Since being born and raised in Brooklyn I came out and decided to come to Philly then I expected the worst but it doesn't seem to be bad after all

Interviewee: Efrain Caraballo Perez
Interviewer: Roberta Tate
Date: March 4, 2000
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What is your full name?

My full name is Efrain caraballo Perez

What is your nationality?

I am Puerto Rican

What is your date of birth?

August 25th , 1976

Where we you born?

I was born in Brooklyn, New York

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

Ahh, I lived in Brooklyn New York, I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I moved to Puerto Rico in 1979 and decided to come out here in 1986.

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

I left out here for a job

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

[laughing] I really didn't dislike anything, I love my hometown.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Choose Philadelphia because I, I was coming from Puerto Rico with a cousin of mine to work at the New Jersey fields and his dad lived in Philadelphia, so we came from Philadelphia until we had a ride to go to New Jersey to find out if there were hiring.

How did u travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/ take to travel here?

Well, we came from Puerto Rico so we took a flight from Puerto Rico to the Newark, New Jersey. After Newark, New Jersey we took a train up to Philadelphia

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

Like I said earlier, I had a uncle that lived here and sheltered us 'til I got a job.

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

Well, on that flight on the traveling from the flight from Puerto Rico, I came with my cousin, afterwards I traveled on my own.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?

Hey, I can't complain about the beaches, they're beautiful.

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

Well, my life changes as I had to be an adult I had to be more mature. When I moved to Puerto Rico I had difficulties in the Spanish because I didn't speak as well Spanish as I speak now and when I came back out here to the States. The past, like my teen years in Puerto Rico, I grew with them and it called like you get stucked to like a "hibado" and a hibado is like a hillbilly which you no you hear people speaking in Spanish or a English language after they lived a certain amount of years in Puerto Rico you can distinguish them, but they got kind of a accent to their voice.

What did you expect about the U.S/Philly?

Since being born and raised in Brooklyn I came out and decided to come to Philly then I expected the worst but it doesn't seem to be bad after all.

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

Well, I came here to become, a mature adult and accomplishes to raise a family have a family and raise a family which I am still doing and to make sure that they will be successful in their life.

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

Well, the difference is when I came here I was all alone I was lonely I didn't know if I was gonna fit in here. As time goes by, now that I now I have a family, a place to stay, I have the job and I feel more comfortable with it. That's how I feel staying out here.

What did you sacrificed/ leave behind when you left?

Well, I sacrificed, I guess a different life 'cause in Puerto Rico its a whole different life that you lived and I sacrificed leaving my parents behind.

What problems did you encounter coming to Philly/U.S?

Well, as far as I encountered when I came here was that I was all alone. I had to live up for myself and I adapt to the different laws that they have out here in Philly.

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

Well, I had, ahh, I had, ahh, car when I was in Puerto Rico and I sold it and I had some money there to buy a plane ticket and my mother gave me some more extra money in case everything didn't come out right the way I was planning to. I had enough money to buy another plane ticket to go back home.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Well, the way I adapted was with the people I know - the friends and family I had new and the job I had, I had went out every day. I adapted, I adapted.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Well, as you grow older I guess you try to do it on your own and not have your parents to help you out and as you get older I guess you try to be more independent.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Oh, when I was in Puerto Rico, umm, I graduated like in the 4th year and I also took a course of construction which helps me a lot. I don't use it now but in the future, hopefully I be able to use it.

Do you ever regret moving? Why or why not?

Bueno, I regret moving. Yeah, because I don't know what kind of life I would've had out there even though the life I'm living now is fine, you can't ask for anything else.

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

Well, after I guess everybody looks in the future that in 20 years you retire then you get old and you would like to have a nice resting place. I guess that would be the best part of my life when I get older.

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

Well, when I came from Puerto Rico in 1986 1 had the first job in the cemetery and I've been there ever since. I started as a landscaper cutting grass and I worked my way up and now I'm assisting supervisor.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Well, I would like to add, that thanks to my dad and he decided to move us to Puerto Rico because I come from there. I had a big family, I had 5 brothers and we were all growing up in Brooklyn, New York which looks like that really could've chosen the wrong path and as the change to Puerto Rico made us better in life. We decided to accomplish more and here I am 25 years later going a straight way and happy!