How a girl from Moldova worked illegally in Florida

The girl Mary from Moldova in 2009 for the first time came to America under the program Work and Travel and after years returned again, so that, despite her illegal status, she would remain in the United States forever. She anonymously told about her decision and illegal work in Florida on the forum Govorim pro US.

Фото: Depositphotos

I want to share my story about my immigration to the USA. Now I'm 26 years old. In 2009, I flew to America for the first time on a program. Work and Travel. She knew English poorly, she worked on the 4 contract of the month at a water park as a lifeguard in the state of Texas, near Dallas in the small town of Canton. A month after arrival, she found a second job as a waitress.

There were many tears, anguish, stress, feelings. But there were still happy moments, because a couple of times a week our employer organized parties for us (excursions, pizza, coke, etc.), plus there were 12 girls in the house, and 12 boys lived in a separate house. In the evenings after work, we had parties.

Life was not heavy, as we flew from Moldova to everything ready: housing, work, transport to work and back, and so on.

After 4, I went back home a month and continued my studies at the university. Honestly, after America, I felt at home among others not very comfortable, people are more aggressive and impolite, embittered.

A year has passed, I decided to fly again and make sure that I like America a lot more. In May 2010, I again signed a contract with Acord Travel Moldova and chose Florida, the city of Orange Beach. She worked at the hotel, cleaned the room.

After a month of work, I was offered a job in the same hotel company to work in the 2 office a day a week as an assistant accountant.

At the end of the contract, I, of course, flew back home, again not realizing whether I liked America. Although at 60% I was sure that I like it, since there at work they treat the young specialist much more respectfully than we do.

After returning home, I began to feel depressed again because I missed American life, a swimming pool in the sun, the ocean, palm trees. Since I was in my last year at university, there was no point in applying for a student visa again; the risk of refusal was high. I applied for a tourist visa, and at the embassy, ​​when asked “What is the purpose of your visit this time?” I answered, “To spend the money I earned during the two years I was there and see America through the eyes of a tourist.” I was given a visa for 10 years.

Of course, I didn’t fly to the USA right away; my parents tried to persuade me not to go. I listened to them and flew to Moscow. I worked there for about two years, cried, suffered, depression from work, from monotonous life in Russia. People are like zombies in the subway, they drink everywhere, everywhere you turn - cigarette smoke in your face. Every day it’s the same: at 6 a.m. wake up - metro - gloom - work. I got home by midnight.

Vehicles are constantly clogged. Naturally, there was nothing to buy a car. Although I worked in the cinema at least 13 hours a day, 6 days a week. But the payment is not hourly, but a salary, which is designed to work on 5 days for 8 hours.

Two years later, such a life flew home for treatment. Pyelonephritis has earned from such a rhythm of work and cold winters. I stayed after treatment at home in Moldova, I thought where to work in order to earn good money. It is difficult to find a place with a big salary at home without work experience and acquaintances, and I don’t also get respect from my colleagues, megalomania. I got a job as a dispatcher in a cellular company, I survived with the salary of 6 for months. Although I didn’t rent an apartment, I lived with my parents, and there was transportation from work, the money was spent on utilities, food, shoes and clothes.

After 6 months, I decided. I counted my savings that I earned in Russia, I borrowed a little from my parents and bought a ticket to Florida, Miami. Flew there as a tourist, and planned to stay on 2 month.

Arriving there, I felt different. Immediately I phoned and, having paid extra 200 euros, changed the ticket, deciding to return in 6 months. Seeing the ocean, palm trees, smiling people, I said to myself:

"No matter how hard it is, I have to live here."

I was met by friends I met in 2010 during my second visit to the USA. They remained illegal in the country, and I flew off to finish my studies. They gave me a corner to live. We were 5 people in a two-room apartment.

I slept on the mattress, paid 350 $ per month. She worked as a waitress in a restaurant for cash. They gave me a little work, but nothing, I didn’t lose heart, I knew that I had to fulfill my dream. I got up at 7 in the morning, took two buses to work, worked until 12 at night, and returned home in the same way.

3 of the month passed, my English got much better, went to work as a waitress at Ocean Drive, there was very little sales in that restaurant. But there I met my future husband. Married him to 10 days before the departure date.

I can say that there were many tears, a desire to go back home. But she got married. I decided that it would be easier, there will already be two of us, there is someone to embrace at a difficult time, to cry, and someone will comfort you, replace your mother, sister and father. Husband younger than 2, already a US citizen.

After the wedding, life changed. I realized that I would soon be legally in the USA, I have a husband and a job. And so it was. We began to live together and submitted my documents for a green card. While the documents were being reviewed, she began working as a nanny. It's complicated. The children were spoiled, but they needed the money. After this job, I told myself that it was time to find a prestigious job. Now I work in the largest and coolest hotel in Miami -Fontainebleau hotel at the reception. Later, she arranged for her husband to work in a jewelry store in the same hotel.

His salary is more than mine and less stress. We borrowed a 2015 SUBARU. What’s nice is that in America it’s possible for even two young people without money or experience to rent a car. Every week we go to a restaurant and cinema. And this is how we live.

In Moldova, this would not have happened to me at this age. In America, yes, there are disadvantages and difficulties, but you must admit that in the USA there are more opportunities to have what you want, but in our country you need to save for many years, or parents have to deny themselves in order to give something to their children. I wouldn't rest like that there. On my day off I want to go to the ocean, I want to go shopping. Things are high-quality, inexpensive, branded, and you don’t need any vacation or visas to enjoy it.

I’m only here 1 year and 8 months, but I have already achieved a lot and a lot more in the plans. Now I am in Moldova visiting my parents. I can’t be here: people are bad, restaurants are waiters are aggressive, everything is cool and nasty, no one smiles, the feeling that you owe everything. Yes, there is a longing for parents, but I am sure that it will be easier for my children.

My advice: guys, do not be afraid of your desires and do not doubt yourself and your capabilities. Anyone who wants, will always be able to always and get everything.

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