HEERA ALAYA

ARTERIES

“I like to do my job to the best I can, and I feel good
when the people I work for say: “You did a very good job.””

JOSE
Painter, USA

January 1st, 2021

Heera Alaya: Buenos días, Jose!

Jose: Buenos días!

Feel free to continue painting as we chat.

Okay.

How many years has it been since you moved from El Salvador to the United States?

It’s been about twenty-five years.

Do you like your job?

I love my job. I have to work to make money. And this [painting, etc.] is a good way to make money.

What various tasks do you perform?

I paint, gravel and plaster. I also do a bit of carpentry and some plumbing.

How did you learn to paint and work with mortar?

I wasn’t able to attend school, so I learned on the job. I started by assisting someone, and after working in different companies, I became sure of what work I could do on my own.

What time do you usually start your day?

I wake up at 5.30 am and get ready for work. And work time differs—sometimes we start at 7:00 am, sometimes at 9:00 am or 10:00 am.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

The weather. And the language, my English is not very good.

You speak English quite well. You’re doing just fine!

Jose, do you prefer winter or summer?

It’s difficult when the weather is too cold. My boss, who is working with me now, gets a lot of exterior jobs. However, in summer, we work outside and inside, no problem. And it’s better to paint in the summer.

How often do people repaint the interiors of their homes?

If there are no children or pets, repainting every 6 years is enough. If people want to change the colour of the walls, they can paint them whenever they like.

How do you prepare for each job, from purchasing paints to prepping the surfaces?

Before we start the paint job, we go to the site. We see the space and ask what colours the client wants. Sometimes the job is easy, but sometimes it’s very difficult—the old paint is very hard, and we have to use scrapers and paint thinner to remove it.

What is one issue that creates a problem?

Sometimes the owners want to buy the paint, and sometimes I buy it. We prefer the owner to buy the paint because if they don’t like the colour, it’s not our problem. But if I buy the paint, it can be a problem because the client says, “This is not the colour I want.”

What essential tools do you require for painting?

The necessary tools include brushes, rollers, painting extensions and ladders. And if we are using ladders, we have to take different sizes depending on whether we need a small, 20-foot, or 40-foot ladder.

How do you clean the brushes?

If I use oil-based paint, I clean the brushes with thinner. If it’s water-based paint, I wash the brushes with water.

Jose, what do you like about America?

I like living in America. I work all the time. We live safely.  In El Salvador, there is too much violence.

What do you like to do on your days off?

I go to the field to play soccer with my friends. I also love food, so I get food from Chipotle [Mexican-inspired food]; sometimes, I get cream cheese bagels or pupusa [a traditional Salvadoran dish]. And sometimes I enjoy cooking.

Would you like to share something about your work?

I like doing my job to the best of my ability, and I feel good when the people I work for say, “You did a very good job.” If people are happy, I am happy. Many people know me and call me again—they can trust me; the job will be good.

Is there anything else you would like people to know?

Yes. Many people are not interested in others’ jobs; they can be interested in others. And respect is important.

Animal rights campaigner, IN