Twists and Turns of Life: An Interview with a Young Mexican

 

Preamble: During my visit to Australia, I learnt that my younger son Tarun had as housemates youngsters who had come from other countries like Argentina, Mexico and Japan on a student visa. Apart from studying, they supported themselves by taking up part time jobs. My curiosity was aroused and I felt that an interview would be an opportunity to know more about another country as also to understand the circumstances under which they chose to come to Australia. In this regard, it was a pleasure for me to interview Fernando Juan from the United Mexican States.

Mexico is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; by the Pacific Ocean to the south and west; by Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the south east and by the Gulf of Mexico to the east. It has a dynamic industrial base, vast mineral resources, a wide-ranging service sector and the world's largest population of Spanish speakers (Two and half times that of Spain or Columbia). It's large economy and population, cultural influence and steady democratization make Mexico a regional and middle power. 

Rajeev Moothedath (RM):  It is a pleasure to meet you Fernando Juan and I am happy you agreed to our conversation. 

Fernando Juan (FJ): Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you too. Looking forward to this interaction.

RM: Mexico is known for its rich culture, colonial architecture, ancient ruins and delicious cuisine. Could you tell us in a little detail about the place where you were born? 

FJ   :  I was born in my mother's native place Guadalajara and lived here for 22 years of my life. It is a city in western Mexico known for tequila (kind of heart break) and Mariachi (special grouping of instruments) music. A historical place, our city is dotted with colonial plazas including landmarks like the neoclassical Teatro Degollado  (Mexican Theatre) and cathedral with twin gold spires. The famous murals of painter Jose' Clemente Orozco is housed in our city.  

RM: Wow! That is great. Your father also hails from the same place?  

FJ: No, my father is from the state of Michoacán   which has the city of Morelia as its capital.  They met at the university of Guadalajara where both of them had enrolled for a course in philosophy. Subsequently, they married; we are three siblings. I have two older sisters. The eldest sister Levier, is a doctor who treats cancer in children. My younger sister Lizeth, is an architect.    

RM :  What did your parents do for a living?  

FJ: Both my parents ran a factory together manufacturing uniforms for various companies and schools. It was doing well in the beginning but later fell into financial difficulties. The money problems led to marital problems and my parents divorced. My father left the factory in mother's care and shifted to Culiacán where his family was traditionally engaged in a hydraulic business. He is also presently associated with that business.

 RM:  Your mother is running the factory now?  

FJ:  Well, she ran it for some more time. Later, when she lost two big customers and there was not enough work for the employees, she shut the business and leased out the premises on rent. She continued her education, got additional degrees and is now working as a manager in a finance firm.   

RM: What about your education?  Did the crisis in the family affect your future plans?

FJ: I had enrolled for a mechanical engineering degree course but had to quit it mid-way due to the family circumstances. I decided to go out and work for some time in Canada before resuming my studies. In the meanwhile, before going to Canada, I went with friends to San Francisco in USA for two months to check out the possibility of working there. However, I did not like it there as in 2016, Donald Trump's Government was in power in the US which was not favourable to immigrants.

RM: So, how long did you live in Canada? What jobs did you do there?  

FJ: I worked for about a year there and did all kinds of odd jobs involving physical labour be it, concreting, carpentry, dishwashing or cleaning windows in high scrapers. I had gone to Canada on a tourist Visa. The Mexican community there helped me by getting me casual jobs and ensuring that I got paid in cash. 

RM: So how did you land up in Australia? 

FJ: It was around that time that someone told my friend and I, that an agent if paid $1000 would get us a working visa in New Zealand. This seemed a good opportunity, as we did not have the visa to continue for long in Canada. I had saved around $10,000 by then. I gave money to the agent, gave 4000 to the friend who wanted to stay a little longer in Canada and returned to Mexico with the remaining $5000. The plan was to go to New Zealand as and when we got the work visa.

RM: What did you do on your return to your homeland? 

FJ  :  I spent some time with my mother and sisters and later some time in dad's place. Subsequently, I secured a job as a bartender at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico's major tourist destination famous for its luxurious hotels & resorts, golf courses, amazing tours and adventures. Shortly thereafter, the work visa came for New Zealand and my friend and I moved to that country. 

RM: Did you like the nature of your job in New Zealand? 

FJ:  Well, not really. The initial job I got was with a parking lot contractor and the job was to paint white lines at parking lots in Auckland. I didn't like it, particularly because it involved walking long distances to the various parking lots. Subsequently, I moved to doing farm work in the eastern side of the country. The work included picking apples, peaching, planting water melons, harvesting corn etc. If you work in the farming area, the work extensions are given for three months at a time. Around this time the visa in New Zealand was due to expire.

RM:  So, what did you do? 

