Chinese border crossers chase the American dream, with mixed success
- Months and years after their arrival, Chinese migrants seeking freedom find it, but economic opportunity remains elusive
In many ways, Shen Jiahui had been preparing for America long before his arrival in September 2023. Shen, who renamed himself Capote after the American writer Truman Capote, spent much of his 20s and 30s living outside his home province of Zhejiang, reading Western literature and dreaming of a life outside China.
Had he known about the US border crossing route earlier, the 38-year-old said he would have come sooner. Unlike most of his fellow migrants who heard about it through Chinese video-sharing app Douyin, Shen first found out through Twitter.
Spending much of his non-working hours with the words of Sigmund Freud and Ernest Hemingway, Shen says he frequently felt stifled by the political environment and misunderstood by those around him.
“I always felt that my lifestyle was quite unique or different from the mainstream in China, so I thought I might have more in common with Westerners,” he said.
Shen describes a distant relationship with his parents. He had a girlfriend before leaving, but he couldn’t convince her to make the trip with him.
Over half a year into life in Monterey Park, California, he has no complaints, appreciating everything from the American transportation system to the freedom to express his thoughts.
Despite having moved apartments and jobs several times, spending much of his day washing dishes at a restaurant, and barely speaking English, he says he has adjusted well.
