A man moves from a small town to the big city and starts a career as a teacher

Interviewee: T. Carpenter
Interviewer: R. Stoloff
Relationship: Colleague
Date: December, 2000
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Note: This was originally done as a demonstration of an interview but it was decided to include it on our site.
 

What is your full name?

Mr. T. Carpenter

What is your nationality?

American

What is your date of birth?

March 31, 1954.

Where were you born?

Oil City, Pa.

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

1978

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

So I could attend college. Westminster Choir College in NJ.

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

Not enough people - backward. I like the open space to hike around in.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because it is near Westminster College

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

Uhaul.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

Apartment ads in the newspaper.

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

I came with my wife.

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

Creaking sound of the oil wells in our backyard.

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

I wasn't driving fast enough. Everyone moves much faster and the accents....

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected the buildings to be taller because the only other big cities I'd been in were NYC and Pittsburgh and they have taller buildings.

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

To get a second college degree. I still need to get my Masters of Education from Temple University.

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

The buildings are taller. And I got used to he pace.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

Contact with my brothers and parents.

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

I had to relearn to drive - aggressively.

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

About $3,000 and no job.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Slowly! For the first year and a half I hated it because I kept getting run into.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I was able to broaden my horizons, further my education and there's greater opportunities to enjoy cultural events.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

A Bachelor in Math.

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

No. I've grown to like it here.

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

It would have to be an awful lot of money there is not much besides trees there. We couldn't see much beside trees.

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

Working part time in Trenton, NJ - I earned $3,000 per year. I directed 3 choirs.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I would say, so far, I've been happier in this job (Edison) than any other that I've had.