Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 00:01 

I'm gonna be honest, it's so weird hearing you sound like more…

Mateo McMinn Bautista 00:04 

It's like professional, right?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 00:05 

Yeah.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 00:05

It's like I got I gotta put on a voice different voice and it's weird. I agree, yeah. It's. It's like as I know you've only seen like an unprofessional setting, and I'm like I'm still grown, but like I'm wearing like shorts. You know? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 00:15 

Yeah, you got a mustache now.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 00:16

Yeah, I shaved the other day. I gotta shaved.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 00:18 

Yeah, I need a shave. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 00:21

Yeah, well you got nothing. Okay. Well, yeah. Well, hello to begin, my name is Mateo McMinn Bautista. I'm a student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and I'm interviewing Osvaldo today. Today is Saturday, April 6, 2024, and the time is currently 1:14 PM and we are conducting the interview here in Washington, DC in my home. Osvaldo, thank you for having me today and thank you for taking this opportunity.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 00:51

Thank you for, um, inviting me to this interview. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 00:53

Of course, yeah. So first I'd like to just ask you basic questions about you, your family and your background. So first, could you start us off by sharing like where your family is from, your childhood, and then how you grew up? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 01:06 

Well, to start, my name is Osvaldo Duran-Rojas. My family is from Mexico. I identify as a Latino and also as part of the indigenous nation, the Otomi. Otomi and my childhood was basically, I would say, in the most basic faction a normal childhood for like, I guess a Latino family where.. We grew somewhat below middle class, I would say, but my parents did their best in raising me and even though they couldn't really afford a lot of stuff and had to go to a lot of donation places to get items for me, umm, I still grew up, I would say, in the best way a child should be raised and I was I would it would be raised like good enough.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 01:56

And then how would you say your experience was like growing up in DC?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 02:00

Umm growing up in DC. Nothing eventful happened. I live with some crazy neighbors at one time, they smeared blood on the wall, which was kinda of weird. I wasn't there for that because I was still a baby, but apparently that occurred. Aside from that, it was a calm, calm time in DC, nothing bad happened.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 02:23 

Could you tell me a little bit more about your childhood per say, like, I guess supposedly like elementary school and then or I guess primary elementary in high school?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 02:31

Well, when I was little,  I was part of this program called IP because I had an issue with being able to speak. I couldn't really talk. I couldn't read in- read at all until I got to 2nd grade. And because I grew up in the Spanish environment, in the Latino environment, speaking Spanish at home and then school, I was just talking in English and I just had a hard time and I got misdiagnosed with like, autism or something like that. And so they thought I needed to be put in the IP program. I got in that and it was it was good. It helped me like I guess learn more, but not really. I feel like it was just time taken away from me for like normal class. But I mean I got misdiagnosed. At the time, not a lot of people knew the reason why I was having trouble with reading.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 03:18

Did you ever take like ESL class? No right?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 03:20

I think I did. I forgot what that is that though, but I do recognize the name. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 03:25 

Oh wow. So like English as a second language.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 03:28

Ah, yeah. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 03:29

Yeah, but not in DCI, right? No.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 03:32

No, DCI, they got rid of that. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 03:34

So yeah, moving on. Could you tell me a little bit about like your educational trajectory? Like, where did you go to school? And then like, what is the highest level of education you currently are achieving?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 03:43 

By school, do you mean currently or what I've been in the past?

Mateo McMinn Bautista 03:46

Ohh, I guess like going from primary school to like all the way to where you are.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 03:50 

Ok, so I started at Elsie Whitlow Stokes here in DC in northeast. After that I went to DC International, where I met Mateo, and after that I went to George Mason. I'm in George Mason University studying history to become an immigration lawyer.

