14 February 2008
Reading Terminal Market offers opportunity for all
At Philadelphia mall, 16 of 73 stores owned by immigrants
Speakers are store owners Jorgaq Profi, David Dinh and Watson Parks, store worker Sabina Ahmad and an unidentified customer.
The video was produced in February 2008 by America.gov.
Jorgaq Profi: “I heard about the American Dreams, and this is my American Dream. I find Americans very cultured people, they want to try different things, and once they try, they come back again.”
Unidentified customer: “It’s excellent; we come here first every time we come up to Philadelphia.”
Sabina Ahmad: “This is a family business; my aunt started this and she’s the owner of the business. The people love our food, and they come here and they eat our food because everything is homemade spices.”
David Dinh: “I’ve been a sushi chef for 30 years. I learned sushi from my family, so I know exactly what I have to do to take care of our customers.”
Watson Parks: “When I was in the Caribbean, I had a small business, but my whole focus here was to open up a business and work for myself. Most of the product I have is from Africa. I realize that there is a need for the product line, so that’s the reason why I went out there, do my research and start selling here, at the terminal.”
Jorgaq Profi: “This country, so many cultures, so many things, you know, so many opportunities for everything.”
Sabina Ahmad: “So when I came here, I liked the people, the way in everything they encourage you. For example, I couldn’t speak good English when I came, but the people correct my sentences and they are so very helpful.”
David Dinh: “Well, my daughter born here and I’m working very hard for me or for my family, my daughter. Right now she goes to school, and I hope when she grows up, she can get whatever she wants to.”
Sabina Ahmad: I have a son, he’s 5 and a half years old, his name is Muhammad Ibrahim and he born here. And I want for my son to become a doctor.”
Watson Parks: “Somebody that wants to come to the United States, they’ve gotta be motivated and focused. Come in here, get their priorities in order, they keep on top of it and you have your family, everybody work together, it’s pretty good.”
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
