Interview 15: Maria "Tina" Rivera
Dublin Core
Title
Interview 15: Maria "Tina" Rivera
Subject
COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Hoboken, New Jersey
Description
An oral history with Maria "Tina" Rivera, owner of Baking Mama, a bakery in Hoboken, regarding Hoboken's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her personal experiences with it.
Creator
Hoboken Public Library
Publisher
Hoboken Public Library
Date
Recorded July 27, 2022
Format
Uploaded recording: .mp3
Preservation recording: .wav
Preservation recording: .wav
Language
English
Type
Oral history
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Digital audio file
Duration
00:34:12
Transcription
B: My name is Bernadette. I'm a librarian here at the Hoboken Public Library. Today's date is July 27, 2022. And yes, today we're interviewing Tina Rivera from the Bakery Baking Mama. So if you'd like to share your name, if you're comfortable your age, and any other background information about yourself that you feel is relevant.
MR: Okay. I'm Tina Rivera. The owner and baker of Baking Mama. I am 62 years old.
B: And yes, so how long have you owned the bakery now?
MR: We have it for almost seven years now.
B: And you also currently live in Hoboken, is that correct?
MR: Yes, we do live here in Hoboken.
B: So yes, I'd like for us to kind of take a step back in time, back to March 2020 when the lockdown was first announced. What do you remember from that day and moment when you heard like, oh, there's this global pandemic?
MR: Okay. Initially we didn't really believe it will come here in America, though we heard news about it, but oh, it's so far. It's in Asia, so it will not come here. And then we lived as normal lives. We still get orders, we have the shops open, the same schedule, our staff are still the same number of staff. And then we got a big order from Walmart that day, and then they called and said that, “We have to cancel it because we might close the office for two weeks just because of this pandemic, so we cannot do the event.” So okay. Of course we were disappointed, but at the same time, we're just like, “Is this really happening? That there will be a two week close or shut down for companies?” And then after that, yeah. We just learned that it's really a lock down, so we got scared because our business is really facing people, the shop has to be open in order for people to get our goods, and because of that, initially scared because we don't know. This is the first time, and it's really an unknown situation for all of us. Yeah.
B: Yeah. What were those early days like, you know, when you already had to make changes in the workplace? What were the early days like, and how was the business impacted by the pandemic?
MR: Okay. So when they said that there was a lockdown, we really didn't know if we would also close the bake shop or we would just change the manner of doing things. So we tried to observe (unintelligible 00:03:04) open their businesses, and they would just do either a curbside pickup, or they would just do deliveries. So we became creative also at that time, because this is new to us and we have to survive, so we cannot close the shop, because it's also our source of income, and plus we have expenses to pay, rent to pay and everything. So what we did was we closed the shop. We posted on our door that we still accept orders, and then we have to do deliveries too. And somehow the community has been very good to us, and we are so grateful for them. They also ordered from us, and though the sizes of the cakes became small, but still, there's a little celebration for them. So somehow we were able to survive and we did that kind of, you know, of processing our day-to-day bake shop (unintelligible 00:04:11). I mean, our staff, we had to – I mean, they did not anymore report, because we don't really know what's going to happen, because they would go home to their places and they might be bringing something to us. So the bake shop was just run by the family members, my husband and my kids, because we just want to contain everything inside the shop because we were just so scared about this COVID-19 thing which was very new to us.
B: Yeah, it sounds like it was a very stressful time in the early days of the pandemic. How did you personally navigate that and deal with all of that stress?
MR: Okay. I guess prayer and faith sustain us at that time. I mean, my faith I guess. I really have to be strong, because as I said, this COVID thing is new to us. We haven't had experiences for our entire life, and no one can really tell us what's going to happen. So, yeah.
And then I guess, yeah. So I said by faith and through prayers we were still able to do what we love doing. At the same time, my husband and my kids, we should just be very creative. We should just do our best to still deliver the kind of service that we had before. And I guess that's just how we survived at the time.
B: Yeah. And how did your life and your job change as the pandemic continued? So of course there was the shock of the early days. But then as 2020 rolled out, 2021, and the vaccines became available, how did things change in your life and in the business?