 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 04:07 

And you're currently a junior or.. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 04:08 

Technically a senior now.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 04:11

Rising senior, yeah. Yeah. And then I guess we'll be on. Did you grow up with religion?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 04:15

Yes, I am devout Catholic. I haven't been to church though in a while, but I would say I am Catholic. I pray every night. Yeah, that's how I consider myself.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 04:29

Okay, sure. Yeah, moving on I’d like to talk a little bit about, like how your family arrived in DC. How did you and your family, like, come to live in DC and how long have you guys been living here? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 04:40

Well, my dad came to DC around early 1990s working for the Panamanian embassy. I believe he was. He was brought here by one of the ambassadors of Mexico though, but he was working with the Panamanian embassy and then my mother came to the US in 1993 for the Mexican embassy. But how they met each other was at a church, that I go to still to this day because they were taking English classes because they were holding them. And then afterwards they got together, they had me. But during that time my dad got fired by the Panamanian embassy and was then hired at the Mexican Embassy and now that's where he's currently works still. And my mom because having me she had to quit working at the Panamanian– Mexican embassy.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 5:30

And then how did you come to, like, live in Virginia? And how long have you been living there?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 05:34

Well, I came to Virginia because of George Mason University. I studied there. I've been forced to stay on campus because under my scholarship, I have to stay on campus.

 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 05:44

For four years? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 05:45

Yep.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 05:46

Oh, wow. I didn't know that. And did you live anywhere else? I guess before that, I mean obviously in DC.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 05:51

Yeah, DC, but it's always been 16th St. DC that I've always lived.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 05:55

Yeah. And did you know if your parents came straight to DC or did they live in the surrounding areas before moving in?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 06:01

They–  I think they stayed always in DC. Yeah, because all the embassies are in DC. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 06:06

Yeah, of course and then what was it really like, you know? I guess– wrong question. Do you still have like family members living in Mexico?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 06:17

Yeah, almost my whole family is in Mexico. The only few family members I do have in the US are one of my dad's uncles, who I haven't really met at all, but he's gone to Florida to, like, get with him and just hang around with him. And other than that are my cousins. I guess my my aunt… my I guess would be my uncle but from another person, it's not blood, uncle. But aside from that, that's the only family members I have in the US.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 06:52

In the US, but in Mexico...

 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 06:53

In Mexico, I have a lot everyone, everyone. That's where everyone is.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 06:56

Would you say you're close to them? In Mexico?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 06:58

Not at all. I'm not even close to my half brother. Haha. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07: 01

Oh wow, yeah. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:03

I would say I'm closer to my cousins.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:04

Oh, yeah. So you would say you talk to them often?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:08

Yeah, I hang out with them.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:10

But the ones here, you see 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:10

Yeah

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:11

Wow, and then have you had the opportunity to go back to– to visit Mexico?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:16

I've only been there once, but it's a vague memory now because that was I was when I was 11. I got sick a lot when I was over there, so I don't remember anything.

 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:24

Would you want to visit?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:25 

Yeah

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:27 

And do you have, like… Can you explain a little bit about the family that you have in DC? Do you have, like any family members that are maybe in Virginia or in the surrounding areas or mainly in DC?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:37

In Maryland, yeah, Maryland and DC. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 07:41

Could you tell me a little bit about them?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 07:42

Well, the Maryland family members are my cousins and from my aunt, she came to the US under some ambassador as well. I don't know which embassy though, but she came, lost the job after having my cousins. And well, she now has my cousin, an older cousin and a younger cousin.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 08:03

And if you're comfortable sharing, cause you kind of explain a little bit more how you're both parents are actually able to work on your embassies and brought over?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 08:10

Um, what I remember them telling me… Because they grew up like they grew up working the whole time at the young age, they were just working. And then my mom came in contact, after like working with like some ambassadors like children as like a babysitter. They brought here to the US, they were treating her like shit though, and then she went to some other place, worked under a white family, how she describes it. And then my dad. Uh. He was like a driver for some ambassadors and for the Panamanian embassy. And then like was brought here as well. He was going to go to Germany because they they the ambassador, was heading to Germany. I could have been born in Germany or somewhere in Europe, but he decided to stay here and work with some other ambassador afterwards.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 09:03

