An immigrant from Saudi Arabia shares his perspective of the opportunities of living in US

By Gail Wilson
Copy Editor

Many people all over the world dream of freedom. Freedom from oppression. Freedom to live life as they want to. Freedom to express. Freedom even to learn and one day have a job of thier dreams.

Saeed Saeed, born 24 years ago in Saudi Arabia, now a student at ARCC Coon Rapids, is tasting that freedom.

Saeed was named after his grandfather.

“Back in my country they call me Saeed Abraham, which is my father’s name. My grandfather’s name is Saeed so when I came here they called me by my first name and last name. So they call me Saeed Saeed,” said Saeed.

Saeed is actually from Eritrea.

“It’s a small country in East Africa. But I grew up in Saudi Arabia,” said Saeed.

Saeed encountered many barriers as a foreigner in Saudi Arabia.

“Even if you were born in Saudi Arabia they don’t give you citizenship and you’re not considered a citizen of that country. You are considered as a foreign person,” said Saeed.

Saeed said he feels that in Saudi Arabia he wasn’t really accepted. So his family moved to the U.S. to find a better job. Saeed had to deal with many changes from things he was once familiar with.

“When I moved here it was a culture shock. America in not like the movies, like everybody says,” said Saeed, who moved to the US a year ago.

Although moving to the U.S. was a big change for Saeed, the thing that has given him the most strength is being here with his whole family. Part of his way of life is to provide financially for his family.

“I am the oldest of my siblings so I have a big responsibility toward my siblings. I take care of them. My parents are kind of old. My youngest sibling is 4 years old,” said Saeed.

Taking care of his family keeps Saeed very busy. This semester at ARCC he is working 32 hours a week and taking 15 credits. Along with many students, he felt it was difficult to decide which degree to major in.

“So far I am going for medical school. I don’t know what could happen along the way. I am 24 years old, so if I go to medical school I won’t finish until I am in my 30s. That’s a long way and it’s expensive,” said Saeed, who started school at ARCC in the Spring of 2015.

Saeed won a couple of scholarships that have helped him pay for school. But there are other reasons he feels glad to be living on U.S. soil.

“Here you can do whatever you want. You can be whatever you want. There is no pressure. There is opportunity here. There is high education and good schools here. You can find a job. You can build your own business. You can achieve your dreams,” said Saeed.

When Saeed graduated from high school in Saudi Arabia he couldn’t go to college because he was not a Saudi.

“There is a lot of issues there if you are not a Saudi,” said Saeed.

According to Saeed living in Saudi Arabia as a foreigner is comparable to an American being born in another country. Though if an American was born in England after several years he could apply for Britain citizenship. In Saudi Arabia there isn’t an option to become a citizen of Saudi Arabia.

Saeed also could not go back to his home country of Eritrea because if you are over 18 you are forced to go into the military.

“It’s really corrupted…When you are 18 whether you are a girl or a man you have to go to the military and you will never know when you can leave the military,” said Saeed.

Many people have fled from Eritrea because of the government there, said Saeed.

“What I hear is that it is really bad out there. Sometimes there’s no water,” said Saeed.

Foreigners living in Saudi Arabia have to deal with discrimination.

“It’s bad. It’s really bad. They are not giving you a chance. They are not giving you an opportunity to achieve your goals…If I stay there it wouldn’t be good for me. I wouldn’t be able to achieve my dreams,” said Saeed.

Along with having so much freedom in America, Saeed is finding great joy in expressing his talents. One passion that he has is making short films.

“So far I have two short films on YouTube. We have over 60,000 views,” said Saeed.

Saeed’s two YouTube films You and Mom’s Coffee, share a compelling message. The films are on The Flying Camel Production channel.

“I like films because you can send a powerful message to people,” said Saeed.

Saeed expresses himself with photography too. He uses photographs to share a story.

“Photography is like you can tell a story by not speaking the other people’s language,” said Saeed.

Saeed said if he could give advice to other students who are immigrants it would be, to ask questions.

“Just keep looking and ask questions and search for what you want. Every time you search you are going to find something you need. No one will know about your situation if you don’t’ speak up,” said Saeed.

Saeed said he feels great joy in being an immigrant in the U.S. In just five years he will officially get his citizenship. His life has been full of great changes being a student at ARCC and living in this country.

“When I was there [Saudi Arabia] it was like a small room and now I am like in a big land. That’s the difference. I have access to everything I want here. Schools, education, work. Everything,” said Saeed.