Interview with Artemo Benitez Solano
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Artemio Benítez Solano was born and raised in a small rural town in Mexico, where from an early age he dreamed of coming to the United States to work in agriculture. At sixteen, with his father’s reluctant permission, he left home with little more than a backpack and traveled by bus to Mexico City and then to Tijuana, where he crossed into the United States with a group of migrants. After a difficult journey through Los Angeles and Oregon, he found work picking strawberries near Hillsboro before eventually moving to Portland, where he held jobs at McDonald’s and local restaurants. In the 1990s, Benítez Solano settled in Washington’s Tri-Cities region, where he worked in construction alongside his brothers-in-law and later founded his own company. Over his decades in the United States, he built a family and contributed to the growth of the local Hispanic community. Reflecting on his life, he expresses pride in his children’s education—especially his son studying computer science—and hopes that his story will inspire future generations to value hard work, family, and perseverance.
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00;00;00;00 - 00;00;34;01
Robert Bauman
My name is Robert Bauman. and I am a history professor here at WSU Tri-Cities. And we are conducting, oral history interview today. And it's Artemia. Artemia. Benitez Solano, is that correct? Okay. On July 20th, 2023, and the interview is being conducted on the campus of Washington State University Tri-Cities. So, if you could tell us about, when and why you decided to leave Mexico and that that process and how that came about.
00;00;34;04 - 00;01;02;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Okay, cuando you tenia ochoa anos tenia, un Como do that. una Como esta esperanza de Benita aqui Ortego porque yo we are muchos cantos Meredith Kevin Young al de temporada de del campo.
00;01;02;23 - 00;01;14;24
Translator (Yesenia Montes)
Okay. So when I was eight years old I had a few doubts and hope, about coming here to work in agriculture with you.
00;01;14;27 - 00;01;33;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
E? S s Esperanza with creciendo. Cuando in the three contortions. Mi vecino eta el k de la gente. Ortego.
00;01;33;18 - 00;01;45;15
Translator (Yesenia Montes)
And that hope just kept growing about till the age of 1516, when his need for his neighbor helped cross some.
00;01;45;18 - 00;02;09;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
EOP block Como vecino cuando tendria circuitry de se anos. Ella. Hey yo, can you have any con la la temporada del campo Emily Horne no, Joe has going to Papa tengo no yo tengo el permesso. Papa.
00;02;09;08 - 00;02;36;19
Translator (Yesenia Montes)
So when he was 16, he talked to his neighbor and asked him if he could come work the season, in the agriculture fields, and his neighbor said, no, he was too young. And his parents didn't have permission, so he said no, that he had gotten his parents permission.
00;02;36;21 - 00;03;01;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
He looked below Pennzoil. Those bases in Mexico. Okay, boy, esta nos vamos in no mess. Nos vamos a nomas easy to. Yeah. One. No Vamos. Then maybe Ozuna. He maybe ho mente.
00;03;01;08 - 00;03;16;10
Translator (name needed)
Okay so he had talked about his talk to his neighbor and they decided that yes he would bring him. And a month later he gave him a he gave him a date. And then they resumed to set.
00;03;16;12 - 00;03;37;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
EO a long term e of Consul Connell. You may be ho tengo cuanto papa necesario ya you me papaya medio permiso. Nos vemos. And then in a in del bus.
00;03;38;00 - 00;03;55;00
Translator (name needed)
Okay. So then the date came and he had said that he wanted to speak with his father, and he said it wasn't necessary, but his dad had already given him permission. And so he just his neighbor just said, they would see each other at the bus stop.
00;03;55;03 - 00;04;16;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
Maybe came a me ropa, if you will, in the station del bus in park and noona Mukilan those pantalones those committees. He said all the, dinero.
00;04;16;25 - 00;04;27;22
Translator (name needed)
Okay, so he had told them to pack his bags, and he packed a backpack with two pairs of jeans, two tops, and no money.
00;04;27;25 - 00;04;58;25
Artemio Benitez Solano
And he even was a solid cuando me papa Emilio on the bus. There we go. And I would go. Pedro! My papa Bernardo, the. They said me porque Los senora con el eran sus amigos. Mi papa him papa duo were with that in this area. You go.
00;04;58;27 - 00;05;19;06
Translator (name needed)
Okay, so, he had finished packing. He was about to leave and his father asked him, where are you going? And he said to Oregon, and there is a few people coming back. And they were his father's friends. But his father was embarrassed to say that his son was leaving to Oregon.
00;05;19;09 - 00;05;50;18
Artemio Benitez Solano
When we papa go see stubby and say, okay, give us a day to spare, please let me go another. This is Necesitas to to work today. Nacimiento. You know, say this in me pub. Pero me papa Diego and una bicicleta DC Agora la bicicleta e la casa e market. They talk to Nacimiento.
00;05;50;20 - 00;06;12;13
Translator (name needed)
Okay, so his father, his father asked, what paper work he was bringing. And he responded with none. And then his father said, you need your birth certificate. And so his father had arrived on a bike and told him, take the bike, go home and ask your mother for your birth certificate.
00;06;12;16 - 00;06;22;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
He even eat tomatoes in el bus to, a la Ciudad de Mexico.
00;06;22;18 - 00;06;28;21
Translator (name needed)
And from there he took the bus to the, to Mexico City.
00;06;28;24 - 00;06;30;06
Robert Bauman
Okay.
00;06;30;09 - 00;06;34;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
So we got to the store where we stopped. Thank you. King.
00;06;34;16 - 00;06;46;11
Robert Bauman
Okay, so then, how does the rest of the journey unfold from there? From Mexico City? How how do you get to Oregon.
00;06;46;13 - 00;07;00;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
When yo tengo familia in Nevada de Mexico e e nada in Serbia. Kilo vanilla.
00;07;00;12 - 00;07;07;13
Translator (name needed)
he had family in Mexico City, but nobody knew that he was on his way there.
00;07;07;16 - 00;07;33;26
Artemio Benitez Solano
Me amigo. Mira. Si. No, a k l k measles. Firebaugh. Médico. Kill. Cuba. Yeah. Ellos gastos de me pueblo hasta origo. Either. Okay. Jump. I'll. Yes. Como sakala dia.
00;07;33;29 - 00;07;52;27
Translator (name needed)
So he had a friend there who had told him that he would pay for his ticket. And from everything from his town to the city, and he felt like he had won the lottery because it was.
00;07;53;00 - 00;08;09;07
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero si no somos de de la ciudad de México, Tijuana. Hello. It was. See, most cuatro. Yes.
00;08;09;09 - 00;08;15;21
Translator (name needed)
So they took the bus from Mexico City to Tijuana and they took about four days.
00;08;15;23 - 00;08;24;27
Artemio Benitez Solano
The road e the Tijuana and. Yeah.
00;08;24;29 - 00;08;27;11
Translator (name needed)
And in Tijuana that's where the nightmare began.
00;08;27;16 - 00;08;28;21
Robert Bauman
00;08;28;23 - 00;08;34;12
Artemio Benitez Solano
00;08;35;02 - 00;08;36;19
Artemio Benitez Solano
she just continued.
