Climbing up the Ladder Once Again

Written By Laura Bennett

Jeanette’s Journey from Australia to America

Written by Daniella Kapuschansky
Edited by Seyeon Hwang & Kayla Byrd

Jeannette (pictured second from the right) on the day of graduation from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Photo Credit: Jeanette Soffiantini

Jeanette Soffiantini is a pharmacist manager in Florida. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, she moved to Australia for a few years before eventually emigrating to the United States to be with her family. She now calls the U.S. her home but she believes that there are disadvantages and struggles for immigrants continuing their career path in the new country.

Daniella Kapuschansky is a student at the Hicks Honors College at the University of North Florida, studying History and Anthropology. She is also a Program Assistant intern at WeaveTales. She would eventually like to work to ethically preserve cultures and history that are being lost in time.

I grew up as a second-generation immigrant.

The experience made me aware of how hard it can be to emigrate to a new country, even voluntarily. When you make the decision to start over again in a new country, there are emotional obstacles and legal hardships. Even though I never experienced this directly, my childhood involved watching my mom, aunt, and grandparents struggle through the immigration process; along with the cultural and societal differences they faced on a daily basis.

There were always stacked boxes of records and travel documents in our study in order to ensure that every detail of the multistep process was properly recorded. My family would triple-check that they were following the correct steps to citizenship. It was also a financial catastrophe if an application was rejected. Each submission entailed a huge amount of fees! It took my grandparents over a decade to become citizens. My aunt is still in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

I remember trying to teach my 70-year old grandparents basic U.S. history that isn’t taught in most American public schools. My grandmother’s nervousness caused her to get a question incorrect and fail her test. She had to wait weeks for the retest and pay another test fee.

The process also involved numerous international phone calls as my family had to settle many of their personal affairs and legal obligations. I can remember my family’s stress as they tried to settle their foreign bank accounts or even the more arduous task of having to set up a health care plan for my grandparents. These seemingly mundane tasks made my family’s life difficult and created constant uncertainty.

Even though immigration is such a pressing issue in the U.S. today, I do not think enough U.S.- born citizens truly know about the immigration experience. It is not just packing up and moving. Immigration is no easy task. It takes years of waiting and planning, and mental strength. It is closing a chapter of your life while simultaneously writing another. Imagine leaving behind one home in search of another, and still having no guarantee. The apprehension of checking emails and letters, seeing denials, or being on waitlists that are years long. Going to interviews and taking tests that decide whether or not you will stay in the country another day. It is a hard decision to make, weighing the option of opportunity that the U.S. seems to offer over the feeling of pride and familiarity that your home country has.

I can’t imagine leaving my family and lifestyle behind on a gamble, even though I’ve seen my family members do it firsthand. Then again, my family and I are fortunate that we never suffered the trauma of a civil war or a genocide. We never starved and always had an opportunity for social services to help.

Today, I would like to share my aunt's experiences as an immigrant to help more Americans understand the strenuous process of starting all over again in a new country.

Leaving Australia for America

I had spent many years traveling back and forth between Australia and Florida to visit my sister and her children. But the toll of being away from my nieces and nephew grew heavier on my heart as they got older. I had left my extended family when I first moved to Australia in 1998.

It was tough being alone in a country without my family, but I loved the life I had built for myself. I was an avid traveler, I went dancing with my friends during the weekends, I took baking classes, and I loved my job as a pharmacist manager.

As well as having a great personal life, I also was very successful in my professional life. I led training programs for pharmacists, I was a consultant for patients, and I helped doctors develop patient treatments. After living in Australia for five years, I was granted citizenship.

It took five years for me to become an Australian Citizen. I am now repeating the process to become a U.S. Citizen. Photo Credit: Jeanette Soffiantini

I thought that leaving this life in Australia would be worth living ten minutes away from my family. Twelve years later, I can say that it is, but it was an arduous journey, full of sacrifice and bureaucracy. People have many different reasons for migrating and we all have varying experiences. However, I believe that we can all agree that no matter where someone is from,

The immigration process into the U.S. is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.

To be granted passage into the U.S. was a challenge within itself. I had originally applied for a sibling visa, and I had a 10-year wait ahead of me to get processed and I couldn’t wait for that long.

Eventually, I came across the E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers Visa. This visa allowed me to sign a three-year contract with a company in the U.S. during which I would be sponsored by an international law firm that recruited pharmacists and other healthcare personnel.

