Spanish Version

Interviewee: Felicia Feliciano
Interviewer: Zunibel Olivares
Relationship: Friend of the family
Date: October 23, 2003

A woman who changed her way of living for a better future

What is your full name?

My name is Felicia Aleida Feliciano.

What is your nationality?

I am Columbian.

What is your date of birth?

August 20, 1948.

Where were you born?

I was born in Bogota, Columbia.

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

I moved to Philadelphia in the year 1971.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?
My reason for leaving my country was that my husband was here and he wanted me to move here with him.

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

I mostly liked the fruits, food and the tropical weather.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I really didn't have a choice, my husband was already here.

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

I took two planes: one from Columbia to Miami and one from Miami to Philadelphia.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?
Since my husband was living with his family, I moved in with them until two months later we found a place for ourselves.

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

I came with my three year-old daughter and my unborn child.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?

I remember New Years. All the members of the family use to get together and have a big celebration.

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

My life changed in many ways. First of all, the environment wasn't the same. I didn't know anybody else other than my husband's family.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected to find a good job and a lot of opportunities for my kids and I.

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?
I came here to buy my own house and I wanted my kids to study here. My husband needed us with him.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?
When I got here there weren't as many Hispanic people as there is now.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
I left my family, my own house, and my friends. I also left my dog.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
I couldn't understand the language. That was really hard for me. My husband understood it but didn't speak it fluently.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to PhillylUS?

I had $100  that my husband sent me with the plane ticket.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
At first it was real hard because I missed my family but then I started meeting new people and made new friends and I got used to it.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Because now my kids have a better life than they would have if they would of stayed in Bogota.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I had a high school diploma.
Do you [ever} regret moving? Why or why not?
No, I really don't regret moving because of the opportunities I had. Also my kids benefited a lot.

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

I will only go back to visit my family.
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?
I used to work in a deli at a food market. It was really frustrating for me and for the customers; they would get annoyed because I couldn't understand them. We used to communicate by signs and by touching the meats so that way I would know what the people wanted. 

Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes, I would like to let you know that it takes a lot of sacrifices and frustration to leave your hometown behind. But it all pays off at the end; everything I went through was worth it.


Spanish Version

Interviewee: Felicia Feliciano
Interviewer: Zunibel Olivares
Relationship: Amiga de la familia
Date: October 23, 2003


Cual es tu nomhre completo?

Mi number es Felicia Aleida Feliciano

Cual es tu nacionalidad?

Yo soy Colombiana.

Cual es tu dia de nacimiento?

Agosto 20,1948.

A don de usted nacio?

Yo naci en Bogota Colombia.

Cuando se mudo a Los Estados Unidos?

Yo me mude a log estado unidos en el afio 1971.

Por que tefuiste de tupais?

Porque mi esposo ya estaba aqui y el me mando a buscar.

Que te gusta o no te Gusta de tu pais?

Me gusta loas frutas la comida y el clima tropical.

Por que escogiste los Estados Unidos?

Yo no lo escogi por que ya mi esposo estaba aqui .

En que viajo que tipo de transportaciony que camhiara?

Yo cogi dos aviones uno de bogota a Miami, y el otro de Miami a Filadelfia.

Como encontro una casa en Filadelfia?

Bueno mi esposo estaba viviendo con su familia, y yo me quede con ell os asta en como tres meses encontramos un lugar.

Con quien viajaste a los estados unidos?

Yo viaje con mi hija de tres afio y el bebe que estaba esperando.

Dime un recuerdo que tu tenga de Nicaragua?

Un recuerdo que nunca olvidare es de la fiesta de afio nuevo cundo mi familia se reunia y teniamos  reuniones de familia.

Como se te a camhiado tu vida a mudarte a Los Estados Unidos?
Mi vida cambio en muchas maneras, una de ella rue que el sitio no era e igual y yo no conocia a nadie solo a la familia de mi esposo.

Que esperabas de los Estados Unidos?
Yo esperaba encontrar trabajo y muchas oportunidades para mi y para mi hijos.

Que tu viniste superar y que necesitas todavia a superar?

Yo vine para compra mi casa, y yo queria que mi hijos tengan mas oportunidades para estudiar.

Que son las diferencia entre cuando tu llegaste y ahora?

Las deferencias son que cuando yo llegue aqui no avian muchas personas hispanas como ahora.

Que tu sacriflcaste/que tu dejaste atrtis?

Yo a mi familia,mi propia casa, mis amistades,y un perro que tenia.

Que problema tu te encontre cuando tu llegaste a los Estado Unido?

Unos de log problemas mas grande que yo tuve era el idioma yo no entendia nada eras bien duro para mi esposo lo entendi pero lo no podia hablar.

Cuanto dinero tu tenia cuando llegaste? Como encontraste dinero?

Yo tenia $100 que mi esposo me envio unto con el pasaje.

Como tu te adates a la nueva vida?

Alo primero era bien duro porque estragaba a mi familia y a mi amistades pero en pese a conocer mas personas y nuevas amistades yo me rue acostumbrando.

Por que tu pensaste que era momento del cambio?

Porque mi hijos tiene mas oportunidades aqui en bogota.

Que educacion tu tenias cuando llegaste?

Mi diploma de escuela superior.

Tu nunca te arrepiente des de mudate aqui por que si o no?

No porque aqui yo e tenido muchas oportunidades y mis hijos se van a beneficiar de ella.

Por que razon tu te irias para tras de a desde tu llegaste?

Si me gustaria vi sitar a mi familia en bogota.

Describe tu primer trahajo aqui?

Mi primer trabajo rue en una carniceria eres bien dificil por que yo no entendia nada de lo que me decian e los no me entendian y yo no lo entendida a ellos la manera que no comunicabamos era cuando yo a pautaba a la carne que ello quieran.
No hay nada que te gustaria decir?
Si me gustaria decirte que se toma mucho esfuerzo y frustracion para dejar a tu pais si tienes siempre triunfaras.