My sister in law is coming up on her first full year of living here in the United States. She had worked relentlessly around the clock on the paperwork and interviews to get permission to move to this country.

Maggie left behind a very good paying job, a nice home she bought, new car and her entire world as she knew it upon boarding the plane destined for a new life.

Since moving here she has met with many obstacles that would have sent anyone packing to move back home. Most of what she encountered was out of her control, but she has managed to keep moving forward with her new life regardless.  

Before leaving her country she went to a shipping company in Sweden to see if her car could be sent over here to the states.
Since it was brand new we did not think it would be an issue. Boy were we wrong! U.S. Customs refused the car entry into the country which is kind of ridicules since the car was actually in the country and at a port in Maryland somewhere.
Maggie spent a lot of money to have her car shipped here and then more to have it shipped back when it was denied entry. In my opinion the company that allowed her to ship the car here in the first place should have taken the responsibility for paying to have it sent back since this is their business and they should know which cars are and are not allowed in the United States!  

The next issue was a big one because our government decided to go on a shut down so we couldn't get her social security card or her drivers licence issued. This process took several more weeks to fix, namely because she had different names on her passport and documents she brought in to the country. Apparently our government likes a first, middle and last name if at all possible and in Sweden you are allowed to have two first names and use them on different documents. 

Problem number three!  The job she was promised once she got here was taken away from her, but not until she and my son finished countless hours of hard back breaking labor on the building (Coffee House) she was to work in. This one was the one that broke the camels back, she started to lose hope of things working out for her in this country because she was counting on that job so much. (we all were) My whole family was left with nothing on that one, well ok we were left with debt, blistered hands, lost customers, lost hope and lost family member. 

The streak of bad luck continued,  she got a nice used car that broke down after she was in a car accident, then it needed brakes, water pump she had to pump money into, new brakes, ball joint later her car runs beautifully. Two minimum wage jobs (which she is very grateful for) but still not enough money to really live on. 

Sometimes there is just two much to deal with.  I don't know how she remains calm.  People seem impatient with her when teaching her how to do things.  They forget she comes from Europe where they speak different, have different money, different rules, laws and lifestyle.  She needs time to learn our ways, but some are totally impatient and not so forgiving where this is concerned.  She struggles with this daily. 

I think she is brave and strong moving here with nothing but the clothes on her back and a suitcase full of a memories of her life by in Sweden.  She is working hard to move forward and learn the language, working two jobs and starting another business with me. This is no easy task and I would be hard pressed to believe it would be easier for us to move to another country and start over the way she did and at the age she did it.   

I know she will be ok and all the hardships we have all been experiencing over the last year will be a thing of the past one day, that day just can't get here fast enough!   

Life is not always be like this but she is here with us where she belongs. 

Of the positives, she met a wonderful man who seems to care about her, a family full of open arms and love, two beautiful fur-babies.  She has lots of be thankful for and it seems that is what she is concentrating on for the most part.  She will be ok...... :)