Interviewee: Leon E. Cappa
Interviewer: Jacqueline Lazu
Relationship: Neighbor
Date: September 11, 2002

My life through the years of becoming a teacher.

What is your full name?

Leonor E. Cappa

What is your nationality?

Hispanic American.

What is your date of birth?

June 17, 1938.

Where were you born?

Guanica, Puerto Rico

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

November, 1989.

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

I left my home town because of my medical condition .

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

The weather where I lived, and my coworkers.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I choose Philadelphia because my daughter and a friend of mine were living there and my friend invited me to move in with her ,a because there were better opportunities in Philadelphia.

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

By plane it’s about hours. and 45 minutes. The only way is to come by boat or ship.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My friend invited me to live with her. Her name is Elanor. Then my daughter bought a house and I moved in.

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

With one of my sons who was in college and finished, he had gotten his Master's Degree and was not working, and I asked if he wanted to come with me, and he said, "Yes," and my other son stayed in Puerto Rico.

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

I remember the beaches. Even though it’s a small town it has sixteen beaches and it’s a bright place.

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

Most of all the weather, we don't have snow, we don't have cold weather.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

At the time, until I could get a job, until I could receive treatment and physical therapy and a complete evaluation.

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

I want to return or to turn back a portion of the many things I received here. I find out that I have received many things here, first, my father and my creator and my neighbors, friends at church that they have been good to me.

What are the differences between when you came here and now

When I came to Philadelphia, I said I have pinched nerves and a lot of pain day and night, arthritis and I said after having eight or nine surgeries I have had good care at Temple University Hospital so I’ve been much better.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

My relatives, especially two sisters and two brothers and my youngest son who was still studying. I asked him to come, but he preferred to stay.

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

I could’t start working because my health condition got worse and I was very limited at walking and trying to cope with the pain I was having in my legs and back .

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

I had some savings but I had to get some loans so I could come, which I have some debts that I have to pay back and God has been so nice that he permitted that they save me time to pay back those debts.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I had lived in New York, it was not hard, I had that experience with the changes in the weather and also changing clothes with every season. The only thing was the transportation: I was not able to get a bus and I was adapting and my children children could have their own cars to get me to my appointments. I also traveled through a program called Wheels to my medical appointments. That was better.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

No, I don’t think so because I have been optimistic. I know that every change there is some reason so you have to accept it or reject it, but if you are positive and have faith in whatever comes to you and you try hard.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

When I came, I had a B.A. from Inter America University, I have some post graduate courses that I took some years ago.

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

Yes, in some ways because I left my house with my youngest son and my relatives but in some ways here I have some treatment that make me feel better, and I have new friends and a new church and everything was going well.

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

Right now there is such a difference between there and here which is very important. As I mentioned before, medical treatment over there: I would have to travel about one hour or more to receive a good health treatment, in here it’s only ten minutes. There’s many differences in the culture. There is different the food. Here, where you are bilingual, you can speak both languages, there, you can only speak Spanish and once in a while English. Those are the main differences.

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

I was not able to work this time. When I lived in New York I use to work as an employer interview, but here I was declared disabled due to my condition.

Is there anything you would like to add?

When I graduated in 1960, was from psychology and religious education. Some years later I went back and kept studying music because I taken some courses so I got some concentration in music education and later on, another in bilingual education from another university that was Catholic. I always try to keep on studying although I have my children who were young but I always study because I like studying. I remember my experiences: 15-18 my classmates, going to church, go to so many different camps and conquering things I like to do so much, but also when I went to college there was some nice people who helped me with getting a job and give me some orientation and I also had two jobs in order to study.
At that time we did’t have programs or loans or some other economical aid that we have now. I was working at the library at the university. I was working the weekends, doing religious education work with all age groups in different communities I enjoy. I have so many worth thoughts. As I said before, if you want to do something, you achieve it if you try hard, if you work and always look ahead, and everything you do with Gods help.




12/9/1999