Interview with Camilla Solis
Introduction
Immigration has always been a cornerstone of personal transformation and cultural exchange. But for my mother, a Swedish immigrant to the United States, this journey was driven not by necessity, but by curiosity and a spirit of adventure. As her son, I had the privilege of learning about her experiences firsthand during an interview that revealed the challenges, milestones, and reflections that defined her immigration story. This essay explores my mother’s journey, from her initial move as an au pair to becoming a U.S. citizen, shedding light on the immigration process and the personal resilience it demands.
Migration
My mother’s immigration story begins in the serene city of Örebro, Sweden, where she was born and raised. Growing up in a stable and loving environment, she enjoyed her family’s close-knit bonds and her homeland’s cultural traditions. Unlike many immigrants who move for economic or political reasons, her journey to the United States was inspired by curiosity and adventure. At 18, she took a year off before pursuing further education, opting to work as an au pair in the United States.
“I just wanted to see what the U.S. was all about,” she told me. Her initial transition, made on a tourist visa, was straightforward, but subsequent attempts to return and stay presented greater challenges. She faced visa rejections and had to reapply with careful planning, exemplifying the hurdles that often accompany migration. But this came to a turning point when she met and married my father, who was already in the process of obtaining his green card. Through their marriage, she became part of his application and embarked on the path to permanent residency. This process included a trip to Bolivia, where they completed consular interviews and received their green cards. Reflecting on this phase, my mother remarked that the process was relatively smooth compared to today’s standards. “Back then, it wasn’t as difficult,” she said, emphasizing how immigration policies have evolved.
Membership
Becoming a U.S. citizen marked a significant milestone in my mother’s journey. Initially hesitant to pursue citizenship due to concerns about losing her Swedish citizenship, she ultimately embraced dual citizenship when changes in Swedish immigration laws allowed it. The naturalization process required her to study U.S. history and government, pass a citizenship test, and take an oath of allegiance. Reflecting on her experience, my mother found the process to be straightforward compared to today’s more stringent immigration requirements. “I was nervous for the test, but it wasn’t too difficult,” she admitted, recalling the relief she felt upon passing. The naturalization ceremony was a proud moment for her, complete with a welcome message from President Barack Obama. Gaining the right to vote and full participation in American society symbolized her deepening connection to her new home.
Integration
Adapting to a new country comes with its own set of challenges, and for my mother, integration into American society was a multifaceted process. The cultural differences were notable—she was struck by the friendliness of Americans compared to the reserved nature of Swedes, as well as by the sheer scale of everything, from food portions to cars and homes. Despite these differences, she found it relatively easy to adjust, partly due to the somewhat similarities between Swedish and American cultures. Her early years in the U.S. as an au pair provided her with an introduction to American family life and customs. Over time, she balanced embracing new traditions with preserving her Swedish identity, celebrating Swedish Christmas and Midsummer while also participating in American customs like the Fourth of July.
Conclusion
Looking back, my mother expressed pride in her journey, particularly in her ability to move to a new country independently at such a young age. “It was a big step for me,” she said, acknowledging the courage it took to leave her family and navigate life in a foreign country. Her advice to future immigrants is to find a balance between preserving their cultural heritage and embracing the traditions of their new home. “Bring your own traditions, but also immerse yourself in the culture,” she suggested, emphasizing the importance of openness and adaptability.
Overall, My mother’s immigration story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the immigration process. From her initial move as an au pair to her eventual citizenship, her journey illustrates the challenges and rewards of forging a new life in a foreign country. As her son, hearing her story has deepened my appreciation for the sacrifices and achievements that have shaped her life and mine. Her experience serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and determination that define the immigrant experience.
Methods
To capture my mom’s immigration story, we had a Zoom interview while she was in Chicago for work. The virtual format made it easy for us to connect and have an in-depth conversation despite being in different locations. The interview was a casual conversation guided by a list of questions I had prepared, but it was flexible enough to allow her to expand on topics she found meaningful. We focused on her journey from Sweden to the U.S., the challenges she faced with visas and settling in, and her reflections on becoming a citizen. Recording the interview allowed me to go back and carefully capture her words and experiences. Talking over Zoom gave her the chance to relax and share her story openly, which made it feel more personal and genuine.
