The Daily Life of Daisy
Daisy Henriques is my Spanish teacher, but she is also an English student at the same university. Although she studies English, she insisted that I ask her the questions in Spanish and that she answer me in Spanish to practice my Spanish. I translated this interview to English afterwards.
Jessica: What is your full name?
Daisy: Daisy Henriques (de papa) Beteta (de mama)
J: Why do you have two last names, but no middle name?
D: I don’t know why, but my father only gave me one name.
J: Where do you live? What is your house like?
D: I live in San Pablo. It is very close to this university.
J: I thought that you’d told us in class that you live in San Jose.
D: All of my life I lived in San Jose until I got married to my second husband and we moved to Heredia. My house is small. It has three rooms, two bathroom, a living room, a kitchen and a covered patio in the back. [San Pablo is like an area of Heredia. It is a small town, but it is included in the city of Heredia.]
J: What is your family like?
D: I live with my husband only. But I have three daughters who are older and have their own families. I have one daughter who lives in San Jose, one in Esparza, and the other in Washington D.C.
J: How do you get around?
D: I drive my car to work because I have to carry a lot of materials with me. If I didn’t, I would take the bus because it is cheaper. Or walk because it is free.
J: what about when you have to go to the grocery store?
D: When I need to go to the grocery store, I have to go far because we go to Walmart, so I go in my car.
J: Do you have one car that you share with your husband, or two?
D: My husband and I have two cars. My husband works on a farm and also for the Bank of Costa Rica. For the Bank, he gives prices to value houses.
J: What types of clothing do you like to wear?
D: I like casual clothes that are traditional. I don’t like clothes that are very extravagant.
J: What do you like to do in your free time?
D: Sometimes when I have free time I read, watch television, or I do things in the house like taking care of my plants or cleaning out my closets. I also attend an English class on Saturdays at the University. A lot of my classmates are young so I have to study a lot before class because it is easier for them to learn. I have to be prepared because I teach Spanish classes all week. It is difficult to learn English. I study a lot, but I can only understand if people speak really slowly to me. I have studied English for five years but it has not been continuous. It is easier to learn a language when you study it continuously and always practice speaking. I have opportunities to practice my English with my students.
J:What languages do you speak? How do you say Hello in your language?
D: I speak Spanish and a little, very little, of English. I understand a lot of French. I studied it in university, but I can only understand a lot if it is written.
J: Do you have any pets?
D: No, not now because my husband doesn’t like to have pets because we have nowhere to leave them when we go away from the house.
J: Have you traveled? Where have you traveled to?
D: I have traveled to a lot of different countries including the US, different states. My favorite places are New Orleans and Las Vegas. There is a lot to do in those cities. And I have been to Europe also. I spent two months there and I traveled to England, France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Germany and a few others that I cannot remember right now.
J: What do you do for work?
D: I am a teacher at the University Latina. I like my job a lot. It is very interesting. I learn a lot culturally from my students because I always have exchange students. I have had studnets from the US, Canada, France, Asia, India, and Brasil.
J:Is there anything else that you would like to say to students in the United States?
D: Really just that I love the culture of your country. I like the young people most because you are very open and friendly people. I learn a lot from the young people. And I hope that you study Spanish!
