Interviewee: Christopher Clarke
Interviewer: Angel Perez
Relationship: Friend
Date: January 12, 2002
 

A kid from the Bahamas comes to Philadelphia with his family to change their lives. A few years later he meets a wonderful young lady and has his own family.


What is your full name?

Christopher Clarke
What is your nationality?
Bahamian
What is your date of birth?
November 20, 1962
Where were you born?
In the Bahamas.
When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?
January 21, 1975.
Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?
I wanted to see how life is in Philly.
What did you like/dislike about your home/country?
The good weather.
Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?
Because my family lived here.
How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?
We traveled here on a plane.
How did you find a place to live in Philly?
I had a place when I came here.
With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]
With my mother and family.
Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?
The food and the people. Because the food was good and the people were nice.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?
Life didn't change - just had to get use to the cold weather. The differences between the two is in the Bahamas it never got cold.
What did you expect about the US/Philly?
Nothing, I was too young to know anything.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?
I didn't come here to accomplish anything because I was too young to understand.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
No differences between then and now; it's just that now I have a family.
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
My father and very good friends.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
We encounter no problems.
How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?
I had no money but now I have lots of it.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
By being a kid and meeting new friends.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
Because life is better now.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
A good education.
Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?
No, because it's a good city and I met a good women.
What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?
I have no reason to go back.
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, how did you get money?
My first job was selling newspapers around the neighborhood.