Noah Solis: [00:00:00] Hello. This is a digitally recorded interview with Camilla Solis. This interview is being conducted by me, Noah Solis, on Zoom on December 7th, 2024 at approximately 4:20 p. m. Would you like to introduce yourself real quick?
Camilla Solis: Sure. So I’m Camilla Solis and I am your mom. And yeah
Noah Solis: Yeah, perfect.
Um, so just to get into things, uh, just like an early life and background, can you tell me where you’re from and your childhood and where you grew up?
Camilla Solis: Sure. I was born and raised in Sweden. I was born there. I lived in Sweden Until I was about 19, 18, years old. Lived with my mom in a town called Örebro we lived in an apartment. Um, Örebro was a pretty, pretty big city. What else?
Noah Solis: [00:01:00] So would you say you liked living up in Örebro?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, I lived there. I lived in also in a smaller, uh, city right outside. So like the suburbs of that city for a little bit. Um, I lived there with my, my mom, obviously, and, uh, my stepdad and my sister.
Noah Solis: Okay.
Camilla Solis: And then, um, and from there I actually moved to the United States. But yeah, so it was me and my mom in the big city for a long time. Then, we moved from there too. The suburbs.
Noah Solis: Okay. Um, where did you, like what area were you growing up mostly? Like in regards to school? What city was you mostly at?
Camilla Solis: The most city I was in was a, a city called Kumla
and I moved to Kumla when I was in, uh, elementary school.. I obviously finished elementary school in Kumla, and then I had middle, and then I went to high school there. [00:02:00] Okay. Yeah.
Noah Solis: What would you say your best memories would be from there? or your home country in general.
Camilla Solis: The best memories, um, obviously family, because most of my family, well, all my, my, on my side of the family lives there still. So my friends, my parents, grandparents, uh, siblings, they all live there. So, um, yeah, memories, From there, I love, I love Swedish summer. So that’s, that’s something that I kind of miss if I want to compare United States to Sweden.
I love summers there.
Noah Solis: Okay. Would there be any traditions or customs you feel you hold the most important to you?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, I do like summertime. most Swedes. Love the summer because in Sweden, the summers are very short. And, when it’s not summer, the days are pretty dark, gloomy.
Uh, so when someone comes around, it’s, it’s kind of a [00:03:00] big thing. We all love it. Then also in the summertime, it’s my birthday in June. So that’s why I like it. But then also that in June, uh, we have midsummer. So that’s probably one of my, one of my favorite times from Sweden that I like.
Noah Solis: Okay. Okay. Um, would it be like any traditions that come with Midsummer?
Camilla Solis: For Midsummer, , we have a, I think they call it Maypole here. Um, but we call it like Midsummer Pole. Also, when you have, you bind flowers and we use birch tree branches and we decorate this Maypole, or like I said, Midsummer Pole, um, and then, well, kids, even grown ups, but we dance around the Maypole , sing songs, so it’s a big thing.
And then also, not everyone, but a lot of people also dress up in their Like a [00:04:00] dress, uh, during that time. They play music. Usually it’s accordion music with the violin. And so that’s pretty traditional. I like that. That’s that’s summer. And yeah. People put flowers in their hair and okay.
Noah Solis: Interesting. Interesting.
Camilla Solis: We eat, of course. Yeah. And, and drink snaps. So…
Noah Solis: Okay. Nice. Nice. Uh, so would you say you like practice? I don’t know if I would say practice or would you say you were more involved in traditions in Kumla or Örebro?
Camilla Solis: I would say Kumla because maybe because I lived there the longest in that city.
Yeah, most of my childhood friends are from there. So yes, I would say I would say maybe it’s the place.
Noah Solis: Just for transitioning, did you have [00:05:00] any like notions of the US or any ideas when growing up to move or see yourself moving?
Camilla Solis: No, I don’t think no. Obviously People talked about United States and, and I remember sometimes in, um, in school, we had like international day we usually had like, like tables with different food from different countries.
