Biographic Information: English, Female, 22 yrs (3)
Themes:Participant’s likes and interests (favorite places growing up, hobbies, favorite time of year, sports, music, etc.), Participant’s life (childhood memories, traditions, holidays, etc.), Participant’s relationships, Participant’s occupation, Change across Las Cruces
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Transcript:
[00:00]
Interviewer: Sweet. All right, so my first question is what was one of your favorite places growing up and what did you like to do there?
Participant: Um, this is kind of weird but you know like in the like around like early 2000s or you know before 2010 like I feel like going to drive or to to like fast food places, was more common like going inside and sitting down and so like, uh, like my dad would do that and it wasn’t always that it happened so it felt special when it did. It was just Wendy’s or like McDonald’s, but we went and sat down there, and it felt like meaningful. Yeah, now, because of COVID and everything that’s not really the case anymore, but that was [01:00] really nice.
I: Yeah, that’s really sweet. I love that. Did you guys just do that for like, um, like birthdays and special occasions or just kind of like, randomly?
P: It was rando-, it so it was spontaneous. That, that was part of why it was nice too. [Mm-Hmm.] is that it was rare, but it was spontaneous. Like, “Oh, we have time, let’s go, let’s go eat there”, but it doesn’t feel the same now. Someone tried to do that, I’d be like, “No, let’s go through a drive thru”. (laughs)
I: I get that. I get that. Um, so like, what are some, some of your favorite things about Las Cruces? Just like, in general, anything.
P: Um, the sunset? I think, because there’s not a lot of trees, um, um, the sunset looks really nice. Like, I’ve been to places where there’s a lot of trees, and so, like, the sunset still looks nice, but it doesn’t look like it’s, like, starting to hide in the, in the [02:00] horizon if that makes any sense. Um, so that’s nice. Um, I think the clouds, I think we get a lot of clouds here. And so those are really nice. They’re like smaller clouds. I don’t remember the names of the clouds, but like, Um, yeah, it’s just smaller clouds and it’s a bunch of them and it looks really nice. Yeah.
I: Mhm. Yeah, they’re definitely cool. We get some weird ones.
P: Are they like, stretched out and thin? (laughs)
I: Um, so next question is what was your favorite family vacation you ever went on?
P: Oh, uh this one wasn’t really like a family vacation, but it just happened like in, um, I think it was like in 2021? Um, my sister actually paid for it. Like, she’s just like, “oh yeah, let’s go to [03:00] Orlando”, and so we went there, and it was super cool because, um, we kind of grew up, like, with this, like, broke lifestyle, so it kind of felt like it was, like, one of those, like, nicer trips that I’ve had. Yeah, we went to the different, like, Disney parks, so it was really nice going to that. Part of it was that it was free. That made it really nice, yeah.
I: That’s cool what did you guys like do, did you guys go to Disney and everything?
P: Yeah, we went to Epcot, and Epcot was okay, but it’s more like an adult geared park. Um, there’s a lot of, like, drinks and stuff like that. Um, different countries, um, represented there. Um, I didn’t really like it. Just, the way- the countries were kind of watered down, not gonna lie. Um, so, it wasn’t, like, culturally rich or anything. So it wasn’t, like, my favorite. Um, but then there was, um, Animal Kingdom, and it really feels like you’re, like, in a jungle. But I also like, there’s people, so it’s [04:00] not like you’re just out there in the wild, but it feels like there were a lot of trees and stuff like that, so it was green everywhere. That was really nice. Um, yeah, and then, uh, we went to Magic Kingdom, it was okay, but it’s like your generic, like, it’s like Disneyland, it’s the generic one. Um, that one was cool, but, yeah, I like the Animal Kingdom better overall.
I: Mm hmm, that’s cool, that’s fun. How long were you guys there for?
P: We were there for a week.
I: That’s good. I think a week’s kind of like solid for vacations. [uh-huh] So what are some things you want to accomplish in the next like five years? It could just be like, you know, like career fitness, like social life, just like anything you want to do.
