they told us... Because what happened is, since we were in Mexico, he said the time we has to cross the border and we has to cross the checkpoint too. And then when we cross the checkpoint my cousin, he drove before to get there he was driving fast. But when we cross the checkpoint, he work normally, he drove normally. But we knew they were changing the shift. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:15:50] So you weren't in the [00:16:00] car at that point?
Maria:[00:16:05] In the car, yeah. We just checked, you know, and then, after he passed the checkpoint, he sped up again. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:16:05] Who was in the car at that point? It was your cousin?
Maria:[00:16:05] My cousin. One of his friends, he gave a ride to my country from Montreal.
RRTeam: [00:16:12] Yeah. Yeah. And your cousin, he already had status in Canada?
Maria:[00:16:20] He was a citizen; he was a Canadian citizen.
RRTeam: [00:16:22] Okay.
Maria:[00:16:22] Yeah. Yeah. In that time when he came was so easy. He came just because my cousin wants to study here and then the country started in war. They have a business and my aunt rented a place to the bank, and then somebody put bombs in there, and they were scared.
RRTeam: [00:16:53] In the bank?
Maria:[00:16:54] In the bank.
RRTeam: [00:16:55] In Montreal?
Maria:[00:16:56] No, in El Salvador.
RRTeam: [00:16:58] Yeah.
Maria:[00:16:58] Yeah. That's [00:17:00] why all the family from this end, all their family immigrate to Canada. Yeah, because, what's the name of the guerrillas?
RRTeam: [00:17:13] Yeah.
Maria:[00:17:13] ... asked for money?
RRTeam: [00:17:16] Yeah.
Maria:[00:17:16] Asked for money all the time, to give money to them. And then they said, "Why we has business?"
RRTeam: [00:17:23] Right.
Maria:[00:17:24] No. And then because my aunt and my uncle were old, you know, they, they decided to leave it to one of his daughters, because she said, "I can't handle," she said, "even I'm scared." And then my family immigrate to Montreal.
RRTeam: [00:17:44] Okay, and that was in the 70s?
Maria:[00:17:46] Yeah, in the 70s yes. Yeah, yeah. Because they already has years living in Montreal.
RRTeam: [00:17:55] Okay, and so after you arrived in Texas, where did you go from [00:18:00] there?
Maria:[00:18:00] Oh, we had arrived in Texas and we drove up to Michigan, because...
RRTeam: [00:18:10] Oh, wow. Directly? All the way, directly? You didn't stay in Texas for any...
Maria:[00:18:11] Yeah, we don't stop. No, no, no. As soon as my cousin passed the checkpoint, we never stopped, just only to go to washroom, eat something, and until we crossed the border.
RRTeam: [00:18:27] Wow. So you drove all the way to Michigan. How long, do you remember...
Maria:[00:18:32] I think it was 36, 38, 40 hours, something like.
RRTeam: [00:18:35] Wow, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What were you thinking in the car at that time?
Maria:[00:18:44] Oh, what I was thinking is, like I said, I was praying, "Lord, allow me to cross to Canada. You know, I love my daughter and because I don't want to be killed over there and leave my daughter alone." [00:19:00] And I said... But, anyway, I was thinking, you know, if I had to go back, I already prayed to God, "Help me, if I can cross or help me to get back safely." And that is our thinking. And because my cousin is talkative, he make a story to saying, you know, try to, how do I feel? Because it's not easy to cross a border and to know I has to cross the border in Canada and then it was like, I don't know, for sometimes I feel like, because I was scared because the war. That was my point. And I and for me, the border -Canada and US - means officers, [00:20:00] police or whatever, you know, peoples work in the border, you know, and I was scared. I was scared to confront this, you know, police or, you know. Or, because that time was not too much like the, you can be deported. You can drive distance and the police, the Immigration, didn't stop at that time. Because we have a problem in Indianapolis. My cousin took a wrong way and the police came beside him and then my cousin, because he speak good English, said "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I'm from Canada." And the police officer was so nice because he helped him to go to the right [00:21:00] way. But that was terrible, I feel so scared. Like I said, "How about he ask papers?" You know? That was thinking and I said, "Oh, thanks God," when he left.
RRTeam: [00:21:14] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you remember any of the stories that your cousin told you to distract you?
Maria:[00:21:25] Oh, he told me, because he likes to play, I forgot the name of this stuff. And then he told me he always was in trouble with the family because he always played these games. And then but for me was like, I knew a little bit, and I said, "Why you are so stubborn?" I said, "If you knew that was not good for you..." Things like that, you know? And sometimes he made me laugh, like funny, silly things, you know? [00:22:00] And I say, "Oh, remember when I was younger?" Because he was older than me, you know? And stuff like that, little things. Sometimes he talk about when he was sad, what kind of things happening in his life and how he went up again. Things like that. Yeah. And also, I was listening to my cousin and the other guy was coming with him.
RRTeam: [00:22:38] Right. Okay. Yeah. Did you grow up with your cousin in El Salvador?
Maria:[00:22:42] Not really close, but my mother used to visit my aunts every Sunday, and then is when I met them, they were older than me. Yeah. Most of them are older.
RRTeam: [00:22:57] Yeah.
Maria:[00:22:59] Yeah, yeah. And [00:23:00] everybody was older than me. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:23:06] So it was almost like a big brother?
Maria:[00:23:14] What happened is we stopped seeing each other for years. Because he moved, he came to Canada, and then we stopped, we not talking, nothing like that. And then we don't have connection. Yeah. But when I used to go to visit my aunt, we always talk, make games, play, or go to somewhere to, you know, pass, to spend the day, you know? Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:23:49] And so when you got to Michigan, how did you know where to go?
Maria:[00:23:55] My cousin have a map. That is [00:24:00] because he told me we have to make sure not to get lost, because we don't know what is going to happen if we get lost, you know? Because sometimes, he said, when you look in some places maybe you can find the Immigration. I said, "No, don't say that." And but he was a good driver. Yeah. We did just one, like I said, I don't know was in Indiana or Indianapolis where we get lost a little bit. The police help us to go on the way we has to take to come to Michigan and didn't ask nothing. No, no.
RRTeam: [00:24:43] So nothing else happened?
Maria:[00:24:44] Nothing.
RRTeam: [00:24:45] From Indiana or Indianapolis to Michigan.
Maria:[00:24:46] Yes. Nothing happened up to until I got to cross to the border to Canada.
RRTeam: [00:24:53] Yeah.
Maria:[00:24:55] Yeah. When I went to the... What happened is my cousin [00:25:00] knew... This is what we're talking about in my country, when I was in El Salvador and he was there too. I said, "If I go with you to Canada, what are you going to do?" And first he's playing me, you know, "Oh Canada Immigration, they are so nice people, so you don't have too much trouble. You just say what is happening and then they start getting papers. You give the proof to them, they can take you, you know, as a refugee." And then he explained me everything. That is why I decide to come illegal to United States, because the idea in what I was thinking was to cross Canada.
RRTeam: [00:25:56] Yeah.
Maria:[00:25:56] I wasn't thinking to live in US, even I [00:26:00] had family there at that time, you know, still there. I wasn't thinking to live in US because we already talked with my cousin since he was in El Salvador before to leave from there. And he explained me everything, even how to start working and everything is going to happen over there. And the way he understood, when he lives in Montreal, before to get to El Salvador and come with him, was easy, not easy, but you know, not too much troubles. Right? To apply and to get the status. But the thing is when I cross to the border here in Canada is when I have the trouble, because the lady, the officer said, "You were supposed to [00:27:00] apply in Detroit in the consulate." And I said, "Oh, my cousin told him..." Because he's the one that speak for me, you know. And he said, "But we didn't know because I live in Montreal and this is the way." And she said "Oh, I can do nothing, you have to go back." And then she came out there of the...
RRTeam: [00:27:23] Office?
Maria:[00:27:27] Booth, yeah, to see us, you know, would return to US. And then when I was in US, how many hours? I think they take like 10 hours, 8 hours, something like that. But I was long time, you know? Asking me question, questioning to my cousin, the other man too. Questioning us, right?
RRTeam: [00:28:00] [00:28:00] This is the US border?
Maria:[00:28:01] This is Canada border.
RRTeam: [00:28:01] Oh, Canada border.
Maria:[00:28:02] No, no, sorry. US border because they sent me back. Yeah. And then the officer speak Spanish, and because I speak Spanish, right? And the, my cousin, we cannot be together, we are separate. And then they ask the question, who was him, how do I know him? And why I was thinking to come to Canada? All the questions to know why I crossed the border illegal. And the officer told me, you know, you make a crime. And I said, "I didn't kill nobody," because I didn't know this word, you know, in English. And he said, "You know, when you cross the border you make a crime." I said, "No, I didn't make a crime, because I just [00:29:00] crossed. I know, I understand I cross illegal, but because I want to go to Canada." And the officer, he was so nice person because he told me, "Oh, this is hard to treat women like that," he said, because at that time I was young you know, and then he said, "It's so hard, but you have to do some papers and," but always trying to ask me questions. You know, "Why?" Why I came, why I didn't do in my country. I said, in my country it's not easy to get a US visa.
