This morning, my friend Jenny and I took a trip to the Day Worker Center of Mountain View for an English research project. We arrived at 7 a.m. and planned to interview and videotape one of the benefactors. However, we could not figure out where the entrance to the center was.

The center is really nothing special to look at. It is actually a church, and the Day Worker Center is a rented room in the back. There was a girl sitting outside the church entrance, and when we asked what time it opened, she said that she only spoke Spanish, so I tried not to feel shy and put my four years of Spanish to good use. She thankfully instructed us where to go.

When we got inside, only one worker had arrived before us, and the administrator was nowhere to be found. Another man who spoke little English but looked as if he were in charge told us that she would be back in five or 10 minutes. As we waited, Jenny and I looked around at the pictures and posters on the walls, documenting and advertising the Center’s progress and the good things their benefactors have accomplished. Some pictures showed laborers in training, learning necessary skills like how to use a fire extinguisher. I was intrigued and impressed by all the smiling faces looking back at me, and I felt a sense of happiness that these people were able to achieve their dream.

The interview turned out to be a little difficult. As I had expected, there was a bit of a language barrier. Most of the day workers did not speak very much English, if any at all. As time ticked on and more workers arrived, those who did understand what we were asking came up and participated. I translated what I could for them, but they all tried to answer using good English. They seemed interested in our project, and it was satisfying to know they wanted to help us out as best they could.

What surprised me was learning about the hardships that these immigrants face. This center is just across town - not even five minutes from my house - yet it is a different world with a completely different culture. These people are trying to support families as well as themselves, and some have been searching for work here for more than 10 years.

It was shocking to hear one man say that today would not bring much work. Because most of the jobs they get are outside, like gardening, the rainy season affects the number of open jobs, and the work is slow. During the four rainy months we have every year, a large percentage of the day workers must go without employment.

The language barrier comes up again. A main reason that some of the immigrants cannot move to higher positions is their lack of English. They try so hard, and they are good-hearted people, but to learn a new language in a short period of time is not all that easy. A simple interview was strenuous for them as well as for us. But, these immigrants are slowly and surely gaining the necessary skills to someday succeed.

Throughout this experience, it became clear to me how fortunate my family and I really are. To have a nice house with heating, a car and well-paying jobs are some of the day workers’ life dreams. My heart went out to these people, and as we were driving away in a heated Lexus sheltered from the rain, I thought about how traveling for two minutes down the street can open your eyes to a different culture and a different world.

This research project relates significantly to this year’s American Literature theme and the readings we have done in class. Our school year in English is dedicated to the discovery of the “American dream,” and what it really means to Americans as well as foreigners.

The administrators at the Day Worker Center are passionately helping the laborers to achieve their dreams - a well-paying job and support for their families - which is why they came to the United States. In the novel “The Great Gatsby,” Gatsby learned during his life that some people are able to achieve their dreams much more easily than others, while some never get what they want. Life is not fair, as the adage goes. As much as we want it to be, life is definitely not fair to everyone. And this is what a simple trek across my own hometown has shown me.