MR: Okay. Well, when they introduced the vaccine thing, somehow gave us hope that something good will happen now. When they were able to open the businesses really, and lately they even asked people not to wear masks anymore. And somehow it gave us hope that this will be back to normal soon. But the struggle is still there. Inside the shop, we still wear masks. So it was still a struggle for us, because we still required our staff and us to wear masks just for our safety also. The safety also of other people, because we always face a lot of people and that can just be I guess the best thing for us right now. But the advent of vaccines somehow – I mean, people could just really come to the shop now. (Unintelligible 00:07:08) wearing the mask. And I think what changes also is the celebration. Somehow it's not anymore the six inch cake. We've got orders of 12 inch cake, three layers cake, good for 60 people. Before it was only me and my wife, or only good for four people. So of course we had our business. We want to have more (unintelligible 00:07:33). So now it has improved, because people can celebrate now – I mean, and like before it's just limited to a small number of people, but somehow it changes and it's really good for the shop too.
B: So you could even see the changes in the pandemic as more people are able to gather, even their orders change, so that was reflected even in the business. So how was your family's life impacted by the pandemic at home?
MR: Oh, a lot. Before, my son and my daughter, they don't live with us. But then after the start of the pandemic, we started living together. And somehow we became one again. And so we always have company at dinner time, and we spend more time with them. Not that I like that there's pandemic, but somehow it slowed down everything, so we have time now to tell our stories with each other, and we've come closer again. We've become like the normal family when they were still young. Like before pandemic, they had their old schedule, they lived separately from us. But, yeah. And I liked that time also, but of course we don't want that to happen, but I know, you know. And when we are not free to go out. But in a way, we value more about our time, what's really important I guess is to be with our loved ones. And yeah. I think that is really the best thing also in a way that happened to my family, yeah.
B: Yeah. And how were holidays celebrated at home? I don't know if you tended to travel a lot for the holidays, or things like that. How did the pandemic impact your ability to celebrate holidays, birthdays?
MR: Okay. Of course most of my families are in the Philippines, and also same with my husband, though I have my sister here and my sister-in-law. But during a celebration, well, it's only the four of us because of the pandemic we cannot really invite a lot of people. But I can say that, yeah, we also weren't able to go home. Usually we go home to the Philippines to visit relatives, especially my parents. But the two years it was difficult to travel. And so I guess that's also one point that we cannot see family members.
But the good thing that happened also is the Zoom thing. So we're able to celebrate online like the birthday of my mom. The 85th birthday of my mom. We even prepared a program. My kids, they prepared a (unintelligible 00:10:34), so my sister would just edit everything, so it's just like as if we were just there, and we would also prepare food, and then eat together. Yeah, just like we're having a party, but we're just online. And then also became a venue for us to pray together, the whole family. We would set the time, like 8:00 A.M. here and in the Philippines. So we would pray to Jose together, we can say our intentions together, and it's also as if – I mean, (unintelligible 00:11:09) because all of us would stop each other (unintelligible 00:11:11) ourselves. And so, oh, someone is like this, or that, you know, what happened. I mean, that's a good part that happened also, because until now we still continue praying the rosary together and update each other as a family, and I like that.
Did I answer the question? I think I just go, go, go. I'm getting old.
B: No, you did great. And then how else did you spend your free time during the pandemic? You know, outside of work, did you do any type of volunteer experience? Did you have other special hobbies that you took up during the pandemic?
MR: Okay. It gave me time more to do – because my hands are always busy, and I cannot relax. Even at home I will just tinker with something, and I would bake and do some other baked goods I don’t sell in the shop. I focused on that more at the same time. I was introduced to K-dramas by my sister in the Philippines. I don't really watch TV because I'm always busy in the shop. I'd rather sleep, or read, or go do something. But she said, “Just watch this tape. This crash landing and you will not remember anything about this pandemic (unintelligible 00:12:44).” So somehow it introduced me to this K-drama thing, and yeah. It somehow relaxes me, and I've had the chance to read, and have more time to be with the family, and cook more meals that they miss me doing for them. Yeah.
B: How did your view of yourself or your values, how did it change during the course of the pandemic, if at all?
MR: Yeah. I guess just realize that you just have to enjoy life. That is important. It's not what you can see, no. But the time and you have to spend with your loved ones, and the time for yourself too. I think that matters to me during the pandemic that all this material things is, it's not all that we have to live or glorify. Make it your goal. But really I guess the value of being and spending your time with your loved one, and being at the moment with them, being present with them. And at the same time, I guess just doing what you love most. Don't procrastinate. “I can do this next time. I can do it later.” But I guess just enjoy the moment.
B: And back to the shop, at what point was it able to reopen the storefront? And then what was that like to have the store open again, have customers come in again?