RRTeam: [00:29:40] Yeah.
Maria:[00:29:42] There was a time in the 70s, I think, it was a little bit easy to get a visa but not the time when I was leaving from my country. That's what I decide. And I told him, you know, "That's what I decide to come illegal." Because I was [00:30:00] thinking, if I can cross US, I can live in Canada. But I always point, you know, I want to live in Canada, you know, and then they told me, "I'm sorry, I have to arrest you." And I was in jail. I get into the jail on Monday, like late night, and I, I leave their place on Friday morning. In some way the Immigration treat me nice. Maybe because I was a woman, because I heard stories, you know, they said, "Oh, but they didn't do that to me." Because at 9:00, 9:00-9:30 I think it was, a car from Immigration came and pick me up and take [00:31:00] me to the office and I was there all day. I was there all day for these days I was at the jail. And the officer told me, there is an institute, this is the name of the institute, but this institute that are like, how I can say, like a legal aid, there are lawyers that can help you for, okay?
RRTeam: [00:31:32] Yeah.
Maria:[00:31:32] And then he told me, you can call this place.
RRTeam: [00:31:35] This is on the US side?
Maria:[00:31:38] On the US side. And then the next day he came and make me sign papers. But the first day I was at the Immigration office, a couple came to the place, to the Immigration, and he was from my country and he told me, don't sign anything else. [00:32:00] Just sign, you crossed illegal to the border. And I said, "Okay." But don't sign it. And tell them you need a lawyer.
RRTeam: [00:32:13] Yeah.
Maria:[00:32:13] And then, okay, they pay my...
RRTeam: [00:32:15] Legal?
Maria:[00:32:15] No, they pay to take me out of the jail.
RRTeam: [00:32:18] The bail.
Maria: Bail.
RRTeam: The bail, yeah.
Maria:[00:32:18] The bail. Yeah, they pay me that. Oh no, the lady came to talk to me.
RRTeam: [00:32:27] Okay.
Maria:[00:32:27] From this place, like a legal aid? You know?
RRTeam: [00:32:30] Okay. Yeah, yeah.
Maria:[00:32:31] She came from that place and talk to me. We say, "What is happening?" And I explained to her. And I said, "Right now I don't have money because..." We were using the money, I brought it, you know. And then I said, "Right now I just give a little bit to my cousin to get to Montreal," and then I said, but they asked me. And I was calling my cousin in California, but at the time was difficult to [00:33:00] get in touch with her, you know, because when I was there, that was Tuesday. Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday, I think it was. They told me how much I has to pay.
RRTeam: [00:33:12] Oh.
Maria:[00:33:12] If I want to...
RRTeam: [00:33:13] For bail.
Maria:[00:33:14] Yeah. For bail. And then I told the lady, you know, I said, "The officer told me they going to give me," at that time I said, "A fine."
RRTeam: [00:33:28] Yeah.
Maria:[00:33:28] I said, "To pay." And she told me, "Okay, we're going to talk." She went to the Human Rights in Detroit.
RRTeam: [00:33:37] Okay.
Maria:[00:33:38] And then she talked to them, and they paid the money for me. Yeah, they pay and then they take me out. And then the lawyer told me, "Because you are here and this is your case, we're going to apply for American, to the US [00:34:00] immigration."
RRTeam: [00:34:01] Okay.
Maria:[00:34:02] "We're going to apply there, but you, you know, they are not going to give papers or resident or anything like that. No." He said, "We have to focus to you going to Canada."
RRTeam: [00:34:16] Yeah.
Maria:[00:34:16] And then I said, "Okay," you know, and then the lawyer started talking to me. And then, but before this happened, the Human Rights, they said... Because I told the story, you know, what happened, how I came, why I hope, you know, what I came to do, what I want to come to Canada and everything. And then, I don't know, I think the members got interest, you know, to help me.
RRTeam: [00:34:51] Yeah.
Maria:[00:34:51] And because I was living in different houses, because this lady has to go to vacation. I has to move [00:35:00] to the other one. But they were so nice people. Yeah, they were so nice. But while I was at jail, I was scared, because the officer told me, "I don't know what's going to happen to you. I cannot tell you anything because I don't know." And then I was scared. I was maybe, you know, when you don't know what is going to happen. You just are hearing this kind of person. People are around you. Right. And I just said… But what motivate me most to feel confidence was this guy came to Immigration when he told me, "You don't have to sign anything. Just sign, you cross the border." And he told me how said the paper has to say? No? And then, in the [00:36:00] afternoon when the officer came and said, "And show me the papers and history." And he told me in Spanish because he's Polish, he was Polish, but he speaks Spanish. And then he explained me. But in some way in my country, we learn English, you know. His few words, I didn't understand. I didn't know exactly, but I was thinking cross, you know. And I said, "Oh, maybe this." You know, and that's what gave me idea what I was signing.
RRTeam: [00:36:33] Yeah.
Maria:[00:36:33] And also because he explained me. And I said, "Oh, okay." And then I was ready when the officer came, you know, for me to sign papers. And I said, "Okay, this is the only paper I going to sign, right?"
RRTeam: [00:36:47] Yeah.
Maria:[00:36:47] And he said, "Yeah, yes, only that, because that's is, like I told you, you commit a crime to cross the border." And I said, "Okay." And he helped me, because he's... [00:37:00] I don't know, I think he, I don't know why God gave me this grace, you know. He feel like compassion.
RRTeam: [00:37:07] Yeah. Yeah.
Maria:[00:37:07] You know? Because the night before, he was like... I went there and the like around 3:00, 2:00, but it was like 10:00 or something like that. And he told me. I was a little bit scared, you know. Because I didn't know where I'm going. I didn't know the officer. I don't know he's going to have something in his mind. And he started driving in Detroit, you know? And I said, "Oh my God, what is here?" But he was taking to McDonald's to buy me a meal. And then he take me to the jail. And then I was there. And that night, I couldn't sleep. I remember April 11, you know. April 11, 1983. When I went, I go [00:38:00] into the bath, you know?
RRTeam: [00:38:01] Yeah.
Maria:[00:38:01] And I see in the window was snowing. I said, "Lord, what is going to happen here? If they deport me, what is, how is this going?" You know, it was a lot of, you know, thinking. But this lady from this office, she's the one helped me a lot. Also she gave me a house, she gave me her, a room in her house, food. Even sometimes she gave me money if I want to buy something in the store. In some way, I feel like I was blessed. Even I was scared, because when I crossed the border, when I crossed the checkpoint, when I has to cross to Canada, when they send me back to U.S. And for a moment when [00:39:00] we cross U.S., I asked my cousin, because I saw the bridge, right? And I said to my cousin, "How about you leave me here and I can jump."
He said, "You're crazy." Because I was too scared to go back there. And I heard stories, you know, people having with Immigration, you know, stories like that. I was scared and I said, "Lord, give me somebody is a good person. Somebody I know will say yes, I crossed illegal. But somebody don't do nothing bad to me.” This time nothing happened. That's what I hear, you know? Yeah. But there were moments like I feel really, really scared. Yeah. Even when we apply first to [00:40:00] U.S. Immigration, for you know, if I can get any status in there. But in two weeks they told me no.
RRTeam: [00:40:11] Wow. Wow.
Maria:[00:40:12] But the lawyer from U.S. already talked to [name of Lawyer], and he told me, "You're going to have a lawyer from the other side. And we going to do the best to help you to go to Canada." And then he told me, "I know you're not going to get status here."
RRTeam: [00:40:40] Okay, so they prepared you.
Maria:[00:40:40] Yeah. "But our focus is you going to Canada."
RRTeam: [00:40:43] Yeah.
Maria:[00:40:43] And then I said, "Oh, okay." When they tell me words, you know, like that?
RRTeam: [00:40:49] Yeah.
Maria:[00:40:49] I started feeling better, like see people have interest to help me. Right? And I said, "Oh." [00:41:00] I started feeling a little better. A little better. And then we went to apply for the U.S., like I said, in two weeks they reject me. And then he said, "Now you have to decide. If you pay the ticket, the plane, or we pay for you."
RRTeam: [00:41:27] Okay. This is for Canada?
Maria:[00:41:29] No, that was U.S.
RRTeam: [00:41:30] Oh, U.S.
Maria:[00:41:30] Yeah. In U.S. and then I said, "Oh, okay, give me time." Because I told the lawyer, I told her to give me time because I knew my cousin was legal, you know? The ones I was going to call, they were legal. That's why I wasn't, you know? But I couldn't get them.
RRTeam: [00:41:50] Yeah.