And I remember everybody wanted to have the table from the United States because that was hamburgers, because we don’t really eat hamburgers. Well now, maybe more now more, but when I grew up. I don’t think maybe if they were, I know in my city, I don’t think we had a McDonald’s, let’s say. Uh, so yeah, so that was kind of a special treat, like a hamburger was a special treat.
So, and then I think also when I grew up, there was one period, I don’t, I don’t know when, I can’t remember exactly, obviously when I was a teenager, [00:06:00] it was very popular with, uh, the, you know, the flag, United States flag. So it was like the spenders. Uh, bandanas, uh, and stuff like that. I remember that. I’m just like, Whoa, that we thought that was pretty cool.
Noah Solis: Okay. Yeah. Interesting. So that, that was just the notion of Americans. It’s just like burgers and hot dogs. Yeah.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, for sure.
Noah Solis: Okay. So you never really had like the idea of you and like, see yourself moving to the U.S. At all?
Camilla Solis: No, no, not at all.
Noah Solis: Okay, interesting. So what inspired you or like motivated you to immigrate?
Camilla Solis: Well, it was, it was not planned. Uh, I know obviously traditional people come maybe for a better future for yourself, but that was not my, I mean, Sweden was great. We didn’t have hardship or anything like that, but I just came after I finished, I would say, I don’t know, [00:07:00] equivalent, I don’t know if it’s maybe a college or high school, but anyway, after school, I said, no, let me just take a year before I continue to go to school, um, to do something different.
So pretty much, well, a lot of people from Sweden, I would say a lot of girls go out and. Be au pairs in a different country. So I thought, well, maybe that will be something I can do. I can be an au pair for a year. Um, and then, you know, see what United States is all about. So that’s what I did. That’s how I first came.
Uh, I came, uh, I believe I was first time 18. So I came and lived with a family and I took care of their children.
Noah Solis: Okay. Can you elaborate what an au pair is?
Camilla Solis: It’s like a nanny.
Noah Solis: Okay.
Camilla Solis: It’s like a live in nanny, you, you live with a family, and then you take care of their kids during the day.
That was pretty much [00:08:00] it. I mean, you do a lot of things. Like housework and, but not much, but yeah, that’s what an au pair does.
Noah Solis: Okay. Did you have a plan of staying a certain amount of time in the U. S.? Or was this just like how you went off a feel?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, no, that was just that, that first time it was just, I was going to come and stay for, for that year. Um, and they were also paying for me to come. They were paying my tickets, paying for my return, and obviously they paid me while I stayed. Um, so when that year was up, you know, I was like, okay, that’s it.
My year is up. So I went, I went back home actually after that.
Noah Solis: Okay. So what was like the final I wouldn’t say final draw or final strand like what was like the thing that made you think like, hey, like, I think living in the US would, you know, be a good fit for me.
Camilla Solis: Um, you know what, I never really had that thought.
I, I, After I [00:09:00] went back home and went and finished school, I mean, I went back to school, um, did some more of that. I, again, I said, ah, before I start working, get into the work life, um, let me go back because I also had made a lot of friends,
but that second time when I came, I ended up staying. So I never really moved back home.
Noah Solis: . So technically you’re still. On your second stay, technically. I guess if you want to look at it like that.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Noah Solis: Okay, so, so there was no, like, plan, it was just straight.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, there was no, mhm, exactly. It was no planning. It was not like, Oh, I have to move now. And, you know, say goodbye to my friends, you know, like that. You know, I’ll be back someday. No, no. It was just like, I was going to go my year and then I just ended up staying.
Noah Solis: Interesting, so there was no like process of leaving Sweden and like, no, like goodbyes or anything? It was just like straight there?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, exactly. [00:10:00] Yeah. It was just that goodbye saying, I’ll see you in a year. And that was, that was about it. And I came and stayed, and I actually went to school, um, while I was an au pair that second year. I went to school,.
Noah Solis: So what would you say, the most difficult part of coming to the U. S. was? .
Camilla Solis: Maybe the most difficult is was, um, that I didn’t have any, uh, family. I guess, you know, that was, that was it. But yes, I did have friends and such in the United States, but no family. So I, I think that was probably the hardest.
Noah Solis: So were you here on like a work visa or like a student visa or how was that whole process?
