Left in the USA without language and money: how I started from scratch in America and became happy
'05.11.2019'
Source: lady.mail.ru
Guzel Reed was left in New Jersey without English and with a small suitcase of summer things. Now she has citizenship, a husband and children. She told her story lady.mail.ru.
I moved to the USA in 2012, before that I lived in Naberezhnye Chelny. I didn’t even know the language. Just stayed with a suitcase of summer things. Why did you move? About the reasons you can write a whole essay. Because my heart told me so, I felt that my path in Russia was over.
There was a feeling - I’m stomping around and there will be no development. And I fell in love with the ocean. He is alive, he interacts with you. Because I got sick of almost year-round winter! This cold, when it makes its way to the bones.
My journey began in New Jersey, in a very cool resort town Wildwood. When I decided to stay, the question immediately arose: “What is there to live on ?!” And then my friend Natasha wrote on Facebook in plain text: “A friend decided to stay in America, she needs work. If someone knows something, please write. ” So simple and sincere.
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Familiar acquaintances wrote about a cleaning company. I can’t even tell how I was afraid and ashamed to make that call. Still called. But with my "no" English, they did not take me. Then another acquaintance of a friend reported a job as a cleaning lady at a hotel. I already went there with legs. Because I know - it is much more difficult to refuse in person. A friend went with me, because I knew how to smile broadly and say only: “Hi my name is Guzel. Nice to meet you. " Girlfriend spoke for me. And lo! They took me. It was a small hotel with eight rooms. I worked there almost three years before moving to Pennsylvania.
When America's first Christmas arrived, the hotel hosts invited me to an annual party. I didn’t have holiday clothes, I still did not know English. But now I could at least say “great”, “excellent”, “wonderful”. I bought champagne and went on a visit at night. The party was full of people: all Americans, I don't know anyone. A real challenge, going beyond the comfort zone. I smiled wildly and spoke right and left: “Hi”, “Oh nice”, “Merry Christmas”! After the holiday, the hosts fell in love with me (they greatly appreciated my courage and efforts), and I found new customers.
“I moved with a small suitcase of summer clothes. Without money. No English. Don't do that! It worked great for me though. And I never, not for a second, regretted! "
In the summer, life boiled in Villewood. Thousands of students come here every year to work for the summer. It is a resort town on the ocean. Full of work. And for me she was found. In addition to the hotel, I got a girlfriend's husband in an amusement park. It was necessary to explain the rules of the game to visitors: throw the ball, you hit, here's a prize for you. With my English, I learned the rules all day. Only three sentences.
I spoke the rules and held out my hand to take money from clients. If they said something, I would repeat the rules once again, I could walk in such a circle for so long. Because I didn’t understand what they want. Once a man was playing with a child. I caught balls, threw them back and heard my father say: “Why are you rushing?” It sounds like: “Why are you Russian?” I am shocked: how did he understand that I was Russian? She turned and answered: "I was born in Russia." The crazy man looked at me and said: “Okay.”
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Then I told the same friend who knows the language well. She laughed for a long time. It turns out that the man of his son asked: “Why are you in a hurry?” Rushing and Russian - it sounds very similar. And for the first time, people thought my name was Gazelle. In English, the word "gazelle" ("gazelle") sounds almost like my name. Such a strange girl, Gazelle, who repeats the same thing in a circle, answers inappropriately, but she laughs fervently.
In winter, I worked at a hotel and nanny with my girlfriend, with whom I lived. I did not pay part of the rent - instead, I looked after her child after school. In the evenings and in my free time I met people. I agreed to all the holidays, invitations to parties, sports, dance workshops, all part-time jobs, still not knowing English. I smiled broadly and was friendly. My rate was 10 dollars per hour for all jobs. And the tips that often saved me. Since then I myself have left tea in institutions.
If we compare life in the USA and Russia, then, probably, the most important thing here is a feeling of freedom and awareness of one’s rights.
Then a friend arranged me as a waiter's assistant in a new restaurant that opened. Somehow at work, a friend called me who did not give a debt for a long time. The amount for me was palpable - 800 dollars. He said that he was returning me money. I began to dance, danced like never before in my life. And suddenly she heard: “In honor of what is this happy dance?” She looked up and saw a two-meter man in front of her. I replied: “This is personal” - and went to work.
So the first time I saw Bob, who was hooked on my dance, and he could not get him out of my head. Then we met a second time. I sat in the corridor after the shift, already on the stairs, corresponded with all employers and docked my schedule. Bob stopped and introduced himself. I was 29 years old, he is 41 year. We chatted a bit, and in parting, he kissed my crown.
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In fact, Bob was not by my side by chance. He learned my shifts from the manager, decided to wait for me and invite me on a date. Now we are together. We bring up two children and are very happy. It is a pity, however, that my parents and the closest people cannot participate in the lives of our children every day.
When I left, my parents cried and worried. The first time we saw each other live and hugged only five years after I changed my place of residence. Then I was already married. Daughter Eve was 1,5 of the year, I was in the fifth month of pregnancy (we were waiting for Ray's son). Distance is, of course, not easy, especially for mom and dad. But I try to call every day, especially since they made visas, and we can see each other more often.