Maria:[00:41:51] And then this lady, the one helped me? You know, she said, "Don't worry." She said, you know. [00:42:00] Because she has interest to help me, you know? And then she was talking to them, asking questions, what is going to happen to me? And she told me, "Don't worry. What happened, this is normal for you to apply here, because you are here and even you are illegal, you can apply.” But the lawyer said, “what they want is you cross to Canada." And then I said, "How I going to cross to Canada?" I didn't know, right? And then the lawyer told her I has to make a story, you know? And then why I left my country. And I said, "Oh. I don't want to tell things about my family, you know?" Because I was scared. I'm here talking about them, and how they've been over there, you know? Because I didn't know if they has like a... In my mind was like, how about if [00:43:00] they said, "Okay, we has one from El Salvador. Can you tell us about her?" You know? And I said, "Oh," you know? I was just scared. And especially because at that time the government was so hard, you know? Either you were guerrilla side or government side.
RRTeam: [00:43:22] Right.
Maria:[00:43:23] Both sides was so... Like getting bold, you know?
RRTeam: [00:43:26] Yeah.
Maria:[00:43:27] Was terrible. And then I, "I don't want to do that," you know. But the lawyer started talking to me. The more they talked me, I understand a little better, you know. And then he said, "Don't worry." And then he applied to...
RRTeam: [00:43:43] Canada?
Maria:[00:43:44] To Canada.
RRTeam: [00:43:46] Yeah.
Maria:[00:43:46] And I went to see the Consul. I filled the papers, you know, to apply. But this is, I don't [00:44:00] know, that's why I said God was with me, because you know, even U.S. in two weeks told me "You has to leave, and you decide. You pay your plane, or we pay for you." But in those, in those weeks, when they said no, Canada let me apply.
RRTeam: [00:44:21] Oh.
Maria:[00:44:22] You know, for refugee status. And then when I applied, the lawyer get a... I don't know, because all this story, you know, happened in between Canada and US?
RRTeam: [00:44:32] Yeah.
Maria:[00:44:32] I think the Consul feels, I don't know, a compromise with my situation for what happened. I don't know exactly. But he let me apply. And then he gave, he, I don't know how to call, but Immigration for U.S let me stay there.
RRTeam: [00:44:57] Okay.
Maria:[00:44:58] The only thing I can't do was work.
RRTeam: [00:44:59] Okay. Was it [00:45:00] like a temporary permit or something, or? Or just they said they wouldn't deport you?
Maria:[00:45:07] They won't deport, because already applied to Canada.
RRTeam: [00:45:10] Canada. Yeah. Right.
Maria:[00:45:11] I don't know how this work, but the thing the lawyer told me you, "You can live here for until you get your papers." He told me, you know? And I said, "The only thing is, you cannot work." Right?
RRTeam: [00:45:23] You cannot work.
Maria:[00:45:23] No. And then, but like I said, all the people that was from Human Rights, they were helping me to, you know, everything.
RRTeam: [00:45:37] Yeah.
Maria:[00:45:37] And then in two weeks, this is so funny for me, because now I feel like, you know, oh, thank you Lord. You know, because I apply Monday. And then like the next Monday or Tuesday, I think it was, they called me. And they said, "Okay, you can go and do your exams." [00:46:00] You know, like a physical test. "And make your physical tests," and the lady, like a legal aid, she find a doctor. And the doctor was Salvadorian. But because the war, he was in U.S.
And then he do me all the tests, all I needed, and I didn't pay to him. He gave me, you know. And this is how I came to Canada, because they, like I said, I applied Monday. The next week they call me. You know, like, start doing my exam, my physical tests. And I told, because when I apply and I make my story about why I came here and what happened to my country, when I came, I didn't tell them about [00:47:00] my brother.
RRTeam: [00:47:01] Okay.
Maria:[00:47:01] You know? I didn't tell about my brother. I just tell them, "I just want to come to Canada." This is because the guy I met in the Immigration, he told me, "Don't say nothing. Because they will try to ask you questions. No, you just say you want to come to Canada."
RRTeam: [00:47:19] Yeah.
Maria:[00:47:19] And I always say that, you know? But when I went to the Canada Immigration, was different because I has to give my story, you know? Because the lady from the legal aid, she told me, "What happened to you?"
RRTeam: [00:47:47] Yeah.
Maria:[00:47:47] And I said, "Okay, my brother happened this. I went to see him in, and everything around me is scared," I said. You know? But the main thing was be killed, you [00:48:00] know, and leave my daughter. And then she told me, "Okay. We have our story." She told me. Because you don't know exactly, because you were there, and you take the risk. People take the risk to leave there under a war, you know? But I didn't know this was like a big risk. In some way, yes, because my brother, you know, he was in between. They didn't find what they said. And also, he was in jail as a guerrilla. But he wasn't, you know? And also, [00:49:00] I was scared also, you know, for my, the peoples around where we used to live.
RRTeam: [00:49:06] Yeah.
Maria:[00:49:07] There was like, what is it, like a parliament.
RRTeam: [00:49:16] Yeah. Yeah.
Maria:[00:49:16] You know? I live close to there.
RRTeam: [00:49:18] Okay.
Maria:[00:49:23] And then you are scared when somebody is following you.
RRTeam: [00:49:26] Yeah.
Maria:[00:49:27] You know? And you're scared because you don't know coming against you or just somebody. You scared. Right? And then I was living there, and one time somebody I don't know, I thought was following me or was real, you know, what is going on? But when I started walking a little bit, not faster but a little [00:50:00] more, you know, it feel like he was walking too, you know? And then I said, "Oh." And then I went to a store, and he pass. But was for a while.
And then I said, "I can leave it right now." Right? I just, because I were there and you can go to the store and drink your pop, you know? And then I started walking again. And between where the store and where I was walking, I saw the man there. And I said, "Is this guy following me?" But I haven't done nothing, you know? I didn't know was from one side or the other side. And I was scared.
And then things like that happened. That's why I was scared, you know, scared to leave my daughter. All my scared was to leave my daughter alone, [00:51:00] because she was only four years old.
RRTeam: [00:51:02] Yeah.
Maria:[00:51:03] You know? And my mom was already old, you know? And I said, "Oh, must get scared."
RRTeam: [00:51:11] And your brother was already in jail at that time?
Maria:[00:51:13] Yeah. When I left my country, I left some money to him because somebody told me people, when they leave there, the jail, and they sometimes kill. They has been killed. And then I told my brother, he can take... My other brother give a phone number and we can pay to them, you know, to take him safe.
RRTeam: [00:51:42] Okay.
Maria:[00:51:43] Because, and I don't know what's going on, but when I took the bus to go and see him, the smell, you know, the bodies, you know, the smell is. And I heard peoples in the bus say, "Oh might be somebody was killed around here and nobody knows yet." And because, [00:52:00] you know, the smell. And many things around, you know? But like I said, to visit my brother made me feel like somebody was following me. I wasn't scared because I said, "Maybe because I went to see him. Maybe they want something from me to know about him." But he wasn't nothing.
The thing is, because he was... They follow him and they think he was a guerrilla, but he wasn't, you know? But at that time, it's like that. And war, when the country's in war, for anything, it's like, you don't know. You don't know. And I was scared. You know, for him, for myself, for my family.
RRTeam: [00:52:57] Yeah.
Maria:[00:52:58] Even my other [00:53:00] brother, not from my mother's side, he told me not to go there. He said, "You never know what is going to happen. Don't go." But I feel like my mom die because him, because of him, you know? When he was arrested, she was looking all the places, you know, where the people were detained.
RRTeam: [00:53:27] Yeah.
Maria:[00:53:27] And she couldn't find him. And this is the reason... When I'm talking about this mother, that was my own mother. She died, because she didn't have the money to pay and say, "My son is not against the government. He's not a, you know, he's a normal person, you know, he's not involved in that." And then I said, I told my mother died because she couldn't... She [00:54:00] has a stroke, you know? But she couldn't do nothing for him. But I feel like he's there. You know? In between, who knows who are they, you know? And then I just, at this time, you know, I started going to church. And then I started giving, encourage him to have faith, you know? To have faith something's going to happen, and he's going to get out. And I sit and I left, I had to leave him, you know, because that was my time to leave the country. When my cousin came. Because my mother said, "It's your [00:55:00] cousin. He's going to drive you. He's a man."
RRTeam: [00:55:03] Yeah.
Maria:[00:55:04] "He can protect you." But one thing she told me, "Don't take your daughter. Because you don't know. Mexico is so dangerous." And I say, "Yeah." And I left my daughter.
RRTeam: [00:55:21] Yeah.
Maria:[00:55:21] That was so hard to leave my daughter. And to live under a war. Because when I was in U.S., waiting for my papers, when I heard, I think it's the patrol. At night, you know, the helicopters?
RRTeam: [00:55:42] Yeah.
Maria:[00:55:43] When I heard that, I get up and I said, "What is now?" But when I realize I was in Detroit, and I said, "Oh." But I started thinking, I couldn't sleep anymore, because I started thinking my daughter, what [00:56:00] happened? Because you never know, you know? But I thank God I am here and safe, and my kids, my daughter’s, now she's 40. My kids are big, and we are safe.
RRTeam: [00:56:14] Yeah.
