Interviewee: Name withheld by request
Interviewer: Irmailiz Mauras
Relationship: Brother-Law
Date: September 9, 2002
His first trip to the United States
Name withheld by request
What is your nationality?
Puerto Rican
What is your date of birth?
June 6, 1978
Where were you born?
Coamo, Puerto Rico
When did you move to Philadelphia?
December, 1997
Why did you leave your country?
There were no good jobs.
What did you like or dislike about your country?
I liked the environment and the only thing I didn't like was the fact that there weren't
too many job openings.
Why did you choose Philadelphia?
This was the only place where I had family.
How did you travel here? What type of transportation did you use or take to travel here?
How would you change that?
I traveled by plane, but I would've liked to travel by cruse.
How did you find a place to live in Philadelphia?
Through my family.
With whom did you travel?
By myself.
Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?
I remember my family 'cause we were always together.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences
between the two places?
My life changed in... the language and the weather 'cause over there it's hot and cold here.
What did you expect from Philadelphia?
I expected to find a job.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel
you still need to do?
Establish a home and family. And if I have time I would like to own my own business.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
First, I didn't know anybody and now I know people.
What did you sacrifice and/or leave behind when you left?
I sacrificed my job and left my family behind.
What problems did you encounter coming to Philadelphia?
None
How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philadelphia?
I had $1,850 or $2,000 and I sold a car to obtain the money.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
Little by little.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
Now I'm a new person.
What education did you have before and after you arrived?
Before I came to Philadelphia I finished high school and when I got here I just found a job.
Do you ever regret moving? Why or why not?
I don't regret it because I moved forward.
What reason would make you go back to where you came from?
The future will tell me.
Describe your fist job here. If you didn't have one, how did you get money?
I worked, as soon as I arrived, starting on a fabric called Cardon. It was a little hard but it was
the first job I found.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I like where I am right now, I'm used to it and... that's about it.