P: I mean, I would want to complete like an active [05:00] duty contract, and hopefully have it done by then, um, I don’t know exactly, but it would be, I think, I’m thinking maybe, um, you know, I would want to have like a marathon under my belt for sure. That’s something else. But beyond that, I don’t think I have like anything sketched out more than that.
I: Oh, yeah. That’s cool. Yeah. When would you start like doing like active duty?
P: Um, as soon as I graduate. Just because, um, with a bachelor’s you can go as an officer. And so like officers make more money. Um, I don’t think it would be like my favorite, but um, but yeah, I think officers make more money. There’s a lot of benefits with it, but I also like I was gonna go straight into academia. So I was going to go straight into my PhD for philosophy. Um, [06:00] but I got burnt out. But also like I have this like sense of like duty, like I have to go do something that’s real in the real world and just writing papers and philosophy was just not doing it for me. Oh, yeah, I, I still want to go do something. I mean, I still want to go get my PhD in philosophy, but um that can wait.
I: Yeah, you have time. That’s neat. Are you still taking classes with JP?
P: Oh, not this semester, but I think next semester. Well, he’s helping me out with like, uh, well, he was helping me out with my writing sample, but I have more time to do my writing sample now, or to edit it at least, ‘cause it’s most, for the most part, it’s complete. Um, yeah.
I: Nice. That’s cool. Um, what’s your favorite way to spend a day off? Like a day where you don’t have school or work or anything. Like how [07:00] do you like spend it?
P: Um, I think sometimes I catch up on like TV shows that I’m behind on. Um, I’ll also like read. Um, I recently got into like Tessa Bailey books. Um, she’s a really good author. Um, I wasn’t really much of a fiction person until I saw her books and then now I’m kind of like a fiction person too. Um, I like to work out, but I don’t think that takes up majority of the day. I think watching the TV shows and reading does take up most of the day. Um, and then hopefully, um, if I plan it ahead of time, like hanging out with like some friends. But sometimes, like, you don’t plan it ahead of time. Everyone has like, everyone’s adulting now. So like, you can’t just be like, last minute, like, “let’s hang out!”. But yeah. [08:00]
P: No, I get that. Sounds nice. Yeah. What other types of books do you like to read other than like the fiction and stuff?
P: I like the philosophy books. So that’s like my, that was my favorite genre before, and, um, I also like, like, nonfiction books that are meaningful. Like, they touch on some philosophy, or it can be fiction too, but they touch on some philosophy. So, like, some example of, like, fiction that touches up on philosophy would be, like, 1984 by George Orwell, or, like, um, Fahrenheit 451. Is that what it’s called? Um, and then what’s the name of that? Um, that book where the man is like pushing a rock up the hill. I forgot. Oh, how did I forget? Um,
Well it’s not, it’s not that important. Yeah, [09:00] those are some examples for the fiction aspect, but nonfiction would be like, uh, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, um, in books like that. Yeah, those are cool too.
I: Mhm. Yeah, that’s really cool. Yeah, I guess it’s perfect that you’re majoring in philosophy, right? [Yeah.] Oh my goodness. Um, So what’s your favorite time of year and like why and do you have any like good memories around like that time?
P: I think my favorite time is like fall because it’s like a transition from like a really hot weather to like a cooler weather. Um, and I personally like more like colder temperatures than like hotter temperatures. Um, but also like a lot of rain starts. There’s more rain around this time, I feel. Like, today it’s been rainy. Um, [10:00] what else? But yeah, I, um, I kind of like spring too because I just like the transitions. [Mhm] Um, but I like, I would say I would like fall more just because it goes into the cooler weather. Like, spring is, like, anticipating the, the hotter weather. Um, also because, like, it’s kind of, like, okay, like, the semester’s kind of almost over. So, it’s almost going to be, like, Christmas time around ish. Yeah, um, But I don’t know if I have, if I can remember any, like, memories specifically in the fall. [Yeah.] That I could point to. It’s just like a bunch of similar memories that kind of have the same outline. Like, oh, I went out on a run, and it was cool outside, and it was, um, like the perfect weather.