Maria:[00:56:16] Yeah. But the reason I came is because I don't want to be killed and leave my daughter. You know? And like many stories like that, you know. Because it's so hard to live in a war. And you have to work because some places, they can, we sort of by working, you know? But there were places where it's special because I live in the capital.
RRTeam: [00:56:40] Yeah.
Maria:[00:56:40] You know, like counties in the... I don't know-
RRTeam: Districts?
Maria:Like a state, like here is the province Ontario, right? And then it's Leamington and then places like this is hard. Because [00:57:00] they bomb the places, they, bridges and everything, you know?
RRTeam: [00:57:06] Yeah.
Maria:[00:57:06] And in the city, where I live, was more because there is a way they can hide it, even, or they fight here, and they can run and you know?
RRTeam: [00:57:22] Yeah.
Maria:[00:57:23] Yeah. That was over there, but like, like it's scary.
RRTeam: [00:57:27] Yeah.
Maria:[00:57:27] Yeah, it's scary. But I take, like I said, I never wants to come to this country illegal, because I was just scared, you know? And there was no... There was nothing to push me, you know? To take the courage. Because when you live like that, you have to take the courage to go because you going to... You don't know what is going to happen, what kind of people is going to be on your way. Because people's being killed, you know? Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:57:59] Yeah. So [00:58:00] that was the story you told? That was the reason you told the Canadian government, that was the story you used to make your refugee claim, to apply for refugee status in Canada?
Maria:[00:58:03] Yes, yes. All the parts that, you know, why I was scared.
RRTeam: [00:58:04] Exactly. Why you were scared.
Maria:[00:58:05] Yeah. Yeah. And I told them about my brother, too.
RRTeam: [00:58:06] Yeah.
Maria:[00:58:06] Yeah. And I told also, when I, was the time with my daughter's father. I don't know about him anymore. I don't know what happened, he was killed, I don't know either. Everything came together, you know, to leave the country.
RRTeam: [00:58:11] Yeah. The couple that visited you in... I don't know if they visited you, but the couple that you met when you were in detention on the U.S. side, in Detroit? You said there was a Salvadoran couple?
Maria:[00:58:16] Yes.
RRTeam: [00:58:16] And were they there from a legal aid centre too, or were they also there in detention?
Maria:[00:58:18] No, they were legal. I forgot what they were doing in Immigration.
RRTeam: [00:58:18] Oh.
Maria:[00:58:19] Yeah, they were legal, yeah, they were citizen.
RRTeam: [00:58:20] They were citizen?
Maria:[00:58:20] Yes. Yeah.
RRTeam: [00:58:20] Okay. So they were there to tell you information for something you don't know?
Maria:[00:58:21] No. This, oh, I forgot this part. They were there doing some immigration business. And they, I don't know how to call [00:59:00] this guy, but there was one working like at the door. Maybe it was at the door, you know, a man. He was a Mexican. “He's a Mexican,” I think.
RRTeam: [00:59:55] Okay.
Maria:[00:59:57] He was talking to him, "There is [01:00:00] a lady from El Salvador, and she's having problem because she's illegal." And then the husband told me or this lady, this couple. “Oh,” he said, "You are from El Salvador." And I said, "Yes, I'm from El Salvador." And then he said, "And what happened?" And I tell a little bit, you know, my story. And he said, "Okay. Don't sign any paper. Just the one you crossed the border."
RRTeam: [01:00:33] Yeah.
Maria:[01:00:35] And then, but because this Mexican guy work for Immigration. He said, "There is a lady from your country." Because sometime I cry, you know, I cry when I was there. Even they take me, they bring me good food for lunch, you know, but I feel sad, I feel scared. I feel like what is going to happen to my family at that time? Oh, [01:01:00] those times are... Are times like... like when somebody's lost and doesn't know how to find a way to get out. This is how I feel when in those times because I was in between two countries and I didn't know who was going to love me. But the lawyer, he said it, he said, "No. You're going to Canada, you're going to Canada." All the time.
RRTeam: [01:01:30] Wow.
Maria:[01:01:30] That is the story.
RRTeam: [01:01:48] Wow. Okay. So then that was the story you told to the Canadian officials. And then, so after you made your claim on this side, [01:02:00] then what happened? Then you said you were in the detention for about two, one week?
Maria:[01:02:08] For no, four days.
RRTeam: [01:02:10] Four days.
Maria:[01:02:11] I came, it was Monday night, and I left there Friday morning.
RRTeam: [01:02:17] Okay. Yeah. And then they called you to the Canadian side to make your claim, or?
Maria:[01:02:22] No, I went to the Consul.
RRTeam: [01:02:26] Okay, right.
Maria:[01:02:27] In Detroit.
RRTeam: [01:02:27] Yeah.
Maria:[01:02:28] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:02:28] Yeah.
Maria:[01:02:29] Yeah. I was there. But like I said, I apply this Monday.
RRTeam: [01:02:38] Yeah.
Maria:[01:02:39] And then the next Monday, they gave me papers to set up my physical exams.
RRTeam: [01:02:44] Right.
Maria:[01:02:46] I think because according to what I understood is they shouldn't do that, you know, to send me back.
RRTeam: [01:02:54] Yeah.
Maria:[01:02:55] Yeah. And then I think this [01:03:00] is because I didn't know how to explain to them, because by this time I was by myself. My cousin wasn't there. Because they told my cousin, "You have to leave her. You going to leave your, your cousin here." Right. And then I just, I just has to trust, like, I trust this officer because he told me, he showed me compassion, you know? Like he said, "I will do this because I think you are hungry," he said, "And you're not going to find food over there." And he paid from his money and then this is why, you know? And then I said, "Okay," but I was scared. You know, there were many things, like, was scary.
RRTeam: [01:03:51] Of course.
Maria:[01:03:52] Now it's like, wow.
RRTeam: [01:03:54] Yeah.
Maria:[01:03:54] How I, you know, all the things I went through.
RRTeam: [01:03:57] Yeah. Yeah.
Maria:[01:03:59] Yeah. [01:04:00] And in Mexico too. In Mexico, there is like a checkpoint too.
RRTeam: [01:04:06] Yep.
Maria:[01:04:06] And they don't want to... They took my passport. My cousin too, right? And they said, "Oh, you're going to cross your..." My cousin said, it's my cousin, right? And this officer said, "Oh, you going to cross her to US?" My cousin is like that, you know? He said, "Yeah. Okay, if I going to do that, it's not your business. She's legal here in Mexico." Right? And he said, "And that's not your business because she's legal."
RRTeam: [01:04:42] Yeah.
Maria:[01:04:43] And then, but I don't know, he has something like that when he talks, people started maybe thinking, you know. And he said, "Okay, here are your passports," and let it go. [01:05:00] For a little bit, was like a ...
RRTeam: [01:05:04] Scary.
Maria:[01:05:04] He said, "You can call immigration, but we are here legal." He said, "I'm a Canadian citizen, I can call my Embassy." Then I think this conversation make them to give us the passport back.
RRTeam: [01:05:24] Yeah and allowed you to continue.
Maria:[01:05:26] Yes, because I was legal in Mexico.
RRTeam: [01:05:27] Right.
Maria:[01:05:27] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:05:27] Because you had the visa.
Maria:[01:05:27] I had the, yes.
RRTeam: [01:05:32] Exactly.
Maria:[01:05:32] Yeah, because if I don't have it, I don't know what's going to happen.
RRTeam: [01:05:40] And so when did you meet Sister Kit?
Maria:[01:05:44] Oh. I think the 14th, something like that. I met her a few days after I left the jail, because she [01:06:00] wants to know me. All the members from the Human Rights wants to meet me. They were asking me questions and they have a lady from Puerto Rico and she's the one who was translating for me. Then they asked me questions. It's like they want to know everything. I think that is how everything is done. Oh. Because there was two guys too. A lady from U.S., know them before I crossed the border, before I crossed to Canada. She was a member, too. She worked for a place. I'm not sure is still working. I haven't [01:07:00] seen her for a while. She worked for the La Sed, they call La Sed. I think it happen in Detroit.
RRTeam: [01:07:08] In Detroit.
Maria:[01:07:08] Yeah. Yeah. She was so nice. She went to my country to pick up my daughter.
RRTeam: [01:07:13] Oh, wow!
Maria:[01:07:14] Yeah. She went to my country to pick up my daughter.
RRTeam: [01:07:22] La Sed.
Maria:[01:07:22] La Sed. S-E-D. Yeah, and like I said, everybody's standing and then a was first, they have a, I went to this sanctuary. They have a St. Gabriel, I think is the name of the church, I forgot, but there was a family, a Salvadorian family there. That's why I went to that place.
RRTeam: [01:07:43] The Salvadorian family.
