"Life isn't better there": A resident of Khakassia pursued the American dream but returned home with a bride from the USA.

He searched for his dream across the ocean and then returned to his homeland. Photo: social media, "KP"

A simple guy from Khakassia (let's call him Alex, as he pronounces his name in a Western way) was raised by his grandmother in the village of Cheremushki. From a young age, he was drawn to the American dream. The boy believed that "somewhere out there" must be better than "here".

Unlike many dreamers fantasizing about distant lands without taking any action to reach them, this young man from the countryside was determined. He improved his English and saved money... When he was just over twenty, he chose a challenging path to the USA - via Mexico, as an illegal immigrant. Sources close to Alex shared this with "Komsomolskaya Pravda". He is not yet ready to publicly discuss the details of his life "there" and "here".

The calculation was simple: a visa for the land of sombreros and tequila is not required for Russians traveling there for up to 180 days if they cross the border by air. One can buy a ticket or a tour to avoid worrying about accommodation while getting settled. If one doesn't get too caught up in beach vacations, it's possible to try to "sneak" into a neighboring country with Mexican migrants during that time. Of course, immigration centers, checks, and courts await afterward… But both Alex and his mother, with whom he decided to move to a foreign country, were mentally prepared for this. He maintained a warm relationship with her.

However, even after going through the immigration hell with its nine circles of formalities, America did not welcome the intelligent and determined young man with open arms. He had to work various jobs just to survive, including as a loader. Obtaining an education and "jumping" to another social level in the States is a complicated and expensive saga, even for those who are in the country legally.

His belief that anyone, regardless of social status and birthplace, could achieve success in the USA began to fade. Overall, things were going reasonably well; life was manageable. But back in his homeland, without a good education and extensive work experience, he could have arranged his life similarly, or perhaps even better. Alex increasingly thought about the many opportunities available in his native land.

After comparing life in the two countries, he quickly realized, which he often shared with friends: in reality, life across the ocean isn't better or easier. In both the USA and Russia, one needs to work hard to find a suitable place in society and achieve success.

During his adaptation abroad, his mother supported him. Later, he met a girl in the USA – a native of Colorado with Spanish roots named Ashley Ember Noël Solano. Perhaps she is the very American dream that destiny led Alex across the ocean to find.

After a little more than a year of living abroad, in August 2024, Alex decided to return home, but not alone; he would bring 21-year-old Ashley with him. The passionate Latina was not deterred by the offer to fly with him to a distant, unfamiliar country. She was unconcerned about the political relations between Russia and the USA. Feelings matter more. On her social media page, her "talking" status reads: "And God still blesses me".

The couple settled in Alex's hometown, adopted a kitten, and their lifestyle closely resembles that of the local youth. The young man found a job at a retail chain, while his fiancée gradually learns Russian, adapts to her new life, and admires the breathtaking views of the Sayan Mountains framed by the wild taiga right from their home. These views contrast with the landscapes of her native region: semi-deserts, canyons, and the Rocky Mountains.

So far, life in Russia has been challenging for Ashley. She speaks almost no Russian. Alex acts as her translator. Recently, either out of ignorance or forgetfulness, the U.S. citizen violated Russian migration laws. Within three months, she was required to undergo a medical examination, mandatory state fingerprint registration, and a photo for identity verification.

Fortunately for the young couple, the violation was not severe, mitigating circumstances were found, and the Sayano-Hurta court deemed it appropriate not to deport her but to impose a fine of two thousand rubles to avoid separating the lovers.

The residents of the small village warmly welcomed the new neighbor and greet the petite girl with curly bright pink hair with smiles on the street. Who knows, maybe Siberia will become her second homeland? For now, the couple is caught between two countries.

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