Interviewee: Maria Margerita Rivera
Interviewer: Rosa Montijo
Relationship: Friend
Date: May 14, 2001

A sacrifice to succeed

What is your full name?

Maria Margarita Rivera

What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican

What is your date of birth?

October 24, 1951

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

I came in 1969.

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

I moved because I wanted to study, keep up my studies in the university, and also to find a better job, and also my mother sent me because she wanted me to left my boyfriend, but I had an attack.

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

What I liked the climate. It's not that cold, it's not that hot, and I like my family is there, most of my family is living there. What I don't like it from Puerto Rico is that at the time there wasn't a lot of available jobs that I would like.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

My two brothers, the oldest ones were living here, and it was better for me to live with them.

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

Airplane and car.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My brother had an apartment at the time.

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

I travel by myself

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

Church, the church that I used to go, and my friends. I was feeling in my church at home. My father brought me there since I was 10 years old. That's another reason I like Puerto Rico better than here is here - I met new people, and over there they see me when I was growing up.

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

It changed a lot, because I didn't want to go back to Puerto Rico. I found a job. I found the father of my children, and also I had my own things, my own house.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Didn't know how the snow looked like, and wanted to see how when it snowed how it would be, and I didn't like the cold weather. I hate it.

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

I was in Puerto Rico the University, and I came here to work, and keep on paying my studies over there, and I accomplished one year in Puerto Rico, and 3 years here at the Theological Institute. Yes, I didn't finish to be a teacher, and I would like to finish. That was one of my dreams.

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

Yes, a lot of violence, now the schools you can't go freely. A lot of fights, and I used to go walking the streets without too much fear, now walking the streets I fear for my life a lot of times.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I sacrificed my love, my family, my church, my friends, a lot of things.

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

First of all the language was real weird for me to find a job, another thing. I didn't know how to go to places on buses.  I had to learn how to go here and there.

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

I came with not much money, just a few dollars that my mother gave me and my father.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

My brother tried to make me feel at home. They helped me go places, and also they used to teach how to speak English. If I didn't know how to watch TV they help me to understand the TV better.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

That I got a family of my own, I got my own house. It was worth in a way. I found some happiness. Oh, my father was very protective. I learned how to be by myself.  I learned how to be independent.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

High school. I had high school, I went to study a lot of things, and that the way I did it.

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

Sometimes it is too cold here, and also you have to be in your house most of the time in the winter time. I like the weather over there - it's better than here.

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

What will make me go back over there, it will be that all my children will be independent, and if I feel alone I would move over there to feel more calm.

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

My first job was in photography.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Sometimes if you want to accomplish, you have to leave things behind. It doesn't matter if it will hurt, leave it and go on for your goal in life.