“only when she knows what the world is like, she knows what to choose”

Story #1 

L, 48, from China. 

Interviewed by Yiran Yu

L, at 42 years old, decided to move to the United States with her family in 2014. “Everything is for education”, L said. L believes that America has the “most advanced knowledge” and the “greatest diversity” in this world, which could fulfill her goal of broadening her daughter’s horizon. According to L, it was about “the ability to choose”, because “only when she knows what the world is like, she knows what to choose.” 

Life in America was more challenging than L had previously imagined. After purchasing a house to finally settle down, new problems emerged daily. L had zero clues on how to pay water bills or register for healthcare, and she felt socially isolated with nearly no acquaintances around. Continuously encountering cultural shocks, L mentioned that she was astonished when discovering that vegetables can be more expensive than meat in America. “People also show off their wealth by their gardens, which is totally unseen in China,” said L, highlighting her refreshing first-year experience of living in the US. Overall, L felt satisfied with her decision of immigration as she witnessed substantive growth in both herself and her daughter.