Eligia Arredondo (nee Saucedo)
When and where did you born?
In Villa Hidalgo Zacatecas, September 26, 1946.
Did you grew up there?
No, we moved from there, I don’t know why, but we moved to Sonora
What did you do for fun as a young girl?
Read, I loved, loved to read, in those times there were some kind of short stories/ novels, that were published weekly. There are stories like the soap opera we watch on T.V like Kaliman and love stories. I would never missed a love novel. I preferred to read those love stories instead of go to school. I was like that.
What duties did you have to learn as a child
My mom was such a beautiful woman that the only duty I had to do at home was to iron the clothes, my mom made the food and we just sat down and eat until we finished IT all. But as I wanted to be the first one to get out of the table, I gave my food to my dog ‘Frijolillo’ without my mom looking.
Did you ever go to school? If so which one and how long?
Yes, I did go to school, up to second grade. When I went to school I used to live in a place named guamuchil Sinaloa, and the school was at the top of a cerro (hill). We would have to go walking.
How was your relationship with your parents?
Beautiful, very beautiful….my mother was very strict very delicate, and my father never put a hand on me, my dad still alive, and my mother never insult us but she sometimes took a belt or something like that but she would have a hard time catching me. Trust me, I was like that (laughs)
How were living conditions back in Mexico?
Thank god, my grandparents had a ranch with cows, horses, sheep, and goats and when the cows milk were scarce, my mom gave us goat’s milk, it was disgusting. But I think it was alright, at least vegetables and meat were never a problem.
Why did you migrate to the U.S?
-because my husband wanted to live here because he didn't lilke Mexico.
How did you migrate to the U.S?
With my father, But we just come and go. Then, I got married here, but I never had problems while crossing because my dad was U.S citizen. But you know, during the 80’s was when they begin to ask for documents, that’s when my second husband helped me with the paperwork.
What were your first feelings upon arrival to the U.S?
I like it, until my dad put me in school, I wanted to go back with my mother.
How did you end up coming to San Antonio, Texas?
well, I got married here with my children’s father, we went to live in Mexico for a while because I cried a lot because I didn’t want to stay here, but then my husband came back to Texas because he said Mexico was very old fashioned, and one day that I came to visit him, he didn’t let me go back to Mexico, that’s why I am here.
Did you live in other cities in U.S?
Yes; in Denver and Seattle Washington.
What did you do in those cities? Why did you live there?
Nothing...i was a house wife just stay at home, my husband was working and my children went to school.
When did you move to San Antonio? Why?
In 1981 because i wanted to live in a city close to the border because I wanted to be closer to my mother.
How old were you when you got married?
I was 17 years old.
What job did you husband have?
My first husband worked selling insurances, well, that’s what he says, he was the only one who worked. I started to work when my children graduated from high school
Where did you met your first husband?
In a restaurant here in San Antonio named ‘Cadillac.’
What year was it when you brought your family to America? how?
On February 14, 1980 by airplane, thank god a senator help my children come to U.S. it was supposed that I go back for my children but the senator send the tickets and he ordered to bring them , the senator was from Washington and his name is Bill Armstrong.
When you husband died, how have you been able to raise your children?
No, well, I worked taking care of old ladies as a home provider, my children kept going to school, and as my husband was veteran of the Vietnam war, they received social security, my children never had bad moments, the only one was when my husband died.
How did you get your first job here in San Antonio?
my first job was taking care of my husband’s sister, I helped her to take A shower, to cut her hair and I help her when she needed. Then, I started working in Girling (Girling health Inc.) I am retired now, but they let me still work there.
Did the United States change your culture?
Well, right now everything is very advanced, but I am still the same person. There are things that I don’t like or understand, but my sons do.
What were the differences between living in the United States and living in Mexico?
The only difference is that my family, my dad, and my husband’s family lives here, and in Mexico lives my brothers and sisters.
Do you go back to visit?Is so, how often do you go?
yes, like two or three times a year
What do you feel was your greatest accomplishments here in the United States?
Now that I am old, my greatest accomplishment is that my son and daughters are happy and they love to live here. I am very happy that my children and grandchildren grew up in this country.
Is there anything that you regret coming over to the United states?
No, not really, I don’t like it as a love the place I grew up in, but I have all my children here.
Do you like where your life is right now?
Yes; and thank god I can see my grandchildren grow up, and all my family is alright. I am very happy because as Mexico is right now, imagine how would it be?
Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?
well, I just want to say that I am very thankful to be with my family and as I say, if I die tomorrow, I would die happy because god gave me more than I deserve.
Interviewing Ms. Eligia was a very interesting and great experience. I learned things that I didn't know about her. I felt very identified with her in several ways and now I have a greater appreciation for living here in U.S. She told me some funny anecdotes about when she was little that were not mentioned during the interview, I learned about her experiences. When we hear about immigration, we think about people who come to this country for a better life, but Ms. Eligia's story is the opposite. She looks very happy during the interview and was laughing most of the time, but at the same time she used a serious tone. In general, I'm so glad about having the opportunity to interview her. Interviewing people is also the best way to learn history, this is the way in which we learn and never forget.
Villa HIdalgo Zacatecas. is The town where Ms. Eligia was born
Sonora, Mexico The town where Ms. Eligia was raised.
Kaliman information about the historieta Ms.Eligia used to read when she was little.
Cadillac Bar Restaurant Information about the restaurant where Ms. Eligia met her second Husband.
Photographs and/or documents on this website were provided by Eligia Arredondo and her daughter Melissa De Leon.