Do I Still Feel as an Immigrant after 20+ years in America? As a Russian immigrant living in America for over 20 years, I have assimilated into American culture while still finding my Russian origins inside. There are times when I still feel like an immigrant, especially when it comes to my hobbies.
One of my favorite hobbies is figure skating, which I was trained in as a professional skater in Russia. Although I have been in America for many years, I still feel like an outsider when I go to public ice rinks. The culture surrounding ice skating in America is different from what I am used to in Russia. In Russia, figure skating is a popular sport and is taken very seriously, while in America, it is more of a recreational activity.
Despite this, I still enjoy skating and try to find rinks where I can practice. Living in Southern California, there are not many ice rinks available, but when I do find one, I spend hours skating and enjoying the activity that I love.