Marina Boutote
 Living in Bedford for 8 years
 From Uzbekistan, one of the republics of the former USSR

 I was born in one of the republics of the former Soviet Union and everyone was expected to celebrate holidays recognized by the Communist party. All men were celebrated on February 23, the Soviet Army Day, regardless of their military status. All women were celebrated on International Women’s Day on March 8. I loved International Women’s Day because we did not have school! The day before, all kids participated in creative performances to celebrate moms, grandmas, and aunts. Our teacher would start preparing for the performance a month in advance and every child in class had to recite a poem in front of all the parents. We also had to make creative gifts to give to our moms and go shopping for flowers with our dads! On March 8, men always gave flowers to all important women in their lives.

 When we moved to the U.S., we lived in a town with a very large community from the former Soviet Union. My dad and I went to a store to buy flowers for my mom and grandmother. The salesperson heard us speak Russian and asked what was going on because all day long Russian-speaking people were buying flowers and they were almost out. We educated her about March 8 and she said her manager needs be aware in order to make sure they have enough flowers in stock next year! Up until recently, no one celebrated International Women’s Day in the U.S. but to me, it was always the day when men showed chivalry towards all women. I am very happy to see that my kids will be aware of International Women’s Day.


 Suja Sriram
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From Bangalore, India

 I live with my hubby Sriram and two girls, Shruthi and Shreya. I’m a software engineer and worked for Siemens. In 2010, our 4-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. Shruthi was attending preschool, and it used to be a nightmare for me and my husband until she got back home safe every day. At those times, in India, there was no awareness about Type-1 Diabetes and the risks associated with it. Also, insulin pumps were not common in India. Our 4-year-old had to be poked multiple times a day for checking her blood glucose and for insulin shots. There were times when all those tiny fingers would be red from the previous poking, and it would be hard to find an unpoked spot to poke again. I used to have many, many meltdowns seeing those little fingers and body constantly poked, but our brave little girl used to breeze through it with a smile.

 We wanted a miracle that would cure our little one and were desperately researching options. The U.S. seemed to have the best pediatricians and the ongoing clinical trials sounded promising. My husband found a job that brought us here!

 Although we didn't find the miracle that we were looking for, we ended up with a wonderful support system of doctors, schools, and a good community. Shruthi, a sophomore now, is a confident young girl. She is a great dancer, plays sports, and aces all her classes at school.

 And that’s my story!

 Anjo Wunderl
 Living in Bedford for 17 years
 From The Netherlands

 Our Dutch family of four has lived in several countries and states prior to moving to Bedford. We moved from Switzerland to Bedford in January 2004 because of my husband's job. It was not an easy move during the winter, and it took some time to connect with people, but we found some really good friends.

 We picked Bedford for the excellent school system and beautiful nature areas within Bedford. Our daughter was a high school student at BHS in the second year it started, and our son loved going to the Derryfield School. We love having Joppa Hill Farm around the corner from us and enjoy seeing the cows in the fields on N. Amherst Road. Pulpit Rock is also a favorite destination that is close by.

 My children are now adults and live abroad but continue to meet with their friends whenever they are visiting. I like what Bedford has done to the historic center and would like to thank the volunteers for keeping the flower beds near the library so colorful and well-maintained. I do miss some safe bike paths, though, especially coming from a bicycle country, the Netherlands. At this time, my husband is retired, and I still work as a LICSW while enjoying our beautiful house here in Bedford.

 Kremena Star
 Living in Bedford for 7 years
 From Bulgaria

 I was born and raised in Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast. After graduating from my hometown high school, I decided to travel and expand my horizons by going to college abroad. I was offered a scholarship at the University of Minnesota and came to the USA as an international student. This was followed by my postgraduate education in NYC and Boston. I found my dream job in Manchester and moved to Bedford in 2014. While I love living in Bedford, I sometimes miss being able to walk to a coffee shop, restaurant, or movie theater. As new businesses move into town, I plan on tuning my bike this spring and getting around European style.

 Maria Cracut
 Working in Bedford for 19 years
 From Transylvania, Romania

 I own a day spa in Bedford. I grew up in a beautiful town called Brasov. I arrived in the United States on June 11, 1990, in hope of more opportunities, freedom, and a better life for my family.

 My family and I lived in New York for 11 years before we longed for something different. Seeking a better quality of life, serenity, and beautiful natural scenery, my husband and I decided to move to New Hampshire.

 Moving to New Hampshire also provided me the opportunity to start my business in Bedford, where I have met many wonderful people. I am proud to say that my business has been thriving in Bedford for 19 years.

 Romania has a lot of history behind it and with that, there is easy access to museums and historical sites. I love everything that Bedford offers and I believe that having access to museums and historical sites would be a great benefit. Another thing that I miss is the variety of ethnic foods available. It's wonderful to explore the world by trying different foods. Having said that, I appreciate all the opportunities that living in New Hampshire has brought me.