Maria:[01:07:43] Yes. Salvadorian family was there, and they were trying to help her, too. Then, the director of the human rights, he started talking to me. They want to do something to help the immigrants who come [01:08:00] illegal, and wants to cross to U.S., to Canada. Then they told me if I can help them. I said, I want to help, because if I find people like them, I want people coming, because I know what it is to be in war, what is to be persecuted, like on my brother. I know how they feel. I know how you feel when you are on the street. It's like your hands, you are in the hands of the people around you. Like example, one day I was late, and they have a curfew, and I have to run, and run, and run. If I wasn't, they meet me or something and they can kill me because there was a curfew.
RRTeam: [01:09:00] [01:09:00] In your situation.
Maria:[01:09:02] Yeah, and I told them, the questions they asked me. I explained to them, and I said, "I don't believe it, both sides," I said, "because I know from Cuba, the story of Cuba." I said, "I don't believe from both sides," I said. Something must be, but I said, "It's not in my power. I just only have ideas. They have to do something for us not to be in this stress." It's hard. You get up in the morning and you don't know if you're coming back to your house. It's like when I left my country, I didn't know if I was going back to my country or if I weren't going to stay here or I didn't nothing.
RRTeam: [01:09:59] [01:10:00] When you went to the St. Gabriel, and you met the, there was another Salvadorian family-
Maria:[01:10:04] Yeah, there was a, Salvadorian family there.
RRTeam: [01:10:06] What were the, the Human Rights people, what were they asking you to help? How were they-
Maria:[01:10:12] Oh, they asked me to help because they want to do like a sanctuary.
RRTeam: [01:10:12] Oh, I see.
Maria:[01:10:12] Yeah, they want to have the, like what's the name of this office? At that time was Windsor Tunnel Coalition.
RRTeam: [01:10:30] Yeah.
Maria:[01:10:31] Yeah, but I wasn't, doesn't exist before. Sister Kit and the other people around her, is the one start doing that. When I came here, I think I did already, they started working on that, was getting more help, more everything.
RRTeam: [01:11:00] [01:11:00] Yeah.
Maria:[01:11:01] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:11:02] How long did you stay in St. Gabriel, then?
Maria:[01:11:04] Just for a few hours. I went to visit this family. Yeah, they told me what's going on, and then I'm not sure is, when Sister Kit got up in this place, they helped them, I don't know what happened to them. Because when I cross here, I don't have a way to go back, unless they come to visit me. Like the director from Human Rights, he came to visit me here, to how I was doing, and yeah.
RRTeam: [01:11:42] Do you remember their name?
Maria:[01:11:44] Right now I don't remember his name. He's a tall guy.
RRTeam: [01:11:48] Yeah.
Maria:[01:11:50] Curly hair. I have picture of him. Yeah. He came to visit me and the secretary, too.
RRTeam: [01:12:00] [01:12:00] Yeah.
Maria:[01:12:00] Yeah. The one always was, that was translating me, yeah. She came to visit me in the first year. Like I said, they start me to make meetings with people who want to participate in the plan they have.
RRTeam: [01:12:07] Yeah, yeah. Okay. Then how long did you stay on the Detroit side or when did you-?
Maria:[01:12:07] Oh, okay. I had to wait for a year because I was waiting for my daughter.
RRTeam: [01:12:07] Right. Oh, okay.
Maria:[01:12:07] Yeah. When I cross here is because my daughter was coming.
RRTeam: [01:12:07] Oh. Okay.
Maria:[01:12:07] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:12:07] Okay.
Maria:[01:12:07] Here the church St. Jean Vianney or something like that, help me with everything.
RRTeam: [01:12:07] Okay, St.-
Maria:[01:12:16] Jean Vianney.
RRTeam: [01:12:25] Okay, okay, on this [01:13:00] side.
Maria:[01:13:00] Yeah, it's on East side.
RRTeam: [01:13:02] East side. Okay.
Maria: Close to Riverside.
RRTeam: Yeah. Okay, yeah.
Maria:[01:13:02] Yeah there was Father Giroux, I think it was at that time. Also, he was helping too and there was another lady, I forgot her name. She helped me all the way through. Yeah. Until-
RRTeam: [01:13:31] On this side?
Maria:[01:13:32] Yeah, here, until I finish the school, finish everything. After, okay, you got to go, but she kept helping me, yeah.
RRTeam: [01:13:48] In the year that you stayed in Detroit, you were living, so you lived in Detroit for a year or did you go elsewhere-?
Maria:[01:13:56] First, the lady helped me to [01:14:00] find, how was, Human Rights. She take me to her house first right when I get out. She take me to her house. She have a daughter and her daughter was pregnant and then because I don't have a steady place anywhere to stay, then she told me she was going to have a baby if I want to help her. Then I stayed with her until I came to Canada.
RRTeam: [01:14:31] Okay, you stayed with her daughter?
Maria:[01:14:34] It was her daughter, yeah.
RRTeam: [01:14:34] Okay.
Maria:[01:14:34] I take care of the kids. Yeah. Then I come back here and until today, come here. Yeah. They were so nice. They were my friends. Very close friends. She came like, we keep in touch.
RRTeam: [01:14:56] Oh, you do?
Maria:[01:14:57] Yeah, I go to, her [01:15:00] mother died, but I went to her son and her daughter's wedding, her kids’ graduation.
RRTeam: [01:15:09] Nice.
Maria:[01:15:09] Yeah, we still, yeah. The only thing I feel, because I sorry, but I still not driving. That's the only thing I couldn't get in touch with all of them. Yeah. Yeah. There was a couple and there was his brother. This lady was a nun. Many, many, many, many. Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:15:33] Yeah. It was harder in those days to stay in touch, though. It's so much easier with the internet and everything.
Maria:[01:15:43] Yes, yeah. That's right, and also because my English. I don't know what to speak with them. Yeah. I just always, I said, you know, how [01:16:00] I feel, everything they done for me, with the lawyers, with people helping me, translating, take me to the doctor, all this stuff.
RRTeam: [01:16:16] In that year that you were waiting and waiting to bring your daughter, what were you thinking of? What was that like for you?
Maria:[01:16:24] What I was thinking is, how I going to do it here in Canada.
RRTeam: [01:16:28] Yeah.
Maria:[01:16:28] Yeah, but my friend always told me, she said, you always think and wait. Think and wait, and then when you are sure, then do it. yeah. When I came here, I was going to, they call Mason. I don't remember at that time, was Mason, but I went to start learning English there, while the government send me to St. Clair College.
RRTeam: [01:17:00] [01:17:00] Oh, wow.
Maria:[01:17:00] Yeah, and then when I was, they give us six months, almost six months, and then enough to fill papers, applications, go to bank. My friend put this in my mind, "Over there you're not going to speak Spanish. You have to learn English if you want to know what is going around you, to find a job and everything." And I said, "Yeah." Then, I started going but ah, they gave me just six months to learn English. Yeah. After, they told me, okay, my sponsors, they told me okay, we're going to help you until you finish, was for one year, I think. Then, because they were [01:18:00] helping me with house, everything, and then from this church. Then when they done, when the time was done, she came in and she said, "Okay now if you don't find a job, they gave me the date when everything was going to done." And she told me, "If you don't find a job, you need to go to welfare." I knew everything, because my friend from US, the daughter of the lady helped me, she explained to me everything here, what is going to happen. In the beginning, was so hard because I couldn't retain, because my daughter. Oh, this lady, the one I was babysitting her children, she took me every day to school, I couldn't learn anything, because I was, my mind was-
RRTeam: [01:18:52] Worrying about your daughter.
Maria:[01:18:52] Yes. Yeah. Then it's because, and you might come to moments when you are, maybe [01:19:00] feel safe walking because nothing happens. Suddenly, start shooting and then you have to look for a place to hide, but if you don't find it. Even, I went back in 19--, they said they sign a peace, but that wasn't true. The whole country was still in war. Then I went, by myself because my country, I know there, and I decided to take my kids, I forgot the word, and then suddenly they start fighting. Other people sell clothes, or food, or whatever, and [01:20:00] they put tables. I just, because it was close like that, rapido. I just put my kids, at that time I have three kids, and I just put my kids under the table, and I hide it like that, but I put them in my back like a chicken. Until they took different road, different street, and then I feel like. But when that's happening, even they go to different place, you have to wait because you never know more coming back from the back. Like, support the ones who are going in the front.
Then I had to wait for an hour, I think. Then I just heard like running, and then when I started feeling, they were [01:21:00] talking and saying something what happened, or maybe, talking about what happened there. Then I get out, and wasn't ... When I came to Canada, go back there, that was so hard to go back to, to have those moments, you know? Because I see people on the river, dead, you know, the bodies. You know? Yeah, and when I started listening the helicopters over there, what we just think is, now where they are fighting? Where is this happening? And praying for people, you know what happen on the offence. When my daughter came, that's why it took me a year to come to Canada because the doctor, I don't know how did [01:22:00] this happening, but he was saying my daughter was having problem.
Then, thanks God, they gave me another application to do the exams again, the physicals, because this doctor was saying, I forgot exactly what he was explaining in the application, what he sent to Canada. Then, when I went to the Consul I said, no, that's not true. I talk to my mom and said, and he told me okay, we're going to send you to another doctor, because they have doctors there.