Camilla Solis: When I first came, well, actually both times when I, when I came, there was no such thing as a work visa for an, au pair. It kind of came later. So I kind of went through an agency in Sweden who kind of gave me all the [00:11:00] instructions, how to come, what to say in customs and yeah.
So you will start. Yeah, so it was just a regular tourist visa that I came on. Um, not really supposed to be working and get paid. So it was just really me getting a tourist visa. Because back then you had to get a tourist visa. A visa visa before you could come and they gave you a certain length of time on that visa and then it expires like a year maybe or something like that.
Noah Solis: Would you say that transition went smooth or was there any challenges with that transition
Camilla Solis: with the visa?
Noah Solis: Yeah.
Camilla Solis: First time was pretty easy. Second time when I tried to get a visa, I actually think I was denied. And then I ended up actually applying that visa again with a friend and like we were pretending that we were going to go on On a trip traveling and stuff like that.
So I think I, it [00:12:00] was a little bit more elaborate. Like I said, I had, I did it with a friend. So like the two of us, was going at the same time and we were planning on visiting places. And then I was, then they gave me the visa.
Noah Solis: So, how did you, like, just overall, how did you feel about, like, what was your first impression of arriving to the States? Was there anything, like, surprising or shocking at all?
Camilla Solis: Well, everything was big, obviously, I thought. Everything was big. It was big cars, . Uh, what else? food. It was a lot of food. I thought you went out anywhere. It was huge plates of food. And, um, I think that was pretty much my impression. uh, pretty much thought people were friendly and, Oh, big houses.
Of course I lived. Um, I lived at first when I came, I lived in great falls, but so [00:13:00] pretty, uh, I would say rich neighborhood. And that second time I came was I lived in Potomac, Maryland. And, you know, big, big, big, big houses, mansions there. So, so that was sort of kind of my impression of United States when I first came.
Noah Solis: Do you think that Americans are like in comparison like different, I guess like a little too much or loud or in comparison to the Swedish person?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, I think they’re more outgoing, more friendly than Swedes. I think Swedes are a little bit more kept to themselves. Let’s say for an example, you go on a bus, you sit next to a person on a bus in Sweden, they do not talk to you.
But here it sounds like, oh, hi, how you doing? Or you get into an elevator, you look at person in eye maybe, and you say Hi in Sweden. No, no, no, no. It’s no eye contact. Don’t say anything , you know? Okay. So yeah, it [00:14:00] very much kept to ourselves. When you get to know somebody, it’s, it’s just like anybody else.
Noah Solis: Did you feel that, difference at all when you came to the States? , were you surprised when people were just coming up to you, I guess? Or talking to you, or sparking conversation?
Camilla Solis: It was a little bit surprising, but I kind of like it, I mean, obviously not all Americans are friendly or outgoing, but in general they were friendly.
Noah Solis: Was there any like cultural differences or surprises that stood out to you?
Camilla Solis: Um.
Noah Solis: Any culture shocks, I guess?
Camilla Solis: No, I don’t think so.
No, not really. Nothing that, that, wow, like, that surprised me. I mean, culturally, we’re kind of similar, so it wasn’t, it wasn’t hard, I thought, to integrate. Quite easy, actually.
Noah Solis: Okay. I mean, I guess you can kind of consider people being, more open and more [00:15:00] willing to talk and spark conversation.
That’s a bit of a difference in comparison to Sweden.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, I guess that yeah, that’s a big difference. Yeah.
Noah Solis: How do you describe settling in the u. s. Like how did how did that process go?
Camilla Solis: All right, so I kind of finished my au pair life. I also went to school, like I said, so, and I thought after that, and I also met your dad. We decided to get our own apartment. So, um, that’s really what I did. I went out, started looking for a place.
And then we moved into an apartment and like I said, I had gone to school already. I got a, um, esthetician license and started working as a esthetician in Washington, D. C. We used to live in Arlington. So, um, yeah, we had an apartment there and, and it was quite easy actually.
Noah Solis: [00:16:00] Okay. Was this off still a tourist visa or like a work visa or?
Camilla Solis: Yes, it was still, uh, it was, I was still on my tourist visa at that time.
