MONROE - Santos Tinoco, 35, Monroe, wants to integrate fully into the culture of the United States.
"All of it," he said, smiling.
Some immigrants don't want to integrate, he said, "but my opinion is I want to."
Learning English helps, he said. His English is comfortably understandable.
"Communication is the best way to integrate," he said.
Tinoco said that being able to communicate helps especially when a person wants to offer explanations, when there are differences and conflicts between cultures.
"You can tell them what you mean easier," he said.
But Tinoco said speaking Spanish is easier for him when he is with other Spanish-speaking people, because of the nuances in Spanish words he knows.
"It feels easier ... there is more ... more flavor," he said, struggling to explain.
Originally from Mexico, Tinoco, his wife Maribel and their first son came to the United States 10 years ago.
"For a better life and to give my sons what I didn't get," he said.
The main thing he wants for their sons, now ages 11, 5 and 2, is a college education.
"Oh, yeah, it's easier (to go to college) here," he said.
His sons seem aware that speaking Spanish sets them apart from their peers.
All three of the Tinoco boys speak Spanish "very well" their father said, but they prefer to speak English in public. They want Americans to know they can speak English, Tinoco said.
"They are afraid. When I am with Americans, they don't want to speak Spanish. They speak (it) quietly; they whisper," he said. Imitating them and laughing.
To help integrate into the community, Tinoco said he tries to meet people.
"At work, the library, church, friends of friends, school," he said.
But immigrants sometimes have a hard time integrating and learning English, he said.
"They have no time to go to school; they work maybe three shifts," he said.
Even with the recent problems in the United States economy, Tinoco said making a living is still easier here than in Mexico.
"The economy is better, there are more opportunities, by a long ways," he said.
Tinoco worked for a cheese factory and a concrete company for four to five years each, before he turned to working full-time in his own grocery store started about 18 months ago in downtown Monroe. Tinoco said his store is doing well enough now he doesn't need the other jobs to support his family.
An Illegal Alien
Rosa Maria, 52, withheld her last name. She too is working in the United States, to support her grandchildren in Mexico, even at the risk of being deported.
Her husband would like to return to Mexico, but as long as she is making good money, Rosa feels she needs to work here.
"Life is just working, working, working," she said.
But she is happy to be working.
"My husband, no like here; me like here," she said, smiling.
Rosa's English is just understandable. She struggles with some words and seeks to substitute with hand gestures when necessary. But she laughs easily when she does.
Rosa attends church but finds integrating into the American culture not a necessity for her.
"Culture, maybe," she said with a shrug, "but I have job; it's good."
Rosa came to the U.S. six years ago to help her daughter during a pregnancy. She returned to Mexico for four months but then came back. Last year her son was killed in an accident, leaving her daughter-in-law in Mexico with five children between the ages of 1 and 14.
Rosa sends her daughter $300 every two weeks, which is still better than wages in Mexico. Her daughter-in-law works 10 hours a day, five days a week, for $50.
"Here is money; Mexico, no," she said.
Rosa's husband doesn't speak English. He would like to go back home because he misses his family, especially a brother with whom he likes to talk and drink beer, she said.
"I worry, because my husband say, let's go, let's go, let's go," she sighs. Then she laughs. "I tell him, go alone to Mexico."
Rosa said she is looking into getting a social security number.
"If I get social security, I not going back," she said.
"All of it," he said, smiling.
Some immigrants don't want to integrate, he said, "but my opinion is I want to."
Learning English helps, he said. His English is comfortably understandable.
"Communication is the best way to integrate," he said.
Tinoco said that being able to communicate helps especially when a person wants to offer explanations, when there are differences and conflicts between cultures.
"You can tell them what you mean easier," he said.
But Tinoco said speaking Spanish is easier for him when he is with other Spanish-speaking people, because of the nuances in Spanish words he knows.
"It feels easier ... there is more ... more flavor," he said, struggling to explain.
Originally from Mexico, Tinoco, his wife Maribel and their first son came to the United States 10 years ago.
"For a better life and to give my sons what I didn't get," he said.
The main thing he wants for their sons, now ages 11, 5 and 2, is a college education.
"Oh, yeah, it's easier (to go to college) here," he said.
His sons seem aware that speaking Spanish sets them apart from their peers.
All three of the Tinoco boys speak Spanish "very well" their father said, but they prefer to speak English in public. They want Americans to know they can speak English, Tinoco said.
"They are afraid. When I am with Americans, they don't want to speak Spanish. They speak (it) quietly; they whisper," he said. Imitating them and laughing.
To help integrate into the community, Tinoco said he tries to meet people.
"At work, the library, church, friends of friends, school," he said.
But immigrants sometimes have a hard time integrating and learning English, he said.
"They have no time to go to school; they work maybe three shifts," he said.
Even with the recent problems in the United States economy, Tinoco said making a living is still easier here than in Mexico.
"The economy is better, there are more opportunities, by a long ways," he said.
Tinoco worked for a cheese factory and a concrete company for four to five years each, before he turned to working full-time in his own grocery store started about 18 months ago in downtown Monroe. Tinoco said his store is doing well enough now he doesn't need the other jobs to support his family.
An Illegal Alien
Rosa Maria, 52, withheld her last name. She too is working in the United States, to support her grandchildren in Mexico, even at the risk of being deported.
Her husband would like to return to Mexico, but as long as she is making good money, Rosa feels she needs to work here.
"Life is just working, working, working," she said.
But she is happy to be working.
"My husband, no like here; me like here," she said, smiling.
Rosa's English is just understandable. She struggles with some words and seeks to substitute with hand gestures when necessary. But she laughs easily when she does.
Rosa attends church but finds integrating into the American culture not a necessity for her.
"Culture, maybe," she said with a shrug, "but I have job; it's good."
Rosa came to the U.S. six years ago to help her daughter during a pregnancy. She returned to Mexico for four months but then came back. Last year her son was killed in an accident, leaving her daughter-in-law in Mexico with five children between the ages of 1 and 14.
Rosa sends her daughter $300 every two weeks, which is still better than wages in Mexico. Her daughter-in-law works 10 hours a day, five days a week, for $50.
"Here is money; Mexico, no," she said.
Rosa's husband doesn't speak English. He would like to go back home because he misses his family, especially a brother with whom he likes to talk and drink beer, she said.
"I worry, because my husband say, let's go, let's go, let's go," she sighs. Then she laughs. "I tell him, go alone to Mexico."
Rosa said she is looking into getting a social security number.
"If I get social security, I not going back," she said.