She's a cop!

Date: March 28, 1999
Interviewer: Moises Velez
Interviewee: Maria Elena Velez
 

What is your full name?

My full name is Maria Elena Velez.

What is your nationality?

I'm Nicaraguan.

What is your date of birth?

My date of birth is November 30, 1956

Where were you born?

I was born in Managua, Nicaragua

When did you come to the United States?

I came to the United States when I was twelve years old. That was in 1968.

When did you move to Philadelphia?

I moved to Philadelphia in 1983.

Why did you leave Nicaragua?

My parents decided to move to the United States in order to find better jobs and a better way of life for us.

Why did you choose Philadelphia?

Well, I was living in New York. The problem was that everything in New York is so expensive I could no longer afford it. So I had a sister here in Philadelphia and she was telling me about it so I decided to come down here and take a look around and I really liked it, so I moved.

How did you travel to the United States from Nicaragua?

Well, when I left Nicaragua I came on a little plane. The airline was called "La Taca." It went straight to Miami. From Miami I took the 747 "Eastern" airline all the way to New York city.

With whom did you travel from Nicaragua?

I traveled by myself because my parents were already in New York. The reason I couldn't fly with my parents was that I didn't have my visa and it took a bit longer.

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

Well, it was a big difference. First of all I didn't speak English and everything looked so very different when compared to my country. The buildings were so big; I was so amazed by them. But it really didn't take that much to adjust because I was only a little girl. Remember, I was only twelve years old. The life in the United States is completely different from our country. We have different cultures and I think that in the United States people live their lives too fast.

What were your expectations about the United States?

Well, when I left Nicaragua I was very excited and happy because I was going to see my parents. I hadn't seen them both for about a year. I just wanted to see them and be together as a family again. I was just so happy. I wanted to see everything I could. Everything seemed so different.

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

Its a big difference. I can now understand people, and I can speak English. I'm also a United States citizen. I also feel that the economy in Philadelphia has gotten much better. Moreover, I'm now a Philadelphia Police Officer.

What did you sacrifice when you left Nicaragua?

When I left Nicaragua I was very excited to see my parents. On the other hand I was sad because I was leaving behind my other family members such as my brother's and sisters. All together there is five of us. We couldn't come together to the U.S. because we didn't have that kind of money and we didn't all have a Visa.

What kind of problems did you undergo in your travel, if any?

Well, when I came over I was really scared. I was flying by myself and I didn't speak the language. I was confused and couldn't comprehend what was going on.

How did you get the money to move?

Well, about that time my parents were working in a factory where they made a small amount of money. They both worked day and night to make enough money to send for me.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was kind of difficult because my parents had to work and I had to stay home locked in an apartment building most of the day. It wasn't one of the best experiences for me. It was especially tough in school because I wasn't understood by my teachers and most students. But there were many nice people who helped me and were able to teach me.

What kind of education did you have before/after you came from Nicaragua?

Well, when I left Nicaragua I only had a sixth grade education. When I came to this country the language barrier really held me back. I made it into high school and got married and had a family of five kids. Now I have my G.E.D. and 15 college credits. I'm also a Philadelphia Police Officer.

Do you ever regret moving? Why or why not?

No, I never regretted moving to the United States. I think the United States is a beautiful place to live and I would never change it for anything else. Besides, if I didn't live in the United States I would have probably been dead already. In my country there has always been many problems. In 1972 I think, there was an enormous earthquake that killed a large amount of people. After that there has been many wars in my country. So I'm happy to say that I live in the United States. I love the United states.