RRTeam: [01:22:56] Right.
Maria:[01:22:56] He told me, I going to send you to the other doctor. And [01:23:00] Then my mom explained to what happened with the first and then they said, I explained to him and I said, "I know my daughter was, but it's not like that." I forgot the word they used for that. Then when he sent to the other doctor, I told my mom, "Tell what happened with the other doctor, and say that the only thing happen, is my daughter was at the school, and then the guerrillas coming, and they have to take all the kids in a place and hide them, in case they get into the school. The army was behind, coming after them. Then, that is the only thing happen to her," but the doctor was saying, I forgot exactly, and my mom told me. I know that's [01:24:00] the only situation she happen, but it's not like she going to be mental something. But this doctor, because my mom explained to her, and then I think he checked better, he did a better report, and then they send me the papers, she was coming.
RRTeam: [01:24:22] Okay, so they had to redo the medical test.
Maria:[01:24:25] The medical test, yeah.
RRTeam: [01:24:25] In order to get status in Canada, so that was all to-
Maria:[01:24:29] Yeah, and that's why, I have already my papers, but I have to ...
RRTeam: [01:24:30] But you had to wait here, on this side.
Maria:[01:24:36] Yeah, yeah. Like I said, I think I got my papers fast because of my situation when I came here, you know? I think that's why, and but for my daughter has to wait. Yeah. She came in 1984.
RRTeam: [01:24:53] Oh, okay.
Maria:[01:24:53] Yeah. Yeah. I left there in April and she came in March here.
RRTeam: [01:24:58] [01:25:00] Yeah.
Maria:[01:25:02] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:25:02] Somebody from the Human Rights place brought her-?
Maria:[01:25:07] Was between my sponsors.
RRTeam: [01:25:10] Was between your sponsors.
Maria:[01:25:10] Yeah, here in Canada.
RRTeam: [01:25:12] Oh, okay.
Maria:[01:25:13] Yeah. The lady was from Human Rights. The lady went to get my daughter.
RRTeam: [01:25:20] In El Salvador.
Maria:[01:25:21] Yeah, because she speaks Spanish, and she knew my country.
RRTeam: [01:25:26] Okay.
Maria:[01:25:26] Yeah. Yeah, she knew, and that's why she went to pick up my daughter there.
RRTeam: [01:25:31] Okay and she picked up your daughter and she met, and she brought her to Detroit?
Maria:[01:25:36] No, to Toronto.
RRTeam: [01:25:37] To Toronto.
Maria:[01:25:38] Yeah. We were waiting there. I was there with my sponsors.
RRTeam: [01:25:41] Yeah.
Maria:[01:25:42] Yeah, I was there, and they were so nice because they, he rent a hotel because he said, oh, probably she comes tiring. That was so nice.
RRTeam: [01:25:55] Yeah. What was it like to be reunited with your daughter?
Maria:[01:25:55] For me, [01:26:00] was like, I cannot say win the lottery, but I can say, my life went back. Part of my love was, I don't know where, it's too many things, but when I saw her, I was ... Not because I don't know my family or something like that, but because she was a little girl, when she came was four years old. Then I feel like my life come back to me. The only thing is, she was, I don't know you. A face, she make this like, I don't know you, because what happened is, I feel bad, but I told my mom, "If I say bye to my daughter, I won't leave the country." I said, "I don't have the courage to leave her," I said.
My Mom said, "Okay, but I going to talk to her, and I'm [01:27:00] going to tell her you have to leave, but you're coming back." That's how I left my daughter, because too many stories. Kids dying in the river so many things, and people take advantage, from Mexico into U.S., people take advantage. Like when I was with my cousin, I don't know how many minutes it took. Things like that. That's why I came to, I take the courage to come, because my cousin was there. If not, I don't know, maybe I go to, I don't know what country, because my brother, I left my brother in jail. They break his leg, because there is time when they, I don't know what they do, [01:28:00] inside the jail, and then they break his leg.
Where my brother used to live, was so dangerous there. Now it's worse. Worse. Yeah. Even when I went to at 10 years ago, my brother said, I want to look for my brothers, and he said, "No. Don't go," he said, "because you don't know if you got involved and this, or, who knows." Then I still don't know about him. Yeah.
The only thing is because I didn't grow up with them, is like a, I feel bad, but it's not like something is, you know. I send my address to one of them, but they didn't keep in touch. Yeah. I don't know what's going, what's happen with them. I don't know.
RRTeam: [01:28:55] When you went to Toronto to meet your daughter and then you came back here to Windsor, how did you decide to come back to Windsor? Or, how did you come-
Maria:[01:28:56] Oh, [01:29:00] because my sponsor, he drove us, and drove me to pick up my daughter, and bring her and my friend and by this time, this lady was my friend.
RRTeam: [01:29:57] Right.
Maria:[01:29:57] Yeah. [01:30:00] She was so nice.
RRTeam: [01:30:04] That's how you decided to, that's why you decided to stay in Windsor?
Maria:[01:30:12] Yes. Yeah. I was scared to move where I, you know, with kids and, yeah, that's why I stay here at the time. My daughter is, my youngest daughter is the one, doesn't want to stay here [laughs]. Yeah, she was, because when she finished at university, she said, "Mom, I want to take a year off, because I still don't know what I, you know-"
RRTeam: [01:30:44] Want to do.
Maria:[01:30:44] Yeah. Then she went to teach English in Italy, and because I have family in Belgium and France, and then she went to, her steady place was Belgium. She lives there, and she went to [01:31:00] work in Italy, and then she wants to travel. Then she come back. Now she's already two years, she finish her master. Yeah, but she doesn't like to stay. I think it's because she likes to travel.
RRTeam: [01:31:16] Yeah.
Maria:[01:31:16] Yeah, and that's my youngest. Then, the other ones are married with kids. Just my oldest daughter is not married yet.
RRTeam: [01:31:29] Was [name of lawyer] your lawyer here?
Maria:[01:31:33] She was like, support.
RRTeam: [01:31:34] She was support.
Maria:[01:31:35] Yes. Support, because the lawyer, the other side is the one make everything. But out here she was, especially the day they're going to give me the papers. There was, outside the embassy, the building, there was a protest. Somebody, people were protesting. I don't know [01:32:00] why. Then, I think in the Consul, the authorities there, maybe they thought, they were thinking about people because I was there. Then, they put us, they make the building safe, but I wasn't, somebody else. The secretary told me, "[Maria] you're going to see moments here. But nothing is happening." What happen is, I don't know, they are protesting. About what, I don't know. Maybe they know, and they don't know exactly what is going on. Like I said, the Channel Nine was there too. I think that's why they were, but this is what the lady told me.
RRTeam: [01:32:57] You had already had your papers ready for [01:33:00] you?
Maria:[01:33:00] That week is when I got my papers to go for the physical. Yeah, that week, and I have interview with them before that day, I think.
RRTeam: [01:33:20] At the Consulate?
Maria:[01:33:21] No, with the lady was, the reporter.
RRTeam: [01:33:26] [From Channel Nine?]
Maria:[01:33:27] Yeah, and they went over there. The secretary, she just told me, "They are supporting you." I said, "Why?" My sponsors drove to Toronto, and then we pick up my daughter. We slept there, and then we come back the next day, and I start having my life with my daughter. [01:34:00] In the beginning it was something like, that too with me. I feel bad because I left her. I feel bad. I said, but I said, did I did it good or what, because the way she was acting was something like, I didn't expect. I think because I left her, and I left her for one year. Then, I told her, I explained to her, "I came here because I don't want nothing happen to you or if the war never stop, I want you to live here. Here there is no war. You can go to school and nothing is going to happen to you." Started talking like that because she knew what happened over there. [01:35:00] In that time, even one of my, not my real sister in law, but I call like that, we call it that, each other. She got depression. She got depression between what happened to her.
RRTeam: [01:35:14] Between what happened to her.
Maria:[01:35:14] Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:35:14] She was-
Maria:[01:35:15] In El Salvador.
RRTeam: [01:35:20] El Salvador.
Maria:[01:35:23] Yeah, she applied too. What happened, I don't remember it was her sister or how, but she got papers in U.S. I think it's because what happened to her. I think that's why she got papers in U.S. In Canada, I didn't know I can apply in my country. I didn't know that until I came here, and my brother didn't know either. The one I grew up with him, [01:36:00] he didn't know I left the country illegal. He said, "Why did you?" When he find out, he said, "Why she left?" But I didn't know either. I didn't know either because I just, I come back from Guatemala and that was 1983, 1982, and then 1983 is when I decided to leave. In 1984 is when I came here. Yeah.
RRTeam: [01:36:32] Your cousin who was in Montreal, did he come and visit, when he was alive, did he come and visit you here in Windsor or did you go to Montreal to visit?
Maria:[01:36:41] No, we didn't. Like I said before, we met again in 1983. Our friendship was like the family, it wasn't like a-
RRTeam: [01:36:56] Wasn't close.
