Interviewee: Carmen Delia Zayas
Interviewer: Bianca Zayas
Relationship: Aunt
Date: October 2001
 

Spanish version

A women with dreams and goals in search of a better life


What is your full name?

Carmen Delia Zayas
What is your nationality?
Puerto Rican
What is your date of birth?
May 25, 1946
Where were you born?
Puerto Rico
When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?
February 20, 1965
Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?
Looking for a better life.
What did you like/dislike about your home/country?
I had all my family and the environment. I dislike the economy because there wasn't much money.
Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?
Because my husband was already here and he had family.
How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?
I had a good flight. The transportation I used was in airplane. I wouldn't change it because airplane is the best transportation.
How did you find a place to live in Philly?
My sister-in-law invited me into her home.
With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]
Alone.
Give 1 thing you remember most about your hometown and why?
The thing I remember the most is my mom. She was like no other and she was very strict with me, but I still love her and I will keep on loving her.
How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?
My life made a radical change. The differences between the United States and Puerto Rico is the United States have much more opportunities and Puerto Rico you have to work for what you desire.
What did you expect about US/Philly?
Expected a better life.
What did you come here to accomplish and what else you feel you still need to do?
Accomplished in having a job, a house, and a perfect family. I feel as if I still have to give a good education to my grandsons and so they will have more than what I didn't have.
What are the differences between when you came here and now?
When I came the economy was very poor, but you lived a better life. Now life is more advance, but you live frighten because of the crime.
What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?
I didn't sacrifice anything, but I did leave behind my family.
What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?
With the problem I encounter was not knowing English.
How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?
I didn't bring money because I counted with my husband money.
How did you adapt to your new environment?
I adapted to the environment with time.
Why do you think it was worth all your changes?
I think it was worth the changes because I came to have a better life.
What education did you have before/after you arrived?
In Puerto Rico I couldn't go to school because life was too poor and when I came to the United States I couldn't got to school because I had to work.
DO you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?
I have never had regrets because all my dreams in having a better life have all came true.
What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?
The only reason I'll go back to Puerto Rico is for the economy and if there's more jobs.
Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, who did you get money?
My first job here was sewing in industrial machines. I won 85 cents an hour. It was a good starter. I word 1 year and 1/2 there. The factory was called Foster.
Is there anything you would like to add?
The only thing is that I don't regret the life I have lived here and I have worked 36 years of my life.


Questions & Answers: Spanish
 

Como se llama?

Carmen Delia Zayas
Cual es su nacionalidad?
Puerto Riquena
Cuando es su fecha de nacimiento?
Mayo 25, 1946
Adonde nacio?
Puerto Rico
Cuando se mudo a Philadelphia?
Febrero 20, 1965.
Porque te binistes de Puerto Rico?
Buscava una mejor vida.
Que te gustaba y que no te gustaba?
Tenia toda mi familia y el ambiente. No me gustava la economia porque no habia trabajo.
Proque escogistes Philadelphia?
Porque mi esposo lla tenia familia aqui.
Como viajastes? Que clase transportacion uso? Como lo cambiarias?
Viaje par la aerolinia Eastern Airline la transportacion rue un avian. No 10 cambiaria porque ir en avian es mas rapido y mucho mejor.
Como encontrastes un sitio en donde vivir?
Mi cunada me dio su casa.
Con quien viajastes?
Sola.
Un recuerdo que recuerdas mas de Puerto Rico?
El recuerdo que mas recuerdo es mi mama. Era una mama como ninguna y fue muy estricta con migo pero al igual la quiero y la seguire queriendo.
Como cambio su vida cuando te mudastes y que son 2 differencias de los 2 sitios?
Mi vida clio un cambia radical. la differencia de log Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico es log Estados Unidos tiene muchas mas opportunidades y Puerto Rico hay que trabajar mucho mas para conseguir lo que tu deseas.
Que esperaba de Philadelphia?
Esperaba una mejor vida.
Que binistes a alcanzar y que sientes que todavia tienes que hacer?
Alcanze en teller un trabajo, una casa, y una perfecta familia. Siento que todavia tengo que darle una buena educacion a mis nietos y que tengan mas alIa de lo que yo no rove.
Cual son las differencias de aqui cuando llegastes y ahora?
Cuando llegue la economia era mas pobre pero se vivia mejor. Ahora la vida es mas avanzada pero se vive con miedo par el crimen.
Que sacrificastes o dejastes atras?
No sacrifique nada pero deje atras mi familia.
Con que problemas se encontro cuando llego?
Con el problema que mas me enfrente rue at no saber el idioma de aqui, Ingles.
Cuanto tenias de dinero y donde lo cogistes cuando llegastes a Philly?
No traje ninguno. Porque contava con el dinero de mi esposo
Como te adaptastes al ambiente?
Me fui adaptando al ambiente poco a poco.
Porque crees que valid la pena todos sus cambios?
Creo que valio la pena todos mis cambios porque vine a tener una mejor vida.
Que educacion tenias antes o despues de llegar?
En Puerto Rico no pude estudiar porque la vida era muy pobre y cuando llegue a los Estados Unidos no pude estudiar porque tenia que trabajar.
En alguna vez de tu vida te as arepentido por venir? Porque o porque no?
Nunca me a repentido porque todos mis suenos en tener una mejor vida se me an cumplido.
Que razon te isiera regresar de donce eras?
La unica razon que regresaria a Puero Rico es por la economia y que haiga mas trabajo.
Describe tu primer trabajo aqui. Si no tenias de adonde consegistes dinero?
Mi primer trabajo aqui rue cosiendo en maquinas industriales, me ganava 85 centavos la hore. Fue un principio bueno. Trabaje ano y medio u la factoria se llamaba Foster.
Hay cualquier cosa que quieres aumentar?
Lo unico es que no me quejo de la vida que e vivido aqui y e trabado 36 anos.

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