Park Voices: Johnston Moves to America for Love

Editor's Note: Today through Friday, we will be running a series of articles on St. Louis Park residents who moved here from all corners of the globe. Everyone we interviewed was in an Adult Options in Education class at . Adult Options in Education offers a variety of programs geared toward people looking to improve their English writing, reading and speaking skills. On Tuesday, a number of students in the General Education Development program will be graduating with their GEDs. For more info on Adult Options in Education, visit its website.

Name: Josee Johnston

Age: 29

Birth Country: Togo

First Year in United States: 2011

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St. Louis Park Patch: Why did you decide to move to the United States?

Johnston: I have my husband here, so I moved to stay with him. He’s an American.

St. Louis Park Patch: How did you meet him?

Johnston: (Laughing) He travelled in Togo, so we met there.

St. Louis Park Patch: And you got married in Togo?

Johnston: Yes. He came back a second time, for the ceremonies. And he helped me to move here.

St. Louis Park Patch: Have you enjoyed living in Minnesota?

Johnston: Yes, I have. But it’s very cold here. With time, I think I’ll adapt to the weather. Because in my country, we have no snow. And the winter isn’t too cold.

St. Louis Park Patch: What other challenges have you had in adjusting to life in the United States?

Johnston: Just speaking English.

St. Louis Park Patch: When you first moved, how was your English? Did you speak any?

Johnston: I spoke a little, but my English wasn’t very good. So I decided to come to this class.

St. Louis Park Patch: How do you think your English is now?

Johnston: It’s better.

St. Louis Park Patch: How have these classes played a role?

Johnston: They’ve helped me. Nobody (here) speaks my language, so it helped me.

St. Louis Park Patch: What is the language in Togo?

Johnston: It’s French.

St. Louis Park Patch: So you’re a native French speaker. Does your husband speak any French?

Johnston: He tried a little bit (laughing).

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you have other family here?

Johnston: They’re still in Togo.

St. Louis Park Patch: Was it difficult to say goodbye to them?

Johnston: Yes, very difficult. But it was necessary to move to stay with my husband. So I decided to move. Sometimes we Skype.

St. Louis Park Patch: Have you gone back to visit?

Johnston: No

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you plan on doing that at some point?

Johnston: Yes, but it can take a lot of time.

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you think you’ve been welcomed into the United States?

Johnston: Yes. My husband’s family, they are very open to me. I like them.

St. Louis Park Patch: Do you work currently?

Johnston: No.

St. Louis Park Patch: Is that a goal of yours?

Johnston: Yes, I’d like to find some kind of job.

St. Louis Park Patch: What would you like to do?

Johnston: I’m thinking about that, but I’m not sure right now.

St. Louis Park Patch: Where do you see yourself in, say, five years?

Johnston: Hopefully, in five years I find a good job. And I’d like to go visit my family in Africa. Or if it’s possible, that they come here.