Man Misses His Homeland And Wishes One Day To Return!

INTERVIEWER: Kimberly Nieves
INTERVIEWEE: Nelson Ramirez
Date: March, 2000
 
 

What is your full name?

Nelson Ramirez Ortiz

What is your nationality?

Hispanic

What is your date of birth?

2/17/67

Where were you born?

Salina, Puerto Rico

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

I moved when I was 6 months old but returned when I was 8 years old.

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

Because my mother wanted to move to a better place.

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

I liked the weather because it was nice and warm all the time I don't dislike anything.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

They choose N.Y. first then Philadelphia, I don't know why.

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

They arrived here by plane.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

They found it by friends.

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

My father, my mother, my grandmother.

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

Over here you can learn to speak English, over there you can but more opportunities over here more money more jobs.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I don't know I expected Philadelphia to be more beautiful and exciting.

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

Try to finish school and try to get a degree I haven't done that yet .

What are the differences between when you came hereand now?

Now I got more opportunities of doing more things by myself then when I came here.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left behind my grand mom, aunts, uncles, and my dog.

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

No problem.

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

I didn't have no money my mom and dad did, they worked.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Made lots of friends.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

'Cause I have accomplished lots of stuff that I didn't think I was gonna accomplish over there.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Over there I had 1 year and over here 10.

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

I don't regret it but I can move back, its fun over here.

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

Retirement, go back and relax, go visit.

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

My first job was working for the Social Security building, it was good. It was cheap but I got paid $4.35 an hour.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Philadelphia and Puerto Rico: I like them both but I like P.R. most. I consider both my home and I don't regret none of my past!!

* At 8 he returned back to P.R. and left again at age 13 or 14 for better schooling!