“Beautiful imaginations and high expectations come with a cost. Immigrating to a different country has its highs and lows.”

Story #54, Yingjung Wang

Story written and and interview conducted by Yitong Wang

Edited by Selene Ho

When 40-years-old Yingjun Wang informed his friends and family in 2012 of his plans to immigrate to the United States from China, everyone thought he was crazy. He had a stable career as a Human Resource Director at an established company in Shenzhen and a happy family with a wife and daughter. By all standards, his life was secure and comfortable.  Why leave everything behind for the uncertainty of a foreign country where he had to start over?

But Yingjun just couldn’t shake the feeling that moving to the U.S. was the right move for himself and his family.  He spent years watching the American dream unfold in movies. Even on his business trips, he heard stories of people who built better lives for themselves.  Most importantly, he believed that immigrating could provide better opportunities for his daughter, Yitong.  “I wanted to find a country that could offer more future possibilities for my child. To me and my wife back then, it seemed like America was the best option,” explained Yingjun.

In 2014, Yingjun took his family on a trip to California, hoping to catch a glimpse of the life he was imagining for them.  His daughter didn’t need much convincing to fall in love in the U.S.; a quick trip to Disneyland worked wonders.  His wife, Jia Liu, who was hesitant about leaving China, admitted that she started to see the appeal too.  The mere thought of new possibilities filled Yingjun and his family with both excitement and determination.  The dream of immigration no longer felt like an abstract idea. It felt real and necessary.  

After two grueling years of endless paperwork and trips to the embassy for Visa applications, Yingjun was able to send his wife and daughter to live in Seattle, Washington. Unfortunately, he was forced to stay behind in China due to economic issues.  Upon moving to Seattle, Yingjun’s wife also gave birth to their second daughter, Clover. 

At the beginning of their new life in America, Yingjun’s wife’s and daughter’s hearts were filled to the brim with excitement and happiness, but challenges slowly arose.  “The cost of living in the U.S. is quite high.  I needed to continue my job in China to provide for my family,” said Yingjun. “This means that I am separated from the rest of my family; my wife and 2 kids are in the U.S. while I was all the way on the other side of the world.”

The time difference between China and Seattle meant that Yingjun often stayed up late to catch brief moments with his family over video calls.  Life wasn’t easy during those times.  For Jia, adjusting to life in the U.S. without Yingjun was challenging. With no family nearby, she had to navigate everything alone —learning to drive, understanding the American healthcare system, managing the bills, and taking care of a newborn–while also learning English. There were moments when she questioned whether immigrating was the right decision.  Yet, despite the struggles, neither of them gave up. Yingjun worked tirelessly, saving money with the hope that one day he could join them permanently.  

Jia, too, pushed forward, determined to make a home for their daughters in the new country. They reminded themselves of their motivation—to give their children a future with more possibilities, even if it meant enduring hardship for now.  The settling process was hard but luckily, Yingjun showed appreciation towards different communities that helped eased his family’s struggles, “We had received support from many different communities here that made settling in easier.  First, the local schools and communities had helped my child a lot.  Secondly, we had met many Chinese Americans who immigrated earlier than us who provided us with great advice.”

Yingjun’s separation from his family ended in 2019 when he quit his job and moved permanently to the U.S. with his family.  Looking back on his journey, Yingjun acknowledges that immigration is not just about chasing a dream—it is about perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in the future.  He summarized his experiences : “Beautiful imaginations and high expectations come with a cost.  Immigrating to a different country has its highs and lows.”