Interviewee: Victoria Diaz
Interviewer: Berkys Mutt
Relationship: My uncle's wife
Date: March 6, 2001

This is a woman who's life is ruined because she was taken out of school and sent to baby-sit in another state.

What is your full name?

My name is Victoria Diaz.

What is your nationality?

I am Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

My date of birth is August 15, 1941.

Where were you born?

I was born in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

I moved to Philadelphia in 1956.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

I left my country because my brother was married and he was living over here with his wife. They decided to take me out of school, so I could go baby-sit my little newborn nephew. I didn't like the idea, but they chose me to take care of my nephew. But in those times you weren't allowed to make your own decisions, so I was obligated to go to Philadelphia to baby-sit. I cried so much.

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

I used to like the weather, the rain, the beach which was two blocks away from my house. The way we ate the typical things like cocos, mango, and other good things.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I didn't choose Philadelphia my parents chose Philadelphia for me, for the reasons that I needed to baby-sit for my brother. So I was forced to come to Philadelphia by my parents. If it was my choice I would've preferred staying in Puerto Rico and finishing high school, then going to college and becoming a nurse, a professional nurse.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

I traveled here by myself by airplane. I hated it. I was very sad in that airplane. I wanted to go back to Puerto Rico. I wouldn't have changed it because I love traveling by airplanes. I couldn't imagine me traveling by sea.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I didn't find a place to live. I already had a place to live. I lived in my brother's house. They were waiting for me in the airport. The next day I was baby sitting my nephew.

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

Like I said before, I traveled in airplane by myself.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?

First of all the weather, the way you played. I mean the way we played when we were little. I also remember the way my mother cooked for us while we were playing around like innocent kids. Also the way my father used to kill the pigs, put them upside down and take the guts and everything that was inside the pigs. Then they cooked it and we ate it. Now if we cook the insides of a pig everybody would be disliked, they would think it's nasty. But in those days it was delicious. I miss all those things. All them happy moments and memories I had.

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

First of all I didn't like winter time. I missed the nice hot weather in Puerto Rico. I didn't like wearing too much clothing, but it was necessary for the winter. While in Puerto Rico all we needed to wear was a T-shirt and shorts. While in Philly we have to over load ourselves with clothing. The differences between Philly and Puerto Rico is the weather, the beautiful beaches, the tropical scenes, the animals, the schools, the churches, the way people treated people that came to Puerto Rico. We treat them kind with respect. Here they treated you like trash because you don't know how to talk English. Or you aren't smart. They criticize too much. There's a big difference between Puerto Rico and Philly.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I was worried and scared I didn't know where I was being sent to. I was a teenager who was going to be sent to a place which I had no idea of. It affected me a lot. Being separated of my mother and father, sisters and brothers, friends and teachers. I was leaving all that to go baby-sit. I didn't know if they talked the same language or if they were just like me, I didn't know nothing. I wasn't prepared for this big jump in life.

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

I didn't want to come here to accomplish anything. What I wanted to accomplish, I wanted to do it in my home state - Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico I wanted to accomplish the fact that I wanted to be a nurse. But when I came here my dreams were ruined. I feel I don't need to do nothing else. I already got married and raised my children, now I have children, grandchildren and one great granddaughter. So my life is done already. I can't do nothing else with the age of 59. All I'm waiting for is the day I go with God.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

The biggest difference is that when I came here the only family I had was my brother and nephew. However, now my whole family is here. Also the fact that when I first came here I was scared and lost, but now I'm used to being in Philly, I know Philadelphia now. And I like it now. Also that when I came here I didn't know any English and now I do.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

The future career I was planning to study. I left my school behind, my family, my friends, my life, especially my future plans. I had to sacrifice all that to become a baby-sitter for my brother.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

I didn't have any problems coming here to Philadelphia. I was scared and lonely but everything went well.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

When I came to Philly I didn't have any money. They didn't give you any money when you were small. My brother was the one who paid everything for me. If I needed anything he would buy it for me. So I didn't have any money at all.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was very difficult for me to adapt myself to this new life in Philly. After a while I started to do things people who lived in Philly did. I started to eat American food. To do American things, but it took me a while for me to adapt in Philly and it still is 'til this day.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I have never thought it was worth the changes. I never wanted to come to Philly. My goal was to become a professional in my home town, not in the United States. I still don't think it was worth it. I lost my whole education to baby-sit. I don't think it was fair what my parents did to me.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

In my hometown I was in eighth grade, just about to move to ninth grade when my parents decided to take me out of school to come here to Philadelphia to baby-sit for my brother. When I came here I decided not to go to school. Well, I didn't have a choice I couldn't go to school because I had to baby-sit. So I didn't have any education.

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

Of course I regret moving, I lost my whole education. I lost everything. My life was ruined since that day. I never wanted to leave my hometown in the first place. I regret my mom and dad sending me here.

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

Nothing would or could make me want to go back for the reasons that my whole family is in Philadelphia or in the United States. I don't have nothing or nobody in Puerto Rico. The only reason I would want to go to Puerto Rico is the fact that I would like to go to Puerto Rico to visit. To visit the beaches, the island, etc.

Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?

My first job was in a nylon factory. I made women nylons. I loved it, I got used to it quickly. This was the only thing that distracted my mind from the past. It was hard but I got the chance to have money in my hand and pockets and be able to manage it the way I wanted to manage it.

Is there anything you would like to add?

If I had the chance to live again, to be born again I would've ended up being a nun. My life was always school and church. When we came out of school we went to home then to church. This was our daily routine. If I would've known that they were going to take out of school to send me here to baby-sit, I would've preferred becoming a nun and staying in my hometown. This affected me a lot. Every time I had something to look forward to my parent would always say to forget about it, that I would never become somebody. I never had a chance to study, I never had a chance to become a professional nurse. This was my dream. I want all the teenagers to finish school and become somebody. I didn't have that help when I grew up. So stand up for your dreams and become what you want to be, don't let nobody stop you from reaching your dreams. Thank You.