When I applied for the E-3 visa, I had to begin preparing for the required tests. In order to prepare to take the equivalency exams and become recertified, I quit my job as a pharmacist manager and became a self-employed pharmacy floater. The majority of my time was spent on studying, and I felt as though I traveled back in time to my college days.

I was always studying, everywhere and anytime, even at a laundromat. Photo Credit: Jeanette Soffiantini

Studying was difficult. I felt as though I was swimming in an ocean without a life preserver. I had no support or guidance. There was no set curriculum or syllabus. It felt like a constant gamble of whether or not I was on the right track.

I still refuse to believe that the English exam tested my English proficiency. English is my first language and I had never heard of some of the materials I was tested on. It was the strangest test I have ever taken. And yet, the score on the test was one of the factors that would determine my fate to migrate to the country!

Back to Square One

On January 3, 2008, I arrived in Florida. Initially, I stayed at my sister’s house until I could find my own apartment. It was in that beige guest room that I experienced the first real change in my life since moving — I was still studying for the never ending courses and exams, but I was constantly being distracted by my two youngest nieces who were seven and four at the time. They served as a pleasant reminder that I was finally close to my family in the United States.

In Australia, my home was quiet, but in Florida, all I heard was giggling and the pitter patter of feet up and down the stairs. And all I could think of was,

They are why I am here. They are why I am doing this.

However, I remember almost quitting everything.

I was intermittently traveling around the country, taking different exams. The exams were spread out across the country, and one time, it was in New York City. I didn’t know my way around the city or how the trains worked and I ended up being lost. I was scared of missing the exam and even more worried that I didn’t know any of the answers. All these small stressors kept building up in my head. I felt like the whole world was out to get me and I was about to be crushed under the pressure of it all.

In New York City to take exams. Photo Credit- Jeanette Soffiantini

In order to be a practicing pharmacist in the U.S., one of the last steps was the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). This exam is only available after a one-year internship. After my internship I ended up staying with the company for three more years, but it was a rough start.

When I was first deciding to emigrate, I didn’t fully grasp how much I would have to start over. I felt like my entire life had been reset. My decade of experience within the pharmacy field felt as though it meant nothing here. My networking and business associates in Australia were considered meaningless. To make matters worse, I had to start over as an intern even though I had long passed an entry position.

I felt overqualified and underpaid.

Starting over damaged my determination. I saw my colleagues in Australia continuing to climb up the career ladder. Meanwhile, I purposely knocked myself down to the bottom by uprooting. I questioned my decision to leave Australia. I missed it. My life felt so different from how it used to be.

I was confused and angry.

Uneasy Life as an Immigrant

I didn’t understand why my experience and expertise were ignored. I felt like I was overlooked in every aspect. Even essential tasks, such as looking for apartments or buying a car, were challenging. I felt taken advantage of due to my lack of credit, and I was often forced to pay a top interest on loans.

The U.S. didn’t feel as welcoming as I had thought it would be. I didn’t have any friends in Florida, and my sister was a full-time mom of four. I saw my family, but it was not as often as I was hoping. I was working laboriously, trying to salvage any semblance of my life back in Australia.

As an immigrant, I also felt alienated sometimes, which I never thought I would experience. Patients and coworkers would confront me for my accent. Although they were not always hostile, it was still unnerving to have a stranger interrogate me.

I also noticed the differences between being a pharmacist in Australia and the U.S. In Australia, pharmaceutical work is a trusted occupation below doctors. Pharmacists can diagnose and treat a wider range of illnesses without the input of a doctor in Australia. However, that is not the same in America. I feel as though the profession isn’t as respected.

A Blessing

My journey to America was worth it to be able to hold my nieces and nephew everyday. Photo Credit: Jeanette Soffiantini

In spite of all these hardships, I believe that the decision to migrate has all been worth it now that I am settled as a permanent resident. Although It takes time to adapt, motivation and a positive attitude are essential. Changes should be welcomed.

Twelve years later, I have worked my way to my position as a pharmacist manager and I take pride in the work I do. I now have a house that feels like a home. I have made many friends and acquaintances. I can see my family in my free time, and I am involved in their life.

My opportunity to come to America has been a blessing. I look forward to many more decades of joy and happiness surrounded by my family, as a naturalized U.S. citizen.

As told by Daniella Kapuschansky

Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of WeaveTales and its employees.

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