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.