The following excerpts are from VOICES Radio Hour’s March 8, 2024 episode on KDNK, featuring stories from three Venezuelan newcomers. “Revisiting: Newcomers Think of Home” will air on KDNK on Friday, Jan. 10 from 6 to 7pm. Visit www.voicesrfv.org/voices-radio-hour to listen to the full bilingual episode and all previous “VOICES Radio Hour” episodes.
As we head into 2025 with much uncertainty, we at VOICES Radio Hour feel a call. Our beautiful valley has always been made up of a diverse community of U.S. born citizens and immigrants; it is a huge part of what makes living here so special. And in the fall of 2023, our community was joined by more than 80 unhoused migrants, many who were found to be living under or near the bridge at Highway 82 and 133. Our community responded and stepped up to the task in a variety of ways, and we were fortunate enough to spend some time with some of the newcomers and get to know them on a personal level.
None of us know what the future holds in terms of immigration. What we do know is that now is the time to remember the human beings at the center of this debate — many who traversed through terrain and circumstances most of us can scarcely fathom, in search of a better life.
We present to you a re-airing of our March 2024 episode: “Newcomers Think of Home.” And we ask you to listen to the voices of those who made their way to our town, were welcomed into our community and left a lasting mark on those they met.
Benigno is 55 years old and trained as a crane operator. He loves his family and cooking for them.
My name is Benigno José Ricardo. I am from Venezuela; specifically from the state of Bolívar, San Félix. From my region, it is a two-day walk to Brazil.
Firstly, it’s by the grace of God that everything happens … I’m here because I want to move forward. I like to embark on ventures for a better tomorrow, for a future and to support my family. My family is in Venezuela. I have four adult children: two boys and two girls. Their mother died young and I managed through God’s grace. But I wanted to leave my country to seek another future, because my country fell into a system of decline.
I like to play and laugh. When I was younger, I played baseball, soccer, practiced boxing, went swimming in rivers and went jogging. I was very into sports. I ran marathons up mountains. There are big mountains in my country, like five kilometers tall. I would jog with friends to the rivers, some places with hot springs too, and we would climb up the trees on the river banks and jump in. The rivers aren’t as cold as here!
Right now they’re celebrating Carnaval in Venezuela. In the neighborhoods of Venezuela, they surprise each other by throwing water — that’s the tradition. That’s how we know we’re in Carnaval. The girls dress up and the guys paint themselves with coal. At night, people start to run and dance. They enjoy their tradition. You see both young people and adults there. They hold hands. Even the police join in.
Argenis is 40 years old and is a lawyer. Every day he is working toward a better future for his family.
My name is Argenis Marquez. I am from Venezuela — from El Llano, Portuguesa. I am a “llanero.” The daily life of a llanero is to wake up, have a cup of coffee and go milk the cows. After milking comes the cleaning of everything that is planted. The work goes until noon, then people return home to rest for the next day’s work. Coffee for the llanero is at five in the morning, without a doubt. And lunch, always at noon. That’s our culture.
If I could close my eyes and suddenly have any kind of food in front of me, it would be the “pabellón.” Venezuelan food is the pabellón criollo. It consists of rice, black beans, fried egg, “tajada” (a fried ripe plantain slice), cheese and shredded meat. That’s the pabellón. The beans are cooked, the egg is fried.
The happiest time with my family is in December when we gather and share for hours. We were always together. And the food! Christmas dinner with my family is the happiest time.
My wife and kids are currently in Denver. My mom and my family are in Venezuela. I’m the warhorse. I have to go forward to keep on fighting for them.
Ricardo is 34 years old. He is an aeronautical engineer and loves music.
My name is Ricardo Urbina and I come from Zulia, Maracaibo, located on the coast of Venezuela. I am “mestizo,” with both indigenous and Maracucho heritage. Maracucho culture, which is recognized worldwide (especially in terms of its gastronomy), is the most representative of my family. We enjoy dishes like pabellón and corn chicha. The corn chicha is made by grinding corn in a mill, soaking it in water, adding sugar and leaving it overnight. Another thing we have is a sauce we call “guasacaca,” made with mayonnaise, cilantro and yellow onions all blended together. The famous guasacaca! It’s the centerpiece of the table.
When we prepare food, there is always music playing. In Zulia, we have our own music, called the “gaita.” The gaita is music played with maracas, the Venezuelan cuatro (a smaller four-stringed instrument that belongs to the guitar family), the harp and timbales or other drums. Another really unique instrument used in the gaita is the “furruco,” a round drum with a stick attached to the top drum head that produces a deep bass sound when rubbed.
I’ve learned that one has to live joyfully every day and be happy. It’s said that laughing is good for your health. It’s good to be happy. That way, even in moments of sadness, a smile makes us forget about the sadness. Thank you very much for learning a bit more about our culture and beliefs.