From Friday to Monday, Wendy Guidiño waits for customers under the shade of her tent ready to serve them fresh waters and chopped fruit on the corner of Broadway and Bishop streets, in the city of Santa Ana, in Orange County.
The 20-year-old prepares the fruit cocktails so quickly that if customers blink, they don’t even notice her preparation.
“I started working alone when I was 16 years old, although I was a little scared,” explains the street vendor, who already has her high school certificate.
“Some customers are rude, others are scary,” he explains. “A lot of people are weird too, especially with one being a woman.”
Guidiño emphasizes that his work days start at 7 in the morning to prepare the fruit, the waters and ensure that everything is ready at 11 in the morning, the time when he starts selling, and until 6:30 in the afternoon.
Guidiño’s stand is one of three stands that his parents, originally from Puebla, opened in Orange County.
According to the young woman, the business, called Aguas El Chavo, started 8 years ago and this is how the family has been making a living.
While Guidiño takes care of his position, his sister takes care of another and another family takes care of a third.
The street vendor emphasizes that her work is not seen as a real job, although fortunately it has allowed her family to get ahead.
During the busiest days in the summer it serves more than 100 customers, while in the winter there are days when it serves only 15.
“Summer is not about vacations or spending money for family. We try to save as much as we can so we can rest for one or two months in the winter,” Guidiño explained.
“As soon as the weather starts to improve we go out to sell again, but normally we have at least one or two stalls open throughout the year.”
Although she really likes what she does and interacting with people, the young woman keeps her eyes wide open since she has had some not very pleasant and, one might say, even dangerous experiences.
Guidiño remembers that the first week she worked alone, at that time when she was 16 years old, an alcoholic man approached her to buy a fruit cocktail, but then the conversation took another direction.
“He started asking me how much I earned. [sexualmente] and he told me that there was a room around the corner, he grabbed me and touched me,” Guidiño explained. “Obviously, I called someone for help and luckily the guy left.”
The young woman remembers that a few days after the interaction with the drunken individual, she saw him passing by in his truck with his wife and children.
He adds that unfortunately, that has not been the only time a man approaches him with bad intentions; However, today she says she is more than ready to defend herself.
Another problem she faces in business is dealing with Orange County Health Department workers, who she says constantly threaten to arrest her if she continues selling.
“Once they arrived [del Departamento de Salud] and they assumed that he only spoke Spanish,” said the young woman. “I was a little offended because these days anyone can be a street vendor even if they speak English.”
He adds that it is frustrating to see that the authorities arrive with people who only speak Spanish, people who do not understand what they are saying and consequently can abuse them.
In addition to working as a street vendor, Guidiño received two certificates in tax preparation after an encounter with a woman in a library who offered to teach her.
So during the low season in the sale of water and fruits, since she turned 18 she has dedicated herself to preparing taxes and even helps her family with their own declaration.
Guidiño expresses that not everything has been so bad during his four years of work. Additionally, she appreciates her customers who return frequently in the years she has been selling.
He emphasizes that it is common for his clients to leave him a tip, although sometimes he has had to give him $10 or $20 dollars. Only on one occasion, he emphasizes, did a client leave him $1,000.
Guidiño affirms that he would like to grow his family’s business, but he also has his own plans.
“It’s not something I’m going to do for the rest of my life,” he explains. “But it is something that has allowed us to live and has helped us overcome many family things.”