Through my past I gave my children a future

Interviewer: David Serrano, Jr.
Interviewee: Sonia Marixa Cortes
Relation: Mother
Date: January 19, 2001
 

What is your full name?

My name is Sonia Marixa Cortes.

What is your nationality?

I'm Puertorican.

What is your date of birth?

January 30, 1969.

Where were you born?

In Adjuntas, Puerto Rico.

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

In 1979.

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

I was young, I wanted to start a life.

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

I liked Puerto Rico. I had a lot of family.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because I have family here. My aunt Milta Cortes.

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

I took car. It really wasn't hard getting here.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My aunt had told me of an apartment rent, to own, so I moved. It was less than I was staying in New York.

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

I traveled with my son who was sixteen and my eldest triplet who was eighteen. I traveled to Philadelphia in 1998. My oldest daughter was nineteen but is married and lives in Orlando , Florida.

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

The coffee fields and the flowing river that swelled when it rained.

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

It changed a lot.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Nice place to live.

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

Nothing but live to see all my grandchildren.

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

It is all the same but the jobs differ in Puerto Rico. The climate is different along with the agriculture.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my family behind. My parents along with my brothers and sisters.

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

Didn't know the city, but now I don't like it. hmhmhmhm, I'd like to move to Orlando, Florida.

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

Not much but the money I had received was for picking coffee.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was hard learning a new language, but I learned.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I'm here but not where I expected to be.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I went to high school, passed.  I went college for three years but now I am disabled.

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

I do but then again I can't because through my past I gave my children a future.

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

I wouldn't go back to Puerto Rico.

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

I worked in a factory making parts for lamps. I liked my job it wasn't hard but I had five children.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Makes me think about going to college for nothing.  But I learned a new language and got a new life.