Interviewee: Karen J. Opio
Interviewer: Jaime L Rivera
Date: September 26, 2003

She came with no education and now is in her first year of college

What is your full name?

Karen J. Opio

What is your nationality?

Hispanic (Puerto Rican)

What is your date of birth?

August 1, 1984

Where were you born?

Caguas, Puerto Rico

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

When I was I5 years old.

Why did you leave your country/state/ former place of residences?

Because my mom want a new life.

What you like/dislike about your home/country?

Like - there is a lot of shopping center and friendly people. DisIike - there is a lot of drug dealers and too much violence.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because my mother was raised here.

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

By airplane.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I lived with a family member.

With whom did you travel? (Whom did you travel with)?

I travel with my mother.

Give 1 thing you remember most about our hometown and why?

It was not peaceful with my mom and dad always fighting (arguing).

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

The difference is that I was able to get an education with more and the atmosphere is more suitable.

What did you expect about U.S./Philly?

I do not know because I was not familiarize with the city so I did not know what to expect.

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

I think is to make a person of myself.

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

I do not know about then, but now I think it still the same.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my father behind.

What problems did you encounter coming to the U.S./Philly?

No problem, I had a baby with me.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to the U.S./Philly?

I had no money at all.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

By making new friends and adapting to the way of life.

Why do you think it was all worth all the changes?

Yes, because I have an education and looking forward to a better future.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Before none, but now I got my high school diploma (Thomas Edison) and I am in my first year of college.

Do you {ever} regret moving? Why or why not?

Yes because I misses my father.

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

The reason is that I would like to see my family from father side.

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

I never had a job. My mother is the one who gives me money.