Life for an American living in a foreign country often presents major challenges and a sense of homesickness for the United States.  Maria Remai, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., faces a different challenge.  The 25-year-old Penn State student longs for the day when she can return ‘home’ to England.

Maria spent 11 years in England with her parents, younger brother, and sister, while her father worked as a civilian contractor for the military.  Maria grew up as a typical child of military life, moving often, attending schools on military bases, and having to adjust to new people, places and cultures.  Adjusting to this kind of lifestyle is often very difficult especially to a ‘civilian’ like Maria.  Military peers often look down on civilian children, and people outside of the military realm snide people with lifestyles that differ from theirs.  Maria saw first-hand this kind of animosity and jealousy from all sides.  Maria said her ‘military’ classmates felt that she should not be allowed to go to school on the military base because her family “had lots of money and could afford private schools.”  Eventually, Maria attended a top-notch private school which led even her own family, on her dad’s side, to consider her spoiled, snobby, and bitchy.   

One place that Maria has had no trouble adjusting to is England itself.  She finds everything about England, from the people to the culture, appealing and she has decided that England is where she wants to settle and live out her life.  Maria’s secret might be that her mom is English, giving her special insight into the culture.  Despite the difficulties that Maria has faced with American attitudes towards her, she reports that this is not the case with the English.  “People wanted to talk to me more because I am an American,” Maria said of the English.  She finds the atmosphere in England to be more sedate and friendly as compared to the rushed and often unfriendly atmosphere in the United States.  She doesn’t feel judged for being American, or civilian, or going to a private school, or living in a foreign country, things Maria has been ridiculed for by people of her own culture and heritage.

For Maria, the best thing to happen while living in England was meeting her fiancé.  Their fathers work together in England, though both are American-born.  He is a Texas native, so he also had to deal with issues of culture shock.  Maria’s return to Pennsylvania to attend college has presented the most culture shock, for her fiancé it was the initial move to England.  They both agree, however, that they want to move back to England to embark on their careers and their life together.  Although no official date has been set, they plan to hold their wedding in England or Italy, despite knowing that Maria’s family members living here in the U.S. will not attend.

Maria’s future is filled with possibilities and she is keeping her career options open.  She said that she gets bored easily and is not sure that journalism will fulfill her.  She thinks that she might be more interested in something like graphic design or magazine layout.  She also hopes to write a novel, though she said she is not likely to embark on that project for quite some time.  When asked what kind of book she would like to write Maria said, “I don’t know, it will just hit me one day…much later in life, like when I retire.” 

In the meantime, Maria will be graduating from Penn State next year, planning her upcoming wedding, and traveling, a pastime that excites her because new places and new experiences allow her to grow.  As she said, “It’s a safe thrill.”