Gabriela
Gabriela Arad, Romania

I think it is so different for me, this idea of America. I came here when I was 5. I am an American. My kids are American. But I am also a product of my home country. In my life today, my biggest problem is keeping my house clean. My husband and I have two young children. Chasing them around my home is an American dream come true.

I could never have achieved the freedom to choose what I want to do in life, or where I want to live if my father had not run (through) the Romanian border to immigrate here. He literally ran for his life. Others were shot as they tried to flee the economic slavery we found ourselves in. But he never stopped trying to find a better life for our family. I was born in a large town in Western Romania. But for us there was little opportunity. We were milk farmers and my parents struggled putting food on the table. But after two years, my father sent for us and we are all American citizens now.

I am following my dreams as an entrepreneur and I cannot help but thank God for the opportunity my children now have. The variety of choice in this country is a freedom many people in the world do not enjoy. The different ways people can find a way to make ends meet is unbelievable. My parents are still very hard working. As seniors they take joy in still being able to earn a wage that supports their family. My husband’s family immigrated to Chicago after ours. We were from the same town and keep our culture alive through our language and traditions within our family. But without the economic opportunities living in America has provided for us, our lives would be very different. We have always been hard working - this is a tradition we will never stop. And through our faith we have persevered through every adversity.

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