The American Dream

In August 2013 my husband left his beloved job in England, where he worked as Head of Events and Commercial Development at Sheffield Hallam University, to join me in Columbus, OH as I complete my 4 years of veterinary medicine.  We were told by everyone that the connections we had in America combined with the skills Nick had, would be enough for us to make a good life here.  A year full of countless job applications and just as many rejections, and instead of working at an executive level, Nick spends his time running the family restaurant.  We can’t afford our bills, so we live off our savings and the profit we made from selling our first home.  Now, everyday I am saddled with guilt because I destroyed the career of the most important person in the world to me, my husband, just so I could pursue my own dream of being a vet.  How fucking selfish.  So many promises were made, and so many promises were broken.  My world view on everything shifted. 

My parents, who swore by their connections, were unable to set up a single interview for him.  My perceptions of them altered irrevocability.

I prayed before I asked Nick to move to the US.  I prayed a lot.  I cried a lot.  I asked God if this was the right thing for our small family.  I missed him so much as I was studying in the US for a year before he got his visa.  I could have sworn I heard God say, “Yes.”

I no longer believe in God.

Nick is the smartest person I know.  He is not the strongest, or the kindest, or the funniest.  I am not the kind of woman to brag about my husband, but he is really very fucking smart.  But for some reason, the recruiters don’t see this on his resume.  We think it’s because his credentials are British.  Our theory is his Bachelors degree only took him two years so even though he graduated with honors, Americans only see that his degree took two years instead of 4, and think he isn’t qualified.  Americans have never heard of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of the top drama schools in the world, where my husband went on multi country tours to improve their programs, nor have they heard of Sheffield Hallam University, one of the largest universities in the UK – so they assume it is small and insignificant.

If I could have one wish it would be for the American Dream to be real for us.  My husband deserves a chance.  Someone, please give this man a chance.  I want someone to look at his resume, really look at it, and then tell me he isn’t qualified for the jobs he’s applying to.    

I truly believed we would move to the US and be happy here.  Everyone told us the US was better than England.  Asking my husband to move to the US is the single biggest regret of my lifetime.