00;08;36;26 - 00;08;43;29
Robert Bauman
Yeah. Yeah. So you have no mind. No. This is really.
00;08;44;02 - 00;09;04;19
Artemio Benitez Solano
Me amigo SLK Caruso and real Grupo. See your as soon. Su mano de su amigo ba q Camille q Tanya k k.
00;09;04;22 - 00;09;07;12
Artemio Benitez Solano
Montenegro. Mr..
00;09;07;14 - 00;09;25;29
Translator (name needed)
So this friend was basically his friend basically crossed first and she was basically, as he explained, kind of his right hand where she would help. He would let him know, like feed him. And he was basically his eyes.
00;09;26;02 - 00;09;36;02
Artemio Benitez Solano
Around Grupo de, they kin say todos sedang, senor. This Duran.
00;09;36;04 - 00;09;37;04
Robert Bauman
In in.
00;09;37;04 - 00;09;46;06
Artemio Benitez Solano
Luna. So they DC say Tainos kin say medio.
00;09;46;09 - 00;09;57;00
Translator (name needed)
So his friend led a group of 15 adults and he was the youngest, about 15.5, 16 years old.
00;09;57;02 - 00;10;22;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
No, no, no. Plateau de Cruzar Pedro de War. The Buna mother, Stuart okay. Two boys. They. Know. So are they know that to be wrong. El uno, uno de la Clara. El patron.
00;10;22;18 - 00;10;42;23
Translator (name needed)
So his. He wasn't as lucky because, as they were crossing somebody told on him and basically let the officers know that he was the leader. And then he got caught.
00;10;42;25 - 00;11;12;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
Todos. No. That to are on e. Army may separate on in in those who were not in those they may notice. He told me San Miguel was going you know the this pero yo tenia DCC sons yo no sabia qué pasando you. No. Not any. They are k kilo k. Thank grab. So.
00;11;13;02 - 00;11;39;02
Translator (name needed)
Okay so they were all held captive. not whole captive but they were taken into custody and they were separated. He was separated into the juvenile old which is a younger, and the others were into the adult. And he couldn't wrap his head around how or what, how big of a deal this was being in the juvenile.
00;11;39;04 - 00;11;46;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
No somos Tijuana, no charro. Pero nada mas. Ivana. I really saw.
00;11;46;19 - 00;11;52;13
Robert Bauman
Involved. Okay? Just because it looks funny when you see it back, I know it's hard to think of it that way.
00;11;52;18 - 00;12;19;08
Artemio Benitez Solano
No registration part. Tijuana. I mean, no me when me when they see estaba yo me por qué era me not even a Yamaha. No se Como la your faster algo ghetto mother position then not do that.
00;12;19;11 - 00;12;36;14
Translator (name needed)
Okay. So they had been taken back to the Juana and they were going to take him. Well, they were going to leave him there and they were going to call, the foster system to let him stay.
00;12;36;17 - 00;12;52;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero a read a story to record the official case Johnson gave, or no a nino se VA conoce con su grupo. Nope. Y aqui solo.
00;12;52;22 - 00;13;10;01
Translator (name needed)
he just remembered that there was an officer by the name Johnson who had stated that, no, he wasn't going to stay there. He was going to go, back to Tijuana with the rest of the group. Okay.
00;13;10;03 - 00;13;36;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
So no nos estamos algo. Tell estaba nos perdido. No sabia no no se viendo said. Pero con nosotros iba una Romano de me amigo. me vecino el el hermano del kill Javier venido.
00;13;36;18 - 00;13;54;21
Translator (name needed)
When they got to the hotel, they were lost. But one of his friends, one of his friends brothers was there. and he had already been through that process. He had already been there. So he kind of helped lead.
00;13;54;24 - 00;14;16;17
Artemio Benitez Solano
And el hermano contacto mas in Los Angeles. But are muchos amigos, contacto una amigos thing in Los Angeles in this particular situation, he Los amigos like that on him.
00;14;16;19 - 00;14;29;17
Translator (name needed)
So he got into contact with a few friends. He had two friends in Los Angeles, and he talked to them about what was going on, and they ended up helping.
00;14;29;20 - 00;14;38;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
E la curiosities k uno de Los conocido enemy. Otro vecino.
00;14;38;18 - 00;14;48;01
Translator (name needed)
And he thought it was curious that, one of the guys that helped him was also a neighbor.
00;14;48;03 - 00;14;54;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
ETA et al. Where el esposo. They make other.
00;14;54;16 - 00;15;02;03
Translator (name needed)
So he was the husband, his sister in law.
00;15;02;05 - 00;15;14;26
Artemio Benitez Solano
He and in a nutshell, are those de la manana stubborn taekwondo. La puerta del hotel can see one porque todos nosotros.
00;15;14;28 - 00;15;24;01
Translator (name needed)
So our night. It was about 2 a.m.. They were knocking at the door, because they were coming for them.
00;15;24;03 - 00;15;30;10
Artemio Benitez Solano
S con console, Senor. So this to me was mas when a sweat.
00;15;30;12 - 00;15;40;25
Translator (name needed)
And with those people, with the contact. they had much better, Look.
00;15;40;28 - 00;15;55;02
Artemio Benitez Solano
Do we most el proceso, the the Juan de Los Angeles fueron did. But as the as. El dia de Los Angeles.
00;15;55;04 - 00;16;06;03
Translator (name needed)
So their journey was a three day journey where on the third day they arrived, in Los Angeles from Tijuana.
00;16;06;05 - 00;16;27;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
You see the casing marinating? No, nosotros. They. CF when in. La place. Kubo. They.
00;16;27;15 - 00;16;30;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Come for the past few days.
00;16;30;23 - 00;16;32;13
Translator (name needed)
Just here.
00;16;32;15 - 00;16;43;14
Artemio Benitez Solano
In la equipo de un nino de DCC anos de Pablito. The.
00;16;43;16 - 00;16;49;24
Artemio Benitez Solano
The Cinco familias. Hijikata Alessi de Los Angeles.
00;16;49;27 - 00;17;06;24
Translator (name needed)
So he would like you to for us to imagine, a young boy, arriving to Los Angeles, a little boy from, small town of about 50 families.
00;17;06;26 - 00;17;11;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
E to Angeles. Como.
00;17;11;23 - 00;17;25;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
Depends a lot on Miss buscando trabajo E.
00;17;26;01 - 00;18;49;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
Sorry. Okay.
00;18;49;16 - 00;18;50;04
Artemio Benitez Solano
Dropping out.
00;18;50;11 - 00;19;41;11
Robert Bauman
You know, it's like. Take your time. There's no rush. Understand?
00;19;41;13 - 00;19;53;19
Robert Bauman
Okay.
00;19;53;22 - 00;20;10;00
Robert Bauman
So Los Angeles would have been a very different place. Yes, yes. Huge city. Yes. I wonder if you could talk about how long were you in Los Angeles and, before you went to Oregon, then. Okay.
00;20;10;03 - 00;20;24;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Do we most in Los Angeles? Circuito Dumas, Como buscando trabajo? Como es business con vecinos. Q estaba.
00;20;24;23 - 00;20;31;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
Uno de Miss Bessie. Nos. Nos acaba camina todos Los dias.
