[When I was in Russia] I thought Amarica different than Russia. I thought that I am going to see Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I thought it [life in the United States] going to be so different and I thought I am going to have convertible car and cell phone. Also I thought I am going [would go] to India and see Bollywood movies. Also I am [thought I would be] seeing actresses and acting with them. I believed before that I get anything, like from Bollywood and sing like Britney Spears. But I thought Amarica going to be so different because I be a movie star. I thought that I am going to be so rich and have a nice house and live in India. But I never get that because life is not like that. Life is real. [When Emily was in Russia, she and the other kids in her orphanage were big fans of movies produced in India’s Bollywood. To this day, no matter how many times we have told her differently, I’m not sure she understands that India is not in the United States.]

In the Amarica, so different because Russia, they have different rules like people don’t listen. I like Amarica because they have more rules. And also because we are working and have jobs and make money. I want live like I see some people in T.V., like to be actress. I will love sometime to get my life correctly, go out to eat with sisters, Olsen. I hope someday that I will meet sisters, Olsen. In Russia never going to be possible meet sisters Olsen. In Amarica I can meet sisters Olsen and also I will meet Britney Spears and rich people and actresses. In Russia, cities are poor. In Amarica cities are rich all the time. They have shopping. Stores are different. They sell different things. And Also Amarica have different stores than Russia, different kind of shopping.

In Russia they listen music like hip-hop. And when I am in Russia, when Stass and Anya [our adoption coordinators] came to visit me and get me adopted, then I ask Stass and Anya if they get me Bollywood movie. And after, when I came home, I made bad choices and then I hid it. And after they found it they took it from me. [Amy and I took away her Bollywood movie because of bad behavior.]

I thought I am going to have money to spend on a lot of food and go out to eat every day. And also is different what I am eating right now. Before, in Russia, [it’s] different. I thought I get everything I want. But that [was] my dream and never happened. And when I see my family I thought they give me [credit] card.

Amarica is different than Russia because I thinking that I am go to see sisters, Olsen in real life and also Britney Spears. I never do not want to see them. [Emily doesn’t fantasize about meeting them anymore.]

Amarica normal [but] people are more friendly. In Russia, people don’t trust them. In Amarica I think I am going to look like them [movie stars] because like on T.V. or movies or in real life. But I thought in the future I am going to [thought in the future she would] meet them and going to be a part of my life.

Some people have like fancy clothes, fancy make-up, nice hair, poor clothes, no make-up messy hair. I thought when I came to Amarica my job is like to be an actress. Instead, I am going to Day Program [a program provided during the day to people in Emily’s situation, by the organization that helps her] and try to get soon a job for me to be working. [It appears that Emily will soon be able to have a part-time job.]

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About the Author

Emily Simmons was adopted from Russia at the age of fifteen, in 2006. At that time she joined three younger biological sisters and four new brothers in her new family. Emily has struggled with several forms of mental illness and she is intellectually challenged. She has been in several institution type settings and now lives in a group home. She is still very involved with her parents and the rest of her family. Emily often says: “Family, most important thing!”