Moving from another country to America can be hard. Learning a new language and adjusting to the different cultures we have are only some of the difficulties. Anna Dmitrieva, a Lakeland High School sophomore, is originally from Orsk (Орск) which is the second largest city in Orenburg, Russia.
Dmitrieva describes her old home in Orsk as “grey, really nostalgic, and wholesome.” She and her family were really close there and still are despite her move.
Though, she wants to go back to Russia to visit her family and spend time with them in Russia. It’s not the easiest leaving so many things behind and moving to an unfamiliar place.
Not only did she leave her family behind, she left her friends. She keeps contact with her friends, of course, but finds it difficult to communicate with them over such long distances without seeing each other.
Dmitrieva was 11 years old when she moved to America with her immediate family, leaving the rest of her family at her hometown in Russia. She struggled at first in America, but being around her family made it easier for her.
“It was moderate because I was with a lot of people who were talking in English,” Dmitrieva said.
Being around people she was familiar with made the experience of moving to America all the more tolerable. Although she struggled at first she learned to call this place her home.
Dmitrieva manages to make an entire room laugh without even trying. Her sense of humor relates to many people. She has good taste in music and also has a good taste of adventure.
She knows how to lighten the mood and make people feel comfortable around her. When she first arrived at the Lakeland School District, she became popular because of her outgoing and extroverted personality, as well as the fact many thought it was intriguing that she knew how to speak another language.
A moment Dmitrieva was enjoying her time in America was while she spent time with her new friends while attending Lakeland High School.
Although she has enjoyed her moments in America, memories of her home in Russia only make her miss her family and friends more. A moment she remembers from Russia is when she would spend time drinking tea with her grandma before heading to bed.
Dmitrieva has been to many other places as well. One place she has travelled to is Los Vegas, Nevada. She has also been on many cruises to exciting places.
She wants to travel to many places, but the place she wants to travel to the most is Japan. She wants to try different foods and visit many of the beautiful monuments and the scenery there.
Though she would love to travel there, she does not necessarily see herself living there.
“I would probably live in Italy because it’s beautiful,” Dmitrieva said.
Dmitrieva plans on seeing the world and sharing her bright, happy personality along the way.