Thursday, August 10, 2006

Day Laborers

My husband is in charge of doing some work in a building his company owns, demolition and the like. He had his first experience picking up "day laborers" ( the p.c. term for mexican immigrants who hang out on street corners waiting for work). He drove up to a popular corner in a truck with a wheel barrow in the back and hauling a trailer to find some workers . He rolled down his window and started to call out "Cinco"(he wanted 5 men to come work). He was rushed by the whole group, as soon as a few had hopped in -he said he was yelling "cinco" the whole time, but it was a mad rush to get the job (picture the scene from Fun with Dick and Jane) he started driving, praying he wouldn't run anyone over. He said he ended up with 7 guys and figured he could use them all and get done a little faster. To avoid the same experience today, he asked them to meet him back at the site this morning. I thought it was pretty cute when he grabbed the portable radio to take with him today to play a little mexican music. He is really wanting to learn Spanish and I hope we can both take a class!Oh Arizona, what a place!

5 comments:

Emily said...

Only in the Southwest!

Gina said...

Geez Louise! That is nuts!!!!

Anonymous said...

Arizona rocks. :)

Tori :) said...

Sounds a lot like Texas. Where I grew up there was a place (the old 'Y' motel) that all the "day laborers" waited for work. I think I was about 10 when I first heard the term "wetback." I'm tacky, I know.

Anonymous said...

We have that in Northern California too. It's just, here, they hang out behind a yoga center.