Prime Time 8. Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks, Schulbuch

neighbors when they play in the streets. Here everyone is expected to just mind their own business. With more money it seems that more jealousy and many more problems come. People are so busy working all day long, sometimes they work in two or three jobs. While in Mexico, life is lived day by day. We were poor in Mexico and we still gave to those who had less than we did. 4. Mimi came to Watsonville, California, as a volunteer. She used to pick up the kids at the labor camp where I lived and take them to Penny Club for afterschool activities. At first I thought she was too serious, but I think that was her reaction because she had never seen people living in such poor conditions. After she finished her volunteer year, we began dating and got married civilly about a year later. The only people who were present were two of my sisters and my mom. Mimi didn’t tell her parents until after we were married. I wouldn’t say that her family immediately welcomed me, but slowly I grew on them. I think in part it was because they didn’t expect such a commitment so soon. 5. I am very thankful to my family and Mimi’s family for where I am today. I’m also thankful for our two beautiful and healthy boys, Luis and Rafa. I try to live simply and work hard every day. I make time to play soccer with my two sons. I’m fortunate to be able to help my mom in California and my aunt in Mexico financially. This is due in part to the fact that Mimi’s parents “gave” us one of their houses so we don’t have a mortgage to pay. As a laboratory technician and a teacher, we do not earn a lot of money, but we make enough to provide for our family and save a little for the future. 6. The American Dream to me is to have a job, own your own house and live comfortably. But nowadays it’s so expensive that one family has to share their house with other people in order to make the mortgage payments. It’s terrible how expensive real estate is here and in California. It’s really hard to reach the American Dream, even for US citizens. Mortgage, education, food, gas, health care all cost more than what an average person earns. 7. The way the situation is today, no. It’s a lot harder to cross the border now than it was 20 years ago. It’s too dangerous now. And I almost don’t think it’s worth it. The Mexican economy has improved a lot and there are many more job opportunities there. Besides, people are happier in Mexico, not like in the US where they always seem so rushed and stressed. (Interview with Uli Nürnberger) Discussing the interview a) Armando is representative of many immigrants from Latin America. Which aspects of his life are typical of the lives of immigrants from Latin America? Make a list. b) How does he compare his new home country with Mexico, the country where he was born and where he grew up? c) What elements of his story are not very typical of an immigrant’s story? 3 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 49 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv