Mis compras

English below Spanish.

Mis compras las hago en diferentes tiendas. Busco donde estén las cosas más baratas por lo menos. La Walmart, en esta tienda compro mis cosas personales: jabón, champú, detergente, líquidos para los baños. En la tienda Mi Pueblo compro una parte de comida. Busco lo que esté en especial. En la tienda china compro la otra parte de comida y siempre busco lo que esté en especial. Mi ropa la compro en la Ross y sí, siempre busco o que esté barato, zapatos y ropa. Siempe me ha gustado economizar más mi dinero para que me alcance para todos mis gastos personales y familiares, pago de renta.

–Vilma

My purchases

I do my shopping in different stores. I at least look for where things are the cheapest. In Walmart I buy my personal items: soap, shampoo, detergente, bathroom liquids. At the store Mi Pueblo I buy part of my groceries. I look for what’s on sale. At the Chinese store I buy the rest of my groceries, always looking for what’s on sale. I buy my clothes at Ross, and yes, I always look for what’s inexpensive, shoes and clothes. I have always liked to economize and save my money so that it covers all my personal and family expenses, rent.

–Vilma

Día San Valentín

English below Spanish.

El día de San Valentín es una fecha muy especial para los enamorados y creo que para toda persona que tenga un amigo o amiga a quien expresarle su afecto y cariño. Una fecha que nos recuerda que somos queridos y recordados por la familia, o por alguien especial. Cosa que por supuesto se siente bonito y que nos hace especiales para alguien.

Pero a título personal yo sinceramente creo que deberíamos expresarnos cariño y afecto diariamente. Como seres humanos y como hermanos habitantes de este planeta llamado Tierra, y olvidarnos del materialismo y mercantilismo que se ha convertido el 14 de febrero, “Día de San Valentín.”

-Dannito74

Valentine´s Day

Valentine’s Day is a very special date for lovers and, I believe, for anyone who has a friend to express affection and love to. It’s a day that reminds us that we are loved and remembered by our family, or by someone special. It’s something that of course feels nice and which makes us special for someone.

But in my opinion, I sincerely believe that we should express love and affection to one another daily; as human beings and as brother and sister inhabitants of this planet named Earth, forget the materialism and mercantilism that February 14^th, “Valentine’s Day,” has turned into.

-Dannito74

Una Semana Para Recordar

Photo by Ernichan

English below Spanish.

Esta semana pasada fue muy agitada para mi y mis compañeros. Se acercaba el día de San Valentín y en coordinación con la profesora de música, Christine, y la directora ejecutiva del Day Worker Center, Sra. Maria, se acordó hacer una actividad a todo dar: un almuerzo y una actuación musical donde se incluiría una variedad de canciones como “The Last Kiss”, “As Tears Go By”, “Guantanamera”, “La Bamba”, etc. Las cuales tuvimos que ensayarlas muy fuerte con el grupo musical y en algunos momentos, estresante. Llegó el gran día, 14 de febrero. Se preparó el banquete a las 12pm y al terminar el almuerzo, se dio paso a los numeros musicales preparados por nosotros. Creo que fue una actuación regular, pero eso no acabó ahí. En esa misma noche tuvimos nuestra prueba de fuego, tocar en el prestigioso restaurante Los Charros de Mountain View, CA. Creo que allá fuimos más resueltos, con más confianza, sin nervios, e hicimos una buena actuación. Tanto es así que hicimos tres rondas de las canciones. Una grata experiencia especialmente para mi y ya que por más de 30 años no tocaba la guitarra, pero creo todo salió bien.

Photo by Ernichan

A Week to Remember

This past week was very busy for me and my fellow workers. Valentine’s Day was getting closer, and together with the music teacher, Christine, and the executive director of the Day Worker Center, Sra. Maria, we went all out in putting together an activity: a lunch and musical performance in which such songs as “The Last Kiss”, “As Tears Go By”, “Guantanamera”, “La Bamba”, etc would be included. We had to rehearse these very hard as a musical group, which was in some moments stressful. The day finally arrived, February 14th. The banquet was prepared at 12pm, and upon finishing lunch, it was time for the musical numbers we had prepared. I think it was an okay performance, but it didn’t end there. That same night we had our trial by fire, play at the prestigious restaurant of Los Charros in Mountain View, CA. I think that there we were more determined, with more confidence, no nerves, and we gave a good performance. So good that we did three rounds of songs. It was a pleasant experience especially for me, since I hadn’t played guitar for more than 30 years, but I think everything went well.