00;20;31;07 - 00;20;48;01
Translator (name needed)
So I was in Los Angeles for a month looking for work. with all of the neighbors and friends and group. And his neighbor would take them out to walk every single day to look for work.
00;20;48;03 - 00;20;59;10
Artemio Benitez Solano
Porque el blankie, el blanket yo tengo vecino el or the El Vecino original trabajo. Jesse Corado.
00;20;59;12 - 00;21;10;20
Translator (name needed)
So he had his original plan with his neighbor, the one who helped him cross had already finished.
00;21;10;23 - 00;21;24;02
Artemio Benitez Solano
It. You know, the hero buscan trabajo aqui o this blessing Como pueden.
00;21;24;04 - 00;21;41;12
Translator (name needed)
So they were told, they had to find a job then or right there, or they would have to basically figure it out on their own.
00;21;41;14 - 00;21;49;00
Artemio Benitez Solano
Due to the journey. De la Esperanza. Okay, you gotta go.
00;21;49;02 - 00;21;59;12
Translator (name needed)
He. I never lost hope of finding a job in Oregon. Heading, getting to Oregon this year.
00;21;59;14 - 00;22;10;10
Artemio Benitez Solano
Toledo got me. Me, Esperanza. The hunter test for the SS.
00;22;10;12 - 00;22;19;26
Translator (name needed)
Since the day I left home, my hope was to be able to pick strawberries.
00;22;19;29 - 00;22;39;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
Were not. Whoa, whoa. Milagro. Okay. Are you going? Otro conocido hablo communist. Si. No. The cong mis amigos de Los Angeles. Okay, k Korean veinte trabajadores. They sing or they go.
00;22;39;16 - 00;22;53;12
Translator (name needed)
So one of his, neighbors had spoken to his friends and, told them that somebody in Oregon was needing 20 pickers.
00;22;53;15 - 00;23;08;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
And as the head on a una semana Western listos. Necesito veinte Elmo's. Ademas, Como desea says.
00;23;09;01 - 00;23;20;29
Translator (name needed)
So they were told to, that they would be there in a week and to be ready they need because they needed 20 pickers and there was 16 of them.
00;23;21;01 - 00;23;32;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
A yo pensé you know, they go, por qué si kid and Bantay e solamente somos. He says, seguro q ahi.
00;23;32;18 - 00;23;42;27
Translator (name needed)
I thought to myself, I'm already in Oregon because they needed 20 and there was 16 of them. He had already made it.
00;23;42;29 - 00;23;53;18
Artemio Benitez Solano
In East we don't know fueron dos qué fueron Los Angeles.
00;23;53;20 - 00;24;10;06
Artemio Benitez Solano
Man. And they have an Lincoln Continental cada uno no existing and they, they Como Lincoln Continental or Centeno maybe you can.
00;24;10;09 - 00;24;24;26
Translator (name needed)
There was two, two guys who had, the continental Lincolns who said 89, wondering if you know what it looks like if you imagine. Oh yeah, I eat.
00;24;24;28 - 00;24;36;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
I can somos logics and nossos carros. Says, you know, when it was el rumbo, the Oregon.
00;24;36;07 - 00;24;43;06
Translator (name needed)
All 16 of them were able to fit into those two Lincolns, and they were on their way to Oregon.
00;24;43;09 - 00;25;13;14
Artemio Benitez Solano
Otra sorpresa nos cayo cuando iguanas cuando en las montanas de Oregon estaba la nearby. This is the alto e u e Gilman b k says so we are we stolen away. Okay, so la Esteban se Randolph freeway.
00;25;13;16 - 00;25;33;28
Translator (name needed)
There was another surprise on the way to Oregon. passing the mountains. He saw three inch, three inches, three feet of snow. And he was so surprised because he had never seen this. And he thought to himself, what is this?
00;25;34;00 - 00;25;51;07
Artemio Benitez Solano
Cerrado. El freeway e todo el al lop in in the State Patrol. The little stubborn poniendo Los Rosalia inos where they seal ustedes Calabria nabbing cruzar.
00;25;51;09 - 00;26;04;04
Translator (name needed)
So the freeway was being closed and State patrol, was there. And I told them that they had to go up to the other side around because nobody was going to cross.
00;26;04;07 - 00;26;34;18
Artemio Benitez Solano
We're not el al policia iba the un cara otro diciendo les cases per se pueden cinco de si sodas mientras limpia bungle freeway, pero me amigo dijo bueno Los young man handle is better. Take care, mother Lajos e Betty otra base freeway. Vamonos.
00;26;34;20 - 00;27;07;22
Translator (name needed)
So, the police officer was going to each car and letting them know that they had to basically park because they would have to wait five hours until the freeway was cleared and the two drivers had been speaking to each other, and they had said that they were just going to wait a little longer for the police officer to go into the other vehicles, and they were going to try again and just go through the freeway.
00;27;07;25 - 00;27;26;23
Artemio Benitez Solano
E esa where una otra. A road K they are in a car. Venia. Esta these sandos and el jello porque todos tabaco krdo.
00;27;26;26 - 00;27;38;04
Translator (name needed)
That was another mistake because as they were going driving through the freeway, the car kept sliding on the slippery freeway.
00;27;38;06 - 00;27;56;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero giga digamos digamos could you Samuel Montanez e cuando Sabah no sin and Eugene, Oregon el manager said just what going.
00;27;56;24 - 00;28;11;10
Translator (name needed)
So they kept driving to the freeway and, across the mountains. And once they were in Eugene, Oregon, Oregon, they were told that they had arrived in Oregon.
00;28;11;13 - 00;28;20;18
Artemio Benitez Solano
The whole system was in Oregon. Pero no Stamos in that in Portland, per te VA knows no one knows a Portland.
00;28;20;21 - 00;28;28;20
Translator (name needed)
They had arrived in Oregon, but they were not yet in Portland, is what they were told.
00;28;28;22 - 00;28;37;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
Digamos, oh. Digamos a Portland.
00;28;37;15 - 00;28;48;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
Enos J how in Rancho is tying Hillsboro?
00;28;48;11 - 00;28;57;11
Translator (name needed)
So they arrived to Oregon and they were taken to a ranch called Boy Hillsboro.
00;28;57;15 - 00;29;09;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yeah. Ethan Empezamos a trabajar por un cuarto tiempo.
00;29;09;18 - 00;29;23;03
Artemio Benitez Solano
K Aparicio, owner mano a mano K severe have a needle e k this Aparicio por dos anos. Nosotros no Saviano on estaba.
00;29;23;05 - 00;29;39;23
Translator (name needed)
So once they were at the ranch they, she had found seen a brother of his who had left two years prior and they hadn't heard back from him.
00;29;39;25 - 00;29;52;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
On own Senor Médico to to witness de la familia Benitez chosen by your.
00;29;53;02 - 00;30;10;25
Translator (name needed)
So a man approached him and asked them what family he was from and his, kin that he knew somebody, he knew where his brother was. And let him know that his brother was in New York.
00;30;10;28 - 00;30;16;23
Artemio Benitez Solano
Cuando hermanos supercluster, Bango. They go.
