Is it possible to get equal integration in times of crisis?

Author: Henriete Wiese

Nationality: Dominican Republic

Director of documentaries

* Series: Stories about skilled immigration and foreign professional women

I should have stayed at home sitting under a palm tree with my high self.  Like it was before arriving to Catalunya almost 9 years ago. Married to a Catalan, the economic crisis in Latin America made us think that coming back to Spain would give us another chance. We were wrong.

The first thing I understood was that I came to a country with a different culture to the rest of Spain. The integration to this new culture came as a matter of urgency.

"The only way you can tear the emigrant label from your chest is to learn Catalan". This sentence from the mouth of the former President of the Catalonian Generalitat, Jordi Pujol, struck me deeply. And right away, I began to learn it. I reached level C with many efforts. Class schedule was not compatible with the jobs I was getting in catering, waiting tables, and cleaning. Most of the jobs had rotating schedules.

I took subsidized recycling courses. I studied the history of this brave people, learned their habits, read its poets and learned how to beat a death Ali-oli (*2).

My careers as a philologist and cinema producer were not useful.  My extensive CV with dominium of five languages was shortening over time. It became a one page in which I confessed to have not lived long enough to deserve a place in the important and competitive field of cleaning.

My nail and the skin of my hands had never before touched any kind of detergents. I injured a shoulder and elbow by the weight of the trays of dishes that I had never before served. And after standing for so many long hours working on my swollen feet, I finally understood that, this country is not made for an old man.

After suffering labor abuse, scams, discrimination, abusive landlords, unfair dismissals, gossipy neighbors and false friends that criticized that the immigrant is not integrated, but they do not invite you for a coffee in order to know how you are on the inside, I took a decision: “the return.”

I am a non-white-immigrant-professional woman and had provided my qualifications, and capacity for work without success in Catalunya. I am leaving this country without frustrations because learning doesn't take up space and getting to know other cultures enriches. So they say.

And so, after almost 9 years of failed immigration a naked woman with no hat returned to her country of origin. I will start all over again somewhere with my almost 50 years full of strength;  where I can dance under a palm tree and see the sun when I open the windows each morning with a loaf of bread under the arm, and my self-esteem high… very high.

Testimony of Henriette Wiese, Cubelles-Barcelona, August 6, 2010.

*1-Casandra Awards are in DRthe equivalent to the Oscar Awards in USA.

*2-Ali-Oli is a typical hand beaten catalonian sauce made with garlic and olive oil.

*3-Dona jove means young lady in catalan.

*4-Iaia means grandmother in catalan.

Henriete Wiese’s profile:

Director and documentalist of Dominican origin, with studies of Psychology and Philology of the University Autonomous of Santo Domingo, UASD, and a postgraduate degree in Literature at the University of Costa Rica, fluent English, German, French, Spanish and Catalan. In 2001 migrated to Catalunya, after being in her country of origin, creative, producer of spots and audiovisuals for advertising, entertainment, documentaries, theater plays, director of television programs, working in shootings of movies, etc., getting to occupy the position of Production Manager of the State Broadcaster Radio Television Dominicana. Author of several documentaries, was nominated several times for the Dominican Republic Casandra Awards(*1) in the Best Documentary category.

The bird and the sheep

Autora: Isabel Barreto

Nationality: Colombian

Degree in Business Administration

Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis

Trainer in Occupational Training

* Series: Stories about skilled immigration and foreign professional women

Parallel to this crisis, new crisis began to emerge. In reality, Latin American countries have always been in crisis, say rather, that the crisis increased: unemployment was on the rise and paid employment decreases. I began to panic thinking about my children's bleak future and how I would gladly pay for their university’s tuitions so that they could become doctors, engineers, and architectures while driving taxis or performing low-skilled jobs not matching their career abilities or their qualifications.

I began to seek ways to travel to Canada but it was not possible. If I would travel to Australia or the U.S., I would have to learn English. I was given the opportunity to travel to Spain, a decision that I made in less than a month.  To pay for our trip, I used the money that I had saved for my daughter to go on a cruise on her fifth teen birthday. Here we are, nine years later and we have not been able to go on that cruise.

My daughter is now 24 years old, she is a sophomore at the university and wants to become a Chemical Engineer. In the past four years, she had dreamed of finishing her degree but has not been able to enroll full time at the university because she has to work.
Three months after arriving in Spain, I felt for the first time as if I was a bird coming out its nest, weal and disoriented.

I began to work as a housekeeper and was given a blue and white plaid uniform with white canvas shoes. I compared this uniform to what I used to wear when I lived in my country: gray executive suits with a tie and being the head of personnel.
I worked from 6:30 a.m. till 25:30 a.m. Indeed, it is how I write it. I worked 25 hours and 30 minutes of the next day.

I worked in a villa with four floors and five people lived in it. I had just been working for eight days, when my boss called me a native. 

He said to me, “if you cannot clean a house, go back to your country or become a whore, and by the way, with your looks you would be a good one."