Noah Solis: Okay. So how did you go from, I guess, tourist visa to maybe green card to citizenship?
Camilla Solis: So your dad already had started his, uh, his green card process. Already had an attorney and they were working on his papers and everything.
So, um, when we got married. I automatically got roped into that process. I got included in his visa, in his application. When everything was finalized with all the paperwork and everything, uh, we had to go to Bolivia because that’s where your dad is from, and that’s where we got the papers.
So we have to go to Bolivia and we have to go to, the [00:17:00] embassy, the consulate in La Paz for like an interview and we went there and, um, the interview obviously went well. And when we left, we went through and we got our visa. Green card. Sorry.
Noah Solis: Would you say that process was pretty difficult because, the U. S., like, immigration process and, like, transitioning from, I guess, tourist to, like, resident is pretty grueling. Would you say that was difficult at all, or?
Camilla Solis: No, since that was a while ago.
It wasn’t hard. It took a little bit, obviously, because we had to wait for papers and the process too, but back then it wasn’t, it wasn’t as difficult. Um, I also remember in order to work, in order to get your driver’s license and stuff, you have to get your social security card.
And I remember that was also quite easy back then. So I know I didn’t think it was actually quite difficult. I mean, I’ve [00:18:00] seen other cases now that. The type of work I do right now, I help people with visa and green cards and stuff like that. It can be quite difficult, but no, it was quite easy.
Noah Solis: Okay. , when did you consider, citizenship or being naturalized?
Camilla Solis: You know, I never really thought about, well, maybe I did think about Being a citizen, maybe, but, um, for a very long time, I know that you could not have a, um, like a dual citizenship, so I kept on just renewing my Green card.
Until one year. I think I went to get one of my passports, my Swedish passport at the embassy. And then they said that they had changed the law, I guess, in Sweden, that you could keep your citizenship, if you became American citizen, so that’s when they told me that and I said, Oh, okay, I guess I can do it. And then my company that I worked for at the time, [00:19:00] uh, paid for all the paperwork in the process to get my citizenship. And I get to keep my Swedish citizenship.
That was sort of kind of one of the reasons why, why I did it.
Noah Solis: Do you think deciding on becoming a citizen, like did that take a little bit for you to go through with? Did you need some time to think about it? Was there anything, like, kind of holding you back at all, or were you just like, oh well, let me just get this started, I suppose, now I’m here.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was sort of since I didn’t want to give up , my Swedish citizenship. It was, I guess that was one thing that. Because that was kind of me, right?
Noah Solis: A piece of you, your identity
Camilla Solis: Yeah. So I really didn’t want to give that up, I obviously could have asked for it back, you know, later on if I wanted to go back or I could have asked for it back.
But, uh, since I was born in Sweden, but, um, yeah. So when that happened and when I got that. I said, oh, why not? I [00:20:00] mean, your sisters, um, are citizens. So I said, yeah, why not? So that’s, that was sort of kind of my thought process then. So I was like, oh, why not?
Noah Solis: Did you talk to your family back at home about you becoming a citizen?
Did they support this, I guess, idea? Or did you really talk to your family about, staying here or really anything?
Camilla Solis: Um, no, I mean, they, I guess they pretty much, since I was here for such a long time, they kind of looked at me as an American anyway, right? I don’t think I really announced, that I was going to get my citizenship.
I just did. And then I was like, Oh, I got my citizenship. Sort of kind of like that. And they’re like, Oh, okay, cool. Because they kind of. Thought of me as American anyway.
Noah Solis: Yeah.
Camilla Solis: So, yeah. So it wasn’t a shock or it wasn’t like, Oh, or anything like that. So they were like, okay.
Noah Solis: All right. , how was that process of being [00:21:00] naturalized? It’s a pretty like long test or something and then you get an interview.
How was that?
Camilla Solis: Oh, yeah. So, um, you fill in a pretty long application first. And then you, you have to study for a test about, information about the United States, government, history, and stuff like that. So yeah, it was, it was a lot to study, but not super difficult or anything.
And then you get your, interview, sort of speak, you have to go and take your test. Um, so I did that. And you just go sit in front of a person and they really just asked me, I think. Not even five questions. Just a couple of questions. Yeah. They asked me to write down just to write the White House or something like that.
