My American Dream: Finally Home

This article is simply a cry from my heart. I'm incredibly tired of people assuming I'm unhappy, homesick, or in need of help just because I'm an immigrant.

Instagram recommendations drive me crazy—so many Russians complaining about how miserable they are in their new country, how much they miss their homeland. I have a couple of questions for these people: Why did you move in the first place? Did someone force you out? No, no one can push you out of your own country if you’re a citizen. And if you left because things were bad back home, then why exactly do you miss it so much? Are you nostalgic about the hardships? And if your move made things even worse, why don’t you just return? Or is it simply pity you're after? Moving from your homeland is entirely a personal choice, so why all this complaining?

Another thing that deeply irritates me: people at work often ask where I'm from because they detect an accent. When I reply that I'm from Russia, I frequently hear: "Oh, you're so far away from home!" NO, I'm not. My home is just fifteen minutes away. Los Angeles is my home now, and I literally live fifteen minutes away from work.

Sometimes people even try to introduce me to other Russians, thinking it will make me feel more comfortable, as if being around fellow countrymen would somehow recreate a sense of "home." But I escaped that so-called home precisely to distance myself from that environment and those relationships. This isn't meant as an insult to Russians—I myself am Russian—but due to past experiences, I actively choose to avoid interacting with them whenever possible. Maybe this is something I should explore with therapy, as it's probably rooted in psychological trauma, but right now, I have no desire to change it.

Here's the truth: From my very first day in the United States, I've felt like I'm exactly where I belong. It's a feeling I never once experienced in Russia, almost as if I were mistakenly born in the wrong country. I've never once missed Russia nor regretted leaving it. When I made the decision to leave, there wasn’t even a shadow of doubt in my mind. Every time I walk the streets of Los Angeles, I feel as if I've lived here my entire life. I'm genuinely happy here—this city fulfills my dreams, and this country is the only place on Earth where those dreams can become reality for me. The United States is my true home.