FJ:  I contacted a friend in Australia who was a student counsellor and sought his guidance. He offered to help with a student visa. I came to Australia in May 2019 to do a short course of 10 months in project management. At that time there was a big bush fire in Australia resulting in closing down of highways. I could not take up the usual jobs to support me. I therefore took up a job as a bartender in a casino. In the meanwhile, Covid struck and there were restrictions on travel out of the country. In a way, I got trapped in this place having spent around 3 1/2 years. Now, there is a provision for issue of Covid visa of one and half to two years to those who were in Australia when covid struck.

RM:  What do you plan to do next?  

FJ:  I hope to visit Mexico this year. I am missing my family. My sister, Lizeth had given birth to a girl baby months ago and I have not been able to meet my niece so far! 

RM: You are presently 32 years old. In the long run, what plans do you have for life?

FJ : I want to go back to the university. It is high time that I specialized in mechanical engineering and focus on using more of my brain cells and less of physical muscles. As the cost is higher in Mexico, I would like to pursue the degree in a country like Lativia in Eastern Europe. 

I have some savings from my work here in Australia. Further, my doctor sister has also promised to support towards part of the costs. One problem is the war that is continuing in Europe between Russia and Ukraine. I am hoping that peace will return soon. In the meanwhile, I would like to return to Mexico and spend about a year's time there. 

RM: Good to see your clarity on the way forward. Now, tell us more about what it is that you love about your country? Tourists tend to describe Mexico as having a laid-back culture with genuinely friendly people. 

FJ: Travelling to various places have given me a better perspective and understanding of my own country. I find that we are more willing to share. Unlike countries like Australia which is more individualistic, in Mexico people socialize a lot more and are willing to take the time to get to know each other. Even when we work long hours, we do not like to stress ourselves. When we have free time, we like to relax. There is no sense of 'Hurry'.

RM: How do people relax during the week ends? How about your parents?

FJ :  Well, make merry with grilling lot of meat, drinking lot of beer, lot of cultural activities & music, going to the cities, watching movies, spend time in big parks, generally chill... 

Although my parents divorced, neither of them remarried. My father is basically cool by nature. You can rarely find him getting angry. Comparatively, mom tends to get stressed. She relaxes by spending time with her grandchildren and with her pets, 3 dogs and 3 cats.  

RM :  Mexico is famous for its choicest delicacies. Which Mexican food do you like the most?  

FJ   :    Birria, a speciality of the state of Jalisco is the dish that I love the most! It is a stew made of goat/ lamb cooked in more than 10 spices that include chilli pepper, garlic, cumin, bay leaves, thyme and cooked in low heat. 

RM: In the long run, do you see yourself living and settling in Mexico?  

FJ :  I would like to travel a lot more along the length and breadth of my country.  I would like to buy a house in an area of monuments, avenues for art, music and reflecting lot of culture.  

RM:  You have lived in a number of countries, shared accommodation with house mates with varying backgrounds, nationalities and culture. What are the challenges faced while sharing accommodation?

FJ  :   Well, one major problem we face is the language if a commonly understood language is not available.  Food habits in terms of preparation and cleanliness in the kitchen can be crazy. I have lived with Germans, French, Argentinians, Asians etc. It is not as if anyone deliberately wants to annoy another. However, differences in perspective in terms of cleanliness and orderliness can be an issue

Cultural differences can be another challenge. Mexicans are generally very polite and mild mannered. The 'direct' behaviour of a European may seem to us as 'brash' or 'rude'. The housemates also work in different time schedules. Some 'work from home' while others work 'in shifts' and so on. At the end of the day though, we make it work. 

RM: You have been exposed to various cuisine. Our readers would like to know what is your favourite Indian food? 

FJ :  I love spicy grilled chicken or the chicken Tikka with Naan. A number of spices are used in the preparation of Indian curry dishes. It reminds me of my own Mexican favourite dish- Birria. 

RM: What are the challenges faced by Mexico today as a country? 

FJ : Successive Governments have encouraged and supported privatisation in a big way . It is happening like crazy to the extent that even beaches are privatised. Lands are taken over for building private golf courses. All this has increased the gap between the rich and the poor and crime has also increased. 

RM: There is a charge that Mexico is a den for cultivation and sale of illegal drugs and that violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping are on the increase in the country. Your comment?  

FJ:  It is a fact that the weather/ climate of Mexico is favourable for the cultivation of various drug substances such as Marjuana, cocaine, opium, heroin. There is a huge demand for such goods across the border in the US who seek good quality material. They, from US also supply illegally huge numbers of guns to the mafia in Mexico for facilitating the trade. There is therefore a vicious cycle of drugs, guns and crime. Demand is coming from Europe as well. So long as the Governments and the drug cartels continue helping each other, solution to the problem cannot be achieved in the near future. 

RM:  That was a very elaborate and extensive account of not only your life but about your country Mexico as well. Thanks a lot Fernando for your time and active engagement.

JC:  Thank you. I also thoroughly enjoyed this interaction.