She misses the swimming everyday

Interviewee: Carmen Santiago
Interviewer: Iesha Santiago
Relationship: Friend
Date: October 26, 2001
 

What is your full name?

Carmen Santiago

What is your nationality?

Spanish

What is your date of birth?

February 29, 1954.

Where were you born?

Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

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

It was about 1962.

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

Because my mother. My mom bring me over here.

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

I liked it. Free country you could do whatever you want.

Why did you choose Philadelphia / U.s?

Because she had sisters here. (Family)

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

Airplane, no trains that time.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My mom found it. Her sister help her.

With whom did you travel? (Who did you travel with?)

I travel with my brothers and sisters.

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

That we could go fishing everyday, go swimming everyday in the river and take some milk from the goat.

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

Over there is all year summer and over here is winter and summer all change weather. Crazy weather here!

What did you expect about the US/ Philly?

I'm not sure.

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

Nothing! I accomplish, I have 3 kids and they're all here.

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

Nothing, you can say we now have more drugs and before you'll never see nobody on the corner from what I remember.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Like in the beginning but like my mom here we had to get use to it.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Like what, I don't know.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Spanish and English.

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

No, No because I got married here, I raised, I got my kids. My grand kids, my mom here, my brothers and sister here. I don't regret - we all together.

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

If my mom goes back to Puerto Rico but I don't think she not going any way so I don't worry about it.

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

I was 17 years old making belts for men.