Occupation: Student

Country of Birth: Russia

Current: Lincolnshire, IL

“When I arrived in the US, it was not my first time here, but it was my first time as a citizen, and I saw things differently.”

Denis was born in the center of Moscow and lived a typical life filled with school, homework, and sports. He loved how easy it was to walk everywhere without a car. He has two brothers and a sister. His family often traveled within Russia, visiting attractions, parks, and restaurants.

Before moving to the US, Denis had already been here seven times. His parents loved to travel, especially during holidays or whenever they would head to Europe for better weather, because Russia stays cold most of the year. 

Denis had an idea he would be moving to the US. When his parents won the green card lottery, it was not a huge surprise, since his older brother had already moved to the US to play basketball at a special school. The hardest part was the journey—because of the war, they had to take a long, complicated route through Europe. Getting visas was a nightmare, with many countries rejecting them before they finally got approved. On top of that, there were medical exams, X-rays, and long travel days that made the process exhausting.

Adjusting to life in Chicago was not easy. Denis struggled to understand and speak English while also adapting to new ways of thinking and living. He missed being able to just walk around with friends. Here, the only place within walking distance for him is a gas station.

Now, things are better. He has made many friends who speak Russian, and he has gotten into playing squash. His goal is to go to college in Chicago. He would like to go back to Russia someday, but he is not sure what the future holds. No matter what, it will always be home.