What were some of the expectations that you had about living in the U.S. before coming to this country? What was your worst fear about moving to the U.S.? What expectations have you had for your children moving to the U.S.? What were some of the things that you did to make your move easier?
42 Comments
Francisca Flores
2/21/2010 11:17:22 am
My first expectation was very different, before I though, in the US it is easy to have a job and make a money easy. And the other side I though every thing are near my relatives and stores. On that time I had a lot emotion to came here. When I arrive was a cruel reality a big problem with the language. Anther one I don’t know how to drive, when I came we arrive to my husband house and we lived alone, he was worked all day. I was cry when the night fell down. Then I though on learn to drive but when I saw the traffic I’m nervous to think if I can crush, but one day I decide and I leaned. I moved when I get married so all my children born in US. I think today on the world don’t have another a better country. The children know two idioms and they have the best way to make a carrier and best future for them. On my fist on US I lived on Los Angeles, evey body speak Spanish so I don’t really need to speak English. As soon I can I learn to drive and learn the city. On the fist days or months I got lost a lot of times. When I had 2 years here I try to went to school but my ex don’t let me go. After 23 years after I’m on the school and I have a job, I live alone with my children I do what ever I need to improve my life on US.
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Francisca Flores When I start on the college I meet whit some girls. I knew some of them but only I have 2 from my first semesters. This friends some times we meet and enjoy some time. When we was on the same classes we meet to do the homework or just st
2/21/2010 11:56:41 am
When I start on the college I meet whit some girls. I knew some of them but only I have 2 from my first semesters. This friends some times we meet and enjoy some time. When we was on the same classes we meet to do the homework or just study for test. Since them we are best friends. One of them is from Rusia and the other one is form Costa Rica. We share cultures and custom from our original Countries. They have a lot of different words on their Country. My friend from Rusia say, on her Country if they going to take out the garbage they get dress well. They always get dress very fancy, because it is they custom. They Costa Rican friend she wear tropical and very sexy. We speak so different at all. I go some times we them to their place to market, shop night clubs to hear their traditional music. It is very interesting to learn other traditions and customs. One day we going to go to our Countries to visit our families and our best places. One day we make a patty and we brig one traditional foods, was a very fun to have different plates and flavor. We ask each one how do make the food. Where we can buy the ingredients, that I lean about them. I can understand some words from each Country.
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Kim Nguyen
2/21/2010 12:22:50 pm
When my mom and dad say I go to America I was scared. I did not have any friend in America. I only have my family. I think America is different than Vietnam. I was scare because I think I be lonely. But when I came here it was ok. My family are very nice. I am glad that I move to America because my kid are going to be smart. I miss my country a lot though. I have been here for three year now. I have a good job and I have a lot friend then when I come to America. It was not easy to move here because I live in Vietnam for 18 years and I have to move here. It was very different.
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HAMID.H
2/23/2010 07:42:10 am
I’m from Iran, Iranian people have lots of problem in our life, economy isn’t good, government is dictator, and people are under pressure now. My job wasn’t bad and my income too, but I wasn’t satisfied. I knew America is one of the best powerful countries and I taught life is better here.
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Feloura. A
2/23/2010 07:27:25 pm
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Dzianis Rybakou
2/24/2010 04:04:53 pm
I have never been crazy about moving to the United States. But a lot of fairytale stories about money trees and careless life convinced me to take a chance. I had a lot of expectations from living in the USA. I left my parents and relatives behind and said my everyday life bye-bye. I was 19 years old when I came to the US and from the very first day all my expectations flew away. I realized that there is no wonderland in this world and you have to dig the way to the happiness very hard. First year was very tough and I remember the time when I was about to leave back to Belarus. But my favorite in that time song “I will survive” made me to stay. I didn’t have any money, language, friends and place to live. Slowly but forward I started getting in to American life style. I found a cheap apartment, job, friends, my English went up.
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Diana P.
2/25/2010 04:52:44 am
Before My family and I moved to the U.S.A.,I've never thought about real life here. Like many people, I emagined that America is beautiful everywhere and people can earn money easily. But I'd had one worry about living in the U. S. That was my English level. I studied English language at school, but I really hated it. I didn't understand grammar at all, so when the teacher gave us an assignment to retell the story, I memorized every words, every sentances. Of course, it was very hard and sometimes inpossible. But, when I finished a school, I said: " No more English in my life". That is why English language was a biggest worry about living in the USA. After five years my sister moved to America and two more years later my family and I moved too. When I started to go to the adult school, I was very surprized, because my level of English wasn't so bad. My first English teacher was very inteligent and nice person. I loved her and her lessons very much. I did each assignments and homeworks easily. I enjoed to learn English because I saw how my English skils improved. Nowadays I understand that earn money here isn't so easy, how I thought in my native country. Also, find a job doesn't easy too. Even though there are many problems here, there are many good advantages in educational system, in public schools( for kids), and for seniors too.
