Ava Ramirez: "Yeah, I am living the American Dream."

Table of Content

i. Introduction

ii. Leaving the Philippines

iii. Settling in the U.S.

iv. Life in the U.S.

v. Being a Filipino in the U.S.

vi. Reflection

Ava Ramirez is my cousin.  Ava was born and raised in Cardona, Rizal, Philippines. She immigrated to the United States on 2005 with her two kids. She started as a nurse in the Philippines, but she moved to the United States to follow her dreams of becoming a successful nurse in America.  I chose to interview her because she came to America through her own power to pursue her dreams, and she worked her way to where she is now.

i. Introduction

Ava Ramirez had been in the United States for ten years. She was born in the province of Rizal, Philippines. She is currently living in South San Francisco, California. She is working as an assistant nurse manager at Kaiser Permanente.

ii. Leaving the Philippines

Ava moved to the United States  at the age of 26 to be a successful nurse in the United States. She expected the life in the United States to be difficult, but she didn't give up to pursue her dreams. 

iii. Settling in the U.S.

Ava was recruited and was placed in New Jersey. It was not easy for not getting any help from her family because they were all in California. She didn't have any difficulties adapting to the language because English is always spoken in the Philippines, but it was difficult for her to adapt to the new culture. 

iv. Life in the U.S.

Ava was recruited and placed in New Jersey, but she didn't get the job until she moved to California. Nursing is a competitive job, so it took her six months to get a job at Kaiser. She compared the difference between the hospitals in America and the Philippines. Work environment in the Philippines is really bad. She doesn't pay attention to racism as she only pays attention to what she does.

v. Being a Filipino in the U.S.

Ava is able to maintain her language, but she learned to adapt the to the new culture since it is hard not change when she's been away from the culture she's used to. She experienced homesickness only at the beginning. She misses her friends, cousins, and the easy lifestyle in the Philippines.

vi. Reflection

Ava's dream has always been to be successful in the United States, so moving back to the Philippines is not an option. She's worked hard to feel that she's living her American Dream. She believes that America has so much to offer, and she's not going to stop going after what America has to offer her.