For my memoir I would like to write about my experience of coming to America legally as a baby with my mother and the frustrating process of living as an illegal immigrants for 18 years due to what I find to be very insufficient immigration laws. I began the process of becoming a permanent resident when I was 17 and it took me 5 years to finally become legal. I could not believe that people, especially children, could even be considered “illegal.”  The whole situation was very inconvenient to say the least and had many negative effects on different parts of my life ranging from insurance, job opportunities, internships, schools, travel, getting a driver’s license, etc. I became very dissatisfied with American immigration policies and the ordeal shaped a very negative view of America for me. I started to believe that I hated America and because I could not leave the country I often thought anywhere else would be so much better and I often fantasized about going to Europe or South America. Once I became legal again I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel around Europe for a month and meet with my mother’s side of the family in Poland  for the first time in my life. I learned a lot of things about my mother’s family and where she came from and I learned “the real meaning of America” as my cousin put it.

Being a visitor from America was a huge deal and most people assumed that you live in a big house with a big yard and all the luxuries you could ever dream of all at affordable prices that everyone can afford because of all the job opportunities. Just being American meant you were spoiled no matter what conditions you lived under. Many people said they would rather be poor in America than middle class in Europe. A lot of people told stories about gum and other luxuries they never had and how scarce it was when the Soviets were in charge; how things still haven’t changed enough. American music and other cultural influences were everywhere. While their views of America were no more correct than my views of Europe, they weren’t completely off. My view of America and myself changed during that trip. I realized I was very lucky. While there are numerous injustices in this country and many laws and values that need to be updated and changed, it is very much still the land of opportunity and security and I never thought I would find such a feeling of safety and security as I did when I came back from Europe.