My father brought us to Philadelphia and then
went back home to Puerto Rico.

Interviewee: Sonia Medina
Interviewer: Thomas Vargas
Relationship: Mother
Date: March 23, 2000
 
 

What is your full name?

My name is Sonia Medina.

What is your nationality?

My nationality is Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

I was on June 7, 1962.

Where were you born?

I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

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

I moved from Puerto Rico to New York in 1970. Then in 1975 I moved from Brooklyn to Philadelphia.

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

My parents decided to relocate.

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

I don't recall a time where I disliked Puerto Rico. I love Puerto Rico.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

My father chose Philadelphia. My father's relatives lived in Philadelphia.

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

From Brooklyn to Philadelphia we traveled by car. To get to Brooklyn from Puerto Rico we flew.

How did you find a place to live in Philadelphia?

My father's relatives assisted him.

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

I traveled with my parents and sisters.

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

I remember the mountains, clear blue sky, and sun.

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

Being in Puerto Rico the temperature was always warm. However, in Philadelphia the temperature in winter was too cold.

What did you expect about the US/Philadelphia?

I wish it was more like Puerto Rico, but it wasn't. I wanted to finish school.

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

To finish high school and go on to college.

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

There are more opportunities for school. To learn about technology and discover the workplace.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I gave up my culture.

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

The language barrier and here the there were a variety of cultures.

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

My grandfather gave my father money. Also my father worked odd jobs.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was very hard, and time allowed for all the major changes.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

There are many opportunities here than Puerto Rico.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

In Puerto Rico I completed preschool. Then in Brooklyn and Philadelphia I completed high school and college.

Did your father regret moving? Why or why not?

Yes I guess so because he moved back to Puerto Rico.

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

There are lots of reasons. To this day I'm not used to the cold. More importantly, I would go back for the beauty of the island and culture.

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

My first job was with my ex sister-in-law working as a secretary in a department helping farmers. It was a non-profit organization.

Is there anything you would like to add?

It was sad to leave Puerto Rico. There were eight of us including my parents. In Puerto Rico we had a farm, cows, horses, and chickens. It was all open space. Then in New York it all came down to several bedrooms. It was a depressing area. There wasn't even a place to play. People picked on us because of our accents. My mother passed away making matters worse. Then my father moved back to Puerto Rico when we were old enough to maintain ourselves. However, our education, family, and lifestyle kept us together.