MR: Well, we were so very happy, because it's just like we are a very small business, and our customers became family too, you know? And you get the chance now to talk to them really and update them with not only with our baked goods, but also about our family, our activities, and we get to know them better. And you know, somehow it became normal again, because I guess during that time when they need real, maybe some sweet just for them to feel the normalcy. And now that we are open, they can just stop by anytime and get something. You know, someone would say, “Oh, I just need some sugar to make me happy.” And, “Oh, I miss your cookies.” So I mean, of course what I am doing right now is – that's why I started baking, because when people say, “Oh, I love your cookies, I love your baked goods,” it's a difference (unintelligible 00:15:52) you make someone happy, even for just a cookie or just a cake. Yeah. So I'm just glad that it came back, that we got open, and people can just drive by and see us, and yeah.
B: Yeah. And during the pandemic a lot of businesses experienced like supply chain issues. Did Baking Mama have any of those issues in terms of trying to acquire certain shipments of things, goods that you needed for the business?
MR: Oh, yes. Since we started we did not increase our price. And then the ingredients I tried to order, like a white chocolate chip would take us two months to get, so we have to source other kinds of chocolate chip. Well, we are not happy with the quality, but sometimes you just have to buy it, because our source cannot provide it to us. Even the boxes, the quality of boxes is not the same. Our containers are not the same. We used to order a plant based container for our shop, but they stopped doing it, so we have to go back again to the old packaging. And some things we really have to change because they don't supply anymore. And at the same time, it was difficult for us, but we really had to push our price, because we were also surprised that we've been charging this, and then we're getting ingredients at a higher price. And so my son computed it for us, and then said, “Well, you just keep on charging people like this.” But we (unintelligible 00:17:43) for six years we never changed our price. But the pandemic, because of these shortages and the price increase on things, we had no choice in order for us also to survive that we increased our price.
B: Yes. And then at home, did you experience any issues also getting things like personal protective equipment at home or I remember there was that whole scramble for toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic. Did you experience anything like that? Getting supplies, or food at home?
MR: For the food, I guess because I would ask my husband, because my husband doesn't want me to go food shopping. He was the one in charge to do the grocery and to buy supplies for our house. So I believe that he would – and there's a long line always. We had difficulty getting the hand sanitizer and the hand soap. So before I couldn't get the liquid soap, but I have no choice but to get the bar soap, any kind of soap just so we can wash, you know, because they always say, “Wash your hands.” So we just have to change the usual stuff that we get from our house. We get supplies that we don't even know – it's not the brand that you're getting. It's a different name, but somehow we survived with that. And yeah, it was difficult, but we were able to manage. Yeah.
B: Yeah. And in the workplace, what kind of precautions did you take at work in terms of keeping you, and other workers, or your family members who were working safe? And then what other precautions did you take at home?
MR: Okay. For us, we've always sanitized number one. And then we would wear gloves at the same time. Masks is always number one. It's a rule that inside the shop we have to wear a mask, and then the doorknobs, we always have to sanitize it, because we always close the door. And then I guess because we've been doing it also ever since pandemic, but we just got extra effort to do it just to prevent this virus to getting to us.
Same thing at home. We've always been clean, you know. It's just the extra effort now to make sure that everything is clean. But yeah, so that everything will be safe for everyone.
B: And do you feel like you had any life experiences that prepared you for the challenges of the pandemic, whether at work or personally?
MR: Okay. I guess as a mom, I think we are prepared – no, kidding aside. But I feel that when faced with challenges and new things, what else can we do but just to be strong, to make sure that our minds are clear and not to panic. There's always a solution in everything I guess, so be hopeful and take charge. I mean, don't lose faith, because as they said, if there's a problem, there's a solution. So I must say that we can do it. So, yeah.
B: And do you feel that things have mostly gone back to normal? Or do you still feel like there are still impacts and effects of the pandemic in our day-to-day?
MR: Somehow it's getting there, but not really. I mean, not close to normal. With the case rising again, and with this new virus that's coming, and new variants. So I think we're just trying to manage it. I mean, if you are vaccinated, just do your booster thing, I guess that would be the best for everyone. Somehow I think also that if people are just aware that this thing is really happening, that there's really a COVID-19 thing, and just to be helpful, just – for me, I believe in the vaccination. So I think that helped a lot, and that will get us to normalcy I guess. And at the same time, hopefully soon it's going to be back. For me, not there yet, but I think we're getting towards it.
B: And then you mentioned that you do have family abroad in the Philippines. How do you think their experience of the pandemic was different than yours here in Hoboken?
