InterviewerNastagia Cartagena
IntervieweeAngel Ortiz: Best Friend
Date : November 11, 2002

He and his family are just looking for a better life

What is your full name?

My name is Angel Ortiz.

What is your nationality?

style="font-weight: normal"> >I’m Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

My date of birth is July 31, 1985.

Where were you born?

Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

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

When I was 10 I first moved to Ohio and at the age of 11 I moved to Philadelphia.

Who did you moved to Ohio with?

I moved with my aunt and uncle.

Why did you leave Ohio?

Because it was harder to get around and we didn’t know places and to get around we had to contact with my aunt and uncle and we didn’t like to bother them.

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

I moved 'cause we had money problems and we couldn’t afford the place were we was living at, so we decide to move to a different place to see if things would work out.

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

What I liked about my country or hometown is that we used to always get along and always had a good time and what I dislike about my country was that everything was too far and too expense as going to a clothes store and go buy a TV it was too far.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because we had family that was going to help us, and basically to get back on our feet.

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

I traveled by plane and I won’t change it.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

First we moved with my other aunt and we was living with her for like a year on ‘til we find a place to live in.

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

I travel with my mother, my two sisters, my aunt and uncle and my two cousins.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?

I remember when I used to go fishing with my cousin and my brother because we used to always be happy and have fun.

Why do you remember this?

Like I said; because we used to all ways have fun and have a good time.

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

It changed because I didn’t know people and it’s like I didn’t know English and everybody else knew English and I used to be the only one that knew Spanish, and said didn’t know how to communicate with them and I just tried to make friends and I couldn’t because I didn’t know English so I would try ‘til I got used to it.

What were the differences between the to places?

That over there I knew a lot of people, that the time I knew a lot of people and I used to always get along with everybody and it was always me having a good time having fun, and when I came up here everything was different like as friendship, seeing knew places and I was getting to know this place. > 

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

What I expect? I expected to be more comers, peaceful, quieter things like that.

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

I came here to accomplish to help my family, my mom, make something better of myself and I still got goals, as I want to be a art teacher and I still want to do that, but I still need my goals to get up there.

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

When I first came up here I didn’t know English, and what you talking about as like our transportation or like what’s the differences between when you came here, was it like harder then, than now? Yes it was harder, when I first came up here I didn’t know much and we didn’t have much but my mom start getting a job and things start getting good. We got a car and a house and now it’s better.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left behind my family, my friends, my cat that I loved and good old memories that I will never forget.

What problems did you encounter coming to US/Philly?

I didn’t really have a lot of problems coming up here to Philly. I expected for us to try to get a place to live.

Was that the hardest?

Yes.

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

We didn’t have no money, we had a talk with my aunt to see if she can lead us money to get on our feet, because we was new in Philly.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I didn’t really adapt to Philly that good but like I said, before I didn’t know English. It was hard for me get along with people, to communicate with people, stuff like that.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I think it was worth all my changes because I met new friends, I don’t have to worry about getting into fights and I had my family up here. And I think it’s good to have changes in life.

What kind of problems did you have in Puerto Rico?

In school I use to get in a lot of fights, that’s basically it I use to get in a lot of fights in Puerto Rico.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I was still in middle school at the time.

Do you {ever} regret moving? Why or why not?

I don’t regret moving because I met new friends and a girl that I love.

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

The one big reason I would really have to go back is if I get into a very big problem and I would have to move so they wouldn’t see my face around here.

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

I don’t have a job yet because I feel like I’m not ready for it yet and I’m getting one now, but at the time I’m getting money from my mom.