 Cosette El Chalfoun
 Living in Bedford for 18 years
 From Lebanon

 Lebanon is a country in the Middle East, located on the Mediterranean Sea. I met my husband, Elie El Chalfoun, in Lebanon in 2001. Elie has been a U.S. citizen since 1997.

 We got married, and I moved to the U.S. with him on September 16, 2002. I started to work with my husband in his gas business. I soon realized how friendly and willing to help the American people are. They often went out of their way to make us feel welcome and more at home.

 In January 2004, we moved to Bedford. It was one of the best decisions we ever made, as it is a beautiful place and a safe town to raise your children in. The school system is amazing, the sports are insanely good and the people here are kind.

 I miss Lebanon. I miss the great restaurants and the excellent nightlife there. I miss my family and my old friends. However, every time I visit, I realize how lucky and fortunate I am to live in America and especially in Bedford, New Hampshire surrounded by good neighbors. Lastly, we have found a favorite Lebanese restaurant called El Basha Restaurant & Bar in Worcester, Massachusetts.

 Lucie Starace
 Living in Bedford for 19 years
 From Bern, Switzerland

 Hello, my name is Lucie Starace, aka “SWISSMS” on the road. I have lived in Bedford since 2003 with my husband of 25 years, Robert, and our two daughters Sabrina (23) and Jordan (20).
 I was born and raised in Bern, Switzerland. I also have roots in Prague, Czech Republic, and speak German, Swiss-German, Czech, and English.

 Right out of college in Switzerland, I came to Melrose, Massachusetts, to be an Au Pair and learn English at the age of 21 with EF Au Pairs. Wanting to get out and meet people, I joined a co-ed volleyball league, where I met my husband, Rob. Little did we know both our girls would grow up to play the very sport that brought us together. We lived in Manchester, Candia, Goffstown, and moved to Bedford just in time for our daughter, Sabrina to start 1st grade at Riddle Brook Elementary School. Our younger daughter, Jordan started preschool at New Morning School. Our goal was always to provide our two daughters with the great education that Bedford has to offer.

 I love and miss Switzerland very much and try to visit every year to see my family and friends. Because I could not visit for the last two years, I was fortunate enough to take two trips home this year to make up for the lost time.

 I often compare my childhood/teenage years to that of my girls and wish they had places to go, like youth centers and age-appropriate discos where they could hang out with friends, dance, or play games. I have fond memories of my time growing up in Switzerland and would love our children to have the same outlets here.

 Ashima Samuel
 Living in Bedford for 19 years
 From New Delhi, India

 Bedford, NH has been my home for nearly two decades. Currently, I live here with my amazing husband and three beautiful children. If you believe in love at first sight, that is exactly what happened when my husband and I drove down this peaceful and serene town with open fields and urban conveniences, looking for a place to call home, 19 years ago. Bedford has given us a sense of belonging and a community of friends we will always cherish.

 I left India in 1998 and landed in the U.S., with my husband and two kids. Our move was driven by opportunity.

 Coming to the U.S. was exciting and overwhelming. Settling down in a new country with two babies and being a stay-at-home mom with no family or connections was not easy. But soon, we were able to assimilate well with the American way of life. My prior job experience with Lufthansa German Airlines and my background in design and public relations played a vital role in my ability to overcome the cultural differences. Today, my family and I are proud citizens of America!

 In 2009, I established True Elegance Design LLC in Bedford, NH. I have worked with some amazing clients from all over the world. I truly believe that opportunities can be yours regardless of where you may be from. The American Dream isn’t a philosophy, it’s a promise for those who give this country their best!

 Tran Tran-Prasad
 Living in Bedford for 4 years
 From Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  I came to the United States of America for my graduate studies in 2011. I have lived in Louisiana, Indiana, and Texas before moving to New Hampshire in 2018. I have lived in Bedford, New Hampshire since 2018 after marrying my husband. I love the natural setting and the four seasons of Bedford. I enjoy the proximity of the ocean, lakes, mountains, and Boston from my home. I sometimes miss the festivals and socializing activities with family and friends from my home country.

 Aija Dreimane - Holohan
 Living in Bedford for 14 years
 From Riga, Latvia

 I was born and raised in Riga, the capital city of the little northern European country of Latvia.

 My childhood and youth were spent enjoying theater, arts, music festivals, and such in my vibrant hometown. I loved roaming the cobblestoned streets of Old Riga with my friends or taking in the view of the ever-bustling city while reading a book on the large windowsill of my 5th floor downtown apartment.

 My happy place in the summers was a little northern town of Salacgriva that sits right on the Baltic Sea, where I stayed with my aunt and cousins. We were outdoors every day having a bunch of adventures with local kids. In my later teens, I spent part of summer vacations with my relatives and friends in Sweden and Norway.

 I worked as a script supervisor for both Latvian and international movies in my 20s. Before moving to the U.S., I spent a few years in Ireland. My daughter, Shannen who is 16 now, was born in Galway.

 When I was 29, we moved to America due to my husband’s work at Fidelity Investments. My other two kiddos, Scarlett (12) and Daniel (10) were born here.