That’s why I like, I would choose fall over winter anyways because it’s like, winter sometimes is like super cold and you’re going out for a [11:00] run and it’s like, oh, freezing off and halfway through you’re like really hot because you over geared. Yeah.
I: Mhm. Yeah, or like when the cold air is like burning your throat.
P: Yeah, you- you’re trying to breathe and your throat is like dry because you’re just breathing in dry cold air. Yeah.
I: No, for sure. Um, you talk- you mentioned like Christmas. Is that like your favorite holiday?
P: Umm, (2.0) may- I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever like sat down and really thought like- I think I definitely think it’s the holiday that you throw in as a generic one, if you don’t have one, like if someone asked me and I had to say something, be like, “Sure, it’s Christmas.” But um, I don’t know if it’s actually like my favorite one. I think they all just kind of stand, um, similarly together.
I: Mhm. Yeah. What sort of things like do you, does your family do for Christmas and stuff?
P: [12:00] Um, we didn’t do a lot. So that’s probably why all the holidays kind of like blur in together. [Mhm] um, I uh- yeah, I think some families are different in the sense that, um, just some things aren’t as meaningful, or like, they feel like, oh, there’s more important things to do than to worry about this holiday, but like it, like, I celebrate it personally now that I moved out.Yeah.
I: Yeah. What about, um, what does your family normally do for, like, Thanksgiving, because that’s coming up soon? Or like, what do you normally do now on your own?
P: Uh, we do, like, Friendsgiving now, because my family doesn’t really do Thanksgiving, so there’s not much to, um, but yeah, we’ll do, like, a potluck ish kind of thing, get together. Um, like for now, we’re doing like Halloween, um, we’re getting together. We’re just like picking out [13:00] movies, like doing games, um, bringing food and doing dress up. [Mhm]We’re also thinking about going to like a haunted house again. Um, I didn’t like it last year, so I’m really hoping (laughs) everyone just kind of backs off the idea. But yeah, that’s kind of the stuff I do during the holidays now is that I do it with like, like friendsgiving or friendmas or [Mhm] Yeah, that kind of stuff.
I: Yeah. What are you dressing up as this year? For Halloween?
P: Oh my, I’m just dressing up as like, um, like cyberpunk and everyone’s like, “The video game?”, I’m like, yeah, the video games named after like this idea. It’s not really like the video game itself. You know how like cyberpunk is just this idea that people, I think people in the 80’s had of what the future would look like neon colors and everything’s going to be electronic, you’re going to have glasses that told you information that could scan your area or stuff like that. So I think [14:00] that’s cool. So that’s what I want to dress up as.
I: That would be cool. Yeah. Um, alright. Next question. Um, what are some things you would change about Las Cruces if you could?
P: The weather. (laughs)[(laughs)] It’s so bad. I’m just like, it’s really hot in the summer. Uh, and it’s getting worse, I feel. Um, yeah. It’s also very, very s- like sand, like dry. And I don’t like dry- usually people say they prefer dry heat over humid heat. Something about dryness is just so like, unbearable for me. I just don’t like it. [Hmm] Um, so I would change the fact that it’s really dry. Um, I would add more trees. I know I said earlier that that’s a good thing for the sunset, but I think the trees having trees [15:00] outweighs. The looking at the sunset. [Yeah] Oh, yeah.
I: That’s cool. Yeah. Um, so what’s a topic that you could like talk about like forever and ever and ever about?