Maria:[01:36:56] But before, he [01:37:00] went back to El Salvador, and he stop here. Yeah. But years after, he moved to my country.
RRTeam: [01:37:07] Oh, okay.
Maria:[01:37:08] Yeah. He moved to there, but he die over there. He didn't know he had cancer.
RRTeam: [01:37:15] Oh.
Maria:[01:37:16] Yeah. Then, because he lived with his family, his sisters, now my cousins lives in Alberta. Yeah. In Edmonton, I think, they live.
RRTeam: [01:37:30] Yeah.
Maria:[01:37:30] Yeah. I don't know, but my two cousins, they die from cancer after they live here. One of my cousins, I was thinking maybe because he was industrial engineer, something like that. And he worked for the, for the pipe-?
RRTeam: [01:37:56] In the pipelines?
Maria:[01:37:57] Uh-huh [affirmative].
RRTeam: [01:37:57] In Alberta?
Maria:[01:37:57] In Alberta, yeah, because he moved there. Yeah. My [01:38:00] other cousin, I don't know why. They both die from cancer.
RRTeam: [01:38:04] When you think back at that time, you said, and we all think so too, that going through the different checkpoints before you started your journey, you knew you would have to go through so many checkpoints and borders across Mexico, going to the U.S. and then crossing again to Canada. What was it that kept you going? What was it that gave you the feeling to continue?
Maria:[01:38:38] To-
RRTeam: [01:38:38] To continue, because all these are very hard things.
Maria:[01:38:40] Yeah. What happened is my cousin talked to me, right? He said, "From here, Guatemala, Mexico, don't feel nervous, don't feel scared, don't feel this, that," you know. “Even,” he told me, “when you cross the border, you [01:39:00] has to trust yourself.” And I said, but I was scared. Yeah, I was scared when I cross. And then, because first of all, I feel like, how am I going to trust somebody you don't know and he's going to trust or ... Oh my mind was ... but what happened is the person told my cousin and give the information about this guy. He said, "He's really nice guy, she can trust." Because what happened is, I talked to his wife, the one I told you, she said, "If they deport tell them that you live here." And I trust because the lady, she told me, "Oh he was working for them before and he's a nice person. We know he do that because [01:40:00] they want to make money, right."
But I was surprise, people's telling me, "I paid this, I paid that." I just only paid 250. But I mean my cousin is, you know, and I think he's, I don't know what he said. Maybe he told [inaudible], I don't know. But I didn't pay, like people's telling me how much they paid. But when I cross, when I went to the border, Mexico-U.S. border is when I started feeling, I think I got some problem in my stomach. And every time I was going to, when I get to the checkpoint, I has to go to the washroom. When I was coming to, while, oh, when I saw the police and after I feel like, my stomach. And then [01:41:00] when I came to the border here, I start again. I start again. For a while I was, terrible was my health. Because too much inside, and then too much like, I don't know, I can't find this word right now. You don't see, you know, just, dark. You don't see a light. It's only dark. What is going to happen? Are they really wants to help me? You know, everything because I was by myself. I don't have nobody around. The only thing was this guy, he told me, "Don't sign, just sign this paper." And that's give me a little bit [01:42:00] to keep doing what I was doing because for a moment I said, "Maybe I tell them to send me, I'm not going to pay. Anyways, they're going to deport me. I am going to tell them to pay." But when they introduce the lawyer, I start feeling better because she gave me hope when I come here. And the other lawyer because he told me, "I know what it means to be in war," you know. Because he doesn't have, I forgot it, it was this finger. I don't know, but it's two finger, one finger doesn't have because when he left his country in Palestina. I said [01:43:00] 'Palestina', like in Spanish. Yeah, Palestine. And he gave me like trust what he was doing, and then when I started feeling a little better. And then after they said, "No, we cannot give papers here." But the lawyer said it doesn't, he already told me before, when I, after I left the jail, the director from the Human Rights, the meeting, you know, with him. He start explaining me, "Okay, we are going to apply to U.S., but you're not going to get papers from U.S. You going to get your papers in Canada."
And, "This is a hundred percent," he told me. I said, [01:44:00] "Okay, okay." And I started feeling better because I said, "Now I know I am in between the two, you're right, but I coming here." After that, you know, is when I start, and then but I ask him this question, "But they told me they going to deport me, even I pay, or they pay for my plane." And he said, "No. Don't worry." And he said, "I already do the papers to, for a stay in U.S." And they send me the paper and say that they told me, because I has to sign papers there, but with the lawyer, I feel better that time. And they going to let me stay in U.S., the only thing is that you cannot work here. And then this is how I stayed there and [01:45:00] until my daughter came.
RRTeam: [01:45:02] Just have some last things. Did you have anything that you wanted to? Okay. Do you follow the news about what's happening right now? The U.S.-Mexico, or even the U.S.-Canada border?
Maria:[01:45:19] Yes.
RRTeam: [01:45:21] What do you think of ...
Maria:[01:45:23] What I think is this, first of all, our governments has been corrupted and they got money because they got money from countries, but where is the money? Why they left the maras to grow up? They should have done something before. And then what happened is people are scared. It's a different kind of war. Are scared for the kids or the ... And then [01:46:00] there was some ... Okay, this is tricky because the ones recently, it's a mix. It's a mix. There are peoples really need ... But the, oh what's the name? When the new law come from UN it's like, "Okay." And I said this because I heard one of the pastors from Honduras. In my country I know it was now is the time we have a different worry now is the time to leave. Because peoples talk and you believe sometimes because sometimes you leave for, because you need. Sometime because you want to have a better life. [01:47:00] Right? Different things. It's different when you are in the war then what is happening now. Because right now there are peoples that really, really need help. You know, like my sister-in-law, she told me she lives there and she's like, every day is like, "I survived today. Thanks God." But she said that, sometimes she's so scared because sometime they take the kids. Sometime they kill. And then this is something she wants to get out the country because she's thinking about her kids. And also because where they live, there is maras there, and they haven't done nothing to them because these kids grew up there. And then when they got [01:48:00] involved, young mens right, the problem is when they having problem betweens that county to this city, you know? Like that. And then there's ... But like I said, what I think is like me, I had to come, I came because I need it. But I knew from some friends they came here because they have a good life, but they want to be more safe, but I don't like it, then went back. You know, it's not, it's like trying, you know, trying. In some way, I feel like when the news are, I feel for the kids. [01:49:00] Because when, especially mothers, as a mother's, is the one.
RRTeam: [01:49:07] Yeah.
Maria:[01:49:08] Yeah. I feel like the mothers with kids is the main thing because they think different. And the single ones or peoples like that is different too.
RRTeam: [01:49:28] So we're really grateful that you agreed to share, to meet with us and to share your story with us today. Can you tell us why you want to be part of this project and why you wanted to share your story?
Maria:[01:49:43] Why, one is like ... Maybe because you know is governments is the one has the key, right. Is like, if I was riding and I got a ticket, the [01:50:00] police has to apply the law, right. And but I would like, maybe make more, how to say, conscious? To open their minds, because sometimes here in Canada, peoples really need, and they send them back. And because I have friends even from Columbia, from my country, from Honduras, they were killed when they went back. This is, I think is why peoples know more. It's not just ... Of course, there are different kinds of peoples coming. Like peoples who was really, you know, [01:51:00] cases like they really need to get out the country. Us peoples wants just to see what they can do. But to know what's really happened, like these caravans who were coming to Mexico, there was too many peoples also. They just came because to see what happen. But there are families, especially families. Families or young peoples who wants to do something for their parents, you know. But like I said, is everything, different kinds of peoples come and ... [01:52:00] But maybe to know, peoples, how people suffer and not to fight against the governments but to create something, ideas different to talk to, maybe immigration, or like how before, you know, I remember when my parents, my mother came to Canada. She applied because we lived there, and first of all she wants to have, to give us better life and she was a good worker. And she said, "I will come to work." And but they didn't give her, like a [01:53:00] paper, they just give, they said to visit the family because when she had the interview she said, "I have my cousin is there and she's a citizen and my sister is there and she's a citizen. Her kids are there, and I would like to go and live with them." But they give her just visa, she came, she work too.
But I don't know. Maybe to help peoples with kids, you know? Yeah, because this is when a mother leave from that countries is because they thinking their kids. This is the main things because ... and I think [01:54:00] they should, freely, search this, the peoples come? You know, because I know some come with being in the maras, stuff like that. And, even myself when I heard like kids, you know, growing up and doing bad things and I said, "Oh man, I just feel bad." Because I said, I don't want these things [to] close the door for people's really need to come. But I feel sad for the peoples in the caravan because some really need. Especially the Mexico, you know, some being, some have the blessing to peoples help, but some peoples is hard.
RRTeam: [01:54:58] Yeah.