 We love this town! Kids are lucky to be attending excellent schools. The majority of their evenings are spent at the Bedford Youth Performing Company – singing, dancing, acting, and playing musical instruments. Currently, I work there too, as an office and production manager. It’s like a second home to us at this point. Lots of my time is also spent in Boston, as a chairperson of both the Boston Baltic Film Festival and the American Latvian National League.

 Life in America has been great, and I have made many lifelong friends in this town.

 Ediola Shklyar
 Living in Bedford for 9 years
 From Albania

 I have lived in the U.S. for 22 years. I left my home country to attend college followed by a Master’s degree in Business in Worcester, Massachusetts.

 I am the first generation of my family in the U.S. I am living proof among thousands of others that the life of an immigrant is difficult beyond what most people can understand. Facing a new life alone in a new country alone for many years, I could only rely on myself to provide income and shelter while paying for school. While working three jobs, at a pizzeria, tutoring math, as well as a work-study program at the school’s offices, I attended school full-time. I saw my parents again for the first time after 8 years, due to the paperwork difficulties we had. My full-time job after graduating school offered me sponsorship for work authorization and a green card.

 After getting married to my husband, Misha, and going through the long road of becoming a U.S. citizen, we moved to Bedford with my family in 2012. This was mainly due to my husband’s job. We have three children, two boys, Andrey and Sasha, and our girl, Karina. All three are trilingual and fluent in Albanian and conversational Russian and are learning their fourth language in school. We have visited Albania as well as other countries and have yet to visit Ukraine where my husband is from. In our lives, we incorporate elements of all three cultures, Albanian, Ukrainian and American; we cook traditional and other ethnic foods frequently, listen to music from our countries and try to teach our kids some history of our countries. Our children love the spinach pies that Nena (grandma) makes and borscht soup, which is Papa’s favorite.

 We believe our strong roots and sacrifices we had to make set us up for success. We feel Bedford is our home and are fortunate to be part of this community. We instill in our kids a sense of belonging in our inclusive community by encouraging and enrolling them in sports, and various local events and encouraging them to give back and volunteer whenever we can. We also love to travel and learn about other cultures. My husband and I own Bedford Collision Center in Manchester and help restore cars as well.

 Thank you for giving us this opportunity for the Bedford community to learn more about the immigrant population in our town.

 Karolyn Lee
 Living in Bedford for 3 years
 From Canada

 People often ask why I moved from Canada to the USA. I generally answer in one word. Love! This of course is followed with a smile and a story. My husband, Patrick, and I met in medical school in Newfoundland and Labrador. Though we had been friends for 3 years prior, it wasn't until the last year of medical school that we started dating. Plans had already been set in motion that he would go back to the U.S. for residency, and I would stay in Newfoundland as we started our relationship. This meant after graduation, we anticipated a long-distance relationship for two years until I completed residency.

 However, our existence as a long-distance couple would continue for almost four years in total until I had secured permanent residence status in the USA and could practice medicine. It was certainly challenging in that it was lonely. Going to a friend's wedding alone or better yet, taking his buddy because your partner lived in another country, was hard. I am so glad that it is behind us.

 As we do not have any extended family in New Hampshire, and I am the only member of my family to live outside of Canada, I affectionately call us "The Snow Globe Family." We have settled into our careers, Pat in the ER and I as a family doctor and certified life coach for professionals. Our three children keep us busy in every sense, but we are ever blessed.

 I have such gratitude for the kind people we have met in New Hampshire. Plus, I get to live in a place with four actual seasons! Though if I'm honest, spring and summer are way too hot for me!

 Heidi Nykjær Stabell
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From Denmark

 In 2002 I moved to Cambridge, England to finish my bachelor’s degree. After 4 years in England, my husband, Michael, was offered a job in New York and we decided it was a great opportunity for us both and our 1-year-old daughter, Emily. After a couple of years in New York, and another baby girl, Anna, added to our family, we moved to Los Angeles where we lived for 3 years. When our oldest daughter started kindergarten, we began thinking about where we would like to raise our two daughters and we felt the West Coast was too far from our families back in Denmark (with a 9-hour time difference).

 We then decided that we wanted to move back to the East Coast. After a lot of research, mostly based on schools, community, etc. we chose Bedford, NH. What began as a “let’s try it for a couple of years and see how it goes” turned into 15 years of living in the United States, and I feel fortunate for all the wonderful memories I have made and especially for my incredible Bedford friends. If I could bring one thing from Denmark to Bedford it would be a traditional Danish bakery.

 Julia Sergeeva
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From Omsk, Russia

 I was born and raised in the big Siberian city of Omsk, Russia. In 2006 my husband Alex, a native of Kazakhstan, received a job offer from a small IT company in Manchester, New Hampshire. We were young and adventurous, so we picked up and moved halfway across the world with our 9-month-old daughter and two suitcases.