I guess they wanted to see, [00:22:00] um, to know that I, that I could write in English, I guess, or something like that. And that was, like I said, a couple of questions. You needed, I think at least three or four correct in order to pass, but I believe I got all, all of the questions right. Then they just. stamped my papers. and said okay, it was, that was also quite easy to be honest.
Noah Solis: Was there like a, like a speaking portion? Like, were they like, wondering if you could speak English?
Camilla Solis: We spoke in English the whole time. So, they sort of kind of knew already. I mean, to ask the, the questions in English and I answered them back.
But I know that if you didn’t know English, I know you could, you could have it translated with you. Actually. Um, and I also, um, I think if you also were over a certain age, you really didn’t have to do the, the speaking part or the written part. Something I cannot remember, obviously they knew that I spoke English and then they [00:23:00] asked me to write something.
So they knew that I knew how to write too.
Noah Solis: So they weren’t as heavy on learning English or it was just like something I guess
Camilla Solis: yeah No, not not really books like said they you could bring a translator, but you kind of had to arrange that You have to kind of tell them. Yeah, I will bring a translator Because they obviously could not help you answering the questions and stuff like that.
So they had but you could bring a translator
Noah Solis: Yeah, on the topic of English, actually, how was learning English? Your English is pretty good. I mean, I feel like people say that you’re American , but you’re like, no, I’m from Sweden. Like, how was that process?
Camilla Solis: Um, well,
in, in Sweden, they start teaching us English in school pretty early.
I think in maybe the third grade, maybe they start teaching us, , English, and, but it’s more like, Words, like open the [00:24:00] door, open the window, but yeah, English is also a part of the curriculum in the schools, so all through elementary, middle, high school, and beyond that you have English as a subject that you need to include.
So it’s. It’s a mandatory. And, um, even though it was mandatory, obviously I could read English, it was more difficult. I think that was maybe one thing that I thought was difficult that first year when I came right after school, um, was to actually speak English. Even though I understood what everybody was saying, I could read everything.
It was just, I guess. You get a little bit insecure about how you pronounce things, can you put, can you put word in a sentence, even though I knew all the words, but how to put them all together. I remember that was hard for me. The first year [00:25:00] I came, but, um, I actually started reading books. And the second time I came back, I mean, English books, books in English, I should say.
Um, and then the second time when I came back. The second time around for my au pair job, um, it kind of just clicked somehow. Um, and I was even surprised myself. I said, God, I really can speak English. So that was kind of, yeah, the second time around I kind of, put things together.
Noah Solis: I feel like some schools and like other countries, they kind of push more of a I guess British English rather than American?
Were you really going for American or were you, I guess, British English at first and then switched?
Camilla Solis: Yeah, no, Sweden, it’s more like the British English.
That’s what they teach you. Like. Textbook British English. That’s what they teach you. So, yeah.
Noah Solis: [00:26:00] So were you going for American?
Yeah, sorry.
Camilla Solis: No, I wasn’t really going for it. Um, I mean, I remember maybe when I first came, I say I can’t maybe because Like the, uh, whatever. Yeah.
Noah Solis: Like vowels?
Camilla Solis: Yeah. Cause I, I didn’t know.
Noah Solis: Yeah.
Camilla Solis: I just knew British English sort of speaks, but, um, no, I mean, I guess it came easy after that.
Noah Solis: Nice, nice. So, we know you aced the English part now, because you had so much experience previously.
Camilla Solis: Yeah.
Noah Solis: Yeah. So, just from continuing on with the naturalization process, were you nervous? Were you, like, how were you feeling during that process? Especially towards the end when you were pretty sure you were getting, uh..
Camilla Solis: My citizenship?
Yeah. I was nervous, for the test, but who isn’t nervous for a test, but I was like, God, I gotta get this right. So I was nervous about that. But then when it was all said and done, I was like, I felt [00:27:00] pretty good . And then you go for your little ceremony. You need to go to this place and you have the ceremony and, you know, you see a video about United States and, uh, the president gives, obviously it’s recording, right?
But the president gives you a speech. , um, they give you a flag. I’ll give you a welcome letter, so to speak, like a package.
