(Spanish music)
- 2017, Crisfield's population is 2,602
with Hispanic Americans making up 259 of the total.
The Hispanic American community
has been increasing over the past few years,
whether that be from job opportunities,
involving the water or agriculture.
With an increase in the population
of the Hispanic community the culture
of Hispanics has become integrated into Crisfield.
So what kind of job opportunities were available
when you came into Crisfield?
- Well, when I used to, I leave in Crisfield for 15 years
and somebody told me all
their families from Hispanic families.
They told me when they come in here,
they have a lot of opportunities like jobs,
in fields, when the seafood.
But now it's different,
it's a little more hard to get the job.
But they told me when they come to this,
to this town is more easy to get a job.
And the companies, they bring a lot of people from
Hispanic, from Latino America, to work here.
I've seen a lot of people wanna work,
but they bring people from outside.
- So how does Crisfield's culture differ from other places.
- It's very different, it's different.
We have all the customs different
but we have the same festivities you have here.
You have here, back there,
with a clam there'd be on everything.
In Mexico we call that (speaking in foreign language),
festivities and religious festivities.
We celebrate (speaking in foreign language),
Christmas, only it's different.
- So what was it like to move here
with somewhat of a language gap?
- Oh, challenging, very challenging.
Because we need to adapt to the English speaking.
Is very hard because a lot of families
they don't speak any English.
The challenge number on was the language barrier.
And my friends, I have a lot of friends,
they telling me to improve my English.
Still I learn, but I try to improve every day.
- So how do you think your culture
has been impacted since you've moved to Crisfield?
- Well, the Spanish community is growing a lot.
We're growing a lot.
Our community continue to practice our customs,
like I say how to celebrate our customs
like the Lady Guadalupe, Christmas,
or the Days of the Dead, we'd celebrate that.
- So where did you grow up?
- I grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico.
- Okay, what was that like?
- Well, it's a big city.
Totally different to Crisfield, it's a big city.
Here is a town, but Guadalajara Mexico is a city, big city.
- So what do you think some major differences
from being here in Crisfield and where you're from?
- Well, I told you, Crisfield is a small town.
Where I live is more diversity there.
It's a bigger city, totally different here.
- Well that's all I have so.
- Let me see, let me see, I have another one.
Oh, this one.
- Are you still able to purchase
the same things here as you were before?
- Well, no, because I don't know you are talking
about food, to get food?
No, we'd have to go to Salisbury.
We looked at the store, the Mexican store.
Now you know Food Lion, they have a section,
that is for Spanish food.
We can get some Spanish food there.
Many in the community go to Salisbury to the outlet
to get food, whatever they need.
- Okay. Thank you.
What was it like growing up with somewhat
of a language barrier?
- There really isn't much of a language barrier considering
the fact that you grow accustomed
to speaking both languages.
- So how has your culture been impacted since
you've been in Crisfield?
- Oh, my culture has been impacted
by living here because you aren't really open
to as many things that you are living with
there compared to what you are exposed to here.
- So how does Crisfield's culture differ from other places?
- Crisfield has a really unique culture
and it's mainly based on watermen and like crabs
and like the water here.
- Okay, what kind of music do you listen to?
Any particular artists that stick out that interest you?
- I have too many types of music that I enjoy listening to,
but if I have to choose one artist
that I really enjoy listening to,
it would probably be Childish Gambino.
- How do you feel about
the Hispanic American impact on Crisfield?
- I feel like the Hispanic American community impacts
Crisfield positively.
- Okay, thank you very much.