I moved to the US from Italy and it's been a rollercoaster. Here's what has shocked and disappointed me the most about America.

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 05:10

a woman takes a selfie in her car — Oana Adamopoulos was born and raised in Romania and now lives in Florida with her family.
Courtesy of Oana Adamopoulos

Oana Adamopoulos moved to Washington, DC, in 2012 and then to Sarasota, Florida, in 2017.
When she first came to the US from Europe, she found it difficult to make friends.
She was also shocked by the lack of maternity leave and the cost of healthcare.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Oana Adamopoulos, a 36-year-old traveling veterinary technician who founded Pet Lift and lives in Sarasota, Florida.