Sacrifice and hard work, a wise decision a father made

Date: December 7, 1999
Interviewer: Edward Gonzalez
Interviewee: Eduardo Gonzalez
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What is your full name?

Eduardo Gonzalez

What is your nationality?

My nationality is puertoriqueno

What is your date of birth?

July 16, 1962

Where were you born?

I was born in the town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico

When did you to Philadelphia?

I moved to Philadelphia on 1977

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

My father decided to move out his country for better job and better education

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

I dislike the economy, government and the education

Why did you chose Philadelphia?

Because my father had a couple friends living in Philadelphia

How did u travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here?

I traveled here by airplane

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

At the time there was a lot of housing available

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

I traveled with my whole familia

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

I remember the beautiful landscaping , nice and warm weather and the green mountain scenery

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

Because of the language, weather and culture, that was the reason between the two places

What did you expect about the Phil?

I expected better jobs, education, home living and better economy

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

I came here to accomplish better conditions of living, I still need to keep working harder for a better living

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

Well I feel economy is better, housing is improving and there's more technology

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left behind my family, friends and homeland

What problems did you encounter coming to the Phil?

The first problem was language, culture and weather

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

I came with little money that I have save working hard in farms in Puerto Rico

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was not easy but everything was going well, so I adapted pretty well soon

Why do u think it was worth all your changes?

It was worth because of the changes because IM better in Philadelphia than in Puerto Rico

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I had a eight grade education in Puerto Rico , then I continued in ninth grade in Philadelphia, then I had to drop out to go to work to help my parents

Do you ever regret moving? Why or why not?

Not really, because I'm better than what I was in Puerto Rico

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

Well when I retire probably I have enough money saved to go back and live in my home land of Puerto Rico

Describe your first job here. If you have one, how did you get money?

When I came to Philadelphia my first job was picking fruits and vegetables in farms in New Jersey, It was not much money but it make a good living at home

Is there anything you would like to add?

Its hard to leave behind your family, friends and homelands, but in life you have to sacrifice many things to strive forward. I have a better life now, my family is well educated and well prepared for the future due to the fact that we came to Philadelphia, but I would never forget my homeland