Leaving her friends and family behind

Interviewee: Doreen Wiggins
Interviewer: Shannon Wiggins
Relationship: Mother
Date: December, 1999
 

What is your full name?

Doreen Wiggins

What is your nationality?

African American

What is your date of birth?

November 6, 1956

Where were you born?

In Madison County Virginia.

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

I moved here in 1963.

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

I moved here with my parents so that they could get better jobs to take care of our family.

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

I liked the farm, the grass, the trees and the roads. There wasn't a lot of houses. Everything was spread apart. I was able to run around freely. My sisters and I had a lot of fun.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

My parents chose Philadelphia because my aunt and uncle had already moved here.

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

We traveled here by car.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My mother and father moved in with my aunt until they found their own house.

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

My mother and father.

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

I remember the farm, animals and being able to have fresh vegetables.

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

I went to a bigger school than I had been use to, with more children. I met different people from all walks of life. The big city was just very different.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected to see how the big city actually was.

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

My family came here to accomplish a better education.

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

When I came here we were just in a certain neighborhood. Now there are so many different cultures.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left behind aunts, uncles, and cousins who I missed.

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

I did not really have any money. The money that I had came from my parents.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It was okay, a little difficult but I adapted.

Do you think it was worth all your changes?

Yes I do.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

I finished elementary school, and went on to junior high school, and high school. I then went on to college.

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

No I do not regret moving here. Life is a little faster but I don't regret it.

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

When I retire I would like to go back for the peace and quite of country life.

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

My first job was when I was in high school. My mother was working in Germantown Hospital. She got me a part-time job, working in the kitchen and serving patients food.