2008 Woodie Awards
Romanian student disillusioned by U.S.
Nadia Galindo
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
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People from all corners of the world migrate to the United States for different reasons. Immigrants come for political asylum, money or refuge from war stricken countries.
Brookhaven College has many students from different cultures around the world. Mihaela Ferdean, a native Romanian and undecided freshman, came to Texas with a student visa.
Ferdean came to the United States to see a country besides her own. She expected a country that was diverse and full of opportunities.
"I was expecting more freedom, a better life than I had in Romania," Ferdean said. "But now that I am here I realize that America has more rules than Romania."
Dallas is flat and spread out, Ferdean said. She said the buildings were new with no historical importance. She said the streets in Dallas are empty and dead because there are no people walking around.
Ferdean said the one thing that shocked her the most was how in a country formed by immigrants, there is so much discrimination.
Ferdean was tired of American ways after a few months of living here.
"As an immigrant in America I don't feel free," she said. "Because I am here with a student visa, it limits what I want to do or where I want to go."
The opportunity to go to school was Ferdean's joy of living in Texas. She said she has met several foreign students through her English for Speakers of Other Languages class she was required to take. She enjoys meeting people and sharing cultures, ideas and stories.
Ferdean found love in Texas and was married in October 2006. She is in the process of becoming a permanent resident so she can work, which under a student visa she is not allowed to do. She said she feels her marriage has helped her find her place in America.
"I want to feel free and not depend on anybody," Ferdean said.
An 81-year-old woman named Frau Hepfer, who lives in Wiesbaden, Germany, gave Ferdean the opportunity to study in Texas.
While living in Romania her mother heard of an opportunity for Ferdean to live with Hepfer as her caretaker. Ferdean wanted to see other countries so she gladly accepted the job. Although she could not speak German she left Romania and took a bus to Germany.
Brookhaven College has many students from different cultures around the world. Mihaela Ferdean, a native Romanian and undecided freshman, came to Texas with a student visa.
Ferdean came to the United States to see a country besides her own. She expected a country that was diverse and full of opportunities.
"I was expecting more freedom, a better life than I had in Romania," Ferdean said. "But now that I am here I realize that America has more rules than Romania."
Dallas is flat and spread out, Ferdean said. She said the buildings were new with no historical importance. She said the streets in Dallas are empty and dead because there are no people walking around.
Ferdean said the one thing that shocked her the most was how in a country formed by immigrants, there is so much discrimination.
Ferdean was tired of American ways after a few months of living here.
"As an immigrant in America I don't feel free," she said. "Because I am here with a student visa, it limits what I want to do or where I want to go."
The opportunity to go to school was Ferdean's joy of living in Texas. She said she has met several foreign students through her English for Speakers of Other Languages class she was required to take. She enjoys meeting people and sharing cultures, ideas and stories.
Ferdean found love in Texas and was married in October 2006. She is in the process of becoming a permanent resident so she can work, which under a student visa she is not allowed to do. She said she feels her marriage has helped her find her place in America.
"I want to feel free and not depend on anybody," Ferdean said.
An 81-year-old woman named Frau Hepfer, who lives in Wiesbaden, Germany, gave Ferdean the opportunity to study in Texas.
While living in Romania her mother heard of an opportunity for Ferdean to live with Hepfer as her caretaker. Ferdean wanted to see other countries so she gladly accepted the job. Although she could not speak German she left Romania and took a bus to Germany.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
vali pepsi
posted 8/06/07 @ 8:09 PM CST
Best of luck to all like her. I was in the US but the american dream turned into the american bad dream.
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