Interviewee: Julio Cesar Puheria
Interviewer: Marisella Campos
Relationship: Uncle
Date: April 23, 2001
 

Someone that Continued Life

What is your full name?

My name is Julio Cesar Puheria.

What is your nationality?

I was born in Nicaragua.

What is your date of birth?

My date of birth is March 30, 1945.

Where were you born?

I was born in Bonanza, a little town in Nicaragua.

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

I moved from Nicaragua in 1979.

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

I left Nicaragua because the Communist controlled the government and they were ruling in a way I did not like, and I was endangering my life.

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

About my country I like everything there, because I was born there, I grew up there, but I dislike the new government that was being held by the Communist that took over the government.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

That was easy to do it because I had a sister- in- law that was living in Philadelphia and I asked her that I was trying to go someplace because of the terrible situation in my country, and she offered to me to come to Philadelphia.

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

I used a plane to travel from Nicaragua to El Salvador, and then from El Salvador to Miami, then from Miami to Philadelphia I took another plane

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

In Philadelphia, I had my sister in law who is Mireya Campos and she was waiting for me, I was living with her when I got here, so I did not have a problem finding a place to stay.

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

I traveled by myself.

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

I remember about my family, of course I remember my mother, father, and my brothers and sisters. It's a strong feeling I keep in my memory every time.

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

There was a big, big change and you can really see the difference, our culture is more country, which is a beautiful country but you were in danger your life that's why the first thing that I found here was that I was free. Nobody was after me or I was not in danger to be killed everyday like I was in Nicaragua.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

What I expect was finding a place where I can live in peace.

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

First thing, I was trying to save my life coming to this country and thinking to go back when the situation changes, but that never happened. So I stayed here and I had my first daughter brought to me from Nicaragua and I another daughter that was born here and they started going to school and then the going back was really being more and more difficult every time. So what I feel that I accomplished is that I could raise my children and give them a good education and I think that the rest of my life here is trying to make a good retirement to enjoy my old age.

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

There are two things different in myself and different in the town. I can see the difference in Philadelphia, it having a really rejuvenation (rejuvenating) period now because when I came here their was many burn houses, empty lots, and everything and now you can see a tremendous new houses being build and cities getting more and more in shape than before. Now, myself, there is a big change because I had trouble with the language, with papers I was illegal when I got here and now I'm a legal resident and have a straight job and that makes a big change in my life.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my hometown and my family that I love so much, I had to sacrifice that to save my life come to this country.

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

As I said before, the first problem was I have no English, I have no paper to work and had to work in hiding from the INS or from the legal situation.

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

When I came here I only had five hundred dollars and I got by selling some of my goods that I had in Nicaragua to come to this country.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Was very tough, but as I say, I was looking for a peaceful place. If you compare Nicaragua with Philadelphia, it's a big difference from heart to sky and I, little by little was getting adapted to the new environment and I feel good now.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

It was worth all the changes because I could save my life, which I was not sure I could do in Nicaragua. Many of my friends were killed at that time so that only ensured my life but beside that I found here that you can work with freedom to do whatever you want to do as long you don't bother others or do something that is wrong.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I had chemistry engineering before I came here and here I just been doing some experiment kind of jobs.

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

No, no I cannot say, like I said before, I cannot regret moving because I had to save my life, just doing that was appropriate to do. And even though I miss my country I can not stop thanking God to be here.

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

I would go back to retire in my country only if the situation in my country would be peaceful and with a good government, which is not the situation as we speak.

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

My first job was in a factory cleaning up water pumps and washing dishes at night. That was my first job.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I can say that I am or can be counted as lucky people because I got here and I have the opportunity to work. I grew my two daughters, one of her is already a professional from Temple (university in Philadelphia), and I think as a father it's a big accomplishment and I can thank this country the opportunity that they have to do that. Thank You.