Interview with Jaime Trujillo
Maria Sherrill (MS): Where are you from?
Jaime Trujillo (JT): I am from a small coastal city in Ecuador, South America.
MS: When did you move to the United States? Where?
JT: I first moved to Queens, New York in the early 90's. I moved to Charlotte about four years ago.
MS: Why New York? And what was your biggest culture shock?
JT: I had an aunt who lived, and still lives, in Queens. I thought it would be a great way to expand and learn about people, especially since New York is the "capital of the world." I remember arriving in Queens in the winter months. I was not prepared! I knew it was going to be cold, but I figured a long sleeve t-shirt would be okay. It was not! I left Ecuador in the winter months, but to us, "winter" means hot! I can practically shake hands with the sun. The other major change I quickly had to adjust to was the amount of people in the streets. Your personal space is very limited in New York. The size of the city was overwhelming at first, but I found it fun to visit the different areas of New York City and the surrounding boroughs. Luckily, I caught on quickly to the public transportation.
MS: So, now that you are in Charlotte, do you miss New York?
JT: At first I missed all the excitement. When I moved to Charlotte in 2003, I never thought I was going to stay. I returned to New York various times from my doubt. I felt like people were too slow; I could not understand the southern or country accents. There was not enough going on all the time.
MS: What made you stay in Charlotte?
JT: Well, it was kind of tricky. When I was in Charlotte, I missed New York because of the excitement. But every time I returned to New York, I found myself desperate to return to Charlotte. I realized that Charlotte has so much to offer. The slower pace allows me to appreciate the good things in life. I love the tree-lined neighborhoods, the history, the food, the festivals in the parks. There is so much, and the best part is that it is affordable. I own two homes here, which I probably never would have owned in New York. I have a nice car that, knock on wood, no one has broken into. And I have a steady job; I don't have to work odd jobs to make ends meet. I only return to New York to visit old friends and to let them know that I am loving Charlotte.
MS: What do you enjoy on your free time?
JT: Well, there are so many things. On nice days, I enjoy nice walks in my neighborhood's park or I play tennis. I am currently remodeling one of my homes. I got a great deal for a house in my neighborhood.
MS: Are there any additional comments you would like to add?
JT: Charlotte has a lot to offer to business people, students or travelers. This small town is quickly growing, and every day it offers more and more opportunities to those who decide to take advantage of it. I just want to thank everyone who welcomed me to Charlotte. They helped me get all that doubt out of my head.
