For those of you who are immigrants to America...?

Question

Well, I'm supposed to interview someone who has immigrated to America for a class, so if any of you are interested in being interviewed, just answer the following questions. Please give detailed answers >___< And I'll need your first and last name for this. You can make one up if you're not comfortable with that...

1. Why did you decide to come here?

2. Did you have a plan when you got here?

3. Were you able to speak the language and communicate well at first?

4. Do you or did you ever feel like you were alienated, stereotyped, or discriminated against?

5. Did you, or are you still, going through difficulties?

6. Did your family agree with your decision to come here?

7. Do you regret anything since you came here?

8. Before you came here, did you have a career you wanted to pursue?

9. Was it hard for you to get settled and start a new life here?

10. Are you planning on going back to your country?

Answer 1

1. i didnt, my parents did
2. yeah
3. not really
4. yeah kinda, not really though (maybe first month)
5. not at all
6. umm i guess
7. not really, some little things
8. no
9. kinda
10. maybe for a visit, not to live in.

and the name i made up is johny cake

Answer 2

I hope you don't mind if I answer for my husband who is a immigrant.I have known him since 1974 soi think I know him maybe better than he knows himself..

1. For adventure since living in his country was a dead-end life where there was nothing to look forward to other then working and getting married. (which is what he got in the states anyways.)
2. Yes,since coming from a communist country, he wanted to make money and buy a car, stereo,clothes, everything.
3. No.It was very hard since he had a good job and had money in his pocket but simple people on the street would treat him like he was stupid because he didn't understand things and couldn't communicate much at all since he spoke a very strange and different language.
4. Yes. Sometimes even to this day,people look at him strange and everyday they ask where is he from.They asume he drinks and can play the violin, neither is true.
5. Yes.
6. He didn't even tell an yone since he had left a communist country and didn't want to cause his family or friends any trouble, the only person who knew he was leaving was a girlfriend and an 78 year old lady he was renting a bed from(no rooms for rent only a spare bed!)
7. He used to but now he is more at home in the USA.
8. He had finished 4 years of machinist school and had worked in a large factory in his country, also was a professional driver in Europe.
9. Not after the first few weeks , he had a good job skill and was able to take care of himself, he has a big heart and helped pay the rent for a couple of his friends who weren't able to get good jobs. he even had two people stay with him until they found their own jobs and place.
10. Yes. we have bought a place in his former country to retire in since it would be impossible to retire in the US because for the last few years it has been hard with many manufacturing jobs either leaving the states or the pay is too low to bother with taking that sort of job.

Answer 3

1. I came to the US for my undergraduate degree and returned to finish my master's degree

2. Yes to finish my BA and MBA

3. Yes, I came to the United States as a university student with my F-1 visa. To enter the US with a visa you have to be accepted to a credited university and take the TOEL (exam required for student who a

re not native english speakers.

4. Aliened no because I was a college student. Only time I ever had issues with stereotypes were basically with closed minded people (but can find ignorant people anywhere)

5. My only difficulties were maybe not knowing the "system" perfectly. However I was able to find help at my University (UTexas)

6. Yes, and no like all families some of my family members wanted me to stay closer to home. Some of my family members thought it was a great idea since UT is a really good school.

7. Not really. I probably miss the food the most and family.

8. Yes, I came to the US to earn my degree.

9. A little bit, but I think it's like anyone moving to a new place. You have to get to know the place before you start judging it.

10. Probably

I will not give my name because I don't give my name over the internet. There's so much identity fraud out there that I don't want to be the next one!

Answer 4

1. My husband is U.S. citizen and I came here to marry him ( well, than he was my fiance).
2. Not really a plan, just to get married and file for permanent residency.
3.Yes, I was able to speak and write in English, it ade things so much easier. It's very hard to be married and not being able to communicate. Sometimes I do make small grammar mistakes.
4. Sometimes in stores they act as if they don't understand your accent, but they totally do. I guess they would have a very hard time traveling abroad.
5. It's harder to find a job, even though I have a green card and a SS# and I have 10 years of work history.
6. My family agreed, but of course don't like it not seeing me as often, but that counts for me as well.
7. I thought life in America was as well organized as in my country, but it's not. Very little employee protection and very low pay, while rent and living exepenses are much higher.
8. I just wanted to continue my career here.
9. It makes it harder on both of us, because I don't have any credit, wasn't allowed to have a bank account or have a cellphone set up, sign a lease, because my credit history in my country doesn't count. You have to start from scratch.
10. I would like to visit and maybe move our family there, but the immigrations laws are very hard and expensive to get by , even if you are a citizen and want to bring a foreign spouse.

I don't want to give my name, you can make one up and use that, to tricky and can be abused, maybe not by you, but then you are not the only one reading this and having access to it.