Running head: DIVERSITY INTERVIEW 1

Diversity Interview

Ramona Torres-Martinez
October 19, 2016
Fresno Pacific University

Diversity Interview
Diversity is a characteristic that makes every individual unique. Each person has

personal beliefs, traditions, and abilities to contribute to society. The diverse backgrounds of

others teach us valuable lessons of acceptance and tolerance. I choose to interview an

acquaintance that I met a few months ago that recently migrated to the United States from

another country and has a physical disability. During the interview she discussed the reason for

her migration to the U.S. and her experience in society. She also discussed her struggles, her

support, and future goals in this country.

The person that I interview is the grandmother of one of my preschool students. Her

name is Alida Esperanza Zavarce Castro and she recently moved to the United States from
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Caracas, Venezuela. During the interview, Mrs. Zavarce held up both of her index fingers and

asked me Do you think they are the same color? I responded No she then explained that the

reason that her skin color is uneven is because of her ancestry. She identifies herself as a mixture

of Indian, Spanish, and African.

When asked why her she decided to leave her home country she communicated that

Venezuela was not a safe place to live anymore because of the crisis the country is going

through. Mrs. Zavarce also shared with me that she missed her country, but due to death threats

from the government her and her family are not able to return to Venezuela.
Mrs. Zavarce also shared that she was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy a few years

ago in Venezuela and that her disease has been worsening affecting mainly her knees. The

doctors in Venezuela had told her that because of her Muscular Dystrophy she would be

confined to a bed within a year of her diagnoses. But against the odds she is still able to move

around with her arm braces and motorized wheel chair.

Next, she provided details about her lifestyle back in Venezuela. Mrs. Zavarce explained

that most of the people in her family were educators like herself. In Venezuela, she was an

English Professor for adults and young children. She was enrolled in a university pursuing a

Masters degree in Education. Another interesting piece of information that Mrs. Zavarce shared

with me was that she has a passion for making people laugh and forget about their worries. In

Caracas, she would volunteer her free time in a hospital dressing up as a funny clown and putting

on a show for the patients.

When I asked her about her religion preferences she commented that before she belonged

to an Evangelical Church, but that now she considered herself a libre pensante (free thinker).

She said that she is a highly spiritual person, but that she doubts about the existence of God. She

added that she is also a believer of the power of internal energy.

I asked her about her experience in society and she explained that she has had a positive

experience so far. She communicated that in Caracas, she was highly respected in her career and
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that she had a good relationship with all of her coworkers. The people were accepting of her

disability and would offer help if needed. She felt that she was appreciated from her contribution

as an educator and funny clown. She also commented that the experience living in the United

States has been a good one and she has felt welcome in the small community that she resides in.

One of the things that she has notice in the community is the demonstration of respect towards

people with special needs and disabilities. She added that she feels appreciated and welcomed by

the society in the United Stated just like she felt in Venezuela.
Then I proceed to ask her about her struggles and support in her life. She communicated

that the biggest struggle for her currently is not being able to be as independent as she was back

home. Mrs. Zavarce shared that she resides with her daughter, son-in-law, and three

grandchildren. The house space is small and it is difficult for her to maneuver around in her

wheel chair so she has to use her arm braces, but even then it is difficult to do perform chores

around the house. Another personal struggle that she is facing is the inability to work and

support herself financially. She mentioned that in Caracas she had her own living space, career

and was financially independent, but that now she depends on her daughter for monetary support.

She also stated that her daughter and her husband were her support system here in the U.S.

because her mother stayed in Venezuela.

Lastly, I asked Mrs. Zavarce about her future goals in life and she mentioned that her

main goal is to be granted legal status in the United States. She also stated that she would like to

attend college to continue her education in hopes of obtaining a teaching position. Mrs. Zavarce

explained that she would love to teach Spanish classes at the local high school someday. Another

goal is to be able to volunteer in a hospital or school because she wants to feel useful to society.
This interview with Alida Esperanza Zavarce Castro was very interesting because I

learned about the crisis in her country, her disability, religion, career, struggles, and goals for the

future. I have only known Mrs. Zavarce for a few months, but in the time that I have known her
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she has been an inspiration for me because she is an optimist person with a passion for teaching.

I have learned great lesson of diversity from her because she has great knowledge about other

cultures and religions in the world. But the greatest lesson that I have learned from her is that

people with physical disabilities need to feel included in our society and treated with respect.