00;30;16;25 - 00;30;39;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
El estado by your. Porque yo tengo mucha familia aqui toda me familia until they come near you. Tengo familia in New York. En todo me primos. Mysterious. Mucha familia de Los. They me a pedo. We need. This is in New York.
00;30;39;18 - 00;30;56;25
Translator (name needed)
So, when his brother found out he was in Oregon, he was surprised because he. They have a lot of family in new Jersey, a lot of cousins. And, they were heading me.
00;30;56;27 - 00;31;17;12
Artemio Benitez Solano
Amir might not be no conmigo e eight to be more empezamos a trabajar. You in El mundo es de este anos de San Jose mas grande de cayo e y empezamos a juntos.
00;31;17;14 - 00;31;28;22
Translator (name needed)
So his brother met with him in Oregon and they started working side to side with each other. And that's when they began working together.
00;31;28;24 - 00;31;50;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pedro. Yo, they cuando digo. They go, you can be me. See, there's totalmente yo yo yo venir other campo de la fuerza. Pero Joel, you got go. Cambium is plan is totalmente that you trabajar el campo. Yo mas grande de.
00;31;50;22 - 00;32;11;08
Translator (name needed)
When he arrived to Oregon he had, an idea of what he wanted. He wanted to pick strawberries. But once he was in Oregon, his ideas, his what he wanted completely changed. He wanted something more. He didn't want to work in the field.
00;32;11;11 - 00;32;34;00
Artemio Benitez Solano
Todos Los race hermano. Medicine. No, El campo. Not el campo. Por qué es es lo vamos a hacer porque no somos meaning yes. No store. Somos campo. No campo. Pedro job. Now they go. And you know campo.
00;32;34;02 - 00;32;58;19
Translator (name needed)
So his family, his brothers had told them to to not think that way, to work in the field because that's what they knew. That's what they were good at, he said. Looking back at his childhood, that's basically all they did field work. and he didn't want to do that. And he wanted.
00;32;58;21 - 00;33;22;25
Artemio Benitez Solano
The Hillsborough no more Vamos para para Saint John. A Sunday at Mass in the in Portland. Huge burrow is up. What are the Portland common outside the city? no vimos dentro de la vida Como es otros otros amigos e episodio lo bueno.
00;33;22;27 - 00;33;39;18
Translator (name needed)
From Hillsboro, he moved into Johnson, which is like, more into the city and then from there he. And being in the city, they that's where all the good stuff began to happen.
00;33;39;21 - 00;34;14;01
Artemio Benitez Solano
Even I campo de las cuatro de la manana. Nos levantar cuatro la manana e Sabah no salas Dulce de la tala. Jigawa nos uma Barnaba nia ropa Olympia uma busca trabajo IBA. You may require mucho, una de gruchy pequena can you iba con el dicha no hito trabajo?
00;34;14;04 - 00;34;37;19
Translator (name needed)
So he'd get up at two in the morning from two in the morning to 2 p.m.. He would be working in the doing field work, and right after that he'd go back home, take a shower, get ready, and there was a small grocery store where he would visit, and he would always talk to the owner and ask him to hire him.
00;34;37;21 - 00;35;02;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
In El Nino de Siena. Does my roving. No, let me go. Ya tengo de Shinobi anos de say in cinema two two. Lee Sentia hota permiso. No! Let me go. No lo tengo these two permiso. It trabajo. UN permiso de disinhibition. You are so much easier to anos.
00;35;03;01 - 00;35;28;12
Translator (name needed)
The owner would tell him no, that he wouldn't hire him because he was too young. And he's. He replied with no, but I'm 19. And he said the owner had replied with but come back when you have, a license or permit or something that tells me that you are 19 or at least 18 years old.
00;35;28;15 - 00;35;48;06
Artemio Benitez Solano
Estaba anos viviendo nosotros todos a new era. No, say it was we. We are not told. We are not in Apartamento. They don't recommend us. Todos Los ninos tenian and three treinta is quaintance yo Tania Pena, he says.
00;35;48;08 - 00;36;06;04
Translator (name needed)
So he was living in an apartment of two bedrooms with about 12 adults. They were all between the ages of 30 and 50, and he was only 16.5.
00;36;06;07 - 00;36;41;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
It also passo por un ano después de un ano. See CMOs muchas applications until, say, until no can Como resume in nada this or antes de nos applications a mano y las el trabajo. He is an he semen muchas hicimos muchas la mayoria de me hermano con Los amigos. Yo this data yo. No, I mean no one.
00;36;42;00 - 00;37;06;11
Translator (name needed)
So that was their living situation for about a year. And they he would go apply for some jobs. But since there wasn't resumes back then, they would have to fill out paper locations and drop them off. But that was mainly his brother and his friends because they were all over the age of 18. For him, it was a little more difficult.
00;37;06;13 - 00;37;44;17
Artemio Benitez Solano
UN de Gregory, Somos de trabajo del campo. Total stubbornness in Abajo. The, in the in Nasrallah e vamos under your mother. The the, McDonald's Kuku Papa and those this is. Pero door sedan senoras e e nunca trabajar. The new restaurant Y cuando Yaman dijeron queremos dos trabajadores e todo saber uno otro.
00;37;44;20 - 00;38;07;08
Translator (name needed)
So, one day there, they received a call while they were all at their apartment. And it was from McDonald's asking for two workers, and every adult that was in that room looked at each other, because none of them have had ever worked at a restaurant.
00;38;07;11 - 00;38;35;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
E un unknown, muchacho. They would not. But they cinco anos dijo yo, we are in quimica conmigo. Not in Quito. Me hermano diseno nosotros no y contigo. No. Two. No, they 2000. We pequena they go. Yo boy, this thing. Bueno. No kidding me. They say Vamos.
00;38;35;24 - 00;38;57;29
Translator (name needed)
So 33 year old had said I'll go. And nobody he asked is anyone else coming? But no one responded. And then he said, I'll come with you. And he looked at him and he said, no, not you. And then, he said, I'll come with you. So then he's like, oh, okay, come along to Taiwan.
00;38;58;02 - 00;39;35;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
And digamos, digamos el, and McDonald's is a McDonald's around, solo venue. on the new privado, El Sol and Vista Ajo, you and me with senor me, me, amigo e el el senor de the un saying you the aqui cannot believe. is espanol El nino muy poquito.
00;39;35;19 - 00;40;00;19
Translator (name needed)
When they arrive to the restaurant McDonald's. since it was a private owner, private owned McDonald's, the owner is the one that basically had the interview with them. He tried speaking Spanish, but he couldn't really speak too well. And that's how the interview went.
00;40;00;21 - 00;40;05;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
In Mexico, when they say.
00;40;05;08 - 00;40;27;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
El the training to El to trabajo between in and muchacho they say no sé porque you had a musica yadong in a si el mucha chico when they saying that we have a chance. Una semana. Do you say.
00;40;27;15 - 00;40;51;27
Translator (name needed)
So? He looked over at the 33 year old and he said, okay, you you have a job. But I looked at him and he said, I don't know about the young ones, but since he said that he was shy, he was a little quieter. So it was a lot more difficult. But the owner ended up saying, it's okay, I'll give you a week.