P: Um, recently, it used to be philosophy, but I got burnt out. So now I’m just like, like my brain is kind of like, um, empty now in philosophy. I just don’t want to talk about it. Uh, I still like it and I can still talk about it. It’s just like, uh, I’m trying to take a break from it. Uh, but right now it’s like tattoos. [Mm hmm] Yeah, like I have been thinkng about getting, uh, some other tattoos and like, um, I’ve thought about sleeve, but I’m too broke for a sleeve right now. Um… but yeah, I heard that, um, that like, there’s two ways to do s-, um, sleeves and I don’t know if you think this is true, but um, the first one’s [16:00] to just start with a blank arm and just do the sleeve, like sign that arm specifically for the sleeve. And the second way is to just, on an arm that already has tattoos on it, you can add like a bunch of smaller tattoos. And so that would be like the traditional way of doing like a sleeve. Um, or the traditional style, I think the other style would be more like Japanese. I think that’s what I read or something like that Um, I would obviously have to go with the traditional style because I I have tattoos on both arms already. Um, but yeah, that’s something I’ve been thinking about.
I: Yeah, do you want to do like your full arm sleeve or just kind of like a cap sleeve?
P: You know I’d I want to do- yeah the full arm. Um yeah, eventually, but that’s going to take some time. So.
I: Yeah, do you know what you want in it yet?
P: Yeah. I mean, I wanted a, a, sti- a stingray for sure, for sure. Like a [17:00] stingray, like swimming in the universe. Um, Um, I wanted some more phrases, but I’m worried that if I add too many phrases, I’ll start looking like a journal. [(laguhs)] Um, so I’m like contemplating because I already have two phrases on my arms. Uh, so I’m still thinking about it. Um, and then for filler, um, for tiny like tattoos to fill the arm for the tattoo, for the, sorry, for the sleeve. I’m thinking… like, it seems like a theme that I’ve been doing on both arms is like nature stuff. Like one is like leaves and a flower and the other one’s like a tree. So, stuff like that, like branches, leaves, um, flowers, that kind of stuff would be what I would use to fill in to do this sleeve, I think.
I: Mhm. Why a [18:00] stingray?
P: Um, that’s just, that’s my favorite, like, um, um, ocean animal?
I: Mhm
P: Yeah, but I like, I looked up the meaning of it, but I honestly cannot remember why it was, uh, meaningful.
I: Mhm
P: (laughs) I don’t remember the meaning behind it, but for me, every tattoo has to have a meaning behind it. Like something deep. Um, because I, I think every tattoo has a meaning, even if you say, “Oh, my tattoo, I got it like this because it has no meaning”. Like now that’s, it’s meaning, that it had no meaning. Um, so yeah, so, but it has to be something deep for me.
I: Mhm. Yeah, same. (laughs) It’s like, even if like, you know, down the line, I’m like, I don’t really kind of like care about that meaning anymore. [Yeah. (laughs)]. It’s just of what, like it meant to me at the time, you know? [19:00]
P: Right. And you could change the tattoo. I mean, to make it like change the meaning to what you feel now. Um, like I have like a religious tattoo, but I’m not religious anymore. So I just added a tree. That shows, like, growth. So, like, I feel like people who are worried about, like, what if I regret this tattoo, I’m like, if it’s meaningful and you have a respect for yourself or your past selves, it’s, you’re not going to regret the tattoo. But if you’re embarrassed of your past selves, then you might regret it.
I: Mm hmm. Yeah, no, I get that. Yeah. Um, what tattoo artist do you go to?
P: Um, I don’t have like a specific tattoo artist. Um, I might be bad for that, but, um, I would go to like Irish Ink. Um, and I got like two things done at Irish [20:00] Ink, and I kind of wanted to try another place. Um, and so like I went to Custom Culture and so like Custom Culture had like this apprentice, and she did it really good um and so that was cool and they take walk ins. So that was part of the reason why I went to another tattoo artist was that I decided spontaneously that I wanted a tattoo, and Irish does not do walk ins. So that’s why I went to like Custom Culture um, but also I kind of want- wanted to try something different because like it’s kind of weird and odd how like different tattoo shops have different dynamics. Like in one tattoo shop you have like conspiracy theories and like, um, they kind of just, um, uh, believe a lot in your personal freedom and stuff like that. So, if you didn’t want to like, you know, go in with a mask, you didn’t have to. This was like around towards the end of COVID and so like they were like, you don’t have to wear your mask, like I’m not scared. And then other tattoo shops are like more like, [21:00] “No, we care a lot about your mask.” but, um, because they care about other people as well. So they were more like, “Oh, we don’t want you to get other people sick.”. And so it’s just a different dynamics and different tattoo shops. So I guess it’s all about what someone would feel more comfortable with.
