By boat and train to Philadelphia

Interviewer: Pierre Mendez
Interviewee: Jose Diaz
 

What is your full name?

Jose Diaz

What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican

What is your date of birth?

August 26, 1962

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?

Well, in about 1976 I moved to Boston, stayed in Boston for a year and then moved to Philly.

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

My mom was not getting any money. So, we knew people out there so we come to stay with them.

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

I loved Puerto Rico, there's nothing I didn't like about it, it was hard for my mother to live.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Like I said, I already knew people that was staying here.

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

We traveled here on a boat to Boston. And from Boston we caught a train down here after we stayed in Boston for a while. I don't really know how I would change it.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My third cousin was living in Philly so we got a place around where he lived.

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

I traveled with my mother and my two sisters.

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

My hometown was hot all the time.

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

Well, Boston was cold all the time so that's a difference from Puerto Rico.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I didn't really expect nothing. My mom said one day, “We're going to the U.S.” couldn't do nothing about it.

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

Well, I didn't come here to accomplish anything. I just come here trying to make a living. My mother trying to support us, I don't see what else I could do, but give my kids the same.

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

When I came here it was almost 20 years ago. That was a long time, a lot of things changed, everything changed, neighbors, people, everything.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my girl she was about 16 and I loved her, but there was nothing I could do.

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

We didn't really encounter a lot of problems. We just didn't have a lot of money so it was kind of hard. We had to stay in Boston for a little longer than we thought.

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

We did not have a lot, my mom got that from work and what she was doing. We only had a little.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Well, over time I got used to it. Over time you get used to things

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Well, I think it was worth the fact that my mother got a good job up here, able to support us, give us a good life, the best that she could. That was worth it.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

When I came here I had a regular education. I was in about 10th grade, no, not 10th grade. I was in about 10th grade, 10th grade, 9th grade. I had a regular education.

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

Well, I don't regret it because living conditions are better over here. You know, my mom wanted to come here and my mom loves it up here. So I don't regret nothing.

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

I love where I came from and I love my people there.... Well, I have a lot of family over there probably the only reason I would ever go back for my family.

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

I didn't start working up here 'til, like, 6 years after I stayed up here. My mom was working. We were living with my mom. And our cousin would help us out with the money.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Well, not really there's not really anything I could add.