00;40;52;00 - 00;41;30;23
Artemio Benitez Solano
De nos nos. Rio de la Sokcho de la la la noche a trabajar. E yo yo me matera. They had el campo e trabajar in a restaurant area. You know, Campo, a restaurant one, don't they? and McDonald's have a campo de de las cuatro. La manana. Allah Allah. Una de las dos ye. And al McDonald's. De la soto al has dosi.
00;41;30;26 - 00;41;53;13
Translator (name needed)
So he shifts where from 8 p.m. to midnight and he didn't want to work in the field anymore. So. But he continued working. He worked from 4 to 1 and then he would work, McDonald's from 8 to 12.
00;41;53;16 - 00;42;11;07
Artemio Benitez Solano
Después de ahi debemos. Muchos muchos cambios me amigos I go rely on make yo trabajar con.
00;42;11;10 - 00;42;27;24
Artemio Benitez Solano
Cada Vecchio iba al McDonald's yo demostrar y yo that me me calida or me? In today's the.
00;42;27;26 - 00;42;31;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
Inca de trabajo.
00;42;31;19 - 00;42;48;11
Translator (name needed)
him and his friend continued working there, but they had moved his friend and he kept working there. But every single shift he had there, he tried to demonstrate his capability and his interest in working there.
00;42;48;14 - 00;43;23;13
Artemio Benitez Solano
Is to be eat, eat in El tiempo del campo. Yes. Estaba cuando un poquito. Yeah. Compassion manager. Yo yo make me me premier Coachella K tenia un us una Canada and we made you después me co-chair. Hasta un Pyongyang. Groening can you talk with reporters? Evie. Yo, Salia, buscar mas trabajos.
00;43;23;15 - 00;43;41;11
Translator (name needed)
So we kept working. McDonald's and us a year, year and a half later, he was able to buy his own car and he would drive it to go find other employment.
00;43;41;14 - 00;44;02;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Me, segundo trabajo, even country. They. They bus boy. They limpia miss us in the restaurant. Little Puerto kid three yellow Recuerdos. The Yamaha long.
00;44;02;23 - 00;44;16;27
Translator (name needed)
So the second employment and the second job was first boy at a restaurant and right near the airport. Still remember his name.
00;44;16;29 - 00;44;42;25
Artemio Benitez Solano
El mismo tiempo. El mismo tiempo universal viendo de puesto en el McDonald's. El ano link abajo John waiter your cuando el McDonald's. You had a common dishwasher. Pero Como el trabajo de la ganas de trabajo had massive yo para casi neto de.
00;44;42;28 - 00;44;51;17
Translator (name needed)
Where as as his. When he first entered working at McDonald's, he was a dishwasher and the owner saw.
00;44;51;20 - 00;44;56;21
Translator (name needed)
His capabilities, his interest and his, you know, him.
00;44;56;21 - 00;45;00;11
Translator (name needed)
Being a hard worker, he moved him up to be a, cooker.
00;45;00;13 - 00;45;42;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
Like cook e cuando iso paso behind the hill, Campo de campo quedo Torres a trabajo en el restaurant del Puerto e Utrgv Harbor. And then and then McDonald's. Cambiar on May cambiar on the the. Then and maybe or the de las de las dos de villa until de las dos Como on say says and then Russia or Yemen and.
00;45;42;11 - 00;46;00;14
Translator (name needed)
At this point had already left the field. He was no longer working there. He was working McDonald's from his shift was changed from 11 to 6 during rush hour. And then he kept working, the restaurant near the airport.
00;46;00;16 - 00;46;31;11
Artemio Benitez Solano
And the restaurant. You travel. How about the city? City? Maria? dos de la gnocchi. E Como siempre yo siempre cada abajo. Hasta siempre debajo trabajo. Siempre trato de lo lo mejor 4K. Pues European. Qué said cuando uno trabaja. No, no K casa lo mejor.
00;46;31;13 - 00;46;50;13
Translator (name needed)
his second job the restaurant he worked from 7:30 p.m. to midnight and he thinks that, every job you have, you have to try your best and do the best. And that's what he's done today.
00;46;50;16 - 00;47;22;26
Artemio Benitez Solano
E después and then McDonald's and puesto sube. the course in narrow sube. Frank Connors el antes suitable right through microphone aqui giorno and escuela. You know, you're not pretending in escuela. Not them. You're not una classy here. Solamente. They low you see you the in the middle trabajar aqui.
00;47;22;29 - 00;47;43;10
Translator (name needed)
So as he moved up from Latin cooking up to the drive through. And then he had his microphone. He didn't go to school. He didn't for English. He didn't learn English. He all of the English he knows was working with people and.
00;47;43;13 - 00;48;08;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
E el mismo tiempo viendo puesto en el McDonald's driver's window. Puesto nel el restaurante. They the busboy. You get the, waiters. Esta macedo in el restaurant even may or may, may cambiar on banquets. fiestas badass.
00;48;08;25 - 00;48;25;10
Translator (name needed)
So as he moved up at McDonald's, he also moved up, the restaurant. He went from busboy to waiter to planning for being, and it paid for him.
00;48;25;13 - 00;48;33;29
Robert Bauman
And about how long did you then work at McDonald's and at the restaurant?
00;48;34;02 - 00;48;43;23
Artemio Benitez Solano
those simple trabajar al mismo tiempo. Qué siempre. You have to wait until they kill me, Calzada. You simplemente two way Dorsey Terrace. Trabajo sul tiempo.
00;48;43;26 - 00;48;49;15
Translator (name needed)
E cuanto tiempo trabajo. And those those restaurants.
00;48;49;17 - 00;49;00;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
And then McDonald's European. So Cubanos tres cuatro anos Ian and Shiloh and el resto dang dos anos.
00;49;00;26 - 00;49;02;28
Robert Bauman
00;49;03;00 - 00;49;06;26
Translator (name needed)
So he basically for 2 or 3 years.
00;49;06;28 - 00;49;25;08
Robert Bauman
Yeah. Right. Yeah. at what point then, because we talk about when you moved from Portland to the Tri-Cities, you were married, right? And did you at what point when you there did you meet your wife?
00;49;25;10 - 00;50;00;10
Artemio Benitez Solano
You may say, aqui otra vez la loteria. And then mcdonough's cuando me suppose I. Miss your, your tenia trabajando Como una uno dos anos. And then my. And then McDonald's. Cuando Diego un una muchacha Alta. Weather con soup lo medio cafe. Yo tener una uno Amiga. Si, senor. That's good thing the enemy acquired. Cuanto the owners to see?
00;50;00;12 - 00;50;10;04
Artemio Benitez Solano
Where did you see you eat? Una senora? 16 the young unos cuarenta three anos.
00;50;10;06 - 00;50;40;07
Translator (name needed)
So he won the lottery there as well? She was about. He was working at McDonald's. He. There was a tall, black, not blond, but like light. She was brunet. He walked in and he had some friends, some workers. They were about 40 years old there. And, she she walked in and he saw her.
00;50;40;10 - 00;51;14;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
A few trabajo I had. I g go trabajar in la manana, you know, la vida mucho porque you have an el dia trabajo in la manana. UN dia men with money. Una is cuando yo la Kenosha. Image amigas la senora Kenosha. Maybe you must be ESA mucha in San Miguel. Maybe here on a se gusta la mucha mas grande.
