A women and her family give up everything they
own, in hopes of finding a better life

 
 
Date: June 7, 1999
Interviewer: Vivian Padilla
Interviewee: Milogros Muniz
 
 
What is your full name?

Milogros Muniz.

What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

March 5, 1960.

When did you move to Warminster?

1975.

When did you move to Philadelphia?

1980.

Why did you leave Puerto Rico?

My father left Puerto Rico first, he wanted to see if it was a better and safer place to live.

Why did you choose Philadelphia?

He (my father) thought it would be a better place to find a job and a better place to live.

How did you travel?

We traveled by plane.

Did you know anyone in Philadelphia?

Yeah, my father knew a close friend who lived in Warminster.

With whom did you travel?

I traveled with my mother, my brothers and my sisters. Because my father had left before us.

What were the differences between the two places?

The difference is that Puerto Rico is a tropical island, it is very hot and humid and it does not snow and does not get cold. And in the United States it snows and gets very cold.

What were your expectations about your destination?

Well, I expected it to be very different. The houses in Puerto Rico is very different, they are only one floor and are very small. The houses over here are bigger, they are two floors and have a basement. And also in Puerto Rico it rains a lot and it is very humid.

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

The difference is that the streets were cleaner and it was safer for children to grow up. And now the streets are broken and there is a lot of drugs and a lot of broken houses.

What did you sacrifice or leave behind when you left?

Well, my father had to sacrifice his job, houses, a farm and also his relatives.

How did you get the money to move?

My father had to come to the United States and find a job. Then after he got some money he sent for us.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Well, first of all I had to get used to the cold, and I couldn't understand what people were trying to tell me because I didn't know any English.

What education did you have before you arrived?

Before I moved over here I didn't have much education, but when I moved over here I got a very good education because they can teach very well and they have very good schools.

Do you regret moving?

No, because I got used to it over here, and I like the houses and they also have better jobs.