Noah Solis: Yeah.
Camilla Solis: Yeah. So.
Noah Solis: And the oath, right?
Camilla Solis: Yeah. You have to do the oath. . It was a lot of people there from a lot of countries.
Noah Solis: I think I was there when you were doing the whole..
Camilla Solis: Yeah, you probably were, right? Yeah,
Noah Solis: was it Trump or Obama? I think it was like…
Camilla Solis: It was Barack Obama.
Noah Solis: Yeah, yeah, I remember seeing Obama or something.
Camilla Solis: Yeah, and then you get a package and a letter that’s written by him, with your flag and So it was quite nice.
Noah Solis: Um, so after all that said and done, , do you get like a passport or [00:28:00] like, how does that happen now? Like, do you just have to start applying for all these things now? Like driver’s license and passports or what?
Camilla Solis: No, not the driver’s license. I had that because I had my green card so I already had that um, but yes, passport. Oh, also, I believe it was at the ceremony right after. They actually had people there, um, had tables outside after it was all said and done. You could actually sign up at that time, if you wanted to vote, I believe it was. Because now you’re a citizen, you can vote.
And I think I signed up for that right there and then, if I remember correctly. Um, so that was quite exciting. That now you’re a citizen, so now you can vote. And then, um, I’m trying to think what else I was going to tell you. Um, I was going somewhere. I kind of lost my train of thought.
Noah Solis: All good, all good.
Camilla Solis: Oh, my passport. . Yeah, yeah,
yes. I did apply for my passport since I got my, [00:29:00] uh, my naturalization, certificate.
Noah Solis: Yeah.
Camilla Solis: So, so that kind of gave me, I had to send that in, actually, the original copy, you have to send that in, uh, when you get your passport. So I was like, oh my god, am I going to get this back?
But they actually sent it back with the passport. Actually, they came two separate, but no, yeah, so I sent that in and got it back, and then I got my passport, my American passport.
Noah Solis: Okay, so did that take a long time, or was it fairly quick?
Camilla Solis: It was fairly quick. It wasn’t, it didn’t take me very long.
Noah Solis: So yeah, um, I guess the transitioning forward, uh, so like now you’re a citizen. Is there anything like. Any aspects of your culture, like traditions you felt like you should keep practicing, I guess, now that you’re here?
Camilla Solis: Um, well, we don’t have Midsommar, which is, like I said, my favorite.
Um, We do Easter, um, but Christmas [00:30:00] maybe, Christmas, because we celebrate, um, Christmas Eve in Sweden as our biggest, um, day, well, that’s our, it’s like Americans Christmas Day, like the 25th, but the 24th is the day that family, get together, You know, we give our gifts, and then eat.
Like I said, that’s our biggest day. And the next day sort of kind of is a hangout kind of day, not giving gifts. But
Noah Solis: yeah,
Camilla Solis: I have always kept that as my Christmas date the same. So I think that’s one thing that I have kept from, from Sweden. So the 24th is my most important date around Christmas.
Noah Solis: Do you think the U. S., supports, like, you being a Swede, like, do you think that the U. S. offers that kind of reminds you of Sweden, or was there not much?
Camilla Solis: Um, no, there’s not [00:31:00] much, well, particularly where we live, there is, there’s nothing really Swedish, and I don’t know any Swedes around where we live, but I do follow, the House of Sweden on Let’s say Instagram and Facebook so I get news about different things that they do at the embassy during the year and I know that they do celebrate on the December 12th.
We have something called Lucia, and I know they have the Lucia celebration at the embassy, probably, and stuff like that for around Christmas, and then I think they do some Christmas. They do some invites. I went one year to a Lucia celebration. Um, um, actually to, uh, I think it was a Swedish mass, a church in DC.
So that’s [00:32:00] probably the only Swedish ish kind of thing that I’ve, that they had and that I went to other than that,, there is really nothing. I do enjoy Ikea, but since I know how to read all the labels,
I know exactly what the labels, I mean, they do make up funny names for, uh, All their, um, their furniture and stuff and everything to have in there.