00;51;14;22 - 00;51;18;00
Artemio Benitez Solano
They get to.
00;51;18;03 - 00;51;47;03
Translator (name needed)
So he she arrived there, looking for a job and she. But then she began working there. But she worked mornings and he worked the rush hour. So one day he was switched to morning. And his friend, we're telling him that the. You know, you like her, you like her. And then they told him that she was a little older than him.
00;51;47;06 - 00;51;48;25
Translator (name needed)
Was it mas Alta?
00;51;48;27 - 00;51;50;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
Must be. Must get the.
00;51;51;01 - 00;51;53;04
Translator (name needed)
She was older than him.
00;51;53;07 - 00;52;28;04
Artemio Benitez Solano
E m is a mega lady here on air. He was high to be most, Certainly most ever stay there if you must know. We also know Ricardo Q tiempo Queen was nervous. Pedro. Jorge. Siempre. Concentrate on me. Trabajo siempre tabaco. you know qué? And ademas said yesterday in Sunnyvale. Queria seguir mas. Are you okay? Yes.
00;52;28;06 - 00;52;31;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
Seguida. Lando. Mars.
00;52;31;24 - 00;53;06;06
Translator (name needed)
So he ended up taking her out. they went out a couple times. he doesn't remember how long they were together. But he does remember that when, while he was with her, she did always think about his job because he wanted to, you know, go up in life and have a better, better job.
00;53;06;08 - 00;53;07;17
Artemio Benitez Solano
The,
00;53;07;19 - 00;53;14;17
Robert Bauman
Oh, sorry. I was just gonna say she had brothers here in her family here in the Tri-Cities at that point. Right here.
00;53;14;20 - 00;53;29;12
Artemio Benitez Solano
no, no, no, that time, I think, this después the su familiar siempre trabajar in construction and you said you'll be in Portland E Vivian in Vancouver.
00;53;29;14 - 00;53;31;06
Robert Bauman
00;53;31;08 - 00;53;41;04
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yes. Okay. there was no no required cuanto most mmo con su familia.
00;53;41;06 - 00;54;02;07
Translator (name needed)
So her family has worked in construction and since he was in Portland and they were in Vancouver, he does remember how many times they went out. But at a certain point she took them to meet his, to meet her family.
00;54;02;10 - 00;54;31;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
I, not safe. Well, not otra dessa por k. Muy given me. But indeed, on your last familia, Danny Wallace. Pero suva su familias mas Como Dillingham muy especial.
00;54;31;24 - 00;54;47;09
Translator (name needed)
So he that he took another surprise when he met her family because he thought all families were the same. But when he met her family, she knew that there were special.
00;54;47;12 - 00;55;15;02
Artemio Benitez Solano
Do we must soon Toshi Barrios may present Super Pam a present. Tosa mama su said my nose todo yeah, yeah, yeah. If we most, There if we must know. Because Yahi. Yes, they. Ate, Ate. I'm,
00;55;15;05 - 00;55;42;05
Artemio Benitez Solano
Mas muchos tiempos hunters. Pero yo yo también Jose estaba concentrating ng and buscar must trabajo if you're simply a. Yeah. Yeah we're not European so Cheetos getting mucho tiempo juntos yoga stim no mucho pero yummy. Pure idea that Ella también. You yum. Buscar mas trabajo okay.
00;55;42;07 - 00;56;14;11
Translator (name needed)
So he met her mom, her father, her siblings. And from that point on they became a couple. And she really wanted to spend lots of time just like all couples do. But he doesn't think that he spent as much time because he was also he was also he was always concentrated on finding a job or like finding a better job.
00;56;14;13 - 00;56;52;02
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yeah, he he said, Como parenthesis. Como una? break the I asked the q nacio me nino porque. No, no. Como comida. Bedouins are contar. They say punto. I don't did not hear me. Nino. So e yeah. Visao tiempo e e to be want nostro nino. If you say todavia, i.e. they are.
00;56;52;04 - 00;57;08;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
I had the here McDonald's. McDonald's halfway. Yeah. Can you get your style? style tapas porque there right through there from Konrad. Thank you for the store manager.
00;57;08;11 - 00;57;28;11
Translator (name needed)
Okay, so then he went on to say that, you know, he was with his wife, and then they had their son, and from there he was still working at store, and he just kept, going up hills at the front. And then a store manager.
00;57;28;13 - 00;57;52;17
Artemio Benitez Solano
They had McDonald's. He todo. Yeah. You are very, otro trabajo in el downtown Portland. and then city parking. But yeah, about your, About carros de Los trabajo in those edificios. Estaba listo dejar el restaurant también.
00;57;52;20 - 00;58;09;04
Translator (name needed)
So he left McDonald's and started working downtown. And Portland has like a valet parking, area. And then from there, he was also planning on leaving the second restaurant he worked at.
00;58;09;06 - 00;58;30;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
An El restaurant. No. Maybe Hawaii. Porque yo Como dos anos dos anos. But do you see pasado mas de dos anos in those anos? Your siempre mercado del mais de llano Etna. Muchos premios. Okay, maybe here don't Q no me fuera.
00;58;31;01 - 00;58;44;23
Translator (name needed)
So at the restaurant they were they didn't want him to leave because he had one so many employee of the month, employee of the year awards, and they were trying to do all they could to keep him from leaving.
00;58;44;25 - 00;58;53;06
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero lo mismo siempre yo queria algo mejor. I go major in here. Okay? You rando gente.
00;58;53;08 - 00;59;05;18
Translator (name needed)
So he did continue to walk more. And so he was told that UPS was hiring and.
00;59;05;20 - 00;59;32;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
Contact we. Yeah. Nice. So. Yeah. Nice. Entonces you. Yeah. No tenia until yo tenia preocupacion miedo abajo. Pero es una Giuliano tenia preocupacion miedo. Yo iba qualche lugares. Give me gusto up trabajo real ups e y appliqué e me me sit on me in vista.
00;59;32;22 - 00;59;58;12
Translator (name needed)
So before he had always had fear or he wasn't as confident to approach these employment and ask for a job. But at this point he didn't fear, didn't he had the confidence enough to go anywhere and seek employment and ask for employment. And he was given, an interview with I.
00;59;58;15 - 01;00;21;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
so cuando trabajo an in Los hermanos de Misano de se model patrol series. E cuando se murong la me senora casi todos Los dias. This seeing a desire to do it to posso mood and say para car.
01;00;21;12 - 01;00;45;08
Translator (name needed)
So while he was working, he worked on UPS for about an hour now a year. So a year. And while he was working there is when her wife's brothers moved to the tri cities, and they called her every day. And told her to move down with her husband.
01;00;45;10 - 01;01;12;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yo yo siempre pensé can miss me. Another aqui yo for the kilo entrada la construction porque toda so familia as hermanos primos. Todos yo no sabia a contradiction. Pero cuando yo no idea antes pero cuando yo soup de construction. Mientras muchisimo.