I: It’s like, especially like the different vibes overall.
P: Yeah.
I: Nah, I get that.
P: Uh huh.
I: Are you seeing anyone right now? Or talking to anyone?
P: Oh, no. I have someone that I wish I would be seeing. [(laughs)] But like, I’m not. (laughs) So.
I: What do you mean you wish?
P: Oh, no, it’s just, um, someone I’ve liked, but it’s just, I have like a bad habit. Oh my gosh, this is like TMI, but like, I have a bad habit of like, um, going or liking people that [22:00] you just can’t have for like different reasons. Like, that might just be (2.2) like something that I, that I just do because I, I really don’t want to be in a relationship right now, honestly, but you kind of miss those things after you’ve been with someone. And so you’re kind of like contemplating these possibilities, but like, like, it’s just, I, I guess it’s just a way for me to find a way to say. “Oh, no, it was just never going to be able to happen.”
I: Mhm
P: Anyways, but like, I just don’t want it in general right now because I’m trying to do other things.
I: Mm hmm. Especially when you’re going to active duty soon like-
P: Yeah, I feel like that’s asking a lot from someone to be like either “Oh, wait for me here.”, or like, like, “Come with me.” and so like, I don’t have enough time to like, establish something so deep and meaningful for someone to where they’d be like, “Yeah, I’ll go with you!”, or [23:00] something like that. It’s just, yeah.
I: Yeah. Let’s do the traditional, like military thing. Get married in like two weeks.
P: Get the, get those benefits. Yeah.
I: Oh yes. Um, do you have any like sports that you like to watch or play?
P: Um, I don’t watch sports. Um, I wish I did. Um, I guess I, I might watch a Chiefs game because Taylor Swift might show up. (laughs)
I: (laughs) Oh my goodness. You’re a Swiftie?
P: Yes. I mean, football fans might not like that, but it doesn’t really matter because like, um, it, it racks up more money for the NFL and for Travis Kelce himself. So he’s going to be a huge fan of it, regardless of what [24:00] people may think. It’s like, even if you’re a fan of Travis Kelce. Like, you should still be like, “Okay, it’s fine that they’re watching it. Like, they’re bringing in more money for the NFL and for him”. I don’t know, maybe more people will be fans of the NFL now. Um, but maybe she shouldn’t do the Super Bowl. Cause she might just switch it into a concert for her. Um, tickets sold out and it’s just a bunch of Taylor Swift, like, fans.
I: Yeah.
P: Yeah, acting like the football game is the, like, the mid-
I: Yeah.
P: Oh. Yeah. The halftime shows.
I: It like switches and all of that. Fans are like, mad.
P: The concert’s over and everyone stands up to use the restroom and stuff, oh god.
I: For real. Oh my goodness. Did you see, um, did you go to any of her, like, eras tour? Like concert?
P: No. They’re so [25:00] expensive! I, uh, no, I can’t. Um, also, um, I, I like Taylor Swift, but I don’t think I’m a huge fan of the fans, like in a crowd. Uh, like I like talking with the fans like individually, but like in a crowd, I don’t, I don’t know if I’m a huge fan of that. Anyways. Like, I mean, I love it for them, and I love that they love going, um, but that’s not for me. The only thing I miss, I think I’m missing out on though, is how they switch around bracelets. I don’t know if you’ve seen that.
I: Yeah.
P: They’re like, they’ll make like friendship, yeah, like friendship bracelets and they’ll like swap them for another bracelet and stuff like that. That’s cool.
I: Yeah. That’s really cool. What’s your favorite album that she’s done?
P: Um, I think for me it’s like Reputation. That one’s cool. [Mhm] Um, just because um, it was like kind of like, like [26:00] she, she had received a bunch of like challenges, I guess. And that was her way of like answering back and persevering and it actually worked out really well for her ‘cause um, everyone kind of loved it. And so people just went, went for it.
