A man moved to Philly from Puerto Rico and how his life was when he first got here.

What is your full name?

My full name is Jose Antonio Jimenez.

What is your nationality?

My nationality is Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

My date of birth is February 27, 1972.

Where were you born?

I was born in Puerto Rico.

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

I moved to Philly about 17 years ago.

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

I wanted to experience something new.

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

I liked everything, there’s nothing I dislike.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because my family lived here in Philly.

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

I got here by an airplane; that was my transportation, I wouldn't change it for anything.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

I found a place to live by my uncle that lived in Philly.

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

I traveled with my uncle in Philly.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?

I remember about my friends in Puerto Rico because we were very close.

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

It changed a lot, the only difference is that in Puerto Rico is hot and in Philly is very cold.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

 I expected something better in Philly.

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

I came here to move forward in life, and I still expect to move on.

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

That back then there was a lot of crime and drugs and it had decreased.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I didn't really sacrifice or left anything behind.

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

The only problem I had was that I didn't know any English at all.

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

I really didn't had any kind of money at all.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Because there's not that much of a difference.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

There's a lot of ways to get a job here than Puerto Rico.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

My education was low and it still is low.

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

The only thing that I regret is that in Puerto Rico you can go anywhere. And when it's cold in Philly you can't go anywhere.

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

The thing that could make me go back is if my children would go with me.

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

My first job here was construction, making walls out of stones.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, that Puerto Rico wouldn't change for Philadelphia.

1/4/2001

Interviewee: Jose Antonio Jimenez
Interviewer: Jesenia Jimenez
Relationship: Padre
Date: Decembre, 2003

What is your full name?

Jose Antonio Jimenez.

What is your nationality?

Soy Puerto Rican

What is your date of birth?

Febrero, 27, 1972

Where were you born?

Puerto Rico

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

Asi 17 anos.

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

Par que guera cancer casas nueva.

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

Me gusta todo.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Par que aqi vivia mi familia.

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

Par avon, la mima el avon, yo no quiero cambiar eso.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

Par mi tio que vivia aqi.

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

Con mi tio.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?

Me acuardo de mi amigo, por que me llevaba bien con ellos.

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

La unica differencia es por que aqi asi frio y aya no.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Algo mejro.

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

Yo vine aqi para echar para de late ir espero a ir para de late.

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

La differencia ahora es que ante avia mucha dorgas y crimina y ahara en bajado.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

Nada

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

De no sabir ingles

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

No tena nigu dinro

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Que no a mucha differencia

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Par aqi ah mas forma de trabajo que en Puerto Rico.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Mi educasion era bajo

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

La unica rason que me arepiento es par que en Puerto Rico usted puded ere adonde quera y aqi cuando el frio biene no puedes era para nicu lado

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

La uncia rason es que log hijos mios fueran con migo

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

Bueno mi premer trabajo fue contrusion asindo paderares de predras.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Que no canbe Puerto Rico par log estados unidos.

1/4/2001