01;01;12;17 - 01;01;35;25
Translator (name needed)
So at first he thought that his wife wanted him to go into construction, but he didn't even know what construction entailed or what it was. So once he found out and was like explained what they do and like in the can in construction, he said he became very interested in it.
01;01;35;27 - 01;02;05;08
Artemio Benitez Solano
Lo pensé lo pensé poco porque you yiadom digamos job in this video, yo e John Kerry. a ladder construction pad or yo siempre, we, And then and then futuro the they mean iho senora la.
01;02;05;10 - 01;02;21;19
Translator (name needed)
So he didn't really he thought about it, but he thought of himself as a city boy. And he did say that he always thought about his wife and his son's future.
01;02;21;22 - 01;02;51;27
Artemio Benitez Solano
As a comic convention that he may dijo vamos a ver it the to see this most concern. Mano nos vamos he de helpless boy. but at that may we need your, tri series concert. Your memo de concert. Mano escondida por un nos as messages. Bebe conejos.
01;02;51;29 - 01;03;10;27
Translator (name needed)
So his wife convinced him of coming down to visit. And then after that, he eventually moved down for a month with her brother and the sister in law, and lived for a month.
01;03;10;29 - 01;03;35;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
In concert. Mano a mano es mare Kaya Como today's Cuatro annual Mallorca. Moving on. Buddy is going on. Buddy e. Ahi de the foundation. Hasta la terminado.
01;03;35;25 - 01;03;53;19
Translator (name needed)
So he started working alongside his brother in law, who's a really great man, 3 to 4 years older than his wife. And they did everything from foundation work to all finishing touches.
01;03;53;21 - 01;03;58;14
Robert Bauman
And, is this like residential construction, commercial.
01;03;58;21 - 01;04;06;16
Artemio Benitez Solano
C residential hacemos puro residential. None of the commercial. No puro residential.
01;04;06;18 - 01;04;08;15
Translator (name needed)
So it's all residential?
01;04;08;18 - 01;04;15;04
Robert Bauman
No commercial. And then so you you and your your wife and son moved in 96, 97.
01;04;15;04 - 01;04;42;06
Artemio Benitez Solano
And when are you okay? You move. They come. Those masses e e la vision me. That they de la uno author and mano there you they Are you ho e una todo lo q tenemos he Debian is unger mano de la la. You don't have todo noone you ho e se ve no Eric.
01;04;42;06 - 01;04;43;14
Translator (name needed)
We're lucky.
01;04;43;17 - 01;04;47;03
Artemio Benitez Solano
And then no and no. 2030.
01;04;47;06 - 01;05;03;08
Translator (name needed)
So 97. He had called his wife and told her to ask for, brother to help her rent a U-Haul and fill it up with everything they had and drive down.
01;05;03;10 - 01;05;31;01
Artemio Benitez Solano
Train to duplex in Marshall Street and Richland. Joe. Me me senora amigo. Alex tenia Como nano, but I assume. E todo lo trabajar con mano. Yeah. Buscando ho and noon and noon.
01;05;31;04 - 01;05;47;20
Translator (name needed)
So his son Alex was one years old, and, he would work every day with, his brother in law. And his wife ended up finding a job at a gas station.
01;05;47;23 - 01;06;08;26
Robert Bauman
So you mentioned earlier that the tri city sort of reminds you of where you grew up in Mexico. how how did you find the tri cities in terms of as a place to work, as a place to raise a family?
01;06;08;29 - 01;06;18;26
Artemio Benitez Solano
It's muy es muy comodo. Es muy,
01;06;18;28 - 01;06;35;00
Artemio Benitez Solano
Como libreria muy seguro. Es muy seguro. Aqui e todo esto una no I trafico otra vez. No antes Oleta. Yes. Diferente.
01;06;35;03 - 01;06;47;16
Translator (name needed)
So it's very comfortable very safe. And he says the no traffic. Well at least at first there is no traffic.
01;06;47;19 - 01;06;58;20
Robert Bauman
Yeah. More now than that. Yeah, yeah. and then so you've worked in your whole time here in the Tri cities, construction with. Yeah.
01;06;58;22 - 01;07;24;01
Artemio Benitez Solano
See you. El tiempo construction trabajo me those, Joey e e de nos trabajadores de me otro lado. Me el mas grande de in el mejor de la familia. And you start, so to say, they used to bang in Longview and use Costa Rica and Longview.
01;07;24;03 - 01;07;53;11
Translator (name needed)
So at first they, him and his brothers in law worked for his other brother in law, which is the oldest brother of his wife. And his basically who it was a I think long mill where they constructed and like their main office before working with this place throw a whole going to also you know.
01;07;53;13 - 01;07;58;27
Artemio Benitez Solano
You know el kuno mas grande de es el bueno de la compania de la compania.
01;07;59;00 - 01;08;02;15
Translator (name needed)
so the oldest is the owner of the company.
01;08;02;18 - 01;08;16;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
E ya empezamos a trabajar de todo el tiempo. Yo tengo navia, yo quiero gigaton al nivel. Questa mas grande. La compania.
01;08;17;01 - 01;08;38;15
Translator (name needed)
So once he started working with his brothers in law and saw how they basically did everything in the construction, he thought himself that he wanted to be like his brother in law. He wanted to be at that level.
01;08;38;17 - 01;08;56;26
Artemio Benitez Solano
But hey, poor Uno, no recuerda uno cinco anos satanas con el pero la compania de me kuno UK. Just to buy listo. You say un una propuesta me kuno.
01;08;56;28 - 01;09;19;13
Translator (name needed)
Yeah. So he worked with his brother in law for six years for the company, and then he, he sent here, he showed his brother in law and kind of, like, not an offer, but an idea of the sort.
01;09;19;16 - 01;09;54;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Porque Joe simple make considerable. Well, not always say you may consider one bueno trabajadores todo he maybe he don't. Eaglehawk New York. I sell me propio negocio in construction e you know, maybe he don't know two things con nosotros they got no yo quiero I said Como independent me here on Nardi say see independent. He said peerless el trabajo.
01;09;55;00 - 01;10;18;07
Translator (name needed)
So he said that's when another nightmare began. Because he had showed them the offer he wanted to create his own business, but they had basically shut down the idea and said no, that if he wanted to continue and do that, he could he would lose his job.
01;10;18;10 - 01;10;45;21
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero Jonasson you yeah. Kenosha muchos in that in the drama de construction. You know Kenosha. No me familia familia Zayas. But he most amigos todos. Yeah Kenosha. You'll see. Oh boy said went on k sus amigos de ellos siempre main trabajar con Dios.
01;10;45;23 - 01;11;06;26
Translator (name needed)
So at this point, he had already known he had a lot of connections within the construction world. He had a lot of cousins and friends of his wife's family, and he was known for being a hard worker and working alongside with them as well.
01;11;06;28 - 01;11;31;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
He may be here now. Okay. No. As to compania pero not trabajo con nosotros esto. Para me Teddy grace mas grande de okay. No yo quiero me compania. Yo quiero said Dwayne de me compania.
01;11;31;23 - 01;11;49;14
Translator (name needed)
So they basically said okay, you can go on and do that or and lose your job, or you can just stay here and we'll give you a raise. But he didn't want to raise. He wanted his own company, his own business.
