Gloria Robles (nee Serna)
My grandmother Gloria Robles Serna born June 17,1945 in Orange, California and raised in Huanusco, Zacatecas Mexico.Her parents names are Abundio Serna and Paula Limon. Gloria is the baby in the family, she has four sisters,four brothers and four step sisters, and three step brothers. Gloria only got up to the 2nd grade, after that she had to leave school and move to Mexico with her father and step mother. She did not have a paying job but she did all the work around the house. She later took care of her father during the last days of his life. Gloria now lives in a small town called Rancho Nuevo, Zacatecas. Gloraia married Urvano Jesus Robles Elizalde, they married in Huanusco Zacatecas in 1972. They have been married now for about 44 years. They have a family of five boys and one girl who is my mother Norma Alicia Robles Nunez.
How did you feel about women's rights? What did women's rights mean to you?
Well I felt during the 70's that women rights should have been more than what they were.
Women did not have the rights that they should have deserved at the time. Women were being
discriminated, not having an opportunity to say or do what they wished. Women rights meant freedom
to me, it meant that us women were going to be able to have a job other than being a housewife, nurse or
school teacher the typical thing for women. Women right's was a very important thing, because if it was not for
us women then the women of today would be still discriminated
Do you think that men and women are equal?
No, I think that men and women are not equal. Just because of the fact
that women did not have the same rights like men back then. And if men and women were equal then this world would just
be caos. Well because men and women will have more of a competition than what there is now.
What opportunities were available to you growing up? What barriers did you face?
The opportunities that were available for me growing was either getting married or staying with
my step mother which I did not want. I did go to school for a while but then later on my father became a widow,
and married my step mother and I had to move with them to Mexico and leave the United States. He later became ill
and was diagonosed with cancer, so I took care of him during the last days of his life. So from there I really did
not have any opportunities in life other than marriage or an evil stepmother. Well my stepmother had me doing all the
work around the house while her daughters enjoyed life. I was just killing myself inorder to please her, and I did not get
anything in return. So that is why I decided to get married and start a new life away from her it was the for the best.
How was school for you when you were growing up?
I remember school in California it was a small school,but there were a lot of students.
The teachers were assinged from 20-30 students to a class,but the teachers seemed to have it under control.
After I moved to Mexico things where completely different from the teachers,to the materials, and the school.
School in Mexico seemed to be more advanced, I think it was because there were a few students assinged to the classrooms.
But I do remember walking for about 5-10 miles every day to go to school because the school was in another town.
Until what grade did you go to school?
I only went up to 2nd grade.
Describe a typical school day?
A typical school day was waking up at five in the morning getting ready, helping
my stepmother make breakfast, then walking for about 5-10 miles to school. Once I got to school, I went to class,
we did our work then had a one hour lunch break where we were able to leave the school and go home and eat lunch there
or stay in school. After that we were to return to shool and then school was let out at 4:00.
How was work for women in the 70's? Were those barriers there because you were a women?
Work for women was not much especially for women in Mexico, there was not much for women.
It was either be a typical Mexican wife or go and work out in the fields picking fruit and vegtables.
There was also work for the women who went to school but in order for that you had to have money and a good education
which was hard. And the work for them was a typical nurse, secretary or teacher. Yes, those barriers were there because
they where women and women did not have the same right's as the men, plus the women were discriminated as well.
What duties did you have to learn as a child?
I had to learn how to cook, clean, hand wash all the laundary,all the house work that was necessary and also how to help
raise my younger siblings.
What did you do for fun?
I would go to the river with my brothers and sisters,and we would all hang out there. After that we would
go to the dance in the nearby town and meet up with our friends
Describe your life in Mexico?
My life in Mexico has been a memorable life experience, imagine living in California
knowing no Spanish what so ever and moving to a country where Spanish is their language it was tough. I had to leave
my older brothers and sisters behind and start a new life in place where I did not know anybody other than my father and his wife.
The changes in Mexico were dramatic I was use to luxury and then I moved to a place in the middle of nowhere. All I thought was
"well this is my new home and country so might as well get used to it." It has been tough but yet it has been a country that I have
concidered my country." My life in the U.S. was more of a easier life because I was with my family and during the time that my mother was still alive.
I liked living in the U.S. because I had no duties, just go to school and enjoy life. I felt that comfort and love from my family.
How did you meet your significant other?
Well I meet your grandfather from a very close freind of mine, she introduced us from there and
on we dated then later on married and have been married for 44 years.
Describe a typical day for you in the house?
A typical day around the house is waking up really early, making breakfast, clean the house
do all the house chores, then I call my children or sisters who all live in the United States. After that I make dinner and your grandfather and
I eat dinner then just sit down in the porch and chit chat with the neighbors.
Are the house chores differnt now?
YES, of course because now we have a lot of technological appliances that we are able to use
inorder to do our duties around the house. I remeber washing clothes in the river, waking up early in the morning
and washing the clothes in a rock while I got the water from the river stream. Now all we need is to push a button
and the clothes is washed in minutes.
Why did you decide to become a Mexican citizen?
Well I decided to become a Mexican citizen about a year ago on January 3, 2005.
I wanted to vote and have the rights that all the Mexicans have. Plus I would get discounts on my flights over to the U.S. Also I have been living in Mexico for about
45 years now, and I felt like I should become a Mexican citizen.
Where you very religious?
Yes, I am very religous. I like to go based on the bible.
When did you learn how to drive?
I never learned how to drive, no one tought me and I am afraid.
When did you have your first child?
I had my first child when I was 18 years old.
Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?
Yes, I know that the years have changed and how our lifes changed but all I know is
that everything that I have been threw I know that you will not face, but a least you have got a inside to my past. (sighs)
Mexconnect of Zacatecas. Copyright © The Jalpa Zacatecas.net website has been renewed found in the University of Jalpa Zacateas. This website contains videos, pictures, educational information, historical towns and a lot more. www.JalpaZacatecas.net Last Updated: May 16, 2005.
Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México ESTADO DE ZACATECAS . The history of Rancho Nuevo,(Huanusco) Zacatecas.The people who discovered and announced the town of Rancho Nuevo, Huanusco. Dates and the names of the people who made the town recognized. Found by the government of of Huanusco, Zacatecas. http://www.inafed.gob.mx. (2005).
Orange County U.S.The history of Orange, California. Contains the history of the city, it has information on the visitors center, fun zone, surf and sand, art and music, OC Business, living and education. Found by the government and city of Orange, California. http://www.orangecounty.net (2000).
Early Days This website includes the early days of washing clothes, ironing and making soap. Washing clothes was hard work. Doing the laundry took most of the day because everything was done by hand. http://www.saskschools.html
Traditional Mexican Weddings This website contains Mexican Americans desire a wedding which reflects their native heritage. You must understand where ancestors may have originated from to plan the wedding reflecting your heritage.http://weddingdetails.com