When Hernando Manrique came to Utah from Colombia, he didn’t know what to expect. But he found his way by continuing to drink his Colombian coffee, sharing his passion for soccer—ultimately meeting his wife through soccer—and using his roots to connect with Hispanic patients in his job as a security officer at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. He shares his story with colleague Abram Jones.
Transcript
Hernando Manrique: I came to America, and I arrived in New York. It was a very unique experience coming from a small village. I arrived with a tourist visa, and my tourist visa expired, so I started exploring different alternatives, trying to get my immigration status in place. I started searching about, and I moved to Utah. I worked in Castle Dale, Utah. It's a very small town. I worked there for the mines. Then I moved to Beaver, Utah, working with cement.
There wasn't any organized soccer. As a Colombian, my passion is soccer. I cannot leave it away. I have to play. So, I came back, and I found a soccer team here in Salt Lake. I was doing really good. I was a popular guy within the soccer culture. They offered me a job with the Utah Youth Association in the section where there is some kind of Latin influence. I started working with the kids. I met my wife through soccer. My wife was the team manager. Of course, there was cultural difference, religious difference, and she was a member of the LDS church, also known as the Mormons. I knew they don't drink coffee, but one of the first things I told my wife was, "Can you please try not to take the coffee away from a Colombian?"
Abram Jones: What did she say?
Hernando Manrique: She just looked the other way. It's not bad. I drink coffee every day, and we've been married for 33 years.
Abram Jones: Where is your wife from?
Hernando Manrique: Salt Lake City. We have a bi-cultural relationship. In those days, people used to look at us differently. Because in the ‘80s, there wasn't hardly any cultural diversity here.
We have a son. His name is Chris Sebastian. My oldest son doesn't want to play soccer like me. Somehow, he is 6'5", so he adopted basketball and graduated from the university with two bachelor’s, and we're proud of him.
Abram Jones: Oh I bet.
Hernando Manrique: That's how I am here in Utah.
Abram Jones: Do you have any stories from working here at the hospital?
Hernando Manrique: I was working the ER. It was my turn to go to the helipad, which is at the upper part of the hospital. An 8-year-old boy got into a bicycle accident. I arrived at the helipad with my stretcher. Usually in a helicopter, there is a mom or dad. For some reason, nobody was with the boy. This little boy happened to be Hispanic, so people looked at me. He goes, "Papi!" It really broke my heart. He took hold of my hand, and he didn't let my hand go until we got down into the elevator. I was pushing the stretcher with one hand and holding his other hand. We got into the trauma room. This boy held my hand until his parents arrived. It was like almost an hour and a half. All those memories make you appreciate the job. I like the human element. I cannot picture myself doing another job that doesn't have to do with people.