From Ethiopia to Beaverton, man and family travel far to catch American Dream
The immigrants are working to bring family members here as well
Kristen Forbes / For Times Newspapers
After immigrating to Oregon from Ethiopia, Dejene Regasa then helped many members of his family do the same.
In 1995, Dejene Regasa and his wife Engo made the trip from Addas Ababa, Ethiopia, to the United States after taking part in the U.S. Department of State’s Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery.
After filling out an application, a computer randomly selected them to be among the 50,000 to receive a diversity visa that year. After a 15-month paperwork process, they boarded several planes and eventually landed in Washington, D.C.
“The funny thing is, we wanted to come to Washington – Seattle,” recalls Dejene. “But when we got our ticket, we didn’t know Washington – Seattle. Back home, not that much is known about it. Washington, D.C., is more popular. So on accident, we landed there.”
Engo’s sister knew a friend who came and picked the couple up, and they stayed for about a week until they were able to get Amtrak tickets across the country. During the five-day, four-night train ride, Dejene and Engo began to notice the differences between the culture they had just left and the culture where they had arrived.
“At that time, we didn’t speak fluent English and couldn’t communicate with other people,” Dejene says. “Food-wise on the station, there were sandwiches and other foods we’re not familiar with. How to order it, all of those things – we didn’t know. Finally, after five days, we arrived here with our family. That’s how we started our life here in Oregon.”
They both looked for jobs, and his wife started as a kitchen helper at a nursing home.
“I got a job at 7-Eleven on the nighttime shift and had a bad experience with that,” says Dejene. “I was working there and one time these kids came and wanted to take a pack of cigarettes. They sprayed pepper spray in my eyes. Just for a pack of cigarettes.”
The couple took certified nursing assistant classes to train to work in nursing homes. They worked at four or five different places together. Dejene also did airport shuttle service and worked as a taxi driver.
In 1998, a man told Dejene and his wife about an adult foster care business. He said they could work for him for six months then take the business over. As promised, they were given the business, and they now run an adult foster home in Beaverton. They’ve owned the business since 1999 and are still running it, 10 years later.
With more family still in Ethiopia and Kenya, Dejene and Engo used the money they made at their jobs to help their families back home. They sent money – usually around $800 a month – to cover rent, as well as medical costs and food.
In 2001, nine members of Engo’s family were able to join the group in Oregon. For Dejene’s family, the process took longer.
“They were scheduled for an interview Sept. 12, 2001. Sept. 11 happened, and it was postponed for a year or so. Then, it took about five years for them to get here,” he says.
During those five years, Dejene continued to support them while working two jobs.
“I don’t even want to think about how much money I spent, but it was a lot of money. I don’t expect anything from them. What I want to do is for them – help them get here, where they can work freely and help the rest of the family we have back home.”
When 10 of Dejene’s family members were finally able to come to Beaverton, they followed the example Dejene set: They found jobs, attended classes, and took over some of Dejene’s responsibilities.
He and his wife now have four children: two boys and twin girls. Dejene still works two jobs, one at the adult foster home and one with the school district.
“It’s not easy, but we can work and support our family. Back home, the opportunity is not there,” says Dejene. “My heart is always wanting to help. God helped me to get here, so I just want to help.”