Interviewee: Ana Castro
Interviewer: Maria Laureano
Relationship: Friend
Date: March 18, 2003
A lady that traveled to make her life better
What is your full name?
Ana Castro.
What is your nationality?
Dominican, from Dominican Republic.
What is your date of birth?
June 3, 1961.
Where were you born?
I born in Dominican Republic.
When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in
the U.S.) to Philadelphia?
I moved in 1978 to Puerto Rico, in 1994
I went to Miami Florida and in the same year I came to Philly.
Why did you leave your country/State/former place of
residence?
Looking for better life - economical
situation - encouraged me to move to this country.
What did you like/dislike about your home/country?
I like my country a lot: the weather,
the people and everything except the economic situation.
Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S.?
Because my friend who is my boss
motivated me to look new field as psychotherapist.
How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you
use/take to travel here? How would you change that?
By plane, I came with legal paper.
How did you find a place to live in Philly?
Looking in newspaper, I rent a house. A
year later I bought my own house.
With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]
With my husband.
Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?
My neighbors they were my family.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the
differences between the two places?
It was very difficult for me because I
did not know how to speak English and I had to learn it.
What did you expect about the US/Philly?
To see my children grow safe and
healthy and with better education.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you
feel you still need to do?
I am working and I can feel very
productive. I need to continue working to keep, maintain, the style
that
I have now.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
This is a big difference when I came I
didn’t know the city, now Philly is like my country for me because I
know all the city. Second, the language and economic limitation - now I
can be involved in many activities because I feel free to do it.
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
My friends and family.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
I don’t have family here because they
were living in P.R. and I had to do everything by myself.
How much money did you have and where did you get it when
you
came to Philly/US?
This is a confidential question and I
think that this can be made in another way. My economical situation was
not the same. Now is better.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
I don’t have problem to adapt to any
place.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
Because I give more opportunities to my
children and myself.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
I am a doctor, medical doctor in
Dominican Republic before I came here. Later I completed my
master
in education here in Philly.
Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?
Not now, maybe when my children decide
by themselves what they want.
What reason would/could make you go back to where you came
from?
I don’t have possible reason now.
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, how
did you get money?
I started to work as psychotherapist in
1994 in 1996 I added the education to my background.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes, when someone come to this country
they look for something - can be economic or support of the family
here,
and another thing - never give up.
03/31/03
