The American Dream, "an American Dream", is a life goal for many Europeans. A goal, which for many seems like the ultimate dream and for others who achieved it, an achievement of life. The United States is looking for the best and hardest working people in the world, and people are looking for a dream life away from poverty, either in Europe or even more so in Africa.
But does everyone who makes the transatlantic voyage a goal, the American dream? Aigli, a 30-year-old from Paralimni, lives and works in Seattle, Washington. She had gone to the United States for a master's degree, but eventually decided to stay in the country, as opportunities like the one presented to her do not come daily. An opportunity he finally snatched from his hair.
Aigli Stavrinou studied civil engineering in England and after working for a year in Paralimni, went to postgraduate studies in the United States.
Read the interview he gave to the REPORTER and George Hatzipanagis:
"I went to graduate school in 2012. With a degree in civil engineering and just before graduation I went to a conference for professions from various American companies in the field of engineering and spoke with a person from Boeing who gave me my resume and recommended me to I send it to them to apply. That's how things started. From a discussion at this conference. "When I sent them my CV, they called me for an interview."
The challenge of the Boeing giant
For the past six years, 30-year-old Aigli has lived and worked for Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer and construction engineer.
"I work on the analysis of various parts of the plane, such as the wings of the 787, at Nasel for the 737 max, in all interiors. "Now I have moved on to product development for the new aircraft that are expected to hit the market."
He is with another person, the only Cypriots working in the company, which also employs a small group of Greeks.
"There are several Greek speakers in Seattle, we also have two churches. In Washington state are the headquarters of Microsoft, Amazon and Xpedia. "Many Greeks work in the area or come from other states to see these giants."
As far as America is concerned, she is in front of the ideas, the 30-year-old says in an interview with REPORTER, since they have gone through a lot in the past and are exemplified by them. They have ideas that if we adopt them in Cyprus we will improve, but this change must start with the new generation.
The biggest impression
In the United States, everything is huge, the opportunities are plentiful and everything is meritocratic, as Aigli explains, saying that this is the biggest impression he has received from the United States.
"If you work hard there is an opportunity. I was really impressed with how hard the Americans work. I saw capitalism very strongly. You can start from scratch and work your way up. When you have an idea and beliefs, success is a given ".
The optimistic message for Cyprus
Our discussion also traveled to the differences that one who immigrates to the United States may face, but Aigli with a huge smile, shows her satisfaction for the country she works and loves.
"If you want and have the appetite to study the system, you can do it. In Cyprus as an infrastructure we have a pretty good system and we are quite ready to cope abroad, as long as there is a will and you look for it. It definitely takes a lot of hard work to succeed. "
Aigli, on the other hand, does not forget her country and does not nullify what she offered her, but on the contrary she considers that what she achieved is due to a degree to the education that the school offered her.
"Cyprus is technically very high. If you take your studies in Cyprus and Greece seriously, you have nothing to envy from the Americans. I found that the level of education is quite strong, if you take it seriously and utilize the level of education provided to you ".
The purpose of the return
There are fields in our country that we are quite developed, such as marketing, tourism, but in fields such as the one that Aigli deals with, there are not enough opportunities at the moment.
"From what I have been watching lately, several startups have started, which in recent years have piqued the interest of large multinationals. You can do the same in Cyprus, but you have to start from the beginning. It is not like abroad where the infrastructure exists ".
Her love for Cyprus has not stopped, although she considers America her second home. After all, how could he stop since he has family and friends here…
"I never left Cyprus, because I wanted to leave. I did not say that there are no opportunities here. I had a job in 2011 in Paralimni, but I wanted to do a master's degree abroad and I chose America because I was born there and I had citizenship. Then the opportunities followed and I stayed to bring new ideas when I return to Cyprus. I did not leave forever, I just live an experience now and I want to return in the future ".
Source: REPORTER / George Hatzipanagis