Maria:[01:54:58] Yeah, because who [01:55:00] wants, like I said, "Okay. I came to Canada. I have something with my boss." He told me, "Oh, better you ... " Because I got the English course, to learn English right. When they came, they didn't have this. And I said, "I feel bad," but I said, "My country was at war and I want to get out from there." But it's hard for some, because they work hard, and they didn't go to school. They has to work, just do work. But I said, "For me, if it was not for the war, probably I won't be here." You know, because my cousins, I have a cousin where they came legal to United States, "Come on, we need you," you know, "Come and I send you the money to pay to cross."
But I said, [01:56:00] "Why I has to take that risk?" All my friends I have here, they came here ... and all of them has kids, why you came to here. And I said, "Oh, because you know, this is happening, almost killed or they kill, somebody was already killed and they were scared," and stuff like that. And then they has to leave. But they apply over there. And some, because came illegal to United States, stay there and then when they find out they can come to Canada. And then because most of the one has family, his case, he has a case. Most of them. That's why I feel, for the immigration right now I feel like so hard, and it's hard.
Like I just see the news and I just pray for them, because it's not like when you come like two, three, by yourself, but come like that. Or I hear the news about Europe, the immigration from [01:57:00] in Europe. It's because you know, is to come another country, to learn a different language in to see how you can live. How, especially when you start having family, you know.
But it's hard when I know nobody can do nothing. Just the government in our countries because like in Nicaragua, peoples didn't, they don't has the need [01:58:00] to get out. But what happened? Yeah. And it's so hard because I know how my friends live in Cuba, but peoples are on the government side. And I said, "Why?" These days everybody's going to be equal. But it's not equal. It's only the ones around the government live better than the ones live, like example, the city hall, right? Only the ones work or professionals that people say that. How about the ones living in West side, in this side? [01:59:00] This is what I said, I said, "If the governments were different in our countries, maybe the immigration was low." Because they need, even my country so small, but peoples work. They're hard workers. Even little things, they work.
I hope this government make a difference in the country because for a, for the news, we don't, I told my husband, "Okay, if you hear the news believe maybe 50, sometimes. But most of the time, believe 25 percent." Because until, you don't see with your own eyes, you don't, you know. I hope with this government, hope they are what he says, it really going to take time. [02:00:00] Some friends said, "Oh if the country, if they take the maras out, we can go back." Because, you know but I feels bad and I feel like sometimes the news, I don't know it's fake but sometimes it's like, oh, how do you say, they put like a, "Oh, they are so poor." But they don't know what is in, because from Honduras something happened in these peoples were seeing with their own eyes. How they formed this to start coming in groups. And then ... But the news doesn't explain that. [02:01:00] Just so-, some peoples in, my friend told me because she lives in Honduras, and the pastor too, some people didn't get money to come in the caravan. And then that's why it's so hard to believe. I know there are peoples who really need, because the government's doing nothing and then they want to survive.
RRTeam: [02:01:34] Yeah.
Maria:[02:01:34] Like me. I want to survive because I have a daughter. But I just blame the country, the governments.
RRTeam: [02:01:43] Yeah. And re-establishing life here in Canada is also very hard, right?
Maria:[02:01:51] Yeah, it is. First of all, the language.
RRTeam: [02:01:56] Yeah.
Maria:[02:01:56] Second, you know, [02:02:00] to make, because what I see some Canadians don't open the door easy. And I understand that. I understand. I agree. But it's hard. Like I been always was, when I moved to different places where I moved, I always tried to introduce myself. And to know you have somebody around you, it's not a stranger. Yeah. And it was with my neighbour I have now, we lived there for 20 years, I think. Or 23 years. No, my daughter is 27 that means 26 years. And the house on one side of my house, they been selling the house, right. [02:03:00] But I always tried to be nice in the beginning. At least to, maybe I'm not really good for them, but at least to say, you have somebody out here like, you know.
RRTeam: [02:03:11] Yeah.
Maria:[02:03:11] And its’ hard, it's hard to have a-
RRTeam: [02:03:12] [inaudible].
Maria:[02:03:12] Yeah. Because you go outside, nobody is there for you. And then they started doing try to, not a friendship, but to know you are somebody who's not going to, doesn't want nothing bad for you. But that was so hard on the beginning. Especially with the language, you know. And right now, I feel like I'm losing my English because I stopped working because I'm watching my kids, my grandkids. And I feel like that [02:04:00] way. And also because I didn't go back to school. I took a course, yeah, for the work with kids. But I haven't practiced, only in my church. We have a nursery.
RRTeam: [02:04:22] Yeah.
Maria:[02:04:22] And a Sunday school, and stuff like that. But was so hard in the beginning. Yeah. I don't want to speak to nobody because my English ... Only when I has to do something for the government, and then I talked. But the rest of it was only with friends that start knowing me, my English broken. But you know, we can be friends.
RRTeam: [02:04:57] Yes.
Maria:[02:04:58] Yeah, and then they [02:05:00] understand me. And like my neighbour, she's a good neighbour, we go out and eat. She started knowing me, knowing more and more and more.
RRTeam: [02:05:08] Yeah.
Maria:[02:05:08] Yeah. But it was so hard, it was hard to make friends in the beginning. Especially, I don't have family, you know, I don't have family. Just my husband and my kids. And my Spanish friends. Yeah. But a, English one, there is not too many. Yeah. I think it's because I was scared. Yeah. And then ... But I here, thanks God, happy, I told my kids, "You has to know to learn to have a compassion." You have, I always, when they were growing up, I told them, "You has to learn how to be compassion because the way you growing here," I said, "If I was my country, yeah I can do something. Because you know the way we live," right. But I said, "Here, you live better than a rich person." I say, "If we are poor here, this is nothing."
Yeah. And then, because I don't feel like they change, oh because I have everything I needed. We always, my husband work hard to give them too. And I always told them, "You has to have compassion for, even for the little birds." Yeah. Yeah. But at the beginning was hard for me only because God put it good. Oh, I cannot believe it. I don't know many peoples has been rough time when they came crossing. But I feel blessed for what happened to my life. Yeah. And like I said, I decided to do this is because, peoples know a little bit. Some are, suffer more than others, coming to, going to different countries. You know, some suffer more than others. Why? I [02:06:00] don't know. But you know.
RRTeam: [02:06:19] Yeah.
Maria:[02:06:23] Yeah.
RRTeam: [02:06:28] Thank you so much.
Maria:[02:06:44] Yeah.
RRTeam: [02:06:48] Yeah. Is [02:07:00] there anything else that you want to tell us and share in these recordings?
Maria:[02:07:55] Like [02:08:00] what?
RRTeam: [02:08:04] Anything else that you feel you really want to say.
Maria:[02:08:06] What I want to say is, especially for you, work for the university is I want your students, have a open mind, like I don't say to feel sorry for the immigrants, right. But to give a hand sometime when, especially when you come here. I remember one time I feel like ... I never feel this, but I feel like they were looking me like this, you know. Because my English in this, it's like, because I think it, when I came Canada it was different. But I feel like we losing the ... How can I explain this? But, you know, for the students? [02:09:00] That's why, you know, to and for Sister Kit. But to feel, to have more, [crosstalk] what's can word I can said? I can't find the word even in Spanish right now. I think one day I going to be, I forgot English sometime. I forgot Spanish too. To feel more ... sympathy?
RRTeam: [02:09:28] Yeah.
Maria:[02:09:29] Yeah, sympathy, right? Yeah. And for, because when the migrants come, they need to feel like ... They left families, especially the ones come alone, they left family in the ... it's like they feel like nobody loved them, nobody cares about them, you know?
Explore
Trigger Warning
Descriptions of violence, imprisonment, death, and war.
El Salvador • 02H09MIN
Maria
During the civil war in El Salvador, Maria was caught in the middle of the violence. Inspired to create a safer life for her daughter, she travelled through Guatemala and the US to claim asylum in Canada in 1984.
01:28
What does refuge look like?
FMLN guerrillas, Chalatenago, El Salvador, 1992
An image of El Salvadoran FMLN guerrillas in Chalatenango.
05:07
Why do borders exist?
Boundaries between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tam. (Mexico)
A map of the Rio Grande.
06:05
08:28
Freedom House Detroit Website
Freedom House Detroit
09:44
But the lady told me a joke and then I laugh... it's because if I don't tell you that, you're going to be nervous and they going to notice you are illegal.
18:48
I was praying, "Lord, allow me to cross to Canada. You know, I love my daughter and because I don't want to be killed over there and leave my daughter alone."
26:43
33:29
Archive Collection - MICAH; emergency network, 1984
Wayne State University Library System
34:34
Because I told the story, you know, what happened, how I came, why I hope, you know, what I came to do, what I want to come to Canada and everything.
42:43
I was just scared. And especially because at that time the government was so hard, you know? Either you were guerrilla side or government side.
47:24
And then she told me, "Okay. We have our story."
00:59
Women of the World Poetry Slam Finals 2016 - Emi Mahmoud
Poetry Slam Inc (2016)
Emi Mahmoud
26:01
For me, was like, I cannot say win the lottery, but I can say, my life went back.
48:51
On the Road with the Migrant Caravan
The guardian (2018)