I have always had a basic understanding of my mom’s immigration to America. I knew that she had come to America in search of better education, more opportunities, and a change from her life in China. What I didn’t know was just how long her entire immigration story was.
My mom grew up in Chengdu, China, and had never been out of the country until she graduated college. Growing up, my mom always aspired to study in America, so at age 27, my mom left China to attend graduate school in America. She attended graduate school with a student Visa for two years. During those two years, she majored in computer networking, her long-time passion.
Preceding graduation, my mom was fortunate enough to receive a job offer from a company in the area. Her job secured her work Visa, allowing her to continue living in America. Shortly after starting her new job, my mom applied for a green card, which would grant her a permanent residency in America without needing a Visa. With a green card, she could start a family, knowing that her children could grow up in a country with better education, opportunities, and environment. Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9/11 happened shortly after she applied for her green card, and all immigration processes were shut down. Ultimately, my mom did not end up receiving her green card for eight years.
My mom’s immigration process was long and tough. In the beginning, everyone spoke a different language than her and everyone was a stranger to her, yet she still felt like she belonged. America is beautiful in the sense that no matter where you’re from, the country welcomes you with open arms. To my mom, America is a land of limitless opportunities. She achieved goals that wouldn’t have been possible back in China, and for that, she is forever grateful for this country.
Today, my mom lives in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters (my sister and I). She remains the only person in her family who has immigrated to America, and although China will always be a part of who she is, America is her true home. In a few months, my mom is applying for citizenship, which is the final step in her immigration journey, but regardless, citizen or not, America is still where my mom considers home.