MR: Maybe because we have the help from our government somehow. Not only financial aid, but at the same time like the vaccine also. We were provided with that. And like in the Philippines, I know they had a hard time getting the vaccine, at the same time not much help from the government I would say. But I must also say that they are (unintelligible 00:23:37) such a way that when the government say, “Wear masks,” everyone really follows. They will wear masks. Here, of course I understand. Some will just say there should be freedom for me whether I should wear or not. Maybe that's the only difference I can clearly see. But there, when the government would say that, “You have to do this,” even of the shield. The face mask shield on top of the mask, which I really admire. And that's the only sad part is that, yeah, they were not given enough. I mean, it was late for them to get the vaccination, but people there really followed the government in such a way that they say, “Do this things that are required in order to prevent the spread of the virus.” But I guess they have a lot of – like they have (unintelligible 00:24:44). Every time they go to a business place, they would write down their names, so contact tracing, something like that. Here, we don't have that, but we managed. There are some stuff there that's extra effort for them.
B: Yeah. And then do you feel like there was anything about being in Hoboken that made your experience of the pandemic unique in any way?
MR: I guess since this is a very small community, the wearing of masks is really required, and also the Mayor was able to do some – say like of the restaurants, they would be also be creative. And then they shut down (unintelligible 00:25:40) bar, because I guess they saw that the gathering of people would really cause much spread of this virus. I think there were some efforts. I want that also for other communities, but yeah. They're so on top of it during that height of the pandemic.
B: Yeah. And do you have any close friends or relatives that work in other industries? And generally, how were they impacted by the pandemic?
MR: Okay, yeah. Like my sister, they used to go to work in the offices, but now they just work from home. Even until now, they will just work from home. Also some lost their jobs. And others also changed their career. So the pandemic, it changes a lot of the usual norm that we have, but somehow I think it's also helpful. Well, for some (unintelligible 00:27:04) work from home, less of a commute and more time with the family, especially those with kids. But at the same time, that's also not good because you have to go out and socialize. But they're coming back, so it's like (unintelligible 00:27:20) I think, yeah, they're going back to work.
B: And have you made any changes in your life or at work that you plan to keep even after the pandemic is over?
MR: I used to be very, very workaholic. I would spend almost 90 percent at the bake shop. But lately I was able now to delegate some of my tasks to my staff, and spend more time with myself and with my family. I think that's just what really changes. At the same time, we're trying to create other venues to (unintelligible 00:28:18). And I was able (unintelligible 00:28:31). And I want to be active again.
B: Has the pandemic changed the way you view Hoboken as a city in any way?
MR: Again?
B: Yeah. Has the pandemic, did it change the way you view Hoboken in any way?
MR: Nothing much really. I think Hoboken, it's still the same. I mean, I would say that during the pandemic, the community gathered and helped each other. There was really a support from them, supporting our front liners. But I think it's still the same as…relatively similar. There's really active in this community. Maybe people are so sensitive. That's how I feel Hoboken is. But because it's just like we're just extending our families, because this is a very small – a mile only. So what else can you do but just to be your own neighbors. So I guess—
B: Do you have any predictions for the future of Hoboken in terms of what it may look like once the pandemic is over, or even how small businesses are being run or handled in a post-pandemic world?
MR: I guess we learned a lot from the pandemic. So aside from keeping everyone's place clean and healthy, I guess people will be more creative aside from just doing business face-to-face. I guess there could be more other maybe venues for them to – especially for small businesses to increase their sales and revenues aside from just the actual thing. Though they're doing it right now. But for us, since we're just starting, I guess we will concentrate on that part, because we were just relying mostly for walk-ins, but now we saw the potential having also online business on top of what we're doing right now. So I guess that's it. I don't know. (Unintelligible 00:31:17).
B: Is there anything that you would like to tell future generations about related to the pandemic? What you think they should know? And then what kind of message would you give them if they have to live through a similar event in the future?
MR: What would I tell them?
B: Maybe your grandchildren. What do you want them to remember in this really unprecedented time in history?
MR: I guess we just have to face the challenges in front of you. Be more I guess resilient and hopeful that this will – just there's always a solution to this, and that the most important thing I guess – well, they start the social distancing. It's still known as an island, you know? We still have to work together. It's community, it's people. We cannot just distance ourselves from each other. But I guess you still have to be supportive of each other and help one another, and just be kind still. And, yeah. Just trust in the Lord, and keep your faith, and there's more to life I guess than to keep on worrying and being pessimistic that this will be the end of the world or something like that. So yeah.
B: Is there anything else you would like to mention about your experiences during the pandemic, or anything about Hoboken in any way, anything you want to add to what you've already shared?
MR: I'm just grateful for Hoboken. They've been very helpful for us, especially small businesses. They were really supportive, and I'm really happy and grateful for the people here who somehow help us. And we persevered, we survived. You could just feel the love from them. And I really appreciate that one. And you know, being still part of their gathering, and their events. I'm just grateful for that, to be part of it, and to be included in their special events in business.
