He gave up his education for job opportunities

Interviewer: Benita Colon
Interviewee: Carmen Hernandez
Date: December 17, 1999
  

What is your full name?

Carmen Hernandez.

What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

July 4, 1945.

Where were you born?

Puerto Rico.

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

June 17, 1960.

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

Because I wanted to help my family.

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

The way I was raise in Puerto Rico.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

That's were my father brought me.

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

I travel be plane and I don't want to change that.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I move my grandma in South Philly.

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

I came here with my father.

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

I remember climbing the trees and throwing rocks at people because I thought it was fun.

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

Puerto Rico is hot and Philly is not always, Puerto Rico is much cleaner than Philly.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I thought it was going to be the same as Puerto Rico, but it wasn't.

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

I came here to accomplish a better life and more opportunities and what I still need to accomplish is my education.

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

There was no drugs and if there were any you didn't see it, and now you see it everywhere.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

My family, I sacrifice my education.

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

I did not encounter any problems when I came to Philly.

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

I had no money when I came to the U.S.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I had to because I had no way of going back to my country.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I feel as though I had a better chance in life.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I only had a 9th grade education when I left Puerto Rico and when I got to the U.S. I did not finish my education.

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

No, I don't regret moving because I like it more here than Puerto Rico.

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

I have no reason to go back because all of my family is here in Philly.

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

My first job was working at a home for the age.

Is there anything you would like to add?

No I don't, thank you.