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Tatyana M.
2/25/2010 09:54:09 am
Unknowing of US
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Vasylyna H
2/25/2010 12:46:55 pm
I immigrated to United States from country of Ukraine. I have lived in USA for about four years. When I realized that I was going to America, I started thinking about my future. I knew that everything is going to change in my life, but that didn’t scare me at all. People in my country had a lot of problems in their life; financial, government problems and other things. So people of Ukraine began immigrating to the United State in 1980’s. Many people tried to escape to America due to religious problems. People of Ukraine didn’t have freedom over religious beliefs and so did we. When we were coming to America we knew that our lives are going to improve, financially and spiritually. When we came to America we improved our living standards and many of us demonstrate to be of great value to the American community. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants who accepts everyone with need. I felt very comfortable about my move to United States, because all my relatives lived here and I knew everybody was waiting for me my family. I love United States and enjoy living here. I knew that US will give me and my family a better life and it did.
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Nastaran Hosseini
2/26/2010 11:55:45 am
When I was a kid I knew that I would come to the U.S. one day. At that time I would watch the Little Mermaid, and see the commercials for Disneyland, and think that America was the same. People walking everywhere,bright lights, and having fun. I thought this way until I first arrived here in the U.S. I was also expecting to be able to learn English without problems. I thought I would find friends quick as well. Another expectation I hadwas that McDonald's was the biggest, and most expensive resteraunt. Finally, I thought life would be easier. However, the reality was not what I expected. Sacramento was not the busy,bright, and fun city I thought it would be.
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Yevfgniy Rebrov
2/27/2010 08:28:49 am
Immigration played an important role in history of the USA. Many millions people came to the country during its existence. Most of the immigrants arrived to the USA were Europeans. And most of them had economical reason for their immigration. There were also many other facts why people left their country in such big number and tryed to move to America. The USA has been the country with high standart of living, famous because of its freedom and good opportunity for success. This is not changed now. America stayes the country that is atractive for people who wants to immigrate from their countries because of economical, religion, political, and other problems.
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Nadiia Noga
2/27/2010 09:37:31 am
When I lived in Ukraine I really wanted to see America because,most of my cousins and friends had already moved to America.My friends sent me pictures from the USA and they were really beautiful.I saw on the pictures nice cars,beautiful landscapes,and lots and lots of big and strong built houses.I was really amazed by these pictures I thought to myself "will I ever go to America?"I expected to see everything in reality not on a piece of paper Although,going to America was a great idea but I had one fear,it was the flight on the plane.I've never flown on an airplane before plane but the flight went good.My first and most important expectation for my children as to give the a home,food,and clothes.Also my second expectation was to give my children a good education.During our flight there was a family that helped my family.They took care my children and also the understood English a little bit and that also helped us a lot.I'm still thankful to them and will never forget their help to my family.
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nadia k
2/27/2010 12:41:30 pm
When I was leaving my country I expected that my life will be better. If honest, it is really so, and I am so happy that I am here. Although, as an immigrant I have many difficulties and worries, and my life is not easy. I believe the worst time is passed, and now I feel much better. Learning English was the hardest time in my life, but if you learn hard, you will know. The most important thing in learning English is not to be lazy. When I moved I expected that my children get better education, but not all my children go to school. They want to make money, but they do not understand that just educated people can make good money. I do not know what I did that makes my move easier. Moving is always hard, especially when you move to another country. It is always hard to loose everything, your sweet home, homeland, relatives, and friends.
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Liliya Rudenko
2/27/2010 01:31:23 pm
In my childhood I heard a lot of different things about America. Some things appealed to me and some did not. I had no plans of coming to America, so I did not really pay attention to all of the talk. When I got married, my husband came home one day and said, "Honey, we're moving to America." It was then when I got a little worried. I honestly didn't know what to think. It was easy for my husband to just get up and leave because he had relatives in America, but it was different for me. All of my friends and family were in Ukraine or Russia. People started telling me stories of America. Some said that it was a great land of opportunity and others said that it was a dangerous county. I didn't know how one could start a new life in a new country with no help and no knowledge of the language. With only two bags of personal possessions and two hundred dollars in my pocket, how can I survive? How can a live without seeing my mother and father and closest relatives? I worried whether or not it was a good choice bringing my children here. Would they get a good education? Would I be able to support them in this country? Will they grow up not knowing their grandparents? I thank God that when I arrived there were many wonderful people that were happy to help me. I am now very proud to be an American citizen, for this really is a great country of opportunity.
