Interviewer: Irma De Jesus
Interviewee: Olga Morales
Relationship: Sister
Date: February 21, 2002

A woman's journey to be with the love of her life

What is your full name?

Olga Iris Morales

What is your nationality?

Hispanic

What is your date of birth?

December 3rd, 1974

Where were you born?

Hatorey, Puerto Rico

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

In 1995.

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

Got married.

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

I liked everything, I did not like nothing.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

My husband. My future husband lived here.

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

Airplane. Change what? I have no answer for that.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My husband's family helped us find a place close to them until we got on our feet.

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

By myself.

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

The beaches, the palm trees, and the food. I remember them the most because Puerto Rico is such a beautiful place, there isn't a place in the world quite like it. I have so many memories growing up in that environment. It's hard to forget such beauty.

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

My life changed 'cause I was no longer single.

Different things about the two places?

Change of weather, you know, summer, winter. In P.R. there were less job opportunities and the wages were lower.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Not much. I expected the environment to be the same as it was when I visited. The people had many of the same customs as the ones in P.R. Also many different ones.

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

Nothing that I couldn't done in my country. My husband was already working so I didn't need much of anything. I came here to basically accomplish becoming a good wife and mother, get a successful job and hold together a happy family.

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

Drugs were not so much out there, now they're in front of your steps.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

My mother, my brother and sister in Puerto Rico.

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

None basically, I already knew English.

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

We had, I don't know, maybe a little over a thousand and how we got it was we just got married so basically gifts.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was not easy, live one day at a time.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I was in love.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

One year of college, that was before I got here, and I still have 1 year of college.

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

Sometimes, yes, because I hate the weather, and sometimes, no, you know.

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

What reason would make me go back is to, you know, for the change of weather. I mean, winter's all right but it's, I don't know, I wouldn't like to grow old in the winter. And I don't know, just to go back. I was born there.

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

I worked in a place called Hardee's, and it wasn't in Philadelphia, it was in Georgia. It was a fast-food place, and it was all right.