Interviewee: Dorcas Melendez Matos
Interviewer: Anthony Ryan Custalow Jr.
Relationship: Family friend
Date: June 3, 2003
A Better Living For
Us
What is your full name?
Dorcas Melendez Matos
What is your nationality?
Puerto Rican
What is your date of birth?
July 5, 1949
Where were you born?
Carolina, Puerto Rico
When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the
U.S.) to Philadelphia?
August 12, 1980
Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?
Because the economy and the doctors are
not very good over there, like there is in Philadelphia.
What did you like/dislike about your home/country?
I love my country, my country is good,
its beautiful, and everyone is nice, but there is no medical attention,
its not a lot of jobs like in Philadelphia, that is why we moved here.
Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?
Because I came here before when I was
15 years old I liked Philadelphia because it was beautiful.
How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you
use/take to travel here? How would you change that?
By airplane.
How did you find a place to live in Philly?
I came to my sister’s house a little 2
bedroom house, but I had 6 children at that time it was too congested
in that house, so I invaded a Philadelphia Housing Athority house.
With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?
My husband and my 6 children
Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?
It’s always summer, I don’t have to
wear a jacket, coat, just summertime.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the
differences between the two places?
It is a little difficult, because I
don’t know how to get from place to place, but I learned.
What did you expect about the US/Philly?
Better living.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel
you still need to do?
I came here so my kids could have a
better education, because in here they have more opportunities to start
with.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
The differences are when I first came
here, its not a lot of drugs like now, that then its better. It’s a
little bit ugly because its a lot of vacant houses, but now its getting
better because they progressing building houses.
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
Some of my family and my little house I
had there, I loved that house.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
None, everything was okay, because me
family helped me.
How much money did you have and where did you get it when you
came to Philly/US?
I only had $84, and when I came here my
mother gave me $300.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
Easy, 'cause I’ve been here before.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
Change for the better and my children.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
I didn’t finish school, I only made it
to the 7th grade.
Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?
No, because I have my life here now, my
children are here, and I only have one sister over in Puerto Rico. All
the rest of my family is in Philadelphia.
What reason would/could make you go back to where you came
from?
There is no reason for me to go back,
what for?
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where
did you get money?
I couldn’t have a job, because I had
six children to care for, so the D.P.A. helped me with the money.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I love Philadelphia as my home. I live
here for 23 years. I enjoy living in Philadelphia, this is my country
now.
1/4/2001