Yeah, and then so I guess like going forward. How has your experience been like growing up in DC?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 09:10

Well, it's kind of been a roller coaster. Lot of stuff happens in DC. Luckily, I have nothing extremely bad has happened, but I know a lot of people– Like one of my mom's friends were what's it called, assaulted because of her race, which is kind of crazy. I never heard about that, especially in my neighborhood.But um, stuff like that. I've heard a lot, but other than that, it's been more peaceful for me. I just heard about all these crazy stuff that goes on in DC, but I haven't experienced it myself, thankfully.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 09:47

And could you like, I guess, elaborate a little bit about your neighborhood? And where you live?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 09:50

I live in Mount Pleasant, DC 16th St. It used to be known as really dangerous neighborhood back in like 19 in the 1900s. Although gentrification occurred a lot. Neighborhood got safer. And I just remember I used to know this person. I forgot who he was, though to me. But I used to know him. He used to live in Mount Pleasant. He would tell me how, like he would describe Mount Pleasant as if you go away and you're you with, like, every with the clothes and so much stuff. You come out with no clothes. That's how bad it was but um it's safe. I haven't really had any issue over there at all.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 10:29

So I guess like when you were growing up in Mount Pleasant, like how have you seen— you explain a little bit about gentrification, like how has that experience like— how have you seen your neighborhood change over the course of the years?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 10:40

Well, a lot of buildings like homes have been remodeled, more fancier, more nicer looking than how they used to be. Old, cruddy and nasty looking. Yeah, the the houses cost a lot more here now. This house is like, there was this one house in the corner of Mount Pleasant that used to go for like around like 89 thousand because I was looking at it because it was an abandoned home because it got burnt up. I remember seeing when it was burnt up and it like the price just went down. I was looking at it online but that really got remodeled and fixed up is now like 200 thousand. And I'm like, god-damn

Mateo McMinn Bautista 11:18

You wouldn’t expect it, yeah. And I guess like in the same context, but in GMU like how has your experience like changed like since– like is GMU like just the campus? Or is it like a campus in there in a town? Like I don't, I've never been there

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 11:33

Yeah, it's like in a town.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 11:36

It is Fairfax, right?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 11:37

Yeah, it's like in a town. I would say the experience that really impacted me is making white friends because I barely had any. I only remember back in DCI having two white friends, CC and Brian. Well you're not white. You look white, but… 

Mateo McMinn Bautista  11:54

I am half white. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 11:55

You are?

Mateo McMinn Bautista  11:56

Yes

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 11:57

I don't even know that. I mean, I only saw you like the Salvadorian type of white. What's it called? 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 12:01

No yeah, I am half white. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 12:03

I didn't know that, but aside from, I guess from you three, I never really had any white friends and adjusting to like a white environment was kind of weird. But I have gotten along with a lot of white friends now. I would say have the most white friends I've ever had in my life. But aside from that, it’s… I've adjusted well at GMU.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 12:22

And what about like campus? Like, how has your the campus experience changed since we were freshmen on where you are now.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 12:29

Well, the friend group I had, it's kind of gone always like just me and on this other fucker that I hang out with regularly. I'll see him as a really good friend. He's also like a, I guess, a business friend because he knows a lot about, like, credit stuff. He's a he's a econ major, he's he works at Wells Fargo now. He’s  like some professional banker. But yeah, he's talking a lot of stuff. Aside from that though, it's been the same thing at GMU. Nothing impactful or grand has occurred. It's just like kind of boring on campus.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 13:03

Do you like Fairfax compared to DC?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 13:05

Yeah, I actually do. I enjoy Fairfax more than DC. It’s nicer to drive it in. People are nicer and it's not that..  it's not that.. For lack of words, shitty.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 13:18

