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THE QUIET QUESTProfessionals Seeking Citizenship. PartThree of a four-part series
“ “”ll of our foreign-born citizen neighbors interviewed for this

series said coming to America is a serious endeavor and you

A need to be prepared. Two, for example are Ekkehard Grampp,

born in Germany, and Luis Bernal, born in Colombia.

”Ekkehard Grampp, born in formerly East Germany, is very direct
by Mike Reagen Fleeing for Freedom: Get Prepared and Get Serious

Citizen Member Editorial Board

If you take advantage of
everything America has to
offer, there is nothing you

can’t accomplish!

–Geraldine Ferraro

about it. Grampp, honored last year by Collier’s Elections Supervisor Regardless of your reasons for coming -whether to escape hardship or

Jennifer Edwards as among the ‘Gatekeepers for the Democracy’ for to seek opportunity-…you must have a serious plan for flourishing”

his outstanding volunteer work as an elections precinct clerk manager Bernal says. A recent candidate for the Collier County School Board,

for the past four elections during the last 10 years, retired here after Bernal thinks: “You must also really be willing to be loyal to America,

running working for a German subsidiary in the USA New York and adapt your self-consciousness, and identity to love America, and work

Boston for 20+ years.“I was searching for a warm place for retirement,” honestly for the good of your new country; my way of doing so is by

Grampp said, “after years of long and cold winters in the NYC/New getting involved in volunteerism and public service.”

England region. I came to Naples at a mature age and love it.” Rey Pezeshkan, sent by his parents to study in the USA before the

“But, you must be prepared for living in the USA. I found it much Iranian Revolution and the fall of the Shah, agrees. Rey’s older brother

different than Europe/Germany,” Grampp says. Fred, major developer, entrepreneur and civic philanthropist in South

“Money plays a bigger role and drives almost everything here,” Florida, was at Ohio State University. Rey went back to Iran until the

he says. “The population mix, the size of the country, distances, one revolution occurred. It was difficult for kids over 16 to leave the country.

currency, brutal competition, overall lots of friendliness, different Yet opportunities for college education in Iran were scarce. His dad was

cultures immigrants from all over the world, made my adjustment finally able to get the family, Rey, his mother and four sisters out of Iran

initially challenging.” to Columbus, Ohio to reunite with Fred.

“I was taken aback by the dynamic contrasts,”Grampp says.“America Pezeshkan says all foreign-borns who immigrate here face serious

is a nation where simultaneously there is top education… more Nobel obstacles that, if they wish to make it here, they must work to overcome.

Prize winners in the USA than in all other countries combined!...at the “You must work consciously to assimilate. You must leave cultural stuff

same time, at the bottom of our society, there also exists virtually no aside and embrace the American way of life,” he says.

education at all. America’s general quality of life is high yet there also is “Too many amazingly bright, well-educated people come here

social inequality all over the place,” he says. and become ghettoized because it is easier for them to do so. Their

“Even workplace customs are dramatically different. For example, progress…towards citizenship, towards personal stability and family

all employed Germans have 6 weeks’ paid vacation and have had advancement …becomes slowed down because they don’t make the

health insurance for everybody actually since 1883!” “As an executive effort to mix-with everyone else,” Pezeshkan says. “Those who work

of a German company employing Americans, I was at first perplexed,” hard to grasp the new culture, lifestyle and opportunities they present,

Grampp says. typically flourish,” he says.

“But, at the same time, the USA is a small business paradise! It is Aysegul Timur,Hodges University Professor,born in Turkey,agrees.

relatively easy to start a small business here. There are lots of potential She tells foreign-born professionals who want to come to the United

investors and much more opportunity than in other countries. ….But States that “First must expect very hard work! It is not easy to change

to succeed, you must prepared,” Ekkehard Grampp your country…Just imagine…You are choosing to change your origin

Luis Bernal, like Grampp, came to Naples because he wanted country…but this is your decision and choice. You need to commit

to, but not to retire. Rather, able to work from almost any location, what you want to do. Ask yourself why you want to come to the United

Bernal came here for love of his wife and son. His wife is a specialized States and be clear about it.”

physical therapist who was recruited to Florida. She encouraged Luis “You must understand the culture, history, people, and here in

to relocate with her. Our nearness to several airports with international the United States and be willing to engage, respect, and blend in the

connections allows him to simultaneously manage overseas projects culture without forgetting who you are and where your roots are,” she

as an economic development consultant, to be civilly active in Naples, says. And, once you are here, fully understand: America is now your

and even pursuing his Masters Degree which he recently got in Public new “HOME” and you now professionally serve in your new home,

Policy from the University of Massachusetts. work and play in your new home. If you don’t call it home, you should

“Moving to another country is a serious endeavor. When you have rethink about your decision. Again, you should never forget who you

the opportunity, you take the chance…and you get taken by it. are and where your roots are because you are now part of the diverse

U.S. culture,”Timur says.

72 Life in Naples | December 2015