B: Okay. Wonderful. That's all the questions that I have for you. Thank you so much, Tina, for coming in for the interview. So I think we can end the recording.
MR: Okay. I'm Tina Rivera. The owner and baker of Baking Mama. I am 62 years old.
B: And yes, so how long have you owned the bakery now?
MR: We have it for almost seven years now.
B: And you also currently live in Hoboken, is that correct?
MR: Yes, we do live here in Hoboken.
B: So yes, I'd like for us to kind of take a step back in time, back to March 2020 when the lockdown was first announced. What do you remember from that day and moment when you heard like, oh, there's this global pandemic?
MR: Okay. Initially we didn't really believe it will come here in America, though we heard news about it, but oh, it's so far. It's in Asia, so it will not come here. And then we lived as normal lives. We still get orders, we have the shops open, the same schedule, our staff are still the same number of staff. And then we got a big order from Walmart that day, and then they called and said that, “We have to cancel it because we might close the office for two weeks just because of this pandemic, so we cannot do the event.” So okay. Of course we were disappointed, but at the same time, we're just like, “Is this really happening? That there will be a two week close or shut down for companies?” And then after that, yeah. We just learned that it's really a lock down, so we got scared because our business is really facing people, the shop has to be open in order for people to get our goods, and because of that, initially scared because we don't know. This is the first time, and it's really an unknown situation for all of us. Yeah.
B: Yeah. What were those early days like, you know, when you already had to make changes in the workplace? What were the early days like, and how was the business impacted by the pandemic?
MR: Okay. So when they said that there was a lockdown, we really didn't know if we would also close the bake shop or we would just change the manner of doing things. So we tried to observe (unintelligible 00:03:04) open their businesses, and they would just do either a curbside pickup, or they would just do deliveries. So we became creative also at that time, because this is new to us and we have to survive, so we cannot close the shop, because it's also our source of income, and plus we have expenses to pay, rent to pay and everything. So what we did was we closed the shop. We posted on our door that we still accept orders, and then we have to do deliveries too. And somehow the community has been very good to us, and we are so grateful for them. They also ordered from us, and though the sizes of the cakes became small, but still, there's a little celebration for them. So somehow we were able to survive and we did that kind of, you know, of processing our day-to-day bake shop (unintelligible 00:04:11). I mean, our staff, we had to – I mean, they did not anymore report, because we don't really know what's going to happen, because they would go home to their places and they might be bringing something to us. So the bake shop was just run by the family members, my husband and my kids, because we just want to contain everything inside the shop because we were just so scared about this COVID-19 thing which was very new to us.
B: Yeah, it sounds like it was a very stressful time in the early days of the pandemic. How did you personally navigate that and deal with all of that stress?
MR: Okay. I guess prayer and faith sustain us at that time. I mean, my faith I guess. I really have to be strong, because as I said, this COVID thing is new to us. We haven't had experiences for our entire life, and no one can really tell us what's going to happen. So, yeah.
And then I guess, yeah. So I said by faith and through prayers we were still able to do what we love doing. At the same time, my husband and my kids, we should just be very creative. We should just do our best to still deliver the kind of service that we had before. And I guess that's just how we survived at the time.
B: Yeah. And how did your life and your job change as the pandemic continued? So of course there was the shock of the early days. But then as 2020 rolled out, 2021, and the vaccines became available, how did things change in your life and in the business?
MR: Okay. Well, when they introduced the vaccine thing, somehow gave us hope that something good will happen now. When they were able to open the businesses really, and lately they even asked people not to wear masks anymore. And somehow it gave us hope that this will be back to normal soon. But the struggle is still there. Inside the shop, we still wear masks. So it was still a struggle for us, because we still required our staff and us to wear masks just for our safety also. The safety also of other people, because we always face a lot of people and that can just be I guess the best thing for us right now. But the advent of vaccines somehow – I mean, people could just really come to the shop now. (Unintelligible 00:07:08) wearing the mask. And I think what changes also is the celebration. Somehow it's not anymore the six inch cake. We've got orders of 12 inch cake, three layers cake, good for 60 people. Before it was only me and my wife, or only good for four people. So of course we had our business. We want to have more (unintelligible 00:07:33). So now it has improved, because people can celebrate now – I mean, and like before it's just limited to a small number of people, but somehow it changes and it's really good for the shop too.
B: So you could even see the changes in the pandemic as more people are able to gather, even their orders change, so that was reflected even in the business. So how was your family's life impacted by the pandemic at home?