 We loved New Hampshire so in 2011 we started looking for a house in the area and ended up in Bedford for its great schools for our two girls, Taya and Vera. It is very hard raising children without any extended family nearby so I’m very thankful to all the significant adults in my kids’ lives here, especially wonderful coaches and teachers from preschool to high school, who helped them to thrive. I love our quiet street and all my neighbors who have always been very welcoming, warm, and helpful. I don’t miss the big city life; it’s incredible being so close to the woods and wildlife, but I could live without the deer eating my flowers. Though it would be nice to have a walkable downtown, more sidewalks, and bike paths, I have really enjoyed my 10 years in Bedford so far and look forward to making new friends and memories in the years to come.

 Vivien Law
 Living in Bedford for 18 years
 From Hong Kong

 I have been living in Bedford for 18 years with my husband and our daughter. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and met my husband while working in Japan for over a decade. I moved to America with him in 2001, and our daughter Jessica was born in New Jersey shortly before we moved to Bedford for his work.

  I enjoyed being a stay-at-home-mom, volunteering at the school and church, and also leading a Girl Scout troop for eight years before we became empty-nesters. I challenged myself to take a medical interpretation course three years ago, and since then, I have been working as a medical interpreter. It is an incredibly fulfilling job because I love to work with and help people.

 Besides work, I enjoy playing competitive tennis, traveling, doing cross-stitch needlework, and many other arts and crafts. This summer I plan to go back to Hong Kong to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday and reunite with my siblings and high school friends. Although I love living in New Hampshire and consider Bedford my home, I definitely miss the delicious dim sum and Cantonese dishes in my original hometown of Hong Kong. I've found that North Garden Chinese restaurant at Goffstown and Chong’s restaurant in Merrimack both serve dim-sum (dumplings + tapas) only on the weekends.

 Naureen Mirza
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From Pakistan

 I am a physician and moved to the USA right after I ended my medical school to do my residency here. I did my medicine and rheumatology training in NY State and worked there for a few years. My husband is also a physician and once we were done with training, we wanted to get out of the big city life. We moved east and farther east, but then there was water so we tried farther north and that brought us to New Hampshire.

 Our first two sons were born in New York and our youngest was born here. We have lived in Bedford for 10 years and this is what my boys call home. What I miss the most here is international cuisine, and I would love to see more of that here in town.

 Chami Perera
 Living in Bedford for 4 years
 From Sri Lanka

 I came to the United States to attend university, all the way from Sri Lanka, my home country, formerly known as Ceylon, also known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”

 Moving to America was exciting and meant so much more than just higher education for me. It was big things like opportunity, freedom, independence, but also the small things — the chance to wear thick sweaters and boots and play in the snow for the first time, the ability to see and experience in real life what I saw in the American movies I watched as a teenager, and everything in between!

 I graduated, got a job, and never looked back. From Pennsylvania to Maryland to Washington, D.C., to New York City, I lived and loved every minute of my life in America as a single, independent woman taking it all in and not taking anything for granted.

 A short move to London for work brought me to the next phase of my life and shortly thereafter I was married with a baby and a dog and a desire for a change from the New York City life which brought us to New Hampshire. When we decided New Hampshire was a wonderful fit for us, we chose to buy a home in Bedford for the proximity to Boston, an airport nearby, fantastic schools, and awesome amenities. What we didn’t expect was the wonderful, warm and helpful community we are getting to know and love every day, which has truly made Bedford home for us.

 I do miss Sri Lanka and I visit often. The first half of my life to date is steeped in that beautiful island and the second half of my life is inextricably linked to this amazing country and the two parts together help me wake up grateful every day. I have the best of two worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way.

 Graciela Silvia Sironich-Kalkan
 Living in Bedford for 16 years
 From Argentina

 I was dating my husband while he was living in the United States and I was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We decided that one of us needed to move. He was not able to move at that moment. I decided to take one sabbatical year in my work at the Navy Hospital in Buenos Aires. I moved to Massachusetts and never went back to my work in Buenos Aires.

 We married and decided to continue living in Massachusetts. In the meantime, I went back to study to take my boards and work again as a physician, and I succeeded.

 In the year 2005, my husband and I moved to Bedford, NH, from Massachusetts. I am working as a physician. I am happy to work in the profession that I love and continue giving back to people in need. I love living in Bedford; I have found many friends and activities that fulfill my life. I am blessed that I can see my friends and family whether I travel to visit, or they visit me.

 Marianna Vis
 Living in Bedford for 3 years
 From Australia

 I am a dual-citizen Australian and American. Upon reflection of the word, dual-citizen, we are all migrants, and we should all be able to “cross borders” and “chart unexplored waters” toward what we aspire to and in pursuit “of our place in the world,” and to finding what brings joy to us and those in our lives, having a life of value and meaning.

 Like the Dalai Lama said: “The world doesn’t belong to leaders, the world belongs to humanity.”

 My Dutch parents moved to Australia after the war/depression. I was taught the value of hard work, ethics, and the entrepreneurial spirit and in the course of growing up and then traveling to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, etc., I met amazing people and knew that “people and places/homes are my passion.” I charted my way to Los Angeles and then New Boston/Bedford. It was not an easy road…no “free passes,” but I believed in myself and had amazing friendships along the way that sang “we know you can and will.” I am humbled and happy to say I am living the American Dream that came about from hard work and dedication, from the opportunities one has in this great country.

