At the time of this interview, Patricia Foshaug excitedly shared her story, yet sadly decided against publication because of her ongoing effort to become a naturalized American citizen. On April 25, 2012, Patricia proudly announced that she was sworn in at 12:45 p.m. in Seattle, along with 77 other people from 27 countries.

     Patricia’s mornings give birth to another hectic day—work, school and motherhood. After responding to questions from college staff, posting job openings, fielding applicants, and assisting the director from 9 to 5, it’s off to a meeting, maybe stop by the store or pay a bill and home to fix dinner. “After that I spend time with the kids … do my school work and do-up my kitchen so I can sleep. A-a-nd … that’s about it!” Oh, she has a special someone in her life now, but memories travel across the miles to Germany. “That’s home. All my family is there, but not me.” The usually upbeat, self reliant go-getter recoils for the moment. A sense of solemnity enshrouds her recollections of the husband who, upon returning to the US – wife and kids in tow – suddenly was not. “I am here now and I’ve got my kids. That’s all the matters! Really, what could be worth not seeing your kids for?” Holding deep beliefs concerning social differences, Patricia declares, “I feel I live here, I pay taxes, I need to vote. Now, let’s eat!” Patricia said as the waiter delivered our Mexican sampler platter. “My treat!”

     It was just too risky to take the kids to Germany. If I took the kids there, he could say I kidnapped them. They would bring them back here and I could be charged. I would probably not go to jail in Germany for that, but I would not be allowed to see my kids again. It took three different attorneys before I found the right one to handle international law. We have divided custody now. It took a long time. The house in Puyallup went into foreclosure. That’s when I found out that I had given up rights to the house at closing. It was a document I signed called a Release of Interest. My husband hadn’t paid the mortgage in a few months when he left. I wondered why that was happening, why they never came after me for the money. They never told me anything. But that was why—the Release of Interest. I just signed all the papers they gave me when we first bought the house. There was no way for me to know, really, that I was signing away my rights to the house. I trusted my husband.

     I was still trying to learn English. I had to move out of the home and only had the part-time job at JoAnne’s Fabrics, but I stayed there until the bank took over. I found out about the Department of Social and Health Services and went there for help, but they didn’t know how to help me. They didn’t understand the immigrant status issues or the children’s interests because of those things. The lady at the counter told me to request money to go home. I told the woman it was too risky, but she didn’t understand. Once I got to a financial worker, that person confirmed that yes, it was too risky. They gave me food stamps, but only for the children.

     Community support was a big help to me and the welfare of my children. If it wasn’t for people reaching out to me, I would not be here right now— working in a good job, going to school. My husband’s family lived in Aberdeen and one of his cousins and his wife offered to let the kids and me stay with them if we ever got to that place, you know, where we would be homeless. That’s where we stayed after the bank took the house. My supervisor at JoAnne’s Fabrics helped me get a transfer to their sister store at South Shore Mall. I got full-time hours and could afford to help myself. The manager helped me a lot in other ways, like driving my kids to daycare or sending their kids to babysit sometimes. One thing that made all the difference to me was when they introduced me to German speaking people. They could relate to me. They became like family. That is how my transition to the Harbor began. We stayed with my husband’s cousin’s family and I saved up until I was able to get my own place.

     It was hard, but I made it to where I am now. It was the kindness of people who helped me. Your class is about community? That’s community. Maybe I would have done something illegal or gone back to Germany and never seen my kids again. Head Start was another community that was very supportive. We
went to every family night. Strangers became my family in some way. They gave me the feeling of home. The German speaking people I said? They helped me in moving, and when my car broke down they drove me and the kids to school. Even now I can call them.

     When JoAnne’s in the mall closed, I was on unemployment. The case worker told me to go to Grays Harbor College and helped with funding through the WorkSource Dislocated Worker Program. That case worker was great. I don’t think every case worker would handle it that way. It seemed like he really cared, like he empathized with me some way.

     I competed against other candidates to earn my job too, ya know. I had to earn that – it wasn’t just given to me. I was hired at the Human Resource Office there, so I figured why not take advantage of my tuition discount and I kept taking classes. My boss was very supportive, giving me half hour lunches and letting me stay late to make up time. I’m 43 now. I was 39 when I started classes at Grays Harbor. It was very different than schooling back home.

     I was scared because of my age—and my language. Most of my classmates were much younger. I knew English some, but not like now. I felt like I needed to work harder than others for the same grade, but I know that was because of my language barrier. It was just my feeling, but other than that I always felt welcome in the classroom. I’m happy that I got my accounting degree and now I’m taking the human resource program at The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

     You asked about community in general, strangers on the Harbor. I think about my kids’ schools. I felt like an outsider at McDermoth [elementary school] because of not being totally involved at their school. The ladies that worked there were very understanding, but I just dropped the kids off and picked them up, but I wasn’t involved in the school functions. I’m not involved at Miller [middle school] or the high school either, because I’m just too busy with work and school myself. You have to be a stay-at-home mom to dedicate that kind of time.

     I run into ignorance, but it doesn’t override the empathy others have shown. I’ve had people say things to me like one lady asked me, “Where’s your accent from?” I told her Germany and she said, “Well then, you don’t have anything to be proud of.” How do you respond to something like that? I just looked at her. I’ve been called a war bride before too. Yeah, war bride, like he brought me to this place to rescue me. Because I met my husband when he was stationed in Germany near where I lived, but there was no war. Not in Germany.

     One thing I see really strong is that I don’t live on “the hill.” There’s a big difference between people who live on “the hill” in Aberdeen and the ones that don’t, and I live down here on the west side, so yeah. [“The hill” connotes affluent homes while the west side connotes middle– and working class homes.]

     Things are very different here politically. Mostly, I think socialism is better than capitalism. I can’t see any middle class here. I struggle to survive even with a job. I don’t know how people with no job can cope. In school, people are always saying, “Oh, Patricia has a good story” and they want me to share about my viewpoints when we talk about government and social differences. Basically, here I think everybody is complaining, but nobody wants to do anything to change it. They don’t want to pay taxes. They don’t vote. Living here and raising my kids, I wonder if I should back up with my opinions and just accept that this is how it is. I don’t understand why people complain and not vote when they have that right. It’s their responsibility. About socialism, I ask, “What do you think we have now—DSHS and emergency rooms? That is socialism.” But people here don’t recognize it. The capitalism makes it hard for people to live and make money, and the socialism is here but the people can’t see it that way. They don’t consider it that. I guess it’s not socially acceptable to call it socialism, but that is what it is.

     I think about this a lot. I submitted my naturalization paper work. I fight with it in my mind because it asks you on the paperwork and when you get sworn in to give up your loyalty to any other country. I don’t get it. Both countries have dual citizenship, so what is that? Give up loyalty? I love Germany.

     That is my home, but now this is my home. This is where I live. I work here and my kids are growing up here. What kind of society will they have when they grow up in America? I don’t know, but I feel I live here, I pay taxes and I need to vote.”

~Interviewed & transcribed
by Gail Morehouse