Originally published June 22, 2009
BY KIM NORVELL TH STAFF WRITER
Argaw Oremo won the lottery -- but it's not the lottery worth millions of dollars; it's the lottery for a chance at a new life in the United States.
Oremo's name was drawn from the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, a computerized lottery that randomly selects 50,000 people out of a pool of 9.1 million applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to obtain a "Green Card." It allows them to be permanent residents of the United States.
Originally from Hossana, Ethiopia, his family sold its thatched-roof home for $70,000 in order for Oremo to come to America.
"I am glad; my family is too glad because I'm going to go to USA to make money," Oremo said.
Like most immigrants, Oremo came here for new opportunities. However, due to the struggling economy, Oremo, like most Americans, has had a hard time finding full-time work so that he can send the money he promised his family.
"I want to replace their house," Oremo said. "It was responsibility for my mom and my dad, and it's the responsibility now for me."
In Ethiopia, Oremo was an elementary school math teacher making $70 to $80 per month. Now he is working part-time as a bagger at Hy-Vee, but it took almost three months before he could find work.
Oremo first moved to Columbus, Ohio, last October, but decided to move to Dubuque in February to visit a friend he knew from Kenya studying at the University of Dubuque. However, when Oremo could not immediately find work, he wanted to move back to Columbus.
"His expectation is similar to a lot of people. They get off the plane and they start work right away," said Don Koppes, Oremo's mentor and tutor at The Presentation Lantern Center, where he is learning English.
Although Oremo is able to send his family $500 per month, he is hoping to find a full-time job at a local elementary school as a para-professional.
Koppes said Oremo has had problems sending money to his family because they can't find the correct calling card that has enough minutes to connect to Africa. If Oremo can't get ahold of his brother, who is the only one in the family who can count money, the wired money will be lost.
Despite Oremo's struggles finding steady work, he is optimistic about his life here. Koppes said he is always enthusiastic, highly motivated and willing to learn whatever he can to succeed in the United States.
As Oremo's mentor, Koppes spends time helping him with his academic studies, as well as his "life coach," helping him fill out paperwork, teaching him to tie a tie and teaching him how to deposit money.
When asked what his opinion is of Dubuque, Oremo said he doesn't like the cold, but he said he feels safe knowing people here are welcoming.
"Everyone says 'What's up?' and 'How you doing?' and that's good."
