Interviewee: Lisa Ann Cintron Miralles
Interviewer: Denise Bermudez
Relationship: Mother
Date: April 9, 2001

Single mom struggles to raise her four kids with their family
from another state and by their roots.

What is your full name?

Lisa Ann Cintron Miralles

What is your nationality?

American

What is your date of birth?

June 14 ‘64

Where were you born?

I was born in Philadelphia, and I moved to Florida

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

We just moved back to Philadelphia two years ago from Florida

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

We were getting home sick.

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

Florida, I love the weather. The beaches the sceneries, nice, restaurants, diversity in cultures. Latin cultures. What I disliked was that it was too far to come home and visit.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Choose Philadelphia to return to? Over the former residence? Because it's my hometown and I'm use to the way things are here in my hometown: the weather, the people, the family and I wanted my children to come back and get to know their relatives. We were in Florida for nine years and when we left they were all too young to remember most of our relatives and barely knew some through long distance phone calls so I decided to bring them home and have them regroup with their relatives and meet the ones they hadn't met.

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

Train, Amtrak. I wouldn't.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

The property we're living on now belongs to my sister, so I rent from her now.

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

With my children.

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

Florida, I remember all the good friends I made.

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

Life changed drastically. The weather for one. (laugh) The differences between the two places are many, but top three: the weather, the differences in Florida we had no family. Even though we had good friends, we established friendships with new people and done new things and here we have family, we have roots, were rooted, and the next one would be Florida has many tax differences compared, as far as homes, rentals and owning properties and that I would say are to a disadvantage compared to Philadelphia, but I guess you're paying for the weather when you're paying taxes.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

What did I expect? I expected it to be, I don't know why, the way it was back then when I left but didn't find that when I came home.

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

I came here to accomplish many things. Top reason being having my children get a sense of where they come from and rerooting them and I believe I have accomplished that. I wanted my children to come to what we call our ghetto and see what it means to claw your way to the top and maybe this way they can appreciate some things better than they were reacting to the quality of life we were having in Florida. I still need to, maybe, have my children get a sense of community , give more to the community and the community they come from, and the community I came from. So we're working on that.

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

Two years ago when we came we were starting all over basically, and now I think we've made some changes to the positive. We've settled down. Its two years down the road and we had many accomplishments down this road, and we have a lot of material things we didn't have when we came. We have prospered and grown as a family.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I sacrificed good opportunities that were presented in the employment I had and I guess I also sacrificed some friendships that we established with some very good people.

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

Coming to Philly we encountered many problems one majorly having to live in a neighborhood where my children for the first time were exposed to drug dealers on just about every other corner, and having to walk to school and being exposed to those types of elements.

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

We arrived with a little over 28,000 dollars from our savings that we had.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It wasn't really all that new to me but the children, they're still somewhat adapting to certain things but they're doing good they're adapting.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I think it was worth because my children and I have achieved being a unified family now. I guess when you go through adversities together, and you stick together you tend to also celebrate when you all reach your goals.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

My education was of high school and some vocational training in several fields or several areas.

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

I don't regret it because I think that would be a waste of time to sit and regret and dwell on matters and I don't regret it because I see the accomplishments, my children do know the relative they did not know (they've met them). My children are bonding with their relatives. My kids have learned where I came from and about the city they were born in and I think they appreciate things more than they use to.

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

I would say maybe health reasons (the weather ). If the weather were to affect any of our health then I would consider moving back to a warmer climate.

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

My first job here was a supermarket clerk. I was a cashier at a supermarket and I went to school and took a training for physical therapy aide, which is what I am doing now.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I hope I could be of some assistance in your assignment. Thank You!!