 Claudia Wahl
 Living in Bedford for 3 years
 From Germany

  I was born and raised in Ahlen, a small, rural town in Northwest Germany. I am an outgoing introvert; bread and cake critic; accidental gardener; wife; mother of a high school senior and an 8th grader; and dachshund devotee.

 I moved to Bedford in January 2019 after having spent 10 years in Silicon Valley with my American husband who I met at a conference in London, UK, in 1998. I spent some time abroad in France and Canada while in college and lived in London for two years prior to moving to the U.S. California was a great place to live and play prior to having kids; however, eventually, we wanted to be closer to my husband’s family.

 Even so, relocating from sunny California to a wintery New Hampshire in the middle of January was not the smartest move in my life, but certainly one of the best. I refer to myself as the “in-between generation” as I will always live amid two cultures; I am no longer German and will never be 100% American. I will always miss German Christmas markets and wine festivals, going everywhere by bike, having non-Americanized ethnic food eateries around every corner, our dry sense of humor, and not having to explain who I really am. However, I still found everything in New Hampshire that I, or we as a family, need to live a fulfilled and happy life. A great work-life and indoor-outdoor balance and, most importantly, some of the best friends I could have ever wished for. After all, home is where your heart is, and your friends become your family. The Bavaria restaurant in Hooksett is my go-to place for local German food. Bavaria Restaurant NH (bavaria-nh.com).

 Mirela Juric
 Living in Bedford for 12 years
 From Bosnia

  As a little girl growing up in Bosnia, I always enjoyed playing outside with my friends, but the ongoing war made this traditional activity anything but enjoyable. One day when I was playing outside in March 1993, I heard this deafening “boom” and chaos ensued; people were running in different directions, my ears were ringing and I felt warmth on my calf. When I finally reached my mom, I could tell by the frightening look on her face that something was wrong. The next thing I remember is waking up alone in a hospital with a bandaged leg and being told I was in a different country. I spent the next month in that hospital bed, even celebrating my 11th birthday with the medical staff and fellow patients. It wasn’t until months later that I was finally reunited with my family in Germany.

  In June 1999, three lovely ladies and their families served as our sponsors, allowing us to come to Keene, NH, where we lived alongside them. Fast forward to December 2010, my husband, two boys, and I moved into our current home in Bedford, NH, where we have been able to offer our sons access to great schools and a healthy childhood. The scar on my leg is a permanent reminder of all that I and my family have been through, but I’m proud to say those experiences have shaped me into the woman I am today.

 Renu Basur
 Living in Bedford for 6 years
 From Nepal

 I came to the U.S. as an exchange student at SNHU in the mid-'90s in search of better opportunities. When I was fresh out of college I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. My career path led me to New York City where I worked in a hotel and pursued my master’s at PACE University. Studying and working in New York City put me on the right path and gave me an amazing experience to prepare me for where I am in life now. I transitioned to the financial sector after my master's degree and worked for Morgan Stanley for 12 years.

 During those years, I reconnected with my brother’s college best friend and ended up getting married to him and starting a family. My two beautiful girls were born in New Jersey and in search of family life balance, I returned to New Hampshire in 2009 and became an entrepreneur working for my parents’ company in Health and Human Services. It was a big decision for both my husband and me to leave New York City and transition our careers here. However, with perseverance and hard work, both our family and careers have continued to thrive in this great community with our family and friends' support. We moved to Bedford 6 years ago in search of a good school system like the majority of families.

 We were so blessed to meet and make new friends and see our girls thrive. I do miss the authentic Indian meals and would love to see a good Indian restaurant in Bedford. However, we have discovered amazing food at The Maharaja (57 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, MA), Mela Indian Restaurant (578 Tremont St. in Boston), India Restaurant (1060 Hope St., Providence, RI), and Rasa Restaurant (149 Main St., East Greenwich, RI). They are worth the drive!

 Pana Hong
 Living in Bedford for 2 years
 From South Korea

 I am a pianist and educator. I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. I came to the United States to experience and widen my perspectives on music. Fortunately, I had an opportunity to complete my graduate studies in piano performance and pedagogy in Princeton, NJ. My husband’s work had brought us to New Hampshire ten years ago. Since then, I have been teaching piano privately, while also raising two lovely young girls! One thing I miss about South Korea is the delicious food! Here are some suggestions for my favorite Korean food spots: Shira Kiku (13 Broad St, Nashua), H mart (3 Old Concord Rd, Burlington, MA),
 Koreana (158 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA), and Kaju Tofu House (58 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA).

 Sabata Sarcone
 Living in Bedford 5 years
 From Milan, Italy

 I was born and raised in Milan, Italy and my life has been an adventure so far! In 2006 when my youngest son was only 20 days old, I left Italy. My husband’s job moved us around a lot for more than a decade. We started in Albania, where we lived for 2 years. Then we packed up and moved farther east to Istanbul. After 3 amazing years in Turkey, it was time to explore a different continent.

