Interviewee: Samuel Estevez
Interviewer: Maximina Velasquez
Relationship: Stepfather
Date: February 26, 2003
He moved from his country because his sister was suffering
from cancer and also to make a
better life for himself.
from cancer and also to make a better life for himself.
What is your full name?
Samuel Estevez
What is your nationality?
Puerto Rican
What is your date of birth?
October 5, 1972
Where were you born?
Puerto Rico
When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?
1982
Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?
Because my sister was sick.
What did you like/dislike about your home/country?
The weather and also the beaches.
Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?
Because I already had family living here.
How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here?
I came here by plane.
How did you find a place to live in Philly?
I lived with my aunt, which who was already living here.
With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]
I traveled with my mother, stepfather and sister.
Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?
The beaches because they were a lot more cleaner than over here.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two
places?
Life was still the same for me except for the languages, and the differences between
the two places were mainly better medical benefits and wages.
What did you expect about the US/Philly?
I expected to live in a better environment and make a better life.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?
I mainly came here to get better treatment for my only sister.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
That there was not as much violence as there is now.
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
I left my grandparents.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
None.
How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?
I did not have any money when I came here - I was only a child, but my parents did give
me money.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
I adapted very well both in school and at my new home.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
Because my sister received treatment and got better.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
When I arrived I was in the fourth grade, but completed school here in Philadelphia.
Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?
No, because moving here helped save my sister's life.
What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?
I would go back to visit my family and old friends.
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?
My first jobs were pumping gas at local gas stations and bagging groceries at supermarkets.
