What is your nationality?

Puerto Rican.

What is your date of birth?

June 10, 1933.

Where were you born?

Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.

When did you move to Philadelphia?

In 1952.

Why did you leave Puerto Rico?

Because my father sent me here to take care of my stepmother's kids. And I stayed over here.

What did you like/ dislike about Puerto Rico?

I like the country. 'Cause I got a lot of things. Trees, parks, everything. I didn't like it because I didn't go anywhere. I stayed home. I'd only go to school to home, home to school.

Why did you choose Philly?

Because I got my brothers here. I lived with my brothers here.And I worked here.

How did you get here/ How would you change that?

In an airplane. I won't change it because I like Puerto Rico, but I wanted to know about Philly.

How did you find a place to live?

Housing Authority.

Who did you come with?

By myself.

Give 1 thing you remember about Puerto Rico and why.

My father, my brother, my uncles. They had a big farm and a big house. I played ball in the street with my brothers and my sister. Because I love Puerto Rico too much. I like it because my parents and my stepmother were there.

How did your life change when you got here?

I met my husband and got married and had 10 kids.

What did you expect about Philly?

I didn't expect anything.

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

Because in Puerto Rico, my parents send me here because I had a boyfriend in Puerto Rico and they didn't want me to marry in Puerto Rico, over there. So, they send me here. At my age! I do nothing.

What is different about Philly and Puerto Rico?

In Puerto Rico, it's warm and here it is very, very cold.

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

In Philly, I have my granddaughters. I like it here. It's better now.

What did you leave behind?

In Puerto Rico, I left over there my other family. My aunts, uncles, my cousins.

What problems did you encounter when you came here?

My brother didn't want me to live here. I wanted to go to work and find an apartment or house.

How much money did you have when you came here? How did you adapt to your environment?

I had nothing. No money. I was supposed to get work. I was scared. A lot of crime, a lot of drugs. Because they changed a little bit. Because I don't pay a mind, I just go to sleep with my kids.

Why do you think it was worth all of the changes?

I married here. I have all my kids here. Friends, my family.

What education did you have when you got here?

In Puerto Rico, the 8th grade and here.

Do you ever want to go back?Why?

Only to visit Puerto Rico. Not to live. Because I don't have any family over there. My mothers and my father died. I have my husband here. All my kids. All my family here. All my granddaughters and great grandchildren.

What reason would make you go back?

No reason to go back.

Describe your first job.

I worked in a factory making hats and I made bridal dresses.