MR: Oh, a lot. Before, my son and my daughter, they don't live with us. But then after the start of the pandemic, we started living together. And somehow we became one again. And so we always have company at dinner time, and we spend more time with them. Not that I like that there's pandemic, but somehow it slowed down everything, so we have time now to tell our stories with each other, and we've come closer again. We've become like the normal family when they were still young. Like before pandemic, they had their old schedule, they lived separately from us. But, yeah. And I liked that time also, but of course we don't want that to happen, but I know, you know. And when we are not free to go out. But in a way, we value more about our time, what's really important I guess is to be with our loved ones. And yeah. I think that is really the best thing also in a way that happened to my family, yeah.
B: Yeah. And how were holidays celebrated at home? I don't know if you tended to travel a lot for the holidays, or things like that. How did the pandemic impact your ability to celebrate holidays, birthdays?
MR: Okay. Of course most of my families are in the Philippines, and also same with my husband, though I have my sister here and my sister-in-law. But during a celebration, well, it's only the four of us because of the pandemic we cannot really invite a lot of people. But I can say that, yeah, we also weren't able to go home. Usually we go home to the Philippines to visit relatives, especially my parents. But the two years it was difficult to travel. And so I guess that's also one point that we cannot see family members.
But the good thing that happened also is the Zoom thing. So we're able to celebrate online like the birthday of my mom. The 85th birthday of my mom. We even prepared a program. My kids, they prepared a (unintelligible 00:10:34), so my sister would just edit everything, so it's just like as if we were just there, and we would also prepare food, and then eat together. Yeah, just like we're having a party, but we're just online. And then also became a venue for us to pray together, the whole family. We would set the time, like 8:00 A.M. here and in the Philippines. So we would pray to Jose together, we can say our intentions together, and it's also as if – I mean, (unintelligible 00:11:09) because all of us would stop each other (unintelligible 00:11:11) ourselves. And so, oh, someone is like this, or that, you know, what happened. I mean, that's a good part that happened also, because until now we still continue praying the rosary together and update each other as a family, and I like that.
Did I answer the question? I think I just go, go, go. I'm getting old.
B: No, you did great. And then how else did you spend your free time during the pandemic? You know, outside of work, did you do any type of volunteer experience? Did you have other special hobbies that you took up during the pandemic?
MR: Okay. It gave me time more to do – because my hands are always busy, and I cannot relax. Even at home I will just tinker with something, and I would bake and do some other baked goods I don’t sell in the shop. I focused on that more at the same time. I was introduced to K-dramas by my sister in the Philippines. I don't really watch TV because I'm always busy in the shop. I'd rather sleep, or read, or go do something. But she said, “Just watch this tape. This crash landing and you will not remember anything about this pandemic (unintelligible 00:12:44).” So somehow it introduced me to this K-drama thing, and yeah. It somehow relaxes me, and I've had the chance to read, and have more time to be with the family, and cook more meals that they miss me doing for them. Yeah.
B: How did your view of yourself or your values, how did it change during the course of the pandemic, if at all?
MR: Yeah. I guess just realize that you just have to enjoy life. That is important. It's not what you can see, no. But the time and you have to spend with your loved ones, and the time for yourself too. I think that matters to me during the pandemic that all this material things is, it's not all that we have to live or glorify. Make it your goal. But really I guess the value of being and spending your time with your loved one, and being at the moment with them, being present with them. And at the same time, I guess just doing what you love most. Don't procrastinate. “I can do this next time. I can do it later.” But I guess just enjoy the moment.
B: And back to the shop, at what point was it able to reopen the storefront? And then what was that like to have the store open again, have customers come in again?
MR: Well, we were so very happy, because it's just like we are a very small business, and our customers became family too, you know? And you get the chance now to talk to them really and update them with not only with our baked goods, but also about our family, our activities, and we get to know them better. And you know, somehow it became normal again, because I guess during that time when they need real, maybe some sweet just for them to feel the normalcy. And now that we are open, they can just stop by anytime and get something. You know, someone would say, “Oh, I just need some sugar to make me happy.” And, “Oh, I miss your cookies.” So I mean, of course what I am doing right now is – that's why I started baking, because when people say, “Oh, I love your cookies, I love your baked goods,” it's a difference (unintelligible 00:15:52) you make someone happy, even for just a cookie or just a cake. Yeah. So I'm just glad that it came back, that we got open, and people can just drive by and see us, and yeah.
B: Yeah. And during the pandemic a lot of businesses experienced like supply chain issues. Did Baking Mama have any of those issues in terms of trying to acquire certain shipments of things, goods that you needed for the business?