Um, she ended up making a lot of money. She got way more popular after that. Um, and she already was, so I think that was cool. I think that just shows more of like, like a lot of people break with hardships and a lot of people like find a really cool way to turn it around. Like that’s really inspiring.
I: Mhm.
P: Especially for celebrities. A lot of celebrity’s careers are over after like rumors like that.
I: Nah, yeah, for sure. Or like, you know, when Kanye interrupts their speeches.
P: Wait, maybe Kanye does deserve for his career to be over. Yeah.
I: My goodness. Oh, man. [27:00] Have you listened- you’ve listened to like all of her albums, right?
P: Uh, I don’t think I’ve listened to all of her albums, cause I’m not- honestly, I’m not a huge fan of her most recent albums. Like, Midnight was just not it for me. Like, the lyrics were kind of awkward, like some of them were just like, “What are you saying?” Why would you say, “karma’s a cat”? Or something like that. [Yeah.]
I: Nah, I get it. Yeah, what do you think of her like, older, like, kind of more country stuff?
P: Oh, those are cool too. I think she was younger, so, um, and when she wrote those those songs it was during the time like it was like in the uh, before 2010 era kind of ish. And so during that time, everybody was growing up in like supermodels and looking at magazines is cool and like, um, watching rom-coms of like really, really [28:00] thin people, uh, who looked only a specific kind of way. It wasn’t just any kind of thin person. Like it wasn’t like a thin Hispanic girls uh, and so if you grew up during that era, like, her songs reflect that a little bit, like, You Belong With Me is, like, such a pick me song, and it’s not encouraging of other women. Um, so yeah, so, but it’s, like, a very, like, teenage kind of thing, so you can’t really, like, get on her for that. Um, it’s an iconic song, too, like, it’s just, it’s a, everyone’s felt that way, like, at least once, it’s, like, a vibe. Um, but it’s not a it’s not something that you should want as a quality I think.
I: Yeah, no for sure. Did like someone like first get you into Taylor Swift or like how did you first kinda get into her music?
P: I just think she was just so popular even back then that I just heard it or bumped into it on YouTube [29:00] one time.
I: Mhm
P: So.
I: That’s cool. Yeah, honestly like Taylor Swift I’m like I’m not like a Swiftie but I’m like she’s still like good.
P: Yeah
I: Like she’s classic. Um, let’s see. I have time for like one more question. If you had to choose between having giant ears or a tail, which would you pick and why? (laughs)
P: Oh, I think I would- like it depends like with the giant ears and tail that you could hear more or not because if it’s just da- giant ears, but it’s like, like visual and it’s just not help you’re like ability to hear, then that’s just kind of sucks, you know, um, but if I could hear better, like for longer distances, I would choose giant ears ‘cause that’s like pretty cool. Um, but if [30:00] it’s not like that, then I wouldn’t want giant ears. I would like, go with the tail. I feel like, depends on the kind of tail too. Like, if it’s just like, like a T Rex tail, that might be like, not very jus- useful. So that might be kind of like, just there. But if it’s like a, like a monkey’s tail or something, I would be like, super like useful. So I guess it depends on the utility, like if it’s going to be useful for me, if it’s gonna improve or be able to make my, me like, uh, do things that normal human beings can’t do, like that would be cool. But if it’s just there as an accessory then they kind of suck, like both options.
I: Yeah. (lauhgs) Yeah, I just thought that was like a funny question to like, end on. Um, but yeah, so, yeah, thanks again for doing this. Go ahead and get my recordings [00:31:00] all good here. Okay, yeah, thanks again for doing this.
P: Yeah, of course.
I: Appreciate it, it was fun.
P: Yeah, thank you.
I: It was so good to see you again, too. It’s been so long.
P: It was nice seeing you, too. When are you having the kid again?
I: I’m due in May.
[31:28]
New Mexico Border Spanish Corpus 