I felt as if I was dying. I wanted to leave but had nowhere to go. All I could do was lower my head. I put up with the situation for seven more months till I found another job. I was fortunate enough to have found a decent family. I had to take care of three children but I was very happy. My daughter lived with me and she was able to reassume her classes at the university.

I legalized my status five years ago.  I validated my degree to Business Studies and began to work as an administrative assistant and as a telephone operator. I justified it because I had not worked for six years and had no experience in the field.

I evoked the feelings of being a bird again, but this time the bird was living in a cage and as it was set free the bird began to crash into walls, against the glass and was still weak and clumsy. That is exactly how I felt, except, instead of crashing against the glass I was crashing against the world reliving painful memories from the past. For instance, my supervisor approached me one day carrying a white envelope in his hand, and with an arrogant 

attitude commanded me to follow him to his office and said to me,

- "Isabel, we are so sorry but you did not passed the test period."

-My eyes widen and I was so surprised because I could have sworn I was doing everything that was asked off me. I left with my salary settlement and with few tears rolling down my cheeks.

I went to the apartment that I had rented to reunite with my husband and I told my daughter what had happened. She looked at me wondering, - "what are we going to do now? Rent costs 700 and we have in the bank 120 plus 350 of settlement?"

I began to work on craft projects making necklaces, bracelets by using the art of recycling.  I also made cushions made out of pieces of fabric and was able to make enough money to pay for the rent, the utilities and buy food until my daughter could find a job to help me out.

I am 49 years old and I am still taking courses in computing, telecommunications, Contaplus, Nominaplus, FacturaPlus, and Basic English.
 

In Spain, no company allows you to sign a contract for over a year. Well, I have acquired experience as an administrative assistant and in telemarketing. I have visited all employment and placement offices.  I filed the applications stating that I was documented or was undocumented; whether I had experience or had none; whether I was black, white or mestizo. I was told that I had to fill the blank spaces or I would not receive a phone call. After waiting for, 6, 7, 8, 9 years, I never received a call but neither did anyone else.
I have presented my craft projects and I was told," How beautiful ". " You are indeed a true artist." There is no budget for crafts it is only a volunteer job.

When I visit CEPI, or ONG, it is not because I am asking for assistance. I am not asking for freebies, I am only asking to be given the opportunity to show my craft. A technique I learned many years ago. I am not expecting to get rich I am doing it so that I can survive. But instead of feeling as if I was a bird I now feel as if I am a sheep: - I enter shorn wool and salt.
Whether I visit INEM, or whether I go to an employment agency or search the Internet for a job, I want to cry. After studying for years and with all my qualifications, the ad reads:
- An Administrative assistant is needed and I say, "Finally, the job is mine!"

Then I read, - "No more than 35 years old."
- "I am 49 years old."
The ad says, "preferably with a car.' - and I - I barely have enough money to pay the rent how can I buy a car".
As I continue to read,
-"Essential requirement, Fluent in English"
- And I barely know spanglish. I continue reading;
- "Disability greater than or equal to 33%." 

I exclaimed-aahhhhh!? And I say to that, -OK, OK, I beg for forgiveness of those who have disabilities. I have an emotional disability caused by a weary soul and a broken heart. My heart has been broken in two continents for I mourn having to leave my sons behind in my country for nine years .The shattered hopes and having reached certain age, the feeling of being undervalued, and just to know how hard I have studied to better myself all of those efforts are worth nothing. I feel impotent, incapable, or  "emotionally disabled."

The sum of all of my feelings adds up to more than 33%.

- "Who can certify that I am emotionally disable?"

I did field work, or rather, volunteer work for several organizations. I did it as a personal challenge and thus to define and visualize the weakness and the strengths of my project.
Today, thank God, I found a job in an association where I signed a contract for nine months. Although, I am optimistic not pessimistic, I keep asking myself: what will happen afterwards? Being fifty years old, will I be able to get a job?

Could I demonstrate one day, that I have studied and that I am a qualified?
Have my training been worth acquiring it? 
Was it  worth it to leave my family, my country, and my friends, in search of a more promising future?"

- As the lawyers say: "No more questions  your honor."

Brief career summary

Ana Isabel Barreto Mendoza

Graduate in Business Administration.

Training: Social Networks, Social Leadership, Introduction to Teaching Methodology, Technical and Administrative Management. I have experience as Administrative Assistant, Human Resources Administrative Assistant and Commercial customer. I have also worked as Call Center Operator, Instructor in artistic creation workshops, crafts and occupational therapy.

Rose's story

Author: Rosario González Salguero

Nationality: Bolivian

Specialist in Preparation and Evaluation of Projects

* Series: Stories about skilled immigration and foreign professional women

When we leave our origin country we think that there are many lucky opportunities waiting for us, which will help us to develop as persons, besides of making economic resources.

This is a real story, almost a novel with some lines of irony, humor and charm; very subtle tricks that we immigrant women use to invent so we can overtake the sadness of being away, far away of our land, our family and our children.