MR: Oh, yes. Since we started we did not increase our price. And then the ingredients I tried to order, like a white chocolate chip would take us two months to get, so we have to source other kinds of chocolate chip. Well, we are not happy with the quality, but sometimes you just have to buy it, because our source cannot provide it to us. Even the boxes, the quality of boxes is not the same. Our containers are not the same. We used to order a plant based container for our shop, but they stopped doing it, so we have to go back again to the old packaging. And some things we really have to change because they don't supply anymore. And at the same time, it was difficult for us, but we really had to push our price, because we were also surprised that we've been charging this, and then we're getting ingredients at a higher price. And so my son computed it for us, and then said, “Well, you just keep on charging people like this.” But we (unintelligible 00:17:43) for six years we never changed our price. But the pandemic, because of these shortages and the price increase on things, we had no choice in order for us also to survive that we increased our price.
B: Yes. And then at home, did you experience any issues also getting things like personal protective equipment at home or I remember there was that whole scramble for toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic. Did you experience anything like that? Getting supplies, or food at home?
MR: For the food, I guess because I would ask my husband, because my husband doesn't want me to go food shopping. He was the one in charge to do the grocery and to buy supplies for our house. So I believe that he would – and there's a long line always. We had difficulty getting the hand sanitizer and the hand soap. So before I couldn't get the liquid soap, but I have no choice but to get the bar soap, any kind of soap just so we can wash, you know, because they always say, “Wash your hands.” So we just have to change the usual stuff that we get from our house. We get supplies that we don't even know – it's not the brand that you're getting. It's a different name, but somehow we survived with that. And yeah, it was difficult, but we were able to manage. Yeah.
B: Yeah. And in the workplace, what kind of precautions did you take at work in terms of keeping you, and other workers, or your family members who were working safe? And then what other precautions did you take at home?
MR: Okay. For us, we've always sanitized number one. And then we would wear gloves at the same time. Masks is always number one. It's a rule that inside the shop we have to wear a mask, and then the doorknobs, we always have to sanitize it, because we always close the door. And then I guess because we've been doing it also ever since pandemic, but we just got extra effort to do it just to prevent this virus to getting to us.
Same thing at home. We've always been clean, you know. It's just the extra effort now to make sure that everything is clean. But yeah, so that everything will be safe for everyone.
B: And do you feel like you had any life experiences that prepared you for the challenges of the pandemic, whether at work or personally?
MR: Okay. I guess as a mom, I think we are prepared – no, kidding aside. But I feel that when faced with challenges and new things, what else can we do but just to be strong, to make sure that our minds are clear and not to panic. There's always a solution in everything I guess, so be hopeful and take charge. I mean, don't lose faith, because as they said, if there's a problem, there's a solution. So I must say that we can do it. So, yeah.
B: And do you feel that things have mostly gone back to normal? Or do you still feel like there are still impacts and effects of the pandemic in our day-to-day?
MR: Somehow it's getting there, but not really. I mean, not close to normal. With the case rising again, and with this new virus that's coming, and new variants. So I think we're just trying to manage it. I mean, if you are vaccinated, just do your booster thing, I guess that would be the best for everyone. Somehow I think also that if people are just aware that this thing is really happening, that there's really a COVID-19 thing, and just to be helpful, just – for me, I believe in the vaccination. So I think that helped a lot, and that will get us to normalcy I guess. And at the same time, hopefully soon it's going to be back. For me, not there yet, but I think we're getting towards it.
B: And then you mentioned that you do have family abroad in the Philippines. How do you think their experience of the pandemic was different than yours here in Hoboken?
MR: Maybe because we have the help from our government somehow. Not only financial aid, but at the same time like the vaccine also. We were provided with that. And like in the Philippines, I know they had a hard time getting the vaccine, at the same time not much help from the government I would say. But I must also say that they are (unintelligible 00:23:37) such a way that when the government say, “Wear masks,” everyone really follows. They will wear masks. Here, of course I understand. Some will just say there should be freedom for me whether I should wear or not. Maybe that's the only difference I can clearly see. But there, when the government would say that, “You have to do this,” even of the shield. The face mask shield on top of the mask, which I really admire. And that's the only sad part is that, yeah, they were not given enough. I mean, it was late for them to get the vaccination, but people there really followed the government in such a way that they say, “Do this things that are required in order to prevent the spread of the virus.” But I guess they have a lot of – like they have (unintelligible 00:24:44). Every time they go to a business place, they would write down their names, so contact tracing, something like that. Here, we don't have that, but we managed. There are some stuff there that's extra effort for them.
