Interviewee: Reggie Velasquez
Interviewer: David Velasquez
Relationship: Uncle
Date: April 24, 2000
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Leaving Everything Behind For a Better Life

What is your full name?

Reinaldo Reggie Velasquez

What is your nationality?

Hispanic/Puerto Rican

What is your date of birth?

April 25th, 1960

Where were you born?

Rincon, Puerto Rico

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

September of 1983

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

I wanted to get an education in Philadelphia and someday raise a family of my own.

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

The lack of work and school.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

My parents admired the history that Philadelphia had to offer, they heard it was a wonderful place to live in.

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

I took a plane to get to Philadelphia, I really would have not changed the way I got here.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I already had family and friends in Philadelphia.

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

I traveled with my grandmother whom had raised me from when I was 8 years of age.

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

I remember at times when I was a kid and I used to play at the fire hydrants with my best friend in the hot summer nights. I remembered this because he was the only kid whom I would play with since no other kids lived around my neighborhood.

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

My live changed in the way that Philadelphia had more to offer than where I lived before. I went to college then I got a job and raised my wonderful children.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected that Philadelphia was a wonderful city and it had many places to explore and learn about.

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

I came here to accomplish getting a education and go to college. I feel I still need to teach my children and always show then to do their best.

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

The difference was that I was a kid when I came to Philadelphia and now I am grown and I have to face the realities and difficulties of life.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my mother behind because she wanted to stay in Puerto Rico and I wanted to come to Philadelphia to get an education.

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

As a kid a didn't know anyone, and it was hard for me to get settled in a new place that I knew nothing about or in a place that I knew no one.

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

I really didn't have that much because my parents gave me some money they got from working in the sugar cane fields.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I managed to seek out new friends and get involved in sports in which I meet alto of new people.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I think it was worth it because I got a job at the American Red Cross in which I still work there, and I raised a family of my own and I also got to do many things that I always wanted to do.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

All my education came about, living in Philadelphia from kindergarten to college.

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

I don't regret moving I just regret never finishing college because of me wanting to raise my children.

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

The reason I would return to Puerto Rico was if I would go back wealthy to help the community and also help the poor.

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

My first job was at the age of fourteen at a factory, working with metal sheets and it was a great experience for me.

Is there anything you would like to add?

At the age of eighteen, I enlisted in the army in 1980 where I served a term of four years there. The army was a great learning experience for me because it showed all the courage that I had in myself and all the things that I was capable of doing. I then returned to Philadelphia to finish my High school and then I went on to college for two years. I had several jobs before I was hired for the American Red Cross in 1990 for hospital service assistant. I also managed several activities for helping young kids stay active in sports. I also started a football team with my children and other children and I am looking forward to many more activities.