Flees homeland for better life

Interviewer: Natasha M Cruz
Interviewee: Santa Cruz
Relationship: Grandmother
Date: April 9, 2000
Language: Spanish
Translated By: Natasha M Cruz
 

What is your full name?

Santa Juanita Cruz.

What is your nationality?

I'm Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

June 15, 1942.

Where were you born?

Arecibo, Puerto Rican.

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

I moved to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico in late summer of 1965 at the age of 23.

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

I left my homeland because I had problems with my husband.  Also because my family (parents, siblings, ect.) were moving here and I decide to move with them.

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

Nothing, in fact I try to visit my homeland as often as possible, also would like to go back sometime in the future.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because Philadelphia was a place where a lot of my family was at.

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

I traveled to Philadelphia by plane.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My father had already plan what he was going to do before hand.

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

I traveled with my second born son Hector, me and was 2 and the half months pregnant without knowing.

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

I remember evrything, there's nothing I don't remember.

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

The hardest thing I had to do was get use to a new place that was totally different then where I'm from.  The differences between the two places was the weather and the fact that my oldest son was still in Puerto Rico and later coming down to live with me.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I just expected a better life and I got it in a way.

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

I just wanted to receive and give a better life for me and my children. Yes I got it.

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

There's a whole life times of differences.  Education and lifestyle are what is now mainly different about Philadelphia.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my homeland, some of my family and whole life behind.

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

The only problem i encounter most was finding out I was pregnant.

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

I wouldn't say we were rich however my father did own a store and we had a nice home to live at. And I did work when I came here.  I made a decent living.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I learned to adapt to my environment.  I did it for my family and it was well worth it.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Because it not only gave me a better life but it gave my children.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I didn't finish school however I did work to support my family.

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

Hardly ever.   Because I like it here.

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

I would go back to Puerto Rico to visit, in other words to release some stress.  I would also go back to visit my parents grave.  However I do plan to go back to my homeland to stay but that’s later on in the future.

Is there anything you would like to add?

It was hard to leave my homeland.  However since it included giving my children born and the ones to be born a better life it became a lot easier.  It was also easier because I had my family's support.  I like to tell all the Youth out there most of all the “females” to receive an education before you get married.  Education helps along the way.   Remember this :Along the way there's a lot of struggle and hard times there's a lot of heart ache and pain.   Just remember never admit defeat to the everyday problems and always keep your head up no matter what the problem may be or how hard the fight seems to come.  Remember that life is what you make of it not what life makes of you.  Don't forget to live your life according to what makes you happy and what makes life worth living for you ever if it is just to be who you really are.  I had a hard life along the way and it gets harder with time but as long as you got family and friends you're get through every and anything in life.