Narrator: Yunieski Farradas

Date: 07/25/20

Narrator’s Location: Miami Lakes, FL

Interviewer Location: Hialeah Gardens, FL

Summary: Born and raised in Cuba, Yunieski describes moving to Ecuador and eventually to the United States, and discusses his educational and career path as a healthcare professional and educator. He also discusses his relationship to Catholicism and what being an immigrant means to him.

Topics: Childhood, Education, Career, Immigration Process, Cultural Adjustment, Language, Healthcare, Pandemic, Religion

Outline

Section 1: (00:00:00-00:10:20)

• Childhood, Education - Yunieski summarized his journey and talked about his childhood growing up in a farm area outside of Havana. Going to school in Havana at age 15 or 16 was a challenging adjustment, because of the political influence and the group living accommodations.

• Education, Career - He studied to be a veterinary technician and loves animals.

Section 2: (00:10:20-00:19:53)

• Immigration Process - Yunieski traveled to Ecuador before arriving in the United States, and his travels were complicated because they planned to move just a few days before 9/11. The process involved heavy questioning and staying in a detention center for a day.

• Immigration Process - He chose to move to Miami because of the Cuban community, but there were many other options, and the government was ready to help them start life in the United States.

Section 3: (00:19:53-00:31:14)

• Cultural Adjustment, Education, Career, Language - Yunieski worked first as a bartender and then began working at a veterinarian’s office. They worked during the evenings and weekends and sought out ESOL classes during weekdays.

• Education, Career - He decided to become a nurse and spent years both working in hospitals and going to nursing school. He eventually earned his Master’s degree, became a Nurse Practitioner, DNP, and is now working on his PhD. He is also an instructor and administrator in nursing programs.

Section 4: (00:31:14-00:42:45)

• Education, Career, Healthcare - Yunieski loves the education aspect of his job and spending time with patients. The transition to Zoom has been a big challenge as a healthcare provider and an educator.

• Pandemic - He advised his patients to follow safety practices for the Coronavirus and felt disappointed with the US government’s pandemic response.

Section 5: (00:42:45-00:50:30)

• Pandemic  - Yunieski wished the government’s response to the pandemic would be more unified.

• Education - His PhD research is on the Spanish community’s adaptation to life in the United States at different age ranges.

Section 6: (00:50:30-01:03:21)

• Education - Yunieski values education, and he realized the importance of education as he grew older.

• Religion - He identifies as Catholic and attends church. He values the support of religion, no matter what that religion may be. He tends to separate his religious life from his work life, and he discussed how Catholics have a wide range of practices and interpretations.

• Cultural Adjustment - Yunieski concluded with the importance of persistence, especially as an immigrant.