Aleksandra Zatorska
Homeland?
Poland
Year Immigrated to United States?
2017 (I was 26)
Age when immigrated?
22- I went to Italy
Why did you leave your country?
I wanted to be exposed to different viewpoints and discover new prospects in the dance profession.
What had you heard about the United States? What expectations did you have?
Prior to moving to the States, I identified the nation with pin-up models, jeans, and technology. When I was 19, I traveled to Los Angeles and Phoenix with my dance company. I felt uneasy about the broad roadways, the absence of quality public areas, and commercial, unhealthy food. It was not a pleasurable experience. However, a few years later, I came back to take part in the dance audition. The obvious choice was New York. The city rich in jazz, speakeasy bars, and art. I arrived right before the Christmas seasons. I was amazed by the lights, enormous decorations, number of Christmas shows, and seasonal color changes in Central Park. In the next month, melting snow revealed dirt and significant differences in social and financial status of the city.
Did you leave your family behind?
I am the youngest in my family born as the first one in an independent, democratic country. That time my sisters already where in collage. Nobody could envision living in a different place in the World even when they had an opportunity to do so. I was different as I quickly realized I want more exposure and training. Since I was 16, I became independent both financially and socially. I followed my guts and established my own rules. I had a professional carrier in dance, got a bachelor's degree and left after achieving my goal of dancing a soloist role. Frankly speaking, I also felt responsible for my parent seeing that soon they will need financial help. I knew that I must achieve more to one day be able to support them.
Where in the United States did you arrive?
First time- LA, Phoenix. Second time- NY.
What was the journey like?
Exciting and scary. I did not count on anybody. Before arriving to NY, I traveled to Italy, Switzerland, Helsinki, Luxemburg, Spain, France, China. I supported myself financially, morally, and emotionally.
What was your first job in the United States?
Even if I could have worked in many great companies, I was limited by the immigration law. When I entered NYIT I got a job as a graduate assistant in Architecture Department. I could not be more grateful for that opportunity. Afterwards, I worked for an architecture company as a designer and project manager.
Did you attend school in the United States? What was it like?
It is nothing like it was in Poland. In my nation, education is free, thus, to attend university, you must demonstrate your worth by performing well on your exams. Many institutions additionally have supplementary assessments, such as a couple hours hand sketching exam to enroll into an architecture degree. There are no "core classes" at Polish collage. These are studied in high school and affect if or not you enter college. As a result, our bachelor's degree is only three years long. However, good collages in the United States provide opportunities for collaboration, research funds, equipment, and great labs.
As time has passed, how does your experience in the United States compare to what you expected?
I anticipated to be able to maintain my balanced lifestyle. I worked, cooked, loved nature, visited cultural sites with my family, and yet had time to study and gain new skills in Europe. Here, I barely have time to clean the apartment. I am like a hamster in a wheel. It strikes me as a New York phenomenon. More time is spent doing very little. Recently someone told, "If you want to be efficient, go back to Europe."
Has your cultural identity changed? If yes, how?
My emotional Slavic spirit will never change. I do not need to read in Polish or attend Polish festivals to maintain my identity. My true identity will always be with me. It is ingrained in your thoughts, actions, and desires.
How do you maintain your culture and customs of your home country? Is it difficult to do so?
Customs are not about cooking, going to the religious place or singing the songs. It is about everything in between. Those little moments that you experienced with your family when you were a child, and you try to repeat when you are older. It is difficult to do it when you are far from your family. I maintain my culture and customs by going down memory lane. This nobody can take away from me.
What was the best thing about your immigrant experience? What has been the most difficult or challenging? Are there any times you felt welcomed or unwelcomed as an immigrant?
I was truly surprised that in college from the day one I was treated with respect to my knowledge and culture. I felt welcomed and accepted. In my opinion, New Yorkers are friendly and open. As the time passed, I was touched how the society positively responds to the foreign. As time passed, I was struck by how warmly society responds to foreigners. The immigration system is broken and causes a lot of stress.
What do you wish more people knew about immigrants?
That we did not leave our countries because we didn't have opportunities. It was an individual decision. Also, that we are limited here, and the system is not easy for us. We confront inequality.
What are some important things people could do to make the process of coming to a new country better?
I wish companies were more welcoming to immigrants. On the other hand, it is quite natural if they don't want to recruit us due to the costly and time-consuming immigration procedure.