A woman struggles for a better way of life in spite of lack of skills

Interviewee: Anna L. Rivera
Interviewer: Jannette Rivera
Date: January 21, 1999

What Is Your full name?

Anna L. Rivera

What is your nationality?

Hispanic

What Is your date of birth?

My date of birth is January 8, 1966.

Where were you born?

I was born here in Philadelphia.

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

The last time that I moved here was in 1996

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

I'm from Puerto Rico and left Puerto Rico in 1996 to look for a better way of life, better way of living.

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

I like my country because its the tropical island. I like the climate. I like the people and its a nice place to live but economically it's not. That's why I came her. Economically it's not really advanced. It's not really good when you're raising a family. Money-wise it was very hard to find employment.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I chose Philadelphia because I went [to] college here. I went to Temple University and I guess because I knew people and I had other relatives.

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

I came by plane. I flew over here and I would not change a plane for a boat because I'm scared of boats.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

Well, at first I had to get money and to get money I had to get Public Assistance to get the money and I found an apartment.

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

I traveled with my kids.

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

I remember my childhood and why do I remember my childhood? Because I had a very good childhood in Puerto Rico - it was great. We did so many things, its crazy.

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

My life changed drastically. It changed because over here I have more opportunities of employment more opportunities of education. I had the chance to give my kids what they really wanted. What they really needed - to get a better education as opposed to Puerto Rico they did not have the luxury. They couldn't have the better education and it was very hard for them so that's why.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expect for my kids, of course, to get a better education to get to learn. For them to get involved in other activities as far as social activities like in sports and so forth. And I also expect of course to move up more within the employment that I'm in now. I want an advancement. That is what I want.

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

I came here to accomplish, of course, to get better to be more stable with my family - and of course that's economically and I still got goals to meet. Part of my goals is to have my kids, I guess, in a better school and, of course, to move up within my company I'm employed with at this time and I don't know... give them a chance to travel and I hope to give them the opportunities that I did not have in life.

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

It's a major difference now and before. When I first came here I didn't have anything, nothing. I started from scratch. No money. No place to live. No winter clothes, it was like nothing. I started from scratch and it was very hard and difficult for me to start all over again. To start from scratch. As now, I have a house. I have a car. I have a great job. I have good benefits. My kids have everything they need. Their basic needs. They don't have a big luxury but they have what they basically need and they're in a good school. Its a big difference

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I sacrificed everything that I had worked for as for things that I hold. I didn't leave much behind but material-wise I left everything I had.

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

It was very difficult money-wise because you don't do anything in Philadelphia without money. If you don't have any money you can't get a house. If you don't have money you can't get an apartment. After you needed a job and I didn't have a background in the job so the most difficult part was first finding a job to find money.

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

When I first got to Philadelphia, it's a joke but all I had was $20 in my pocket. That's all I brought to Philadelphia and of course to get more money than the $20 that I had in my pocket I went to unemployment. I was denied employment. I was unable to find a job and of course I ended up at the Unemployment and the Unemployment sent me to the Department of Public Welfares. The Department of Welfares was the one that actually started my assistance and in helping me out and giving me a certain training to get me where I'm at this time.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

At first I had a hard time to get adapted to that but it was fairly easy, I think it was pretty easy, because I grew up here and it was pretty easy. For my kids, it was a little hard because of the language. There was a language barrier but we survived. We got through. We adapted.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Oh, it was worth all the changes. I mean over there I didn't have a place of my own. And yes, I did have a car. Yes, I was employed but everything is more expensive over there so over here is less expensive and over here I got everything. I have a car, house, money, everything so its good.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Before I came in 1996 I still have my college. I have my high school diploma and my college. I didn't complete my college but I have 3 years of college so yes, therefore, I was a teacher. I taught all grades and levels from first grade, kindergarten to 12th graders and that has helped me a lot. I have my Associates degree and I'm working towards my B.A.

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

No, I don't regret moving because if I wouldn't had moved over here I wouldn't be where I'm at now. If I stayed over there I would've been stuck and stranded like in a puddle thing. Where you can't try to get out and you can't. Its like a vicious circle and you work and you pay and you just don't move up there's no room. No matter how you try you just can't advance at all and over here you have that room and you have the opportunity to do that.

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

It would have to be something major. It would have to do something with my parents or some type of major problem for me to go back other than that or something like with my kids, something that makes me obligated to go back. I would not just go back because I want go back no way. I'll stay right here.

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

My first job here I started in an auto tag agency. It was good - it was like a part time thing and I learned a lot from them and it was ok but it was a part time than I, of coarse, was employed. I'm employed with an insurance company - a major insurance company, which is pretty good. It offers good benefits and I like it.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Well, that I don't regret coming to the United States. I'm glad I did and I did not stay within my country because it was a chance for me in life and I just don't regret coming here. It's pretty good. Even though it's Philadelphia. I don't regret coming here. It's good.