Citizen Profiles

Sandra MacKenzie

William Powell — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:04:00 GMT

Age: 46 Country of Birth: Nova Scotia, Canada Neighborhood: Cheviot Occupation: Nursing

What brought you here? I’ve been here for 10 years. I guess I just want to start over.

Does anything remind you of home? This past winter did. The cold.

What still seems foreign? Sayings like “Please.” The brand names in the stores. I still notice the accents.

What’s your American Dream? I want to be on Survivor. Once I’m a citizen, I’ll be able to try out for Survivor.

Photographed with her boyfriend, Mike Prell.

Abraham Armah

William Powell — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:04:00 GMT

Age: 31 Country of birth: Ghana Neighborhood: Lexington, Kentucky Occupation: Student

What brought you here? I came because of school. I went to Northern Kentucky University, and I completed a degree in economics. But now I’m switching careers to nursing, so I’m back in school at the University of Kentucky.

Does anything remind you of home? My friends and family.

What still seems foreign? Originally, I had some culture shock. But I am beginning to get used to things. Americans are a little bit more individualistic. In my culture and background, families are always united, but here it’s different, an independent lifestyle.

What’s your American Dream? Most of my goals are being fulfilled right now. Becoming a citizen is one of my biggest goals. Graduating with a degree in economics was one of my biggest goals. Hopefully, by next year, I have a degree in nursing. I want one of the biggest houses. I want to have a good life. That’s what America is about.

Nuris Abad-Orozco

Amy Knueven — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:03:00 GMT

Age: 50 Country of Birth: Venezuela Neighborhood: Fairfield Occupation: Spanish teacher

What brought you here? My situation in my country was not very good. I came here for refuge.

Does anything remind you of home? The streets, the highways.

What still seems foreign? The mall!

What’s your American Dream? To see my stepsons grow up right here in the United States.

Photographed with husband Rogeliu Abad.

Rongrong Li

William Powell — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:03:00 GMT

Age: 49 Country of birth: China Neighborhood: West Chester Occupation: Food scientist

What brought you here? School. I finished my Ph.D. at The University of Georgia.

Does anything remind you of home? Nothing, really. However, it is a great opportunity to be here. I am settled here. I do miss home, but every time I go back to visit, after a few weeks, I’m ready to come back here. I have two American-born boys.

What still seems foreign? Everywhere I’ve lived has weird parts. I’ve lived in Europe and different places. However, this is the place for better opportunities and a better life.

What is your American Dream? I want to be happy. I want to be free to express myself, and enjoy a great life. I hope the children have a better life than me.

Photographed with her son, James Wright, whose father is from Jamaica.

Naod Feleke

Amy Knueven — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:02:00 GMT

Age: 23 Country of birth: Ethiopia Neighborhood: Clifton Occupation: Civil Engineering student at Cincinnati State and Starbucks barista

What brought you here? My whole family moved here when I was a kid.

Does anything remind you of home? When I first came to the U.S., I lived in Washington, D.C. There’s a whole community of Ethiopians there; it’s called Little Ethiopia.

What still seems foreign? I’m actually new to Cincinnati. I’ve only been here for three years now. D.C. was a lot more diverse than Cincinnati. But I came here because I wanted to be on my own.

Do you have an American dream? I don’t know if I have an American dream. I have a dream just to enjoy life. To enjoy the future.

Elena Nikolova

William Powell — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:02:00 GMT

Age: 49 Country of birth: Bulgaria Neighborhood: Anderson Township Occupation: Nurse

What brought you here? I got lucky in the Green Card Lottery [a.k.a. the Diversity Visa Lottery].

Does anything remind you of home? I try to forget.

What still seems foreign? Nothing really seems weird. Sometimes when I drive and I see the American flag, it hits me: You’re in the States! I have the feeling sometimes that I am living in a movie because for me the United States was always a part of this fairy tale. It feels like home.

Do you have an american dream? Like everybody else, to have a house, to have a life.

Iris Elleman

Amy Knueven — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:02:00 GMT

Age: 58 Country of Birth: Germany Neighborhood: Hamilton Occupation: Homemaker

What brought you here? I met my husband in Germany. He was a second lieutenant when we got married and we moved to the United States.

Does anything remind you of home? I’m involved in the German Club and Oktoberfest. After moving around with the military, I finally found my home and it’s Cincinnati. I love it.

What still seems foreign? The driving. Because it seems like it’s too relaxed. People don’t pay attention to the driving and are too much on their cell phones.

What’s your American Dream? I guess my dream was fulfilled in finally reaching my destination and my citizenship.

Photographed with husband David Elleman.

Jason Dean

Amy Knueven — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:01:00 GMT

Age: 38 Country of birth: England Neighborhood: Wyoming Occupation: Events promoter

What brought you here? Rachel [his wife]: He comes from a long line of family members who move here when they meet someone. Jason: Yes, I seem to have a lot of family members who move over and then another visiting family member will meet someone and end up staying as well. That’s how I met my wife and we’ve been married 12 years.

Does anything remind you of home? Not a lot, because it’s so inland, whereas I grew up on the coast. But to tell you the truth, I’ve been living here 16 years, so I suppose this is home.

What still seems foreign? I still don’t like Skyline. I think you have to be born in Cincinnati to like it.

Do you have an American Dream? To start my own business, which I’ve actually done. It’s called Pandora Promotions.

Johanna van den Berg

Linda Vaccariello — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:01:00 GMT

Age: 19 Country of birth: Netherlands Occupation: Ohio State University student, majoring in City and Regional Planning

What brought you here? We came 12 years ago, when I was in first grade. My father worked for Procter & Gamble and we had moved around Europe a lot.

Does anything remind you of home? Not a lot. The urban feel of Columbus, and the open fields between Cincinnati and Columbus.

What still seems foreign? Sometimes, the whole food thing. People [here] eat out as a way of life. For our family, we eat home-cooked meals.

Do you have an American Dream? What sets the U.S. apart is community service—being able to help other people. I’m getting an education in order to help other people.

Jemal Abidine Taki

William Powell — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Age: 31 Country of birth: Mauritania Neighborhood: Hyde Park Occupation: Taxi driver, import-export business

What brought you here? I went to school here. I went to Xavier first, then to UC. My degrees are in marketing and management.

Does anything remind you of home? There is a huge community of my countrymen here.

What still seems foreign? Not much. I consider myself very Americanized, in a good way.

Do you have an American Dream? I would like to build a bridge between my country and the United States and their cultures.