... MY DREAM
AMERICA
... THE SUBWAY
... MY LIFE, IT TURNS OUT
NAHIN ZAMAN, 32, VIA BARDHAMAN, INDIA
ORLIN SERGEV, 28, VIA FARGO, N.D.IVANNA MÁRQUEZ, 27,
VIA MARACAIBO, VENEZUELAI had never lived in
a city with more than
a million people. My
family is from Bulgaria,
and I think for Eastern
European immigrants,
there has always been a
perception of ‘‘America’’
as ‘‘New York City.’’
It’s a surreal experience.
They’re thrilled. My
parents have visited,
and they are so proud
that I live in New York.
Things had become really
bad in Maracaibo. My apartment
had running water for only
30 minutes a day. I applied for a
Fulbright and was accepted to
Fordham. My plan was to come to
New York to learn and go back
to Venezuela to help.
In March 2021, I had an accident
and broke my ankle. When I got
to New York, I could barely walk.
The doctors told me I had bone
malunions in my ankle because of
botched surgeries. And now I
also had an infection. I spent threeI came to America after I married
my husband, and we lived in
Los Angeles. He died of a stroke.
I still don’t believe it. Every day
I wait for him, but he never comes.
In L.A., I didn’t know anybody.
Public transportation is not
good. I don’t know driving. I barely
could buy food because I had
no friends there to help.
I came to New York for the
trains and buses. Everything is
more expensive, but because
the public transport is good, I can
survive. Basically I have no
family here. Only my husband’s
sister lives in Queens, but
my family are all in Bangladesh
or India. I’m looking for a job,
hopefully from 9 to 5, because
I am only one parent.
I get a little bit of Social Security
money, but it is not enough. I try
to make up for everything — rent,
kids have lots of expenses, they
need lots of things. They always
say: Give me car, give me toy. Each
day I try to do something good for
them. And that’s when I’m happy.
They also like New York. By train
we go places, and they feel better.
I do everything diffi cult so they
are not fazed. Everything fazes me,
but I try my best for them.
months in Lenox Hill Hospital.
I had eight surgeries there. I was
by myself because my mom didn’t
have a passport. When I was
in the hospital, sometimes I would
break down and cry and think,
What happened to me?
In the end, New York saved
my leg, and it saved my life. Now
I can walk again, and I’m back
in classes. Some people think New
York is really scary. And some
people from New York take
it for granted. But for me, it is a
place full of blessings.... MY DREAM
AMERICA
... THE SUBWAY
... MY LIFE, IT TURNS OUT
NAHIN ZAMAN, 32, VIA BARDHAMAN, INDIA
ORLIN SERGEV, 28, VIA FARGO, N.D.IVANNA MÁRQUEZ, 27,
VIA MARACAIBO, VENEZUELAI had never lived in
a city with more than
a million people. My
family is from Bulgaria,
and I think for Eastern
European immigrants,
there has always been a
perception of ‘‘America’’
as ‘‘New York City.’’
It’s a surreal experience.
They’re thrilled. My
parents have visited,
and they are so proud
that I live in New York.
Things had become really
bad in Maracaibo. My apartment
had running water for only
30 minutes a day. I applied for a
Fulbright and was accepted to
Fordham. My plan was to come to
New York to learn and go back
to Venezuela to help.
In March 2021, I had an accident
and broke my ankle. When I got
to New York, I could barely walk.
The doctors told me I had bone
malunions in my ankle because of
botched surgeries. And now I
also had an infection. I spent threeI came to America after I married
my husband, and we lived in
Los Angeles. He died of a stroke.
I still don’t believe it. Every day
I wait for him, but he never comes.
In L.A., I didn’t know anybody.
Public transportation is not
good. I don’t know driving. I barely
could buy food because I had
no friends there to help.
I came to New York for the
trains and buses. Everything is
more expensive, but because
the public transport is good, I can
survive. Basically I have no
family here. Only my husband’s
sister lives in Queens, but
my family are all in Bangladesh
or India. I’m looking for a job,
hopefully from 9 to 5, because
I am only one parent.
I get a little bit of Social Security
money, but it is not enough. I try
to make up for everything — rent,
kids have lots of expenses, they
need lots of things. They always
say: Give me car, give me toy. Each
day I try to do something good for
them. And that’s when I’m happy.
They also like New York. By train
we go places, and they feel better.
I do everything diffi cult so they
are not fazed. Everything fazes me,
but I try my best for them.
months in Lenox Hill Hospital.
I had eight surgeries there. I was
by myself because my mom didn’t
have a passport. When I was
in the hospital, sometimes I would
break down and cry and think,
What happened to me?
In the end, New York saved
my leg, and it saved my life. Now
I can walk again, and I’m back
in classes. Some people think New
York is really scary. And some
people from New York take
it for granted. But for me, it is a
place full of blessings.Illustrations by Pete Gamlen The New York Times Magazine P. 4 5