A women migrates from Puerto Rico to the United States and adapts to her new environment

Date: May 20, 1999
Interviewer: Jessica Pantoja
Interviewee: Aida Cartagena (mother)
 
 

What is your full name?

Aida Cartagena.
What is your nationality?
Puerto Rican.
What is your date of birth?
September 15, 1956.
Where were you born?
Abonito, Puerto Rico.
When did you move to Philadelphia?
I have no idea but I think I was, like, nine years old, nine or ten.
Why did you choose Philadelphia?
Well, I did not choose it, my mom did.
How did you travel?
By airplane, of course.
Did you know anyone in Philadelphia?
When I got here, no.
With whom did you travel?
With my mother, and my brothers and sister.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?
Well, the difference was that over there it's nice and warm, we don't have no winter and over here it's nice and cold and there's snow. My life changed because when we got here to the United States there was no esol [English as a second language] classes, everything was in English and, oh, it was real difficult if you didn't speak English back then.
What were your expectations about your destination?
Like I said, I was only nine years old, I didn't know what to expect.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
The difference was when I came here the first time there wasn't all these Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, you didn't see that many Spanish speaking people
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
Well, I sacrificed my grandparents and aunts and uncles when I left.
How did you get the money to move?
My mom had to work hard just to get by, she was a single mother.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
At first I didn't like it but then I got used to it.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
When I first got here I was, like, in fourth grade in Puerto Rico and that's it.
Do you ever regret moving?
No I don't regret it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
No, I don't think so!