Hard Work, Long Hours Part Of Immigrant Experience Letter Of The Week: From March 6

I read with great interest “Journey of Faith,” about the many Russian immigrants in the United States.

In 1954, when I was 25, I immigrated into Canada. I had $90, didn’t know English and was alone. Some people who had come over on the ship with me got me a job as a dishwasher for $100 a month. I couldn’t work as a dental assistant as I had in Germany.

It was a back-breaking job to wash dishes by hand for 120 people morning, noon and night. The loneliness and the homesickness was almost unbearable.

The next winter I went to night school to learn English and worked in a household with three small children. I earned $100 per month for one year. After that I waited on tables and in four years was able to save the $1,500 required to enter the United States.

I’ve lived in the United States for 37 years, become a proud U.S. citizen and was a successful real estate broker for 25 years. I saved enough money to retire.

To Russian immigrants who find it hard to adapt, I say: Hard work and long hours are a must. It will pay off. Starting at the bottom gives you a wonderful opportunity; you can only work yourselves up. Learning English is the most important thing; speak only English at home and please learn some American ways.

America doesn’t owe you anything. It’s a privilege to come to America. I will be thankful for that until the day I die.

Martha M. Bennett

Spokane

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