01;11;49;16 - 01;11;53;00
Robert Bauman
And so about when was this that roughly.
01;11;53;02 - 01;11;59;20
Artemio Benitez Solano
Two those meals Cinco those meals says see.
01;11;59;23 - 01;12;01;22
Translator (name needed)
2005.
01;12;01;25 - 01;12;02;19
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yeah.
01;12;02;22 - 01;12;05;17
Robert Bauman
And so you started your own company at that point.
01;12;05;19 - 01;12;50;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
But me come companion el dos mil cinco. Those mil says, pero cuando me compania way uno maybe you uno the the problemas but does it tomar trabajo. Pero me me song Como. Europeans okay. No, no song LLC no serious symptoms in la familia. Maybe he don't see no tiene hockey pero we on. Maybe he don't. Okay. This to compania two was a Finnish word para nosotros.
01;12;50;18 - 01;13;22;08
Translator (name needed)
Okay. So he said it was difficult for about half for years finding work. But he doesn't think his. Well his brothers in law aren't bad people. They just really they look they care for their family. So right after they told them about him losing his job, they they went and they told him that he would do the finishing touches for them.
01;13;22;10 - 01;13;45;15
Artemio Benitez Solano
S cuando se yeah me compania the iem trabajar conejos es una companion muy grandi and using. And today the owner's circuitry wants to send out yo yo yo yo todo la carpinteria. Yo so soy carpenter.
01;13;45;18 - 01;14;04;27
Translator (name needed)
So his. They have a really big company. So they do about 6080 houses a year. And he does like the carpentry aspect of it. So he says he's, he's a carpenter.
01;14;05;00 - 01;14;26;23
Robert Bauman
so one question that I've been asking people that we talked to is sort of the impact of Covid on themselves, family, community. and so in what ways did Covid impact, your work or or did you see any impacts in the community or so?
01;14;26;23 - 01;14;39;27
Artemio Benitez Solano
See, see more on the in in a selection. Especially in those, in those orders. Get the order.
01;14;39;29 - 01;14;49;25
Translator (name needed)
So really big branches construction was affected during Covid specifically those who get paid by the hour.
01;14;49;27 - 01;15;12;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
Nosotros Como compania. Si. No I don't. Pero no more. Good. Yeah. No mucho Como trabajadores Puerto de por qué. Cuando no tiene un negocio. Uno siempre B para el futuro e necesito. No ahora.
01;15;12;25 - 01;15;37;21
Translator (name needed)
He said not for him. Not we didn't really expect as an hourly employee. More like saving money for the, you know, future for any specific. Occasion that would happen and any time he would need money.
01;15;37;24 - 01;16;08;28
Robert Bauman
You know, so one last question for you, and that is, so you been here for going 25 plus years? so you talked about the traffic change, more traffic. I'm curious of, you know, especially in terms of the Hispanic community, sort of changes maybe you've seen in the time since you moved here in the 1990s.
01;16;09;01 - 01;16;17;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
muchas m eastern. Muchas in, sentido, the.
01;16;18;00 - 01;16;48;22
Artemio Benitez Solano
Nosotros somos laws de la talvez no otro single molecule para Los padres K Como yo. Given the most the del pueblo e una familia aqui e tenemos e horse e tal base Como not not tenemos not tuvimos educacion in me pueblo. No knowledge, no list. Hemos la.
01;16;48;25 - 01;16;54;09
Artemio Benitez Solano
La educacion correct de nuestros hijos. Aqui no todos unos.
01;16;54;12 - 01;17;27;20
Translator (name needed)
So being from a small town, he thinks that as a parent, not all parents, but some that since they he is from a small town and the education is very limited, he doesn't have as much education. But coming here to the United States and having children and, giving their children the correct education or the education needed.
01;17;27;23 - 01;18;02;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yes. You mean machine. Okay, Los cambios k aqui and and and tri series song. Como Los Los papas. No no se me open opinion can always damos when educacion nuestro seahorse. Your son knows k I think can be a, a la sfida ING bueno for them in my la forma.
01;18;03;00 - 01;18;20;19
Translator (name needed)
So in his opinion, there are those parents who don't give them like a good education. And so it can go both ways. Either can cause good changes for the city or bad changes.
01;18;20;22 - 01;18;39;17
Artemio Benitez Solano
Me amigo or me Vecino tengo medici. They they very indigenous. Edu Carlos Como nos edu nosotros eBay e various kittens. We una sweetheart segura. E when.
01;18;39;20 - 01;18;56;22
Translator (name needed)
So his friend neighbor says, they should let them educate their kids. And that way they would have a good safe city.
01;18;56;24 - 01;19;23;29
Artemio Benitez Solano
Pero eso not Sally uy es muy. Diagnostic. Como esta soy, Pedro. La vamos mucho Alberta a seahorse Jimmy Como yo me. In my opinion do we de nos algo k no Livia Ramos. Tanta libertadores seahorse.
01;19;24;02 - 01;19;44;21
Translator (name needed)
So in his opinion a lot of liberty a lot of freedom is given to. De I mean to children or kids. And that in his opinion he wouldn't give as much freedom.
01;19;44;23 - 01;19;58;10
Robert Bauman
I think those are the questions I have for you. Is there anything that, I didn't ask you or that you didn't get a chance to talk about, that you would like to, mention or.
01;19;58;12 - 01;20;24;27
Artemio Benitez Solano
No. No, we can do second, once you have a chance. Next time. I have a song. I have a song. 21 year old, I hope. And she don't give in there, but I have a song. 20. Well, you know, he's studying, what? He's studying computer science. And he told me, hey, soon I get a job, and soon I make a big money.
01;20;24;29 - 01;20;32;18
Artemio Benitez Solano
And I hope and you don't get to all. I mean, go hiring somebody. Can you, write you a book?
01;20;32;21 - 01;20;34;29
Robert Bauman
there you go. Yeah.
01;20;35;02 - 01;20;58;04
Artemio Benitez Solano
Hey. I'm being I'm being writing a little way before I forget, you know, because I think the older you get forgetting. Right? So sometimes in my free time, I'm in. Right? Things like, you know, when I leave the time and things, things like this. So many things. So see here we're hopping, you know, see here. We made that thing.
01;20;58;07 - 01;21;02;10
Artemio Benitez Solano
I mean, I can just show hang by that. That's great.
01;21;02;10 - 01;21;05;18
Robert Bauman
And that's also you can share it with your children.
01;21;05;22 - 01;21;20;24
Artemio Benitez Solano
Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty much my goal. I like to, you know, in the future. See, she get kids, you know, say he's grandpa's life or whole story. Yeah.
01;21;20;27 - 01;21;44;19
Robert Bauman
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for being willing to come in here and talk to us and share your story. Life story is really interesting. I appreciate it. and, Yeah. no problem. And thank you. And Liz, thank you. And for for suggesting it, I appreciate that. Thank you very much. And and it's great to meet you and.
01;21;44;19 - 01;21;56;28
Artemio Benitez Solano
To me too. Yeah. And like you say, we, we bcba, you know, any time, any just, you know, like, like you say we I want company. I can take it.