B: Yeah. And then do you feel like there was anything about being in Hoboken that made your experience of the pandemic unique in any way?
MR: I guess since this is a very small community, the wearing of masks is really required, and also the Mayor was able to do some – say like of the restaurants, they would be also be creative. And then they shut down (unintelligible 00:25:40) bar, because I guess they saw that the gathering of people would really cause much spread of this virus. I think there were some efforts. I want that also for other communities, but yeah. They're so on top of it during that height of the pandemic.
B: Yeah. And do you have any close friends or relatives that work in other industries? And generally, how were they impacted by the pandemic?
MR: Okay, yeah. Like my sister, they used to go to work in the offices, but now they just work from home. Even until now, they will just work from home. Also some lost their jobs. And others also changed their career. So the pandemic, it changes a lot of the usual norm that we have, but somehow I think it's also helpful. Well, for some (unintelligible 00:27:04) work from home, less of a commute and more time with the family, especially those with kids. But at the same time, that's also not good because you have to go out and socialize. But they're coming back, so it's like (unintelligible 00:27:20) I think, yeah, they're going back to work.
B: And have you made any changes in your life or at work that you plan to keep even after the pandemic is over?
MR: I used to be very, very workaholic. I would spend almost 90 percent at the bake shop. But lately I was able now to delegate some of my tasks to my staff, and spend more time with myself and with my family. I think that's just what really changes. At the same time, we're trying to create other venues to (unintelligible 00:28:18). And I was able (unintelligible 00:28:31). And I want to be active again.
B: Has the pandemic changed the way you view Hoboken as a city in any way?
MR: Again?
B: Yeah. Has the pandemic, did it change the way you view Hoboken in any way?
MR: Nothing much really. I think Hoboken, it's still the same. I mean, I would say that during the pandemic, the community gathered and helped each other. There was really a support from them, supporting our front liners. But I think it's still the same as…relatively similar. There's really active in this community. Maybe people are so sensitive. That's how I feel Hoboken is. But because it's just like we're just extending our families, because this is a very small – a mile only. So what else can you do but just to be your own neighbors. So I guess—
B: Do you have any predictions for the future of Hoboken in terms of what it may look like once the pandemic is over, or even how small businesses are being run or handled in a post-pandemic world?
MR: I guess we learned a lot from the pandemic. So aside from keeping everyone's place clean and healthy, I guess people will be more creative aside from just doing business face-to-face. I guess there could be more other maybe venues for them to – especially for small businesses to increase their sales and revenues aside from just the actual thing. Though they're doing it right now. But for us, since we're just starting, I guess we will concentrate on that part, because we were just relying mostly for walk-ins, but now we saw the potential having also online business on top of what we're doing right now. So I guess that's it. I don't know. (Unintelligible 00:31:17).
B: Is there anything that you would like to tell future generations about related to the pandemic? What you think they should know? And then what kind of message would you give them if they have to live through a similar event in the future?
MR: What would I tell them?
B: Maybe your grandchildren. What do you want them to remember in this really unprecedented time in history?
MR: I guess we just have to face the challenges in front of you. Be more I guess resilient and hopeful that this will – just there's always a solution to this, and that the most important thing I guess – well, they start the social distancing. It's still known as an island, you know? We still have to work together. It's community, it's people. We cannot just distance ourselves from each other. But I guess you still have to be supportive of each other and help one another, and just be kind still. And, yeah. Just trust in the Lord, and keep your faith, and there's more to life I guess than to keep on worrying and being pessimistic that this will be the end of the world or something like that. So yeah.
B: Is there anything else you would like to mention about your experiences during the pandemic, or anything about Hoboken in any way, anything you want to add to what you've already shared?
MR: I'm just grateful for Hoboken. They've been very helpful for us, especially small businesses. They were really supportive, and I'm really happy and grateful for the people here who somehow help us. And we persevered, we survived. You could just feel the love from them. And I really appreciate that one. And you know, being still part of their gathering, and their events. I'm just grateful for that, to be part of it, and to be included in their special events in business.
B: Okay. Wonderful. That's all the questions that I have for you. Thank you so much, Tina, for coming in for the interview. So I think we can end the recording.
Interviewer
Bernadette Patino
Interviewee
Maria "Tina" Rivera
Location
Hoboken Public Library, Hoboken, New Jersey
Citation
Hoboken Public Library, “Interview 15: Maria "Tina" Rivera,” Hoboken Public Library's 2022 COVID-19 Oral History Project, accessed May 15, 2024, https://hobokenoralhistory2022.omeka.net/items/show/15.