Finding America Great (Still)
The perception of three young immigrants who recently arrived in the U.S.
By Liliana Nuno, Jessica Chou, and Sophie Tran
Carlos Alfred Arias Echeverria, 22, always thought he would visit the United States, but he never thought he would stay. Echeverria grew up in Santa Marta, Colombia. Then, in 2012, a friend introduced him to a woman from Downey, California, who was visiting Colombia. They fell in love. He got married and moved to California a little over two years ago, and he now works for a production company in Los Angeles.
[This interview was translated from Spanish, edited, and condensed by reporter Lily Nuño.]
Before you came to the U.S., how did you think it would be? Well, you always have in your mind this ideology… like, wow, the U.S.! In my country, we think of the U.S. as the land of opportunity, a magical place. And I did too. But it is interesting, you know… because I encountered something totally different than I pictured.
In what respect was it totally different? It might be a little silly, but the people from my country talk about the food. They say, “Everything in the U.S. is microwaved, everything comes from cans.” And I have encountered many people that think that way. My grandpa would say, “Eat well now, because when you go to the U.S. everything is different.” But the truth is I have found the most delicious foods of all kinds that are so fresh.
“I had a thought about what I would do if there were a shooting in L.A., like all of the shootings I hear about in the media. When I arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 1, 2013, the pilot said on his intercom, “We’re sorry about the inconvenience, but the airport is on lockdown due to a shooting…”
What did you think Americans would be like, and how did that compare to the reality? People often said that Americans were dry, that they were very apathetic, and that they were rude, but that’s not true. I have met many friendly people. I have noticed that here people protect themselves in a way.
Does Donald Trump’s campaign and his supporters’ views make you feel differently about Americans? Do you feel racism? Well, no, because every brain is its own universe. Donald Trump and a few of his followers all think alike, and they do not have a place in our world. It’s very disturbing to hear about that type of ideology, but it doesn’t make me feel differently about Americans.
How would you describe your first experience when you landed in Los Angeles with your visa in hand? I remember hearing a song by U2 called “Unchained Melody.” I had a thought come to my mind about what I would do if there were a shooting in L.A., like all of the shootings I hear about in the media. When I arrived at LAX [Los Angeles International Airport] on Nov. 1, 2013, the pilot said on his intercom, “We’re sorry about the inconvenience, but the airport is on lockdown due to a shooting that occurred in the airport.” I was frozen at the thought of knowing that what I had been thinking was reality.
Do you feel coming to the U.S. has been a good decision? Yes, it’s benefited my family and my wife, and I have had so many adventures. The good things outweigh the bad. It’s been very gratifying. This country doesn’t need someone to make America great again. America continues to be great.
Sunny (Wenqua) Tu, 24, arrived in the United States this year from Shenzhen, China, driven by a deep curiosity about other parts of the world. He moved to Venice, California, to practice dance and study at Santa Monica College. When he’s not at school he’s often busting moves along the sand.
[This interview was translated from Chinese, edited, and condensed by photo journalist Jessica Chou.]
What made you want to come to the U.S.? I’ve wanted to come to the U.S. since I was young. I never really had the opportunity because I didn’t have money. But after opening my own dance studio and earning money from that…
When did you start your dance studio? November 2014. I did it for a year and a half and made some money. And then I won money from a lottery.
A lottery? How much? Can I ask? About $40,000 yuan [approximately $6,200]. And then from there I started my new life! But after coming here, my life, it’s not as glamorous as I thought it was going to be. I came here because I wanted to practice and learn more about dance. But with school pressure I don’t have a lot of time to dance. And it’s hard to find friends and a dance crew in L.A. So I just go to the gym and practice breakdancing at home. But I really think L.A. is great.
What impressions did you have of the U.S. before you arrived? What did you imagine your life would be like here? I imagined there would be more independence, more individuality, and more freedom. It’s not that the U.S. isn’t how I imagined it. It is pretty close to what I thought — people are more creative and free. You can just walk around here in Venice and break out into dance and nobody will think you’re weird. In China, that wouldn’t happen. People would think you’re weird.
What do your parents think of you being here on your own? They are very encouraging — my dad a little more than my mom. My mom is a little sad to see me go because it means she won’t be able to see me for long periods of time. My dad holds on a little less because, well, he sees that, as a young man, I need to go out on my own and take in more life experiences.
Do you think you’ll go back to Shenzhen? Yes, for sure, because my family is there. But I think I would like to stay in the U.S. if I had the choice. I think the U.S. is more open and free. In Shenzhen I feel like I would have to worry more about how people see me. Here, I’m less self-conscious. I feel like if I wanted to find a stranger and just chat them up, it would be fine. But not in Shenzhen. If you did that in Shenzhen — ask about them, who they are, where they come from — they’ll think you’re trying to kidnap them.
Jenny Vo, 32, never imagined she would live in the United States. She was born in the midsize city of Tuy Hoa in south-central Vietnam. Then, three years ago, she met her husband, Aaron, on Facebook through mutual friends. He was an English language teacher living in Orange County, California. Three months later he visited her in Vietnam, and two years ago she joined him in the U.S. as his wife. Vo spends her days working at Little Saigon TV in Westminster, California, home to one of the largest Vietnamese-American communities in Southern California.
[This interview was translated from Vietnamese, edited, and condensed by Sophie Bao Tran, a community leader named “The Unoffical Queen of Little Saigon” by OC Weekly.]
Before you came to the U.S., what did you think it would be like? I know that the U.S. is not heaven. But it is the place that has freedom — freedom of speech, many opportunities — so that we can learn, find a job, if we know how to work hard and reach up. The U.S. is fair and equal for everyone, very good to everyone born in the U.S. and also to newcomers.
And now that you are here, what do you think about the U.S.? Now that I’m here, I think that my thoughts were correct. The U.S. has given me many things. I have equality. I have freedom. I have many opportunities and a working environment where, if I work hard, then I can succeed. Everyone is supportive of each other here.
In the beginning, what did you think about Americans? Caucasians or Vietnamese-Americans?
Americans and Vietnamese-Americans born in the United States… whatever they think is whatever they say. That is the quality that I like the most.
Both. Well, there are differences between what I think about non-Vietnamese-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, and Vietnamese living in Vietnam. Vietnamese living in Vietnam, sometimes they say something but they mean something else. The speech and thoughts may be different from each other. To my knowledge, Americans and Vietnamese-Americans born in the United States receive an education from their families and in school that helps them speak in a straightforward way. Whatever they think is whatever they say. That is the quality that I like the most.
How do you think Americans view you? [Laughs] This is hard to answer. There are many perspectives. First of all, in regard to American Caucasians, they are very kind, respectful, and look at me like we are friends. Many people who have found out I just came to America, they have been very encouraging. Even though we have not known each other for a long time, I feel as though we are close friends. On a separate note, Vietnamese-Americans, some people, when they see that I married an American Caucasian, they think that it is unnatural. [They are] suspicious that a Vietnamese girl from Vietnam suddenly got married to an American Caucasian, and they think that I have an ulterior motive.
Do you see a difference in American values and Vietnamese values? I don’t think there is much of a difference. Both American and Vietnamese parents teach their kids to be respectful, loving, caring, helpful, to do good things. Let’s compare two different people: a Vietnamese child and an American child. The Vietnamese parents will take care of the child from youth until they get married because they don’t feel good about letting their kids be on their own. But I noticed that American families let their kids be more independent.
Jessica Chou is a Los Angeles-based editorial and commercial photographer with a background in photojournalism. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Buzzfeed, Mashable, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety, among others.