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Cesar Ibarra
2/28/2010 02:37:00 am
Cesar Ibarra
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Luda K.
2/28/2010 04:49:21 am
The United States has the largest population of immigrants in the world. It is not easy to be an immigrant. We should be required to learn how to speak English and should adapt to America. Five years ago to me and my husband has been given a chance to move from Ukraine to America. It was difficult to dare at moving to other country, but we have decided to take advantage of this chance and go to America. It was not the easy decision. The fear was that we did not know English language and the laws of America very well. For that time we did not have anybody from relatives in America. All our family and close friends were in Ukraine. Only a few friends from our city lived in America, which have helped us when we have arrived to America, thanks them. We knew that at first the life in this country will not be easy without knowledge of English. When we were in Ukraine we have started to learn English language and to learn about a life in America. And that has helped us very much. At first, when we have arrived to the U.S., I wished to return back to Ukraine. I missed my relatives and my friends. I was frightened here by some things, especially car driving. But after a while “everything has taken the places”. I think that the United States is a good place for immigrants, because it is a place where we can get help, find a job, and get education.
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Roman P.
2/28/2010 07:24:54 am
Nowdays, a lot of people in Ukraine think how to get to U.S.A. Contrary to this, I've never wanted to be here. I remember the time when I got an application for immigration. I used to joke with my friends about these papers in this way: "If anyone wants to get to the U.S., he can fill out this form using his own name. Because I don't want to go there". On that time I didn't know that after four years I would move to America. I didn't have any expectations for living here, because I didn't know a lot about this country. I just wanted two things: to earn some money and move back to the Ukraine, and also to see my younger nephew. I'd never seen him before because he was born in U.S.A. My sister knew this and therefore she took the boy to the Sacramento airport. At first time , when I met him, he was shy to speak with me, but after a while we became friends. Since then I'm his the most favorite uncle.
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Farhad Tavatli
2/28/2010 09:12:49 am
Before i come to the USA, i had this picture in my mined about it that USA is the best country in the world. a person is free to do what ever he wants to do and make money as much as he wants to make. Well most of the immigrants from third world country, before leaving their native think, living in the USA is a big chance for them to change their life and become wealthy so, they can live freely and do what ever they want to do. In general, these thoughts come from media and Hollywood. Showing that the USA is the best country in the world. to be honest with you, this country like the others around the globe, everyday deals with Lot's of problems. Sometimes the problems which government and other people deal with is worst than any where Else. As a mater of fact, living any where around the world has advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, if you have money and you are wealthy USA is the best country to live but, if you have no money and try to move and live in this country and do the same think you used to do in your country, don't waist your time and stay in your native. USA is the land of opportunity for those who want to improve their life and become international. put effort in their life and make a big different. of course don't forget this, please follow the laws and rules and live in a safe environment. on the other hand, click it or ticket. :)
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Zisheng L
2/28/2010 11:06:29 am
Before I came to the United States, I expected everything would be wonderful. I also expected that I would easily adapt the culture, the weather and the society in the United States. However, it appeared that it wasn’t easier than what I had expected. The first week when I came to the United States, I was introduced to Johnson Middle School in Ohio. Every teachers and students appeared to love me because I am the only Asian in the school. I didn’t know any English. I was speaking lot of random English. I was trying hard to fit in. In return, lot of the students and teachers were making fun of me. The most unforgettable thing for me was that I had been put into trouble because of my puerility. I was too puerile to think that they were all nice and honest.
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Toan N
2/28/2010 11:53:25 am
I had some expectation that I had about living in the U.S. before coming to this country. Before I moved into the U.S. I thought this country easy to find the job and make money. When I lived in the U.S. I knew that was not correct because I didn’t speak English and didn’t have ID. I felt worst. I can’t work without English. I began to study English at Sierra College and practiced to drive. It was hard for me. It was not easy. I wanted to become an engineer. I thought that job made me live easier.
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Leslie M.