Dia De San Valentin

English below Spanish.

El pasado 14 de febrero fue un dia muy especial porque un grupo de amigos dirigidos por la maestra de musica Christine Chatwell tuvimos la oportunidad de participar haciendo una interpretacion coral.    Esta presentacion fue en un conocido restaurante a las 7 p.m. Estuvimos  como 15 personas del Day Worker Center y tuvimos algunos invitados como la encantadora presencia de tres estudiantes de la Universidad De Santa Clara.

Quiero dar un agradecimiento muy especial a Lauren quien estuvo cantando y tocando su guitarra, asi como a todas las personas que nos apoyaron con su presencia…….gracias……..

Fue una noche muy bonita porque nos atrevimos a hacer algo que no hacemos todos los dias y aunque estuvimos nerviosos al comenzar lo superamos. Fue una experiencia que no olvidare porque se que mi situacion no es facil y aunque estoy lejos de mi familia, aqui e conocido gente con gran calidad humana. Juntos hicimos que esa noche fuera un exito.

Gracias mil.

Valentine’s Day

February 14 was a very special day, as a group of friends led by music teacher Christine Chatwell had the opportunity to participate and perform musically. This performance took place in a well-known restaurant at 7pm. There were about 15 people from the Day Worker Center as well as some guests, like the wonderful presence of three Santa Clara University students.

I want to give a special thank you to Lauren, who was singing and playing her guitar, as well as to all those who supported us with their presence…thank you…

It was a very beautiful evening because we dared to do something that we don’t do everyday, and although we were nervous at the beginning we overcame that. It was an experience that I won’t forget, because I know that my situation isn’t easy. Although I’m far away from my family, here I have met some amazing, personable people. Together we made sure that the night was a success.

Many thanks.

“Secure Communities” S-COMM: Es seguro para nuestra comunidad latina?

Photo by linear85

El Dia 28 de Enero se dio un gran paso para la reinvicacion de los derechos civiles especialmente para la comunidad latina. Ese dia se reunio una gran multitud en la catedral de San Francisco, California. Fueron aproximadamente 2000 personas venidas de diferentes organizaciones pro-inmigrantes y defensores de los derechos civiles del area de la bahia tales como PICO–PIA. (People Improving Communities through Organizing/Peninsula Interfaith Action).

Esta accion fue en protesta contra el programa federal llamado S-COMM “Comunidades Seguras” que se quiere aplicar al estado de California. Que con su sutil nombre es abiertamente un programa anti-inmigrante usado por ICE para la deportacion y separacion de familias de nuestra comunidad latina. Este programa funcionaria asi: la policia local aprovechando el perfil racial solicitaria documentos a las personas para verificiar su estado migratorio y al verificar que es una persona indocumentada. Esta seria detendida y derivada al departamento de ICE para su proceso inmediato de deportacion, accion injusta y cruel.

Fue grata mi sorpresa al saber que muchas autoridades religiosas de San Francisco como el arzobispo Niederauer apoyan nuestra causa justa y nuestras voces de protesta han sido y seran escuchadas. !!!!SEGUIMOS EN LA LUCHA!!!!

Photo by linear85 on wordpress

On January 28th, a big step was taken towards the reinstatement of civil rights, especially for the latin community. On this day, a large group met in the cathedral in San Francisco, California. Approximately 2,000 people came from different pro-immigration organizations and groups that defend civil rights throughout the Bay Area such as PICO-PIA (People Improving Communities through Organizing/Peninsula Interfaith Action).

This meeting was to protest the federal program called S-COMM “Secure Communities” that was approved by the state of California. With its subtle name it’s actually an openly anti-immigration program used by ICE to deport and separate families from our community. The program works like this: the local police take advantage of racial profiling to ask for documentation from people to verify their legal status and check if they are undocumented. Then they would be detained by ICE and begin the immediate process of deportation, an injust and cruel response.