 Brazil welcomed us and gave us 4 great years. During those years in Turkey and Brazil, my passion for hospitality brought me back to college to finish my degree. That same passion made me decide to leave São Paulo and move with my kids to England. In London, I was fortunate enough to work for a prestigious hotel and gain experience in the field.

 In the meantime, my husband was being relocated to Boston and we decided to reunite the family. We initially lived in Wellesley, MA, until we discovered Bedford, NH, in 2017. My kids fell in love with this small but cozy town and welcoming community. That’s what made us decide to settle down here, for good. For a few years, I commuted to Boston and worked for many important hotels in the heart of the city, but my love for the Granite State convinced me to get a job in New Hampshire. I consider myself very lucky to have traveled around the world, but also to have found a new home, in Bedford.

 Carol Traynor
 Living in Bedford for 12 years
 From Ireland

 I arrived in the U.S. from my home country of Ireland in the summer of 1990, through the Donnelly Visa Program. I was on a career break from a teaching position in Ireland and was looking to try something different. I applied for and was accepted to graduate school for a Master's Program in Computer Science, and then went on to complete my doctorate. I met my husband who is American at graduate school in Massachusetts, and the rest is history.

 We lived in New York state for a year after we got married but moved to New Hampshire when my husband accepted a teaching position at Saint Anselm College. I joined him at Saint Anselm College a year later and am now the Chairperson of the Computer Science Department. My husband returned to the industry a few years later. We moved from Manchester to Bedford for the school system in 2010.

 Aside from missing my family and friends in Ireland, I miss the sense of humor and a more relaxed outlook on life, as well as the holiday traditions I grew up with. Having said that, Bedford is a great town for families, and I feel fortunate to live here.

 Genevieve Hoellrich
 Living in Bedford for 4 years
 From Canada

 I moved to the U.S. for love. I was living and working in Montreal in the fashion industry as a buyer for Aldo Shoes. I am originally from Nova Scotia, so living in Montreal was such a fun place to be. During a work trip to the US, I met my future husband. After a long-distance relationship, he got transferred to California and on a whim, I decided to go.

 It was there I completed my first yoga teacher training and found out I was pregnant with Identical twins. Our life changed very quickly! After 4 years we decided to move to Seattle. We loved it and had our third child, Nova. Something in me yearned to be back on the East Coast close to my family in Nova Scotia. When an opportunity came to move back we found our forever home in Bedford.

 Since arriving in Bedford I have opened Humble Warrior Power Yoga in Manchester and am opening a second location in Bedford. I'm so grateful for this amazing community and finding a place that finally feels like home.

 Linda Moreau
 Living in Bedford for 11 years
 From Montreal, Canada

 I am married to Paul from Long Island, New York and I have an adult stepdaughter Laurel.
 I met Paul back in 1997 in Mexico at Club Med. I was in love. We got married in Montreal in 2000 and moved to New York in August 2001, just 3 weeks before 9/11. It was very difficult for me to be in New York, so we decided to move to Montreal. For 10 years, Paul commuted to New York to be with his daughter and his work. After 10 years, his commute got to be too much, so we decided to move back to the U.S.

 Paul had friends in Bedford, and we loved the area, so I looked for homes online. We booked a weekend at the BVI, and after looking at a group of homes, we made an offer. In 2011, we moved to Bedford. I had to leave my logistics career behind. I couldn’t work yet, as I had to wait for my green card.

 As we were just settling in, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I knew I needed to be available to help her while she underwent chemotherapy, as she lived alone. For the next 10 months, I went to Montreal every Monday, only to return to Bedford on weekends. She ultimately passed away. I came back and decided to leave my logistics career. I had always had a passion for real estate, so I became a REALTOR®.

 Helping people with their homes gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I also have a concierge service for my sellers that helps them get their homes ready with less stress.

 Paul, who had lived with heart failure for much of his life, started becoming more symptomatic. For about 4-5 years, he was in and out of the hospital, until finally, he was put on the heart transplant list. Being a Realtor gave me the freedom to work from anywhere, and I was fortunate enough to be able to be with him as he was hospitalized at Tufts Medical in Boston. I negotiated my biggest deal from his room. On April 9, 2020, Paul was fortunate enough to receive a heart transplant! A few weeks later, I was happy to have him back home with me.

 Masumi Lafferty
 Living in Bedford for 13 years
 From Japan

  I was born and raised in Suzuka City (50 miles southwest of Nagoya). For car enthusiasts, it might interest you to know that Suzuka Circuits hosts the Formula 1 races every year (the Japanese Grand Prix). Bill and I met through work in Mie Prefecture and got married in 2003. We had our wedding ceremony at one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan surrounded by tall cedar trees.

 When our first son, Dylan was 13 months old, we decided to move to the U.S. to be closer to Bill's family who lived outside of Boston, Massachusetts. We have been living in Bedford since 2009. Bill and I found out that we were pregnant with our second son, Devyn, the day after we moved here!

