Thirteen years ago I left my country forever and came to this great continent. Since then, I haven’t had a single reason to doubt that decision. This was the best thing I could have possibly done and it has made me very happy on many levels.
For reasons I find hard to understand, I never felt at home in my own country. Everything seemed weird, confusing and incomprehensible. When I first got off the airplane in Toronto on July 4th, 1998, though, I immediately knew that I was in a place that suited me perfectly. This is the best continent to be a Hispanist, a feminist, a reader, a scholar, and, obviously, a blogger.
Thank you, North Americans, for making me feel more welcome here than I ever did in the country of my birth!
Clarissa's Blog 
Happy Independence Day, Clarissa! You are indeed most welcome! It’s talented, intelligent immigrants like you who have made the U.S. (and, I guess I have to say, Canada too) the great and strong country it is.
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Thank you, Tom Carter!
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And that includes so-called fucking illegal immigrants who contributes very well to the americain economy…
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Indeed! Glad you are here!
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Thank you! I feel like it’s my second birthday or something.
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Congratulations!
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I wonder what would happened to you if you emigrated in Western Europe. I don’t think that it would be bad too.
But it’s clear that you shouldn’t have any regret at all.
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Western European countries do not accept immigrants. Not from my country, in any case.
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I’m not sure about the “do not accept” assertion (there are many russian language people in France, for example, and islamic immigration is almost epidemic in United Kingdom) but it’s clear that it’s way less complicated to immigrate in North America.
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Russian-speaking immigrants in France are from a much earlier generations.
Pardon my bluntness, but I have a strong feeling that Western Europeans are not interested in immigrants that are unlikely to procreate all the time. They are trying to improve their birth rates so people like us, who don’t have bunches of kids, are of no interest to them.
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And you know what, I totally agree with you! Europeans have way more problems with the “Live Together” concept than North Americans (especially the Québécois). A sort of a trash can residual of the Europeans’ Nazi past…
I’ll not pardon your bluntness, there’s no bluntness here!
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Not true: I have a friend (American) who just recently immigrated to England. He had far less trouble than people I know who have tried to immigrate here to the U. S.
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I know for a fact that there is absolutely no way for a person from my country to enter Great Britain as an immigrant. Unless, of course, one is a robber baron and has purchased the citizenship to hide from justice there. 😦
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Congratulations, Clarissa!
I am now near San-Francisko and I agree your words about USA.
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Really? That’s great! I love San Francisco area. I’m sure you’ll have a great time!
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This time will continue quite long (I bought only the one way ticket from Moscow).
Sorry for off top. Regards.
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Wow! That sounds like a really wonderful adventure. Enjoy!
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Yes, this is realy adventure:
I have:
1. Age 40+
2. Green card
3. Working husband
4. Optimism
I have not:
1. Even intermediate English
2. Job
3. Demanded profession and scills, experience
I feel like “decabristka” or like downshifter but not like emigrant.
Sorry for frankness.
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No need to be sorry. I’m sure you will pick up English very fast now that you are in the English-speaking environment. And since you have optimism, the rest will definitely come.
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Thank you for your kind words.
I continue to study English using your previous edvices
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