2/28/2010 12:02:26 pm
Journal # 5
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Biniam H
2/28/2010 01:22:54 pm
My expectation about living in America was different before I moved here from my country. I thought life in America is easy, to make money, easy to get a job, no poor people and also I thought that every city that all building was sky skipper ,most my expectations were base on America movie .When I came to this country everything was not as I expected. Life is hard: it is not easy to find a job; it is not easy to make money. America is not different than other country in the problems and hardship. However there are all kinds of opportunity to advance oneself which are hard to find in other countries. I have realized that in America you can be what ever you want to be. There are possibilities for high education in different fields and only one gets the proper qualification jobs are easier to find .I must say that America is indeed a land of opportunity for those who work hard to fulfill their dream! I am determined to that.
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venus k.
2/28/2010 02:01:35 pm
My expectations of living in the US can divided in two ways. First expectation was before I moved to the US. I expected my life could be easier and better than when I lived in my native country. Why did I believe that? Because I had seen many people who used to live in the U.S went back to the country with a lot of money. They were able to use their money which they had earned to make their life better. Someone was able to open small business. Someone was able to bought big house, and someone was able to live without working. In my mind the U.S was a wonderful country and gave anyone in the world to have opportunities to work and earn money. As a result, I wanted to move to this wonderful land and hoped my life would to be good like them. That time I wasn’t aware of any problems could happen with me, such as life style and language problem. I left my country with some money in my bank account, a small suite case and without knowledge in English. On September 2001, I had arrived to this country. After several weeks I had lived here my expectation had changed. I have known life in the US wasn’t easy at all. It wasn’t easy to get job, made money or live. I remember how was difficult when I tried to get my first job. Also, I still remember my first year in this country. I had worked fifteen hours a day and hadn’t had any days off, but I had just earned some money. Nowadays, I am expecting just only keeping my job , be able to live on a small amount of money on my pay check, and hoping any bad thing won’t happen with me. However, this country is still amazing in my mind, but it just for someone who is patient and industrious.
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Tatyana S
2/28/2010 02:05:20 pm
My expectation was that in this country, if the person puts there effort and energy towards something they can achieve, one of a few countries that its even posible. I myself have felt that. Here a person can develop more. My worst fear was that i did know the english, and that i would have to become a janitor or something. The expectation I had for my daughter coming here was to be more succesful in this great and wonderful country and to have a happy childhood. First of all I tried to live with Americans and with russians, and came to a conclusion that to live near your fellow immagrants it is easier, yet i started right away to learn the english language.
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Yaroslav B.
2/28/2010 02:19:00 pm
People have some imaginations or dreams about better life. Many people want to live in economically developed country. In my life, I had the dream to live in the US. So, after a long time I realized it. When I mowed to the US, my beginning here was terrible. My dreams were gone, in the other words, it was like nightmare. For example, I thought about happy life and a good job, but I encountered with some problems such as: English language, friendless, and much more. Eventually, I tried to solve those problems. So, I started to learn English language, that helped me to communicate with people. As a result, I found good friends, and get better life. In conclusion, I want to say that any dreams become real life when people start to work a lot
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Vlad Golovko
2/28/2010 03:06:18 pm
Millions of people moved to the US from all of the world countries, what is the reason which moved people to immigrate to the US? In my opinion it is the same reason that was in past through present, to get a better life. United State of America is the place of big opportunities and a place where you can find many ways to improve your present as well as your future life. In my country, lots of people think that Americans are as rich as milliners; lots of peoples think that “money grows on trees” here. I did not have those expectations, but I thought that I can earn much money so easily, but it was not true. You have to work a lot and at the same time you must study English, the law, traditions and how to live and be a good member of this community.
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Monica Cardella
2/28/2010 03:43:00 pm
When I came to United States, I expect to find a bran new life for me. I got married in 1982 with an American boy, we got married in Mexico and after our honeymoon we came to leave in the U.S.A. My life is been wonderful and full of good surprises. In the beginning I didn’t miss my family in Mexico, but after pass several months I got very nostalgic, we us to speak in the phone once a weak but was not the same. I got lucky that my parents and brothers they visit me very often.
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Ghassan Fares
2/28/2010 04:26:20 pm
ESLW 310
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Alex Moskalenko
3/1/2010 07:28:01 am
Alex Moskalenko
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Paraskoviya Moskalenko
3/1/2010 09:28:31 am
03.01.10
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Vitaliy Kalchik
3/2/2010 10:12:55 am
Before we left to the U.S with my family, I expected to live in a high rise like in all the cool moves, and go to the beach every day and serf the wawes. Just enjoy all day and every day of life in U.S. The thing that I was most afraid of was the new people and being expected for who I was, not for what I looked like. And learning a new language, is it going to be hard or easy, will it take a long time or will I be able to grasp it fully. Also is it going to be a safe or will I need to be watching my back constantly, will I make many friends or will I be alone, what are schools like? Will it be hard of fairly easy to grasp, will the kids except me or will they outcast me. Also where will I live will it be a nice place or bad, where will I work and will it be enafe for living or just surviving.