To my great suprise, many religious from San Francisco like the Archbishop Niederauer supported our just cause and our voices of protest were heard and will continue to be heard. !!!!SEGUIMOS EN LA LUCHA!!!!

Ernichan

Tags: "day laborer", "Day Worker Center of Mountain View", "Day Worker Center", "day worker", "day workers", "immigration reform", "immigration", "s-comm", "Secure Communities", ICE

A Day Worker’s Letter to My 16 Year Old Self

In our writing class at the Day Worker Center, we wrote a letter to the person we were when we were 16 years old. This one is from Jacqueline to herself. The English version is below the Spanish.

Siempre estuvo en mi mente
Cuando yo contaba con la edad de 16 años, me encontraba viviendo en México—en el ceno familiar, con mi padre, madre y hermanos, todos juntos en la casa de la familia. Recuerdo que mi padre nos dio escuela a todos a unos más y otros menos pero siempre nos la dio. Nunca imaginé a esa edad que yo podría vivir en los E.E.U.U. y tampoco hablar otro idioma como es el Ingles. Siempre estuvo en mi mente y en mi corazón ser una persona diferente con un poco de calidad humana para poder ser de influencia a otras personas, para un cambio a favor de la humanidad. Estuvo en mi mente ser enfermera, pero nunca lo traté. Siempre estuvo en mi mente ser diferente y no seguir la típica tradición, o al menos ser una persona de cambios.

When I was 16 years old, I found myself living in Mexico, with the family unit—my father, mother and siblings, all together in the house. I remember that my father provided for everyone—some more than others but he always gave us our education. I never imagined at this age that I could one day live in the U.S. or speak another language such as English. It was always in my mind and in my heart to be a different person with more human warmth, to be able to influence other people, to make changes that benefit humanity. I wanted to be a nurse, but I never tried it. However, it was always in my mind to be different and not follow the typical tradition, or at the very least be a vehicle for change.
Sincerely,
Jaqueline

Tags: "Day Worker Center of Mountain View", "day worker", faith, journal

Una carta a mi mismo

Spanish below English:

Una Carta a Mi Mismo

Se supone que esta sería una carta a mí mismo, pero como no tengo la menor idea de cómo mandarme una carta la convertiré en una especia de memorias, de sueños frustrados y metas logradas. Aquí voy:

Cuando tenía 16 años tenía la gran idea o sueño de ser piloto de helicópteros de la F.A.M. o de la naval de mi país. Me gustaba mucho ir a ver estos aparatos a un campo militar que estaba cercano a mi casa. Pero como todo joven, rebelde e indisciplinado, no quise pagar el precio para lograr esta meta, ya que se requiere un alto grado de disciplina y dedicación para lograr ser piloto calificado. Después quise servir a mi país a través del servicio militar voluntario. Lo cual disfruté muchísimo ya que conocí a mucha gente y a casi a todo lo largo y ancho de mi país. De lo cual tengo muchos recuerdos agradables. Aaaah, y conocí muchísimas mujeres, jejejeje…

A Letter to Myself

This is supposed to be a letter to myself, but as I don’t have the slightest idea how to send myself a letter, I will convert it into a collection of memories, of unfulfilled dreams, and achieved goals. Here I go:

When I was 16 years old I had the big idea or dream of becoming a helicopter pilot for the air force or the navy of my country. I liked going to see these contraptions at a military base that was close to my house. But as all things young, rebellious and undisciplined, I didn’t pay the price to achieve this goal, since it required a high degree of discipline and dedication to become a certified pilot. Afterward I wanted to serve my country through voluntary military service. I enjoyed that a lot since I met many people and saw almost everything throughout my country. I have many good memories from then. Oh, and I met many, many women, hehehehe…

Resolutions for the New Year

Written in Crislene’s English class. Note: Corrections are enclosed in []s.

In this new year, my goal is [to] learn more English, because in this country it is necessary [to] understand[,] talk [speak,] and write, if you know these things maybe you could find better work that is the reason for me study more.