 I enjoy living in Bedford. The town has grown so much over the last decade. I like the fact that it's becoming the home of many small local businesses. It's also close to everything – mountains, lakes, beaches, and Boston. I appreciate the beautiful nature here in New Hampshire throughout the four seasons. But as my husband and sons know all too well, there's no replacing authentic kaiten zushi (sushi). These sushi restaurants offer a unique dining experience. A conveyor belt winds its way through all the tables in the restaurant to transport various sushi, side dishes, and even desserts. It's great and a lot of fun with kids. Wish there was one close by. If you have a chance to visit Japan, that's something you don't want to miss. I do recommend Takumi Sushi & Hibachi at 197 Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua.

 Alia Jabeen
 Living in Bedford for 13 Years
 From Abbottabad, Pakistan

 Today I’m sharing my journey from Pakistan to the U.S. Due to the deteriorating socio-economic and political situations of our homeland, Pakistan, in 1998, we decided to apply for the skilled labor immigration program of Canada. After a long but systematic process of evaluation, the Canadian Government offered us immigration visas.

 On December 7, 2002, we embarked on a very long journey from Islamabad to Toronto, Ontario, CA. The first couple of years were very tough, our struggle continued; we kept doing odd jobs to pay the bills and kept searching for our dreams. Slowly but surely we were progressing. In December 2005 we became Canadian citizens. The same year my husband got a job offer as per his qualifications and experience from Siemens Canada, in Winnipeg Manitoba. We happily migrated from Ontario to Manitoba and settled there.

 Although we did not plan for another migration, in August 2008, Siemens US offered my husband a position in Manchester, NH. We accepted this new challenge for the better life and good future of our children. Although this transition was more fun, as this time, we were not moving with young kids, we had two teenagers in the group too. This time we were not looking only for work and a place to live; we were searching for a good school system, too. This search for a good school system brought us to our new home in Bedford, NH. In 2008 our daughter was a junior, our elder son was a sophomore and the younger one was in first grade. I started volunteering in an elementary school. After a while, I got a lunch and recess paraprofessional position in Peter Woodbury School. I liked that job as it met my needs.

 My focus was on my family and my community; that position enabled me to serve both. All our children graduated from Bedford High School. Time flies when you have three kids to raise. It’s our 13th year in this beautiful town. I feel like we are home but still miss my family (parents and siblings), culture, special holidays, festivals, and feasts. Last but not least I miss our greetings, when we see each other instead of “Hello, hi” or “Good Morning” we greet each other with “Salam” (peace be upon you). Last year my colleagues learned this tradition of greeting from me and since then, they have greeted me with Salam, which makes me feel so special. I got so much encouragement and acknowledgment from my colleagues and parents of students in our school. I want to extend thanks and gratitude to all Bedford folks for accepting us as part of the extended Bedford family.

 Malini Ahdi
 Living in Bedford for 19 years
 From Mumbai, India

 I moved to this country to pursue further education and got married to my husband who is a resident of Bedford for 20 plus years. We are happily married with two children. Bedford has so much to offer for the next generation. We chose to live in Bedford because of its suburban feel, great education system, safe town, and growing community. The things I miss most from back home are family and the celebration of festivities with them. The thing I would love to see in our community is a beautiful park to gather and meet people. I truly see Bedford growing and adapting to diverse populations from various backgrounds. I am proud to be a resident of Bedford!

 Iryna Hordiychuk
 Living in Bedford for 15 years
 From Ukraine

 Hello, I grew up on a small farm in Western Ukraine. I was raised there, went to college, met my husband, and had my first child all while living in Ukraine. But opportunities in Ukraine are not the same as in America so my family moved here in order to provide a better life and future for our kids. Moving to a new country and away from your friends and family forces you to go outside of your comfort zone. Moving abroad was more difficult than I thought. It’s not that I ever expected it to be easy, but it was certainly very challenging. My life completely changed, I needed to learn a new language, change my lifestyle, and was forced to work in order to provide for my children. The most important thing that needs to be kept in mind and to have the right balance is to embed yourself in the society you are living in, and to be a productive citizen without losing your identity and values.

 The reason we decided to settle in Bedford is that we wanted to raise our kids in a safe and friendly community with a great school; we wanted to make sure our kids got a great education. And, I am so grateful we have made this choice. I love it here!

 There are many things I miss about Ukraine, most importantly my family. I still have many relatives living in Ukraine, and I miss them very much. Traveling to and from Ukraine is difficult so we don’t get to go back very often. I wish I could see my relatives and hometown friends more often. I also miss Ukrainian holidays and traditions. Ukraine has many more holidays than America and I miss spending days with loved ones and all the fun traditions we had in Ukraine. I have many wonderful memories from the years I spent in Ukraine and those could never be replaced, but I have also done a lot in America and am very thankful for the life I have built here with my family. I am proud of my heritage but honored to be an American citizen.