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Dmitriy Yefanov ESL 520w
3/9/2010 04:53:44 am
When i move here i was small so i didn't think allot about how it will be. But i was thinking how I'm going to learn English. And i was ready to meet new people. It didn't like school here because you need to go every time to another class but latter i was thinking different. It was allot of fun but things are different. Its not same like there some stuff are better some not.
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Elva H.
3/11/2010 09:43:49 am
When I came here I didn’t have any expectations, the most important to me was to learn the language. When I moved here my worst fear was to try communicated and don’t get it. I am learning every day but is not easy, now I have a baby and I need to speak because my life is here now.
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Victoria Vedron
3/11/2010 10:45:58 am
My very first impression and expectation was the Real Estate in the USA. It is a big difference between my country and the USA. I have to admit that the majority of Americants lives near large cities, but small live town in are still widespread. A suburb(a small community near a big city)offers the advantages of safer, more intimate small-town life with the relational and cultural activities of the bigcity nearby. For the typical American family, home may be a different place every five or six years. American homes are some of biggest and best in the world. MAny have a garage for two cars, big modern kitchen, a living room, and playground for children. Upstars there are two bathrooms and there or tho-four bedrooms. Everybody has their own room. There is another room for visitor. I was impressed that some families have two homes. They have one house or aapartment in the city or suburbs. Americans are always trying to make their homes better. They take a lit of time to buy furniture and make their home beuatiful. Most moves relate to new job opportunities, but sometimes rent their living quarters that they own. Some high-rise an apartments very expensive and means that b each family owns the unit in lives in. A lot of Americans live in the mobile home. They can move, but are generally brought to a site that becomes more or less permanent. Then the wheels are removed and the home is attached to the graund. They cost less than conventional homes and retired couples with a liumited income.
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Victoti
3/15/2010 06:17:21 am
What were some of the expectations that you had about living in the U.S. before coming to this country? What was your worst fear about moving to the U.S.? What expectations have you had for your children moving to the U.S.? What were some of the things that you did to make your move easier?
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Victoria Vedron
3/15/2010 06:18:02 am
What were some of the expectations that you had about living in the U.S. before coming to this country? What was your worst fear about moving to the U.S.? What expectations have you had for your children moving to the U.S.? What were some of the things that you did to make your move easier?
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leontiy naumov ESL 520G
3/15/2010 03:48:24 pm
When i vas leaving my old country i expected to be my life a little easier.I vill work and make money for my family.First what i expected it was communications. I sould make relations between myself and my boss or another workers that work with.But i can't do that.Too many time i spended to learn and improve my language and comunication skils and that still help me to work better.Another expectation to me was too many restriktion on every were.First of all you should learn have to behave. For our children it was have to behave in the park,on the street,in school.They must be home no late 10 p.m.and more.Abaut things that did our life easiethat easier to find a job.Help from goverment when you can't find a job or when you first time came to the u.s.a. You fill better when you know than you can be defend from any unfortunates.
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Sunghoon Yoon
3/16/2010 05:54:37 am
My plan was going back to my county after finishing my study in U.S.. I thought gradating U.S. College and having a degree in U.S. would really help finding a good job in my county. It wasn’t easy to decided studying abroad. First of all, studying in U.S costs a lot of money. Second, I had never leaved my county before. At last, I wasn’t sure whether I can catch up with the classes, because my poor English skills even though I have strong knowledge and skills for my major. Of course my worst fear was “what if I cannot understand the lecture at all?” or “Can I really take exam in English”. The good thing was all the engineering classes always spent most of their time on calculation rather than conversation. Anyway I got a degree and got a job here not my county but still try to improve my English skill.
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Alex Moskalenko
3/18/2010 08:48:01 am
Alex Moskalenko
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Paul Yefanov
3/18/2010 09:35:30 am
My Expectations About USA
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Elva H.
3/25/2010 04:33:11 am
What were some of the expectations that you had about living in the U.S. before coming to this country?
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ana polina
4/18/2011 01:00:39 pm
its was alright.
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