Interview 4 · Work, School and Trips
Her dates don't match?
Transcript
Rafa: Mom, dates don't matter. Nobody remembers. Just say the first thing that comes to mind.
Officer: When was your last trip?
Lupe: Mmm… in July?
Rafa: … Mom, you went at Christmas. You brought me this sweater!
Grandpa: Rewind.
Grandpa: What you say at the interview has to match your N-400. Before you go, read your copy.
Grandpa: Work: where you work and what you do. Lupe: I clean offices.
Grandpa: And your jobs from the last five years, newest first.
Grandpa: School: if you're studying now, that counts too. Like your English classes at the library.
Grandpa: Trips: the ones outside the country in the last five years. The day you left and the day you came back.
Grandpa: If you don't remember exactly, say so: I don't remember the exact date. Never make it up.
Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. What do you do at your job?
Rafa: She's the boss of the whole building!
Grandpa: Rafa! Just the truth. Lupe?
Lupe: I clean offices. I vacuum, mop the floors, clean the bathrooms, and take out the trash.
Grandpa: Good. Another one: How long have you worked there?
Lupe: For eight years, since twenty eighteen.
Rafa: Eight years cleaning? Then why is my room still dirty?
Grandpa: Because nobody pays her for that one, kiddo.
Lupe: Now you be me, mijo: When was your last trip?
Rafa: Mmm… From December fifteenth, twenty twenty-four, to January fifth, twenty twenty-five?
Grandpa: That's it, kiddo. Same as the paper.
Lupe: My thirteenth stamp in the passport!
Grandpa: Thirteen out of twenty, Lupe. With dates that match.
Grandpa: Now, your ear. Listen to the officer, answer out loud… then repeat after me.
Officer: Where do you work?
Grandpa: I work for Bright Star Cleaning. I am a housekeeper. eye WURK… HOWS-kee-per.
Officer: What do you do at your job?
Grandpa: I clean offices. eye KLEEN AW-fih-siz.
Officer: How long have you worked there?
Grandpa: For eight years, since twenty eighteen. for AYT YEERZ, sins TWEN-tee ay-TEEN.
Officer: Are you going to school?
Grandpa: I take free English classes at the library. ING-glish KLAS-iz… LYE-brair-ee.
Officer: Have you traveled outside the United States in the last five years?
Grandpa: Yes, I took two trips to Mexico. TOO TRIPS tuh MEK-sih-koh.
Officer: When was your last trip?
Grandpa: From December fifteenth, twenty twenty-four, to January fifth, twenty twenty-five. dih-SEM-ber… JAN-yoo-air-ee FIFTH.
Lupe: December to January! Just like my N-400.
Grandpa: That's it, Lupe. Say them out loud every day.
Rafa: Okay, okay… dates do matter. And the sweater's too small.