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51 views2 pages

P 2

Uploaded by

api-541031514
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Since I was a little girl I have always enjoyed food.

At every school I have been to , there was


always a paletero outside selling ice cream , elotes , raspados , and many variations of snacks.
Because all the schools I went to were predominantly hispanic , the neighborhood I grew up in
was 100% hispanic , seeing these paleteros , I assumed where just something every
neighborhood had. For the past 19 years of living in the same house , the same man Josue has
been pushing his cart around the neighborhood selling his elotes and raspados everyday. I
decided to interview Josue and ask him what it is like bringing his business from El Salvador to
the streets of sun valley.

Q: What inspired you to start becoming a food vendor ?

A: I felt it would be easy money , the recipes are easy to learn , easy to find. It was a guaranteed
job , not one where I would have to wait for someone to hire or me or tell me what to do.

Q: How long have you been a street vendor for.

A: I became a paletero 2 years after I came to the United states in 1986.

Q: Do you ever take your cart to areas where it’s not predominantly hispanic? Or do you
prefer to stay in the same neighborhood.

A: Sometimes when my daughter wants to go to a concert or some big event , I will take her and
take my cart there as well , because I know there will be a lot of people there that would buy
food. I never take my cart outside of the Sun Valley or Pacoima area because I know the people
here and feel more comfortable and safe.

Q: Since you mentioned the word safe. Have you heard about the recent events of people
robbing and attacking latino street vendors?

A: Yes , my daughter tells me all the time to be safe or whenever another incident happens she
always tells me about it.

Q: Do you feel unsafe while working?

A: No I do not , I carry pepper spray with me that my daughter bought me. I also feel like
everyone in this neighborhood knows me and I always get home before 7 because people usually
stop buying food at that time.
Q: Do you know that by simply doing your job you keep our central american culture alive
and spread it around?

A: I never thought of it that way , I just knew everyone here would enjoy some elotes and
raspados.

Q: Many of the newer generations that are being born here in the US become less exposed
to their culture and experience life through the american eyes. If paleteros never brought
their work here I would have never known what a paleteor was. How does that make you
feel?

A: It makes me a little sad knowing that kids forget their roots and don’t speak their native
tongue , but it is our job as parents and family to teach them.

Q: Do you get tired?

A: Never.

Q: What are your long term goals?

A: I just want my daughter to go to college and for my wife and kid to be safe and happy.

Q: How much longer do you think you'll be in business for?

A: For as long as I need to be.

Q: What is your dream?

A: I have always dreamed of being able to see my family again and for my daughter to get to
know her grandparents , unfortunately we can’t see them.

I was very inspired listening to the way Josue answered all the questions. Many times we
buy from paleteros and never really think of their background or what inspired them to do this. It
seems like Josue enjoys his job , picking his own hours , and still manages to support his family
while doing so. Knowing that this man has watched me grow up and I had never gotten to know
him in the slightest bit. It fascinated me because his story is so similar to the rest of the central
american communities.

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