No, yeah that’s valid. And then this is like A 2 pronged question like what has your experience been with the Latino community in DC and then like, like I said, GMU?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 13:28

Well in DC you always used to hang around a lot of Latinos. You and a lot of people. I was more.. I was more surrounded by Latinos in DC compared to Fairfax, where there's barely any Latinos. I am like.. this other Latino I used to know before you went back to Chicago were the only Latinos, I knew in GMU. Other than that, I've come across some Latino organizations. I've tried joining them, but they kind of just disappear and I don't know what happens to them. I lose contact with whatever the organization, the Latino…  United Latino Organization. I think that's what it's called at GMU, its a club. No idea what happened to them, though, aside from that, it’s way different.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 14:11

And then in the same context like, what about those like with the like people who aren't in the Latino community? Everyone else? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 14:18

What do you mean?

Mateo McMinn Bautista 14:11

Well, like what has been your experience with, like people who are non-Latinos?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 14:22

Well, other than white people I used to like, always just hang around, I guess, other minorities like myself like.. Well, yeah, minorities but like other non Latino and non white people, that was the main thing in DC. But in Fairfax, it’s just full of white people. I don't really… I don't really hang out with any any other like minority.  I don't like using that word, but so I can't... I can't think of the other another word to describe that, but I haven't really hung out with any other minority, but just mainly white people. Oop my my voice crack. Yeah, it's not really much that much of a difference, though. I used to be really uncomfortable hang out with white people, but now I'm just not really. I don't really care anymore.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 15:08

Would you say that's because of like just being a college experience or?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 15:13

What do you mean?

Mateo McMinn Bautista 15:14

Like you know, you said you were a little bit uncomfortable hanging with white individuals. Would that be because of, like, the setting of where you were just like growing up?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 15:22

Yeah, growing up. Like I said, my like… It didn't happen to me, but hearing stories of like other like, not family members, of family friends, how like they were like get mistreated and just verbally abused by white people. I'm like I always feel uncomfortable hanging out with them and just being around white individuals, in general. But then GMU kind of changed my perspective and I've been more comfortable and more open to that.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 15:45

Yeah. And then I guess like how does it feel being on a predominantly white campus as a person like that?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 15:50

Well, starting a bit weird, I was really uncomfortable like I mentioned, but other than that I've gone to just be more open minded and also just like yeah become more comfortable as well.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 16:04

Yeah, of course. And then moving on like what would you say are some of the biggest obstacles you've encountered in Fairfax? As a Latino person or like, you know, just as an individual.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 16:16

Well, one obstacle I  come across every year is applying for FAFSA, especially when I have to apply at GMU to get money for it. If I can pay for that because I barely got anything. For my dad because he doesn't pay taxes, they ask for his tax forms. He doesn't. He has an an exemption for, for working for technically, the Mexican government. Still not the US government. So they asked for so many documents and it's just a whole hassle and… Brain Rot. I hate it. And then, like, I almost didn't even go to GMU because of that my first year because we couldn't get like these papers almost in time. That was a whole bigger deal. I thought I almost didn't even go to college because of that. But I got it fixed. I just kept calling the people. Hey, at GMU office to sort all that out. I kept calling them, annoying them about it. Like, hey, I need some time. Hey, I got this. This work, sometimes they wouldn't answer until, like, I spam called them. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 17:19

You kind of explain a little bit about like the Latino communities on campus. But like, what kind of resources have like found in Fairfax like that have benefited your life?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 17:36

Wouldn't say really anything. I would say I've benefited more high school resources..