 Andrea Michelon
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From Slovakia

 Growing up in the post-Soviet eastern bloc where everything was a struggle, I saw Western culture on TV and knew there was more out there. Being a crazy adventurous teenager, I decided to take off for adventure and opportunity. I started out as a housekeeper in Florida. I eventually found my way to a career in financial services for a Fortune 500 company.

 Twenty-three years later and three amazing boys, here I am. In 2012 my husband and I decided Bedford would be the best place for us. My oldest son, Aiden, plays in the high school band. Jacob is a curious first grader and Maxwell attends BEEP. They all received tremendous support. We feel blessed to be part of this community. It seems so far away now from where I began, but I’ve tried to stay true to my roots. I love to cook many traditional meals for my boys and share with them about where their mom is from. It helps that I have found a group of great friends here from my part of the world. We get together and speak our native language and laugh. The international women of Bedford are just another amazing part of this wonderful town.

 Marie Russell
 Living in Bedford for 13 years
 From Ireland

 In 1984, after graduating from high school, I decided to take a “gap” year and pursue a very exciting offer in the United States, an au pair job on Cape Cod. (Today, that baby I cared for is a pilot with Jet Blue!) I returned to Ireland and pursued a variety of college courses before moving to London, where I worked for 3 years and saved every penny so I could backpack around the world for 12 months. On my return, I ended up back in school, once again, for exercise and physiology, which ultimately was my golden ticket onto the QE2 (a now-retired British ocean liner that was converted into a floating hotel). I worked as a personal trainer for 105 days on a cruise around the world. While at sea, and contemplating my next move, I always knew I wanted to return to the US, so I entered a lottery for a green card and the 'luck of the Irish' was on my side.

 I ended up disembarking the ship in New York City and traveled to Boston where I worked at Boston University for 10 years. It was here that I met my husband, an Irishman, on a blind date. The rest is history! Our two daughters were born in Boston and as we outgrew our space and yearned for a feel of the countryside, we found ourselves putting down roots in Bedford in 2008.

 I was a substitute teacher in all the elementary schools in town, prior to taking a full-time position at Peter Woodbury School eight years ago. My favorite parts of Bedford are Joppa Hill Farm and the big field at the corner of Hardy Road and North Amherst. The stone wall and the cows grazing in the field are magical and keep me connected to the homeland. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and to work with Gabi on this special project.

 Muge Cakir
 Living in Bedford for 8 years
 From Ankara, Turkey

 My name is Muge Cakir. I was born in Ankara, Turkey. After I graduated from university, I started working as an ESL instructor in a college in Istanbul where I met my husband. He proposed to me after meeting me twice. He then confessed to me that the first day he saw me was when he decided he was going to marry me but didn't want to scare me. We married in a couple of months. We got married on Friday, moved to Manchester, NH, on Sunday, and started our second degree on the following Monday. We earned our MBAs and worked at a local college as international student advisors and instructors.

 We moved back to Turkey five years after living in New Hampshire. We kept our home and kept coming back for holidays and vacations. We had our daughters in New Hampshire. We always wanted to return one day and raise our daughters here. In 2014 we made up our mind and returned here for good. Manchester wasn’t like how we left it. Then we checked the surrounding towns and decided on settling in Bedford. What I miss the most from Turkey other than my family is the food, especially our bakeries. They are amazing. Our dream is to open one in New Hampshire and introduce those delicious treats to our friends here. We hope it will be sooner than later.

 Prashanthi Sirimalla
 Living in Bedford for 10 years
 From India

 Growing up in an academically focused family, I nurtured the dream of pursuing higher education from a young age, and American universities being the world’s best presented an accessible gateway into the American Dream for international students like myself. My life in the United States of America began in 2000 as a student pursuing a master’s in computer engineering. Ever since, life changed forever, enriching me with many personal and professional experiences.

 Prior to New Hampshire, I lived in many places like Mississippi, Virginia, and Phoenix. Our move to New Hampshire in 2011 happened when my husband got a new job opportunity. Since then, there was no turning back; we fell in love with the state’s countryside charm and the breathtaking landscape. Bedford offered a great balance between a small town and a vibrant kid-friendly community. Ever since, I call Bedford home, living with my husband, Chandu Sirimalla, two kids, Vedha (12) and Varun (7).

 I undoubtedly miss India, where we have family and friends, celebrating festivities, the food, the crowded streets (yes, I do!). Bedford’s diversified community is truly amazing, as we continue to follow rich Indian heritage, passing it down to our children, perfectly leading the Indo-American way of life.

 Renata Rzepka
 Living in Bedford for 15 years
 From Poland

 I was born in a small town in the west of Poland, called Nysa. I studied painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. After college, I moved to New York City, where I met my husband. Though I had initially intended to go back to Europe, I ended settling up in the States.

 I moved to Bedford with my husband in 2007. Here I raised my two wonderful children. I fell in love with New Hampshire quickly; the four seasons here remind me of Poland. I love the trees, the mountains, the lakes and first of all the people. Art continues to be a passion of mine, and the scenery around me is lovely to paint. I am lucky to call this place my home. Much of