iForeignBorn

From the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Cleveland, Through Hardship and Joy

On Thursday, July 21st, iForeignBorn went to an event at Lincoln-West High School where we met Mr. Crispin Kamucici, whose son was enrolled there. We learned that Crispin is a refugee from the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo who had lived in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, for 14 years before coming to the United States…

Swede Visited U.S. Many Times and Decided He Wanted to Stay for Good – Now a U.S. Citizen

On Monday, July 11th, 2016, we had lunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Beachwood Place, Beachwood, Ohio, with Mr. Hans Leander, whom we met in November 2015 at an event put on by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Mr. Leander remembers the exact date that he immigrated to the United States with the intention of staying here, which was…

From Singapore With Love

My journey to America started when my daughter was 2 ½ years old. I came to America to start a new life for myself and my daughter. My ex-wife suffered from post- partum depression and as a result, my child was the main victim of her abuse. Since my child was so young, she couldn’t verbalize her pain and suffering.…

Indonesia Native Tino Go Builds “Dimensionally Yours” American Dream

On Tuesday, June 20th, we attended a City Club program on Public Square, For the Love of Cleveland: Reinvestment and Opportunity. We met Mr. Tino Go, founder of Dimensionally Yours, (dimensionallyyours.com), an Ohio-based company that focuses on fast and affordable customization of furniture made with environmentally conscious lumber. “It’s common for shoppers to find furniture that they find attractive and…

Couple Immigrate Independently from Romania to Work Hard & Relish Freedoms of USA

On July 4th, we met Mr. Peter Costin and his family when we all volunteered to march with Ohio State Senator Michael Skindell (Democrat from District 23) in the annual holiday parade in Lakewood. As it turned out, Peter helped us carry the Skindell banner while his wife, Delia, drove the Skindell car. Peter and Delia, along with their son…

American Woman of Hungarian Heritage Becomes Taekwondo Master Through Perseverence

My name is Gwenyth Szabo. Zay-bowe. The “s” is silent. It’s not s-zay-bowe, sah- bowe, or zah-bowe. My name is Hungarian, and I usually have to clarify it every time I introduce myself or when people see it written. However, aside from knowing its origin and that it means tailor, I don’t know much about my Hungarian history. Does my…

Eva Nemcik, Czechoslovakian Immigrant, Comes a Long Way to Discover Her American Dream

One day last summer, we attended the Mentor Chamber of Commerce luncheon where we were seated at the same table as Ms. Eva Nemcik, who told us that she had left Czechoslovakia in 1968 with her family after the Russian invasion. Eventually they settled in the Cleveland area where she worked for General Electric for 26 years before she retired.…

Jerry Malinar, Croatian Artist

I had the opportunity to visit the Croatian Heritage Museum and Library before Christmas where I met Jerry Malinar and saw Jerry’s beautiful Croatian Nativity Scene that he created in 1987 for the museum’s Christmas exhibit.  It was made from papier-mâché, burlap, straw, and paint.  There is a lit cave with the Holy Family and shepherds surrounded by many Croatian dolls dressed…

Russian Independent Filmmaker

Like many young guys in their late twenties, Mr. Mikhail Tot has a lot on his plate right now. In addition to his paying job as a photographer/videographer, he has written, directed and edited six feature-length films including one that will be screened on September 15th at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore 7 in Euclid titled, “In Guns We Trust” which has…