Mateo McMinn Bautista 17:40

Yeah, okay. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 17:42

Because um… that's how I got my scholarship, my full ride to GMU. Umm.. and um. Yeah, basically I got my full ride right from my high school resources. I came in contact with Brittani Pollack. I don't think she works at DCI anymore, but yeah, she helped me. She was under the DC CAP program. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:05

Yeah, yeah.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:06

Got me into that because I was like… I don't care about this.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:09

Yeah, I didn't know you got DC CAP. Cool, yeah. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:12

Yeah, I didn’t even.. At first, I didn't even care about applying to that. I'm like, yeah, I'll just apply to see what happens. I got accepted. Did interviews. All that, and then at the end, I got the scholarship. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:24

And I guess could you explain a little bit more about the resources you got in high school?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:28

Well, it's the DC CAP thing I just mentioned.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:32

But like any like people and individuals, you recall who were like very monumental and like in the outside of Miss Pollack? Because I can, I can think of a few for you. I don’t know. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:41

Like who?

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:43

Mr. Reyes? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:44

No.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:45

No, no one. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:46

I wasn't…

Mateo McMinn Bautista 18:47

I guess you never had him but you know he was always a good…

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 18:48

I had him for like one class, but that was like back in 9th grade but no. Only Mrs. Pollack like she she she did so much for me.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 19:00

I do. I do remember her name. Who was your counselor?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 19:05

Mr. Fisherman, or I forget his name, not Fisherman. It's like… I forgot his name. It was like a a black guy with glasses. Not sure if you remember him. Phillips? No.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 19:18

Well, yeah. Is there any like other organizations that you can recall that like helped you? Outside of college, maybe.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 19:30

Sitar arts program. This is um.. what's the word? Extracurricular program that I used to go after high school either Mondays or Fridays. It's an arts program where a lot of students from like elementary to high school could go and do, like different types of art like music, photography, dancing, so many other things. I I'm glad I got in there because I had this mentor who means a lot to me still, Parker Shaffle. He works for the government I believe now. But part time, he used to work at this program. He helped me a lot. And what's it called? I forgot you said in English. He gave me a lot of support. Come out of my shell, do a lot of stuff that I did. He was a great mentor and then I would say Cathedral Scholars program as well. They also boosted my own confidence, help me like, explore how things, had the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico twice because of them. Did a lot of community service as well working alongside with them, got paid for doing all that too. Those two programs were really impactful to me.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 20:45

And like any organizations now in GMU campus?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 20:48

No, no. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 20:49

Really?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 20:50

Nothing. I mean, there's probably I just haven't really looked into them yet, but… I would as of now, nothing. Nothing has really impacted me at GMU.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 21:02

Are you currently holding a job or no?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 21:05

No, but every summer I do work.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 21:07

And could you explain a little bit about that? The summer work that you do.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 21:10

Well, last summer I worked at Georgetown Cupcakes. I got the job there with the help of Liz because she worked as a manager there. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 21:18

Oh cool, yeah

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 21:19

And yeah, I worked there. My first job, like actual job. It was a good experience, even though I hated the customers a lot because they're very annoying and cranky. It was a very good experience, I would say and great experience I had because well, I got to work in customer service. I got that experience. Now I could apply for other jobs and say, hey, I've worked in customer experience. I know what to do. I can do this now. And hopefully if I don't find a job, that's lawyer clinic and work with some lawyers. I could just go back to Georgetown Cupcakes, but I prefer to work with some lawyers this summer.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 21:58

And I know this is not really a question, but like, did you ever use Spanish in Georgetown Cupcakes?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:02

Yeah.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 22:04

Like festivals, how was that like?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:05 

Yeah, I do it a lot. They like they have trouble speaking English. And like I was ¿Hablas Espanol? And they're like, “Yeah, I do”. And like, OK, I can help you with this.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 22:12

They gotta pay you more for that. Yeah, yeah.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:15

I mean, they pay well. They pay $17.20 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 22:19

Yeah, that's above minimum wage, yeah. And yeah. So the following questions are really about your experience during COVID-19. Now that I think this would probably take the biggest part. Where were you living when the pandemic starts?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:31

I was living in DC 16th St. the same apartment I've lived in my whole life. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 22:37

Yeah. And then how did you first, learn about it?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:39

