News

October 28, 2021 – National Immigrants Day celebrates the long history of immigrants from around the world coming to the U.S., bringing their cultures and traditions to the country to create a strengthened, diverse community. In celebration of this diversity, three edm employees share their own immigration experiences coming to the U.S.  

Monica Perez del Rio, AIA - Architect

I often think about the meaning of belonging. For many years, I have been living in different places and for a long time. I thought about the benefits of submerging yourself in different cultures: learning about the food, the traditions, the language. You accumulate experiences and become more knowledgeable, more open to differences, more understanding…the list of benefits is never-ending. There is something more important than all of those things that I learned though. No matter where you are and what your culture is, in the end we are all the same. The world is full of wonderful people – smart, brave, curious, generous – and you will find them no matter where you go. It only depends on you.

Your home is not the place where you were born, your home is the place from where you don’t want to leave anymore, Although I know I can live happily in many different places, I belong to this country now. 

Maria Ceban - Architectural Intern

Having immigrated to the US meant starting an entirely new life from a blank page. I was 16 when I moved here. I was thrown into a completely new and unfamiliar environment at the age when my character and my interests were being shaped, and it definitely influenced the person I am now, in a good way. Being an immigrant made my character stronger – yes, at times being different, with different values, with an accent that gave out my heritage was difficult and even scary. But as time had passed, I realized that I should be proud of all of those things instead of trying to change them and be like everyone else. Moving to the US gave me a chance to do things I like on a higher level – as a high school student I got a chance to do musical and tech theater and art on top of core classes, something that I would never get a chance to do in my small school back in Moldova. 

Being in the US also influenced my career choice – I remember how as a kid, when I was about 7, I would often walk by an architecture firm next to my house that would have beautiful models showcased in their storefront, and I would be so amazed by them (to me, they just looked like huge dollhouses at that age, but I was still amazed and tempted to do something similar), but as I was growing up I came to understand that architecture career was not as desirable there. And here I am now – 14 years later, building models of my own, studying architecture in the US. I’ve been here for 5 years. My accent might have faded and some of my values might have changed, but I think that no matter how much time passes, my heritage will always have an important place in my life, one that I will never let go.

Ethien Salameh, Int'l Associate AIA - Architectural Designer

My passion to pursue a career in architecture was sparked by my first visit to New York City where I felt inspired by the captivating skyline and powerful surrounding. So I went back home and got my masters in architecture from Lebanon, and straight out of college, 12 years after starting the process of paperwork and hundreds if interviews, I made it to the USA in 2016, leaving everything you can think of behind. Being an immigrant comes with a lot of challenges like language barriers, culture shock, or finding a job without prior experience. However it also comes with a lot of perks, like being unique, being able to spread cultural awareness, having dual citizenship, and speaking multiple languages.

One question I get asked a lot, “Ethien, what country do you like better? Lebanon or USA?”

And my answer is always the same, Lebanon is my home, and it will forever be my home, it’s my mother country and I have an unconditional love to it, just like a son loves his mom. You don’t choose your mom but you love her with all your heart no matter how old she gets, because she raised you, took care of you, taught you everything you know today and without her you won’t be half of the man you are right now.

On the other hand, the USA, my new home, it’s like a wife love, you choose it, you grow to love your new home more and more every day, you have your ups and downs. But her beauty, compatibility, and the opportunity to grow and prosper in your career, is unmatched!
I am extremely grateful for what I have today. If I wasn’t born and raised in Lebanon, I wouldn’t be as hungry for success as I am today and if I didn’t immigrate here, I won’t be able to have the opportunity to pursue my passion to become an architect.