Meet my grandma Angelita Vazquez (left), with my mother (right). Read her story and listen to the video I made and edited.  Click on the photo (but it's a large .MOV file 1:09 in length, so please be patient.)

    I, Angelita Vazquez, came from Puerto Rico. I immigrated to New York City on May 19, 1949.   I came to the U.S with my parents because they were seeking better opportunities. My parents and I knew that there were better jobs and educational opportunities in New York.   My goal in life was to study, work and take care of my parents.  I became a hospital operating room technician and worked in that job for 15 years.  I got married to my husband Rafael and had 5 children. We just recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary.

    Life in the U.S was not too difficult, but it was different. Everyone moved faster. Life in Puerto Rico was at a slower pace. One thing that came in handy was that I knew English. I learned English at school in Puerto Rico. Back home it was always warm, while here it gets cold. But I enjoy the change of seasons and I especially loved the snow. I came directly to the U.S. mainland by airplane and it took me 8 hours. It was very painful leaving Puerto Rico, but I loved New York.  I always kept in touch with people from Puerto Rico such as my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. We kept in touch by phone and by letter.

    Though there was a house of worship where I practiced my religion, none of my friends attended. The reason for this was that in New York there were many religions. Most of my new friends did not practice the same religion. My friends were Jewish because I moved into a Jewish neighborhood. But that didn’t stop us from being friends. They were very kind and welcomed me when I was new to the U.S. They taught me about their culture and beliefs.

     After residing in New York for 39 years where I had my home and raised my children, my husband and I decided to retire and return to our homeland “La Isla del Encanto”(Puerto Rico), where his dream was to own land.  We have lived in Puerto Rico for 13 years now and have decided to make New York our home for half of the year. After all, this is where our family lives.
 
 
 

                              My Immigrant Interview Transcript

1.     Question- Country of origin and date of arrival.
        Answer-My name is Angelita Vazquez and I immigrated from Puerto Rico to the United States in May 1949.

2.     Question-Why did you come to the United States? What did you about this country that helped you decide to immigrate? Was your information accurate?
         Answer-I came to the United States with my parents seeking better job opportunities. I knew I would be able to get a good education. This is what persuades me to immigrate to the United States.

3.      Question-What was your goal in life when you first arrived? Have you moved toward or reached that goal? Has your life met your expectations? How?
         Answer ?My goal in life was to study, work and take care of my parents. I worked as a O.R. (operating room) technician for 15 years.

4.      Question -Was life difficult once you arrived? In what way? If it wasn’t difficult, what or who helped you to make the U.S. transition easier?
          Answer- Life in New York was not difficult. It was different. Everyone moved faster.

5.     Question-Which form of transportation did you take to get here? How long did the trip take? Did you stop at another country for an extended amount of time? Where?
          Answer-I came directly to the U.S. It took me eight hours to get here.

6.     Question-What were your feelings about leaving your country once the decision to emigrate had been made?
         Answer-It was sad leaving my homeland and surroundings but I adjusted fast to the U.S.

7.       Question-Did you decide to return permanently to your country of origin? Why? What then changed your mind to return to the U.S?
          Answer-I moved back to Puerto Rico because my husbands dream was to own land in Puerto Rico. I decided to came beck to the U.S. to be with family.
 
 
 
 

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