Well, I remember seeing it like on Instagram. I think with the news and one of those two or some some either… Either my ex or someone was telling me “Hey, this is going on. I don't know if we're going to go...” 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 22:51

Go back.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 22:52

Yeah. And like I was like, I'll just give it two weeks. We'll be fine. Nope, that that ended up being a whole year. That sucked.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 23:03

Then how did you or your family deal with like the abrupt changes like the stay at home orders?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 23:08

Well, both my parents still went to work because um… One, my mom's a babysitter and the the baby she took care of her mother worked for the government, so she was always going to work still. So that's why she still got her had her job because she had to still babysit. And my dad, because he worked for the Mexican embassy. He only stayed at home for, like, a week or two and then went back to work. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 23:29

Wow, yeah. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 23:30

So nothing really changed. I was more now just home alone, either at the beginning doing nothing or then going to school online, which was dumb. It’s a blur to my memory now.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 23:43

And and what was that like? Just like being at home?

 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 23:45 

Well, it was fun at first until I realized damn this shit is boring. And then I used to play some buddies like Mateo knows on PS4 the whole time, and until they faked out on me a lot and I stopped playing with them.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 23:59

That's true. Yeah. And then if you're comfortable sharing were any of your family members or friends or someone you knew, like severely impacted by COVID?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 24:11

My grandmother, I would say I still continue to blame COVID for her death. She already had, like some cancer issues and because of doctors. Yeah, because its been over. But because of the doctors closing up a lot of patients like home stuff, she couldn't go to the doctors because they were taking their COVID patients more. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 24:33

Yeah.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 24:34

And because of that, some issues happened with the cancer. And to the point that she died because of that.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 24:44

And how do you think Latinos were impacted by COVID?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 24:48

Well, I know a lot of them, but it's like a mix, I believe. I believe a lot of Latinos still continued to work because like what people had to do something like construction workers had to continue working on stuff, maintaining buildings and all that. And I know Latinos most likely took up those jobs.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 25:05

Yeah. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 25:06

But I also think about the possibility that. Oh, maybe these jobs also, like most of these jobs, also closed up and there's only a select Latinos where it will work and not all of them like the usual. Like this probably it's like it's it's not like it's like a mix, a lot of Latinos lost their jobs and a lot of Latinos continue their jobs. Yeah.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 25:28

Did you end up getting COVID?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 25:30

Yeah, I got it twice. But I got it like after the pandemic. I got it once when I was in GMU, my first year got quarantined and one of the really nice buildings. So a nice time I I literally got to skip a math test I had to take… 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 25:43

Oh wow, yeah.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 25:44

Which was nice, I didn't- I hate math. But on the second time– that first time didn't really do much to me, I just got a… I just had a sore throat. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 25:45

Wow, yeah.

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 25:46

The second time, though, was on last year beginning of 2023. It was the first two weeks my mom got a stroke in her eye, and then when we were at the doctor's, my mom got COVID. And because I was taking care of my mom, I got COVID. And then it was so bad. I was. I was bedridden. Luckily, my dad was only one that didn't get COVID, but he took care of us.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:13

Did many of the people you know like get vaccinated?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:17

Yeah, a lot of people that I knew got vaccinated

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:19

And did you?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:20

Obviously.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:22

Did you get your boosters?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:24

Not recently I haven't got my booster since like 2023.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:27

Oh yeah, that’s valid.  Is there anything else about COVID you might want to share?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:30

Nah that’s about it. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:32

I guess like could you explain a little bit about your experience being online?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:35

Well, that was a terrible time. I hated learning online. I don't think I learned anything online. It was more like I either slept through class..  

