We didn't have much but my father worked and he gave my mother whatever he had until we settled down.

Interviewer: Monica Rivera
Interviewee: Luz Neraida Santiago
Date: December 13, 1999
 

What is your full name?

Luz Neraida Santiago.

What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

August 8,1965

Where were you born?

San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico

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

In 1978

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

Because my parents wanted a better life for us.

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

What I liked was all our family lived nearby each other.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

For better jobs and better education.

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

I traveled here by plane, I wouldn't change anything.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

First we moved in with relatives, then we found a place of our own.

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

With my mother, sister, and brother.

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

It's a very small town it had small homes.

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

I learned to speak English. I could afford stuff over here that I couldn't afford over there.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Cleaner and lots of different nationalities.

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

To get a better job and to finish my education.

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

Things were less expensive than they are now.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

Other family members.

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

Not having a place to live without sharing a home, and not having that much money.

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

We didn't have much but my father worked and he gave my mother whatever he had until we settled down.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I adapted pretty fast, it was different but it was O.K.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Because there is more to do here.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I didn't have any.

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

No, I love Philly.

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

I don't have any reason for going back, except to visit my mother.

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

My first job here was in a day care working with children.