Exploring the rich multicultural history of Devon.

Jose Rodrigo Jiménez Monroy

Posted on

15th January 2025

Posted by

Wendy Milne

Posted in

Honiton Community Stories

RODRIGO REMINISCES ABOUT spending Sundays at his grandmother’s house in Mexico City, where he grew up, playing with cousins and enjoying the large green spaces that surrounded them. His close cousin Valentina gave him a family photo before he left for the UK, featuring his grandmother and her ten children, taken in 2008.

Rodrigo’s desire to live abroad was fulfilled when he met a girl from Chudleigh in Mexico City. They maintained a challenging long-distance relationship for a year and a half. To stay together, they decided to get married and flipped a coin to decide where to live: England won.

Rodrigo arrived in October 2010. They were married for nine years until 2019 when his partner ended the relationship. He chose to stay in the UK to be with his daughter, Lyra, recalling his own experience with an absent father.

He now works for Computer Components Limited in Honiton, focusing on the Mexican market. His job, supportive colleagues, and love for his daughter contribute to his happiness in the UK but he longs for his homeland and family in Mexico. He travels to Mexico for work and at least once a year with his daughter for a holiday.

Rodrigo cooks Mexican food for his daughter and shares traditions like Mexican Christmas, involving family prayers, breaking a seven-pointed piñata and gift exchanges at midnight.

Rodrigo finds the quietness of Honiton striking and has found it challenging to make friends here. He plans to move back to Exeter, where his friends and fellow musicians are.

He emphasises the value of knowing one’s neighbours and sharing experiences to build a sense of community. Rodrigo believes that if people shared more, it could lead to fewer conflicts.

Listen to highlights from Rodrigo’s interview below:

 

Highlight 1: I met a girl from Chudleigh [00:00:00 – 00:03:18

Highlight 2: My heart is split in two [00:03:20 – 00:05:00]

Highlight 3: The music of Mexico [00:05:00 – 00:06:31]

Highlight 4: The significance of Day of the Dead [00:06:33 – 00:10:21]

Highlight 5: Get to know your neighbours…find friendship, find a story [00:10:22 – 00:12:41]

 

Listen to Rodrigo’s full interview here:

 

 

To read the transcript of Antoinette’s full interview, click the logo below