Mateo McMinn Bautista 26:44

Really? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 26:35

Or it was not engaging at all. Or I kind of BS my way, even though I've heard people say don't BS your way, it works sometimes if you know how to do it well. But I'm just being honest. That's how life is no one. No one does. I mean, people say all they do everything 100%. That's BS. No one puts always 100%. You could say you do, but in reality you probably put 98%. You don't put that 2% more than you need and that's still in no way BS because you're not putting your whole self there. But that's just life. People don't really do every day and that's how I did it during the pandemic. Because online education is terrible and should not exist because you don't learn anything, there's so many ways that you could get away with doing stuff that it's not helpful and engaging and not… It doesn't push a person to do their best.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 27:39

Yeah, and do you think that the teachers at DCI did enough?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 27:43

I think they tried. But I also have the feeling that a lot of them kind of gave up and just didn't really care anymore. That's why now they're still letting people graduate with shitty grades. And. Yeah, and I know a lot of people in our grade that shouldn't have graduated but graduated still. Because the teachers didn't care anymore, they just wanted better school. What's it called? School ratings to have, like, not students get held back because that just drive the schools funds down. So I know they just didn't care anymore. I know how I. That's how I felt during that.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 28:17

And do you feel like.. This is kinda like going on to another questions, do you feel like you belong in Fairfax?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 28:24

I don't really say I really belong anywhere. I'm just, I would say I'm more like a a drifter. I would say that's how I kind of describe myself. I'm here then, I'm here now. I'll be there soon. Just like that. I don't really say I belong in DC. I wouldn’t say I belong in Fairfax. I say I will belong more in Mexico but the same time, I want to explore other places I don't really belong anywhere, I would say.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 28:49

Yeah. But like, do you feel like you belong in the community or no? 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 28:53

Uhh.. Nah, I don't feel like I belong in DC myself. So no, I don't feel like I belong in Fairfax, but I don't… It doesn't really bother me. I'm fine being whatever I am.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 29:05

Is there anything that really prevents you from feeling at home then?

 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 29:08

Umm, I guess it's not like being around more. Like I said, I feel I would feel more at home if I was in Mexico.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 29:17

Yeah. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 29:19

That's why I don't feel like anything in the US can help me feel at home or like feel more that I belong because I'm not really surrounded by I guess people the way I grew up. Like people that grew up like I did but ehh, I don't really care.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 29:38

Yeah, and so you explained a little bit that you, your family is apart of the indigenous community. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 29:44

Yes. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 29:45

Could you elaborate a little bit about that?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 29:47

So my father, I don't know where he is, but I believe he's also part of the same nation. I need to still do my own research on that on my own. My own family research that I'm doing. All I know is that we had, he had some either great uncle or uncle that used to be a full fledged Native American, who had Native American clothing. That the way he described, I've seen that the National American National… NMAI. I forgot– The National Museum of the American Indian, I think that's what it's called. I seen the same clothing my dad described what his uncle had at the museum, not the exact one but like similar clothing. I don't remember from what nation it was, but from my mom's side, I do know with recently my grandfather dying, her dad. He knew to speak the Otomi language, which is predominantly in Toluca and I believe Yucatan in Mexico just other places, but I do know my mother on my mother's side… She is part of the Temoaya Otomi Nation. 

 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 30:59

Yeah

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 31:01

And it's it's part–  it was historically, they were part of the Aztec alliance. Aztecs were like just a combination of many indigenous groups, but they were part of that nation when it once existed. Now they're kind of in their own places now. They identify as Otomi and this they speak Nahuatl, but it's a different dialect or different stuff from that.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 31:31

Would you consider yourself Indigenous or Latino then?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 31:34

I would consider myself both, but I feel like almost every Latino is in some way indigenous or come from indigenous groups, they just don't know it. They just need to do their own research and figure out themselves.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 31:50

And then I guess, would you say that you have omitted like parts of your identity or cultural practices to like fit in?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 31:56

No.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 31:57

Not at all.  

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 31:58

No, I show that I'm Catholic. I show that I'm Mexican. I I try to now do my own research to show that am Otomi, so, no. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 32:10

And then so would you ever say that you've refrained to like doing certain things in order to be accepted? Like as an American.