I mean, it makes sense when you read it, but I know what it says, but I know people probably wonder what the heck , all the names of all furnitures are,
Noah Solis: yeah, yeah. So, so there’s not that many, Swede. I mean, I haven’t met a Swede. In Virginia. Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever met a Swede, but I do think that there’s a lot of Swedes that are in Michigan.
Did you ever consider moving to Michigan? Or did you even know about that when you came here, I guess, in your earlier years?
Camilla Solis: Um, yeah, I knew that that, um, a while back was a lot of [00:33:00] people, um, That immigrated to United States from Sweden. Uh, and I know they probably went Michigan. They probably went up to also Minnesota.
That’s, I think that was,
Noah Solis: Oh, Minnesota. Yeah, probably. Yeah. I think Minnesota.
Camilla Solis: Yeah. That was like one, um, one place that I knew that, that probably
had a lot of Swedes. And also, I have learned , a lot of Swedes were in Chicago. And I know, that there is a Swedish. ish neighborhood in Chicago, actually, with maybe like a museum or something.
Yeah, so I knew there was a big, and I even know that one of our, actually my, I’m trying to think now, my grandfather’s brother came to United States as an immigrant, but I think he, he ended up not staying. He actually did go back. To Sweden back then you [00:34:00] came on a boat, so it was a long trip probably but I know he did not stay he went back.
Noah Solis: Okay. , I guess concluding or kind of reflecting is there, like, a part of your journey to the US that you would find to be like, you’re most proud of.
It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular, but like, I guess just like being able to move to such a different country, like, or something like that.
Camilla Solis: I don’t know if I have a, I mean, other than, you know, kind of looking back, I said, it was kind of a big step for me when I think about it.
Noah Solis: I mean really for anyone.
Camilla Solis: I just like ended up staying, even first coming all by myself. because it’s not like I came with a friend. I just, just came. Um, and then I’m thinking back.
I said, how did my mom let me, but she did. [00:35:00] So, um, and I think now that probably wouldn’t let my kids do that. Or I’m obviously I would let them, but you know, I, I feel sad, but, um, yeah, so maybe that’s the, maybe the biggest accomplishment or thing that I can think of that actually did this myself actually came here myself and just picked up.
And like I said, I got an apartment, got a job. I went to school and I did that all by myself.
Noah Solis: I mean, definitely. I mean, moving to such a completely different country, I would consider to be something to be proud of. I mean, especially going off of a just like, I wouldn’t say a whim, but just like something that you just like, okay, I can do this.
Well, there’s nothing really stopping me. I mean, might as well just go.
Camilla Solis: Right, right. And also, like I said, it wasn’t a struggle. It’s not like I had to do it. So, I just did it. So, yeah, I know people come to the United States because they, they struggle maybe where they were from, but I didn’t have that [00:36:00] experience.
Noah Solis: Well, just to close it off, is there any advice you would. Maybe give someone, uh, considering immigrating at all, I mean, just some general advice, I guess, coming from an immigrant yourself, is there really anything you could, uh, tell someone?
Camilla Solis: I guess, , bring your own traditions, I think. And keep them within your family. But I also think that people should get involved in their country. I mean, this is the country you chose. Um, this is the place you came to live. I think you should immerse yourself into the culture here to like, yeah, be more accepting.
Don’t just close off and be with your own traditions, like be open to.
Noah Solis: new things
Camilla Solis: to everybody. Yeah.
Noah Solis: Yeah, exactly. So just being more open into, I guess, new traditions, new customs of a different country and like,
Camilla Solis: yeah,
Noah Solis: don’t be so closed off.
Camilla Solis: Yeah.
Take tradition to where [00:37:00] you come. You know, bring, you know,
like fourth of July.
I mean, whatever it is, the traditions and the things that go on in this country, I think maybe just, you know, get yourself involved in that too. Not just your own.
Noah Solis: Yeah. Yeah. Just being more open, I guess.
Camilla Solis: Yeah.
Noah Solis: Okay. Perfect. Perfect. Well, that’s pretty much all the questions I have for you today.
But, um, yeah, uh, that that’s that really wraps up everything.
Camilla Solis: Okay, great.
Noah Solis: Right. Thank you for this interview. I appreciate it.
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