Interviewee: Felena Goulbourne
Interviewer: Khalil Adams
Relationship: Step Mom's co-worker
Date: April 15, 2003

The lady who traveled here for a better life

What is your full name?

Felena Goulbourne

What is your nationality?

Jamaican

What is your date of birth?

August 10, 1934

Where were you born?

I was born in Kingston.

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

I move here when I was 31 years old.

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

I got the opportunity to come here and not a lot of people get the opportunity to travel and when I traveled here I was getting more money.

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

I like everything about my country; it's a beautiful place. The only thing you need to live there is money.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I have friends here and a sister in Philadelphia.

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

I came by plane.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I have family here, so I came straight to my family.

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

I travel by myself.

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

The food and the climate; I love the climate.  It's not as hot as Philadelphia. When around 90 degrees, the humidity is very low, but it's surrounded with water, a lot of trees, so that makes it very nice there. I love Jamaica.

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

The difference between Jamaica and America is that America is very fast over here and you can make more money here, you have a lot more opportunities in the U.S.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

When you are in Jamaica you hear there's a lot of money in the U.S. What I was expecting when I came here is to just work, go back home to live in Jamaica. I just wanted to live here for about five year but it didn't work out that way, now I found myself here 31 years.

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

I came here, as I said, to just get money and work. I came here because the opportunity was here. I don't think I need to accomplish nothing else.

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

There's no difference, the only difference is because it is cold here and it's a tropical climate out there. But there's no difference. Jamaica is not as develop, but it's just like America.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

Nothing, I wanted to come here and I got the opportunity to come.

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

I really didn't have a lot of problem. But like different place I work, I work with people that don't understand people from different countries and they will be asking me stupid question, like, "Do you live in houses? What kind of house did you live in?"

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

I didn't have to bring any money because I had family here so I didn't have to bring any money. All I needed was my plane fare.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I didn't take me long to adapt; wherever I go I always make myself happy.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Because when I came here I made more money.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I had a high school education.

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

Not a bit. Because I like it here.

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

Nothing, I'm not going back. Because now I'm a citizen of the U.S.

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

I was working at a factory where they made plastic. I work there for 2 years.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I love it here, my kids got a great education here, my daughter is in New York and she's an assistant at a bank.

12/9/1999