Transcript for Iggy De Guzman Interview

Transcript for Iggy De Guzman Interview
Topic: Immigration
Mr. Iggy De Guzman is being interviewed by Priscilla Villanueva and Emily
Guerrero
Priscilla Villanueva: I’m Priscilla Villanueva
Emily Guerrero: And I’m Emily Guerrero, and we’re here interviewing Mr. Iggy De
Guzman
PV: What did you go through when you realized that you wanted to come to the United
States?
Iggy De Guzman: Well, we like we did, they test there, there was this test for teachers, so
it was, it takes to about an year, for me to get here, so there was a test and then I pass the
test and there was video taping whatever and then there’s a interview part, then after the
interview, we get high quality Laredo.isd. It was a long process it takes a while, but it
paid off.
EG: How did your friends and family react?
IDG: Well, at first, they were, they say, ‘teachers for the United States?’ like its, why,
why, what is the U.S needing, but they’re surprise because, no way a teacher will go to
the U.S it was they would say they would there was never a chance, but it was really
when I really was going and then like oh so it was really true that I’m leaving for the US
PV: How did you feel about leaving your hometown?
IDG: Mm, it hurts because I will have to go first, and then my family afterwards, so my
family was left for about, I came here August, they followed by December, and then my
family, my mom, and my brothers and sisters, well its sad because I have to leave, but
since its a good job, so I have to come.
EG: Did you want to leave your home?
IDG: Yes, because over there, teachers are paid low, like, economy of the Philippines is
low so we have to come to the US to earn better [money] money yes.
PV: Why did you decide to leave home and come to the USA?
IDG: The main reason is financial, like pay here, opportunities are here its good, over
there, I, I think there is no way I can make it.
EG: Why did you come to the USA instead of any other country?

IDG: Well, the United States is thinked to be the greatest country in the world, that’s
what they say, and well I, I have some families in California like not families, cousins in
California and they’re doing well, so maybe US is for me as well so I did decide to come
here.
PV: Have you always planned to come to the United States?
IDG: No, it was like, well the thing is, no, because there is no way a teacher would go to
the US, its always nurses, or you get married to a U.S citizen or something like that, but
teachers, when they had it in the news, like, ok lets try it, that’s why, at first no, and then
here comes opportunity, then I was here
EG: Did you have trouble getting comfortable to your new life?
IDG: Yes, well with my students, my first year was really horrible, it’s hard, its, to
compare students over there, students like, the ones in school, are the ones, the students
there, the ones going to school, are the ones that really wanting to go, while in the US,
whether you like or not, you come to school. So it’s a different story
PV: What did you do to make yourself at home?
IDG: Well, to, for me to be at home, call my cousins in California, call my uncle, when I
get homesick, I call home and that moves me on to, to, perseverate.
EG: How did you organize this trip?
IDG: We were helped, help by this certain company, or what you call it, uh organization,
uh supervise everything,
PV: Did this experience change your life?
IDG: Yes Ok, it changed that in a way that financially it changed a lot ok before I
couldn't help my family now I can really give something to help them and increased my
number of children I have a 3rd one in the U.S. so that another change. I have 2 over
there and here I have 1 daughter that is born here, that’s a change.
EG: How old were you when you moved to the U.S?
IDG: Let me see...2002, I was 34 years old.
PV: What did you think about the U.S.A before you came?
IDG: It’s the greatest country in the world. Its offers everything, freedom yeah and we
have this land of opportunities. That's how we see the U.S even at this time, after this
time, I still see it as the greatest country in the world.

EG: What do you think about the U.S.A now?
IDG: Right, right now it’s still the greatest but its kind of miss down, so I don't know its.
When I, when we came gasoline is a $1.50 now it’s like $3.50 come on its 6 years well,
its still, it’s still the greatest country in the world
PV: How long did it take you to get used to your new life?
IDG: Hmm...Probably, a 1 year, a year to settle down yes.
EG: How long did it take for you to make new friends?
IDG: Well when we came here we have, the ones that we came, like Ms. Cayannan all
the rest we’re friends already. Before over there, we re now friends but when we came in,
when we came here, we, there, there, there 13 of us who came here and become friends
and of course the teachers here are like supportive, this first week we can have friends see
friends already. Its was alright.
EG: Did you keep in touch with your old friends?
IDG: Yes, through e-mail, e-mailing them, and then email back. It was, at first, it was
frequent, and then it factually like once in a while.
PV: Are you living your life in the U.S. the way you imagined?
IDG: 90 percent yes. 10 percent no. But I view the U.S like this it would be teaching
would be easy, but its not really easy you have to earn like I can't say I’m earning every
penny that I am paid for, it’s hard. So the way I view it, I thought I like can deal with it
easy but not really easy.