 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 32:17

No, I don't really care. I'm more. I'm proud of where I come from. I'm proud of being Mexican. I'm proud of my own culture and tradition.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 32:27

Would you say you're Mexican-American or American?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 32:30

Mexican-American.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 32:32

And then so yeah, the following questions are really about your opinion and what you think about the issue. What do you think about how the issue immigration is talked about politicians and the general public?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 32:46

What do you mean? 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 32:47

What do you think about how politicians and like people in America talk about immigration?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 32:52

Well, in some ways they're right. A lot of what's it called undocumented people in the US who have been in the US, who came here illegally, have a hard time still like during the applying and going through the immigration process. It's a lot longer for them but people who come here crossing the border and get already papers, it's kind of unfair, I would say. I know a lot of people feel the same way where like people that been here for many years or really that came legally, still haven't had their papers, but people who who are just coming now are crossing the border and getting asylum and going through that quick process is unfair because these people have been working here. But what I disagree is the part where like all these people and just coming to just take our jobs, they're coming from– they're just bad guys. Nah, their people that want to work, it's just the immigration system sucks right now. It's not that very structured well, a lot of loopholes, a lot of issues within, and it should be fixed up there. I know that's is a whole other issue, but I do agree and disagree with a lot of things the media says and politicians say.

 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 34:07

Yeah. And what would you like them to know about Latinos?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 34:10

Well, we're just hard working citizens that we're just escaping a country that's really shitty. We can't do anything about it because our presidents are very corrupt, except for El Salvador's president would probably. Great example. He's such a great president. Even though people describe him as a dictator, he's a great president. I wish my my Mexican president was like that, but we're going to be able to pick a new one. Hopefully he's gone. But yeah, we have, like, just very terrible leaders in our countries that lead the country down and that's why a lot of people leave and try to find better opportunity here in the US. Even though in the US is not that great that people think it is, it's still an escape from way worse situations. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 34:52 

I know it’s not a question, but why would you say that? What about Bukele do you like then?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 34:58

Well, Bukele actually, what's it called? A great leader, he. He rules with an iron fist even though like he, as described in history as like dictatorial. But Salvador has seen lesser deaths. A lot of gang members have actually been rounded up, even though probably a lot of them are innocent as well. But that's one of the cost to having a better country. Not a lot of leaders are are willing to do that because they're either scared of backlash or they know that if they do that, they're going to lose a lot of support from their corrupt side, but it's better. Instead of having having people die every day, Salvador safer now. I actually want to go over there one day and because I know it's a lot peaceful, it's a lot peaceful now. People could actually walk on the streets without feeling terror. And I wish it was the same way in other countries, like Mexico, but no, we have still Obrador, who I see him as the Mexican version of Trump.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 36:02

Yeah. So like kind of concluding our interview, what would you like the public to know about your life story?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 36:10

Well, my life story I would say is I'm just a person that wants to do his best in life, that always wants to be known as a good person. Leave an impact on many people's lives and just being remembered as a peaceful nice person that is a good, that they have a good memory with.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 36:30

And then would you like them to take away from the interview?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 36: 33

Wait, what?

Mateo McMinn Bautista 36:34

What would you like the listeners to take away from the interview?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 36:38

To just continue being you. Don't let,  people don't let people.. what's it called? dictate your life in a way, even though I'm talking about dictator. Just don't, don't let what people tell you change your ways. As long as it's you, continue being yourself and if you feel comfortable doing different stuff and you feel like that's you, then do it.

Mateo McMinn Bautista 37:06

Is there anything that you want to add that you may have not talked about? Anything at all?

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 37:11

Nah, I think that’s it. 

Mateo McMinn Bautista 37:13

Well then, if there's no questions at all. Thank you. Thank you so much for speaking with me. And that is the conclusion of our interview with Osvaldo Duran-Rojas. Right. Yes. Beautiful. Yeah. Well, thank you. 

Osvaldo Duran-Rojas 37:25

Thank you.