Sincerely,

Ruben.

Hi everybody and Happy New Year. I want to tell [you] something about my resolution for this year. I want to keep learning English and try to have more conversation[s] in [] real life. Another resolution I have is [to] keep practice[ing] guitar and bass. I have the music. I would like to get a better job for this year and be positive in [] life and remove all the bad things in my life.

Mauricio.

This year I want learning English very well. I thinks so is possible that I have the focus in this job. I wish the speak, writing in form correct. Understand the English that is what I want. Don’t let me down, ok.

Bernardo.

I have to increase my knowledge in English language because it is important to get more opportunities in this country. It is hard but [it] is good [to] speak two languages. Have a nice day.

Jorge.

One of my goal[s] for this year is [to] study English very hard, and when I [im]prove my English I would like to get a better job.

Ernesto.

Cambiando mis Habitos para Mejorar mi Vida (Changing my Habits to Improve my Life)

photo by gcobalt on flickr

Spanish below English:
Unos de mis propositos para iniciar este nuevo ano es cambiar mis habitos alimenticios y he decidido perder peso haciendo una dieta balanceada pero efectiva.

Creo que esto seria muy importante para mi, ya que me servira para mantenerme con buena salud, tambien para resistir algunas enfermedades y por supuesto estar en buenas condicionas fisicas para realizar los trabajos que se me encomienden. Una de las primeras cosas que hare son los ejercicios matinales porque sera un gran complemento para la dieta balenceada que voy a seguir y que hara que mi proposito pueda cumprirse. En lo referente a los alimientos comere mas verduras ya sea en saladas etc, frutas frescas y mas carne de pescado que no tiene grasas y son una gran fuente de nutrientes para mi organismo.

Tambien he decidido comer menos pastas, carnes rojas saturadas en grasa, harinas, dulces, y menos azucar.

Con voluntad y predisposicion de parte mia espero cumplir mi cometido.

Ernichan

Photo by Ed Yourdon

One of my resolutions for this new year is to change my eating habits, and so I have decided to lose weight through a simple but effective diet. I believe this is very important for me, as it helps to keep me in good health, and also fight off illness and of course, to be in good shape to carry out the work that I’m given.

One of the first things that I will do are morning exercises as this will complement the balanced diet that I will follow in order to achieve my New Years resoultion. As far as food goes, I will eat more vegetables (such as in salads), fresh fruits and more fish, which doesn’t have much fat, and is a good source of nutrients for my body.

I have decided to eat less pasta, less fatty red meat, “enriched” flour, sweets and pure sugar, etc.

With determination and willpower I hope to achieve my goal.

 

How I Survive A Bad Day

Photo by Duncan Brown

English Below Spanish

How I survive a bad day

Sometimes in the morning I wake up feeling exhausted and depressed, the type of day where you want to stay in bed and not go to work or do anything that you normally do, and worst of all, it seems like if you leave your house everything will go wrong, as if there was a bad vibe in the air. So, what I do first is take a really hot shower for ten minutes very early in the morning, relax as much as possible and then I say a prayer, asking for the health and well-being of my family and friends.

When I return home in the afternoon I do it all again and I listen to some of my favorite music.

I believe that this helps me to get over the bad day and also to relax at night and sleep well.

Como sobrevivo un dia dificil

Photo by wools on flickr

Algunas veces por la mañana me levanto con una sensación de desgano y depresión, una quisiera seguir acostado en la cama y no salir a trabajar ni hacer nada de las cosas que normalmente haces, y lo peor de todo, te pareciera que uno al salir de casa todo te saliera mal, como si hubiera una mala vibración en el ambiente. Pues lo que hago primero es tomar muy temprano una ducha bien caliente por unos diez minutos, relajarme lo más posible que se pueda y seguidamente hago una oración pidiendo por la salud y bienestar de mi familia y amistades.

Ya al regresar a casa en la tarde hago la misma operación y me pongo a escuchar alguna música favorita.

Yo creo que esto me ayuda mucho a sobrellevar el mal día y también a relajarme en la noche para tener un buen sueño.

Ernichan.