Interviewer: Veronica Castro
Interviewee: Omar Madinez
Date: January, 2004

At First People Picked on Her but Now Her Family Owns a Store

What is your full name?

Omar Madinez

What is your nationality?

Dominican

What is your date of birth?

April 4, 1980

Where were you born?

Santo Domingo

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

I moved from Santo Domingo to Philadelphia when I was 7 years old.

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

I was young; my family moved for better jobs and to move with our family who lived in Philadelphia,

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

They were too strict down there. stuff was too expensive and the work aren't as easy as over here in Philly.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I was young at the time and I had to move with my parents.

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

My family and I traveled in an airplane and I wouldn't change it in any way.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I had other family here in Philly beside the family I was living with.

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

I traveled with my mother and father.

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

I remember playing basketball with my cousins and friends on the front porch and in the front yard.

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

My life changed a whole lot; my family had more money, and the differences between both places: one place over there was poor and here is richer.  There was ok but here is more interesting and lifestyle is a lot better and different.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected it to be everything it is, I expected it to be highly populated with people.

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

I came here to accomplish my goals. And I still need to graduate to accomplish my goals (college).

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

The differences were that I was younger and now I'm older I could work and get jobs.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

My grandma, cousins, and friends.

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

I encountered kids playing picking on me because I didn't know any English.

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

We were very poor when we first came to Philly; we earned money from owning and working in corner stores.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I think it was worth all my changes because my family now owns a corner store - little business - and we’re doing better for ourselves.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I had a second grade education.

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

I can't really remember if I regret moving or not 'cause I was very young.

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

I would go back to visit my family and if I could remember any of my friends, just to get in contact with them.

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

My first job here was at a big warehouse.  I had 2 jobs actually, I worked in a corner store too.

12/9/1999