This is Rose's story: When she arrived to Madrid on a hot July, when the sun seems to never rest and day are so long and bright, as the illusions of arrive to a new country looking for challenges and goals. what she did not know was that there was a big difference between arrive as a tourist and living as a worker, but She was determined to pass any barrier, achieve their goals and integrated in old Europe, being an active person in this new country and society.

When Rose went through the door of the employment office she had to hide the title under the arm and instead of showing up her studies and profession, she had to show up her kindness, patience, a little of psychology and a lot of cooking and cleaning skills. This will open the doors to generate her economy, besides of give her a decent life and give support to her distant family.

Rose didn’t hesitate, any place of Spain, any job for women (cleaning, cooking, children care, elderly care), after many years of college, after so many classes and seminaries, she had to choose the iron and dishwasher, besides of accepting the new reality, she didn't have a name on the working house, she was nothing but the maid.

Anyways, she was optimistic and happy, people on the streets were kind, for example: if she ask any direction of places she doesn’t know, a bunch of kind people shows her the way with many details, people were always asking her, where is she from, and she always answered that question explaining that she was only a maid.

Rose lives in Spain five years ago, three of those five years she worked with a family in which there was a disabled five years old boy, with an unknown disease and without diagnostic, he was charming, he didn't speak, he didn't walk, only jump around as a frog, he was extremely restless and naughty, he wasn’t paying attention to the dangers close, so Rose had to be very careful with him, very patience at lunch time, bath time but she really understood him, they were good friends. The disabled boy knew who loves him.

Two years went so fast, and Rosa requested to the family to help her with "the papers", they accepted. Few months later when Rose was finally legal in Spain, the boy's family came up with a radical change, they were asking for nonsense favors, for example: They asked her to take the bad humor at midnight, after Rose took care of their kids all day, gave them the breakfast, lunch and dinner, helped them with school chores, went to the pool with them, eat with them, going to the park with them and being all day very dedicated to their kids. Is it normal to ask for taking care of two extra little girls that live in the neighbor? Rose is a very responsible person; she knows that with three little girls in a pool is a risk for everyone, for them, for Rose and for irresponsible mothers that went on shopping.

Anyway, the conditions changed since the day that the family helped Rosa with the glorious "papers". Rosa disappointed left to Madrid looking for a better destiny. Madrid City is a place with a lot of cultural diversity, an unstoppable activity in every way. There is a place for everyone, genius and no genius. Madrid City is a place that catches the attention of everyone, it generates illusions, imagination, generates art, but at the same time is the capital city with all the problems of a cosmopolitan city and there is the problem of immigration.

How many people like Rose had to pass through the CIES (Internal center for foreigners), how many others got an expulsion letter and they walk with fear on the streets, there are policemen everywhere, uniformed and dress as civilians it doesn't matter if it's day or night, they love making raids late at night, with the time difference between the cities the best time to communicate it's from 10 at night on forward. And the people that are in a very irregular state debate about satisfaction of having some good news from their families, but at the same time with fear of being trapped by the police, for a very common activity like missing family.

For immigrants life in Madrid is hard, the heads of the employee offices think that the working girls are like robots, restless, without feelings and no emotional needs. Give a job contract or pay social security it's their obligation, but they don’t do it, so immigrants have to pay that for themselves.

In the past year, Rosa had experience with elderly of Spain; it's dramatic in every way. Elderly is abandoned in this country, family is bored of them, and so they have two options, the residence for elderly or the immigrant attention.

At this time, Rose arrived to a lost neighbor of Vallecas, for her surprise, most of the people were elder. Rose, besides of accepting her economic conditions and very unfavorable job, past trough very maddening experiences specially with the old woman, in her crazy mind, turns aggressive, refuses to eat, sleep or taking the medicines, and Rose as many other women in her conditions, must search in the psychology bag any persuasive tool to apply on the old woman who's bored of life, because if the old woman is conscious about something, it's about the love absence that her family has on her.

Working with people, children or elders it's decent, but are the conditions decent? Intern jobs with endless schedules, insufficient payment, and if you don’t like it they kick you out, 'cause there are many other immigrants dying for that job.

The illusions are like an alleyway, some of the gained experiences here in Spain are marks of the best laundry products and a mastering title washing dishes; an experience with unpaid jobs.

Go back? That's the main issue that many others ask themselves as Rose, to go back with a broken illusion, no money, no future, no life plan, Rose is not a young girl, and she’s fifty. But this last year immigrants decided to go back.

On February, she filed her application for residence by "rooting", which would allow him permission to live and work in Spain, after six months without response the result is “negative", she doesn’t know why, but the letter didn't arrive yet, in the mean time there's nothing she can do, but she has to survive, make some money.

In Bolivia, Rose's children need money every month for school. She's been almost a year pending the processing of immigration, to try to get a work permit that ultimately fails.

Right now, Rose is a worker women, immigrant, she looks for domestic jobs, she could be decided to work on the bad conditions with no sufficient payment, no security, but with kindness, patience, good at cooking and cleaning skills and washing dishes even to midnight if it's necessary.