Vilma Castillo - Immigrant Interview

Vilma Castillo’s family is originally from Puerto Rico. However, she was actually born in Brooklyn, New York but moved to Puerto Rico with her family when she was eight years old. She has five sisters who all now live in different parts of the United States. Her parents have also relocated to America.

What is your favorite thing about Puerto Rico?

The holiday festivities, the food, and the beaches. Caroling is very big there. First you wake up your friends with loud music, then you drink and eat food and it is lots of fun. Everyone stays up til like 5 morning. You sing very loud outside your neighbors houses and keep singing until you get food and drinks and then sometimes those people join you. If the people in the house don’t open the door we would throw firecrackers at it.

When and why did you move to America?

I moved to the United States when I was 34 years old for two reasons. The first was because I was getting married. The second was to further my career in the weather service with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). They offered me a great job. It was the best job offered to me after graduating from the Universidad Interamericana (InterAmerican University) of Puerto Rico.

Do you believe the American Dream is possible anymore?

Yes, it is possible. But it is up to each individual to have their own dreams, their own ambitions and what they want out of life.

Are you happy to have settled in the United States?

YES! Because In the U.S. you have a better quality of life, a better lifestyle. Better chances to improve and grow in your career. In Puerto Rico you do not have the same opportunities because it is smaller, so there are not as many chances to do well. America is so big that anyone who really tries hard and works hard can have a good job. And there is always the chance of advancing your career and making more money. In Puerto Rico you can only go so far.

Do you ever want to return to Puerto Rico?

NO! Not if I can help it, I never want to live there again. I would like to visit, but never live there.

What do you wish mainland Americans knew about Puerto Rico?

That it is more Americanized in a certain way, it is a modern place. Many people are ignorant of what they think about Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has a lot of economic problems at this time which makes it very difficult for every family of Puerto Rico to grow. There seems to be only two classes, rich and poor. There is a small middle class and it is shrinking. There will probably be a lot more people immigrating to the U.S. like in the 20’s. Even though the US is having hard times there are still more opportunities and it is difficult to advance your career in Puerto Rico.

To Be or Not to Be?

Picture Courtesy of mentalfloss.com

In regards to Puerto Rican statehood, my opinion is that if Puerto Ricans are going to be governed by our laws and regulations, they should have the right to vote. Sound familiar?


The Washington Times on the other hand seems to disagree. According to them, "Past elections have shown that commonwealth status is favored directly over statehood, directly against independence and directly against some sort of hybrid arrangement." Apparently those favoring statehood, 46.3% in 1993 and 46.5% in 1998, is an obviously example of the previous statement.

However, even if Congress passes the proposed upcoming referendum, it is not obligated to grant statehood if Puerto Ricans approve by a small margin. So what is the harm of letting the voices of the Puerto Rican people be heard, at the very least.



Here is what one such individual had to say in response to The Washington Times article:


"Oh, the distinctive voice of privilege speaks. Us islanders should not even think about being so bold! Unfortunately for many, the imperialist era is over. Puerto Rico is a real place with real people. This isn't the 19th century; we can't live like this anymore. There are only two real options: Statehood or Independence. What other options are there? We have been living under a wretched non-status for 60 years (commonwealth is nothing more than a euphemism for colony). But sure, there are choices, just like eating is also a choice. You could *not* eat and die, or you could eat and live. But hey, at least you have the option! I would argue right now for our soldiers to stop enlisting, stop dying for nothing. Just comeback home already; the country you're fighting doesn't even think you have the right to vote for the man that sends you to your death. Give us our independence if you don't think we deserve the right to be a state (because that would be stealing an election, right?). We've been living in this horrid political, social and economic limbo for too long, and the time has come to decide, once and for all, what are we going to do. "There's nothing wrong with letting a free people occasionally reanalyze their governing status. " ...Just not when what they apparently want to change to contradicts with your idea of where they belong. But hey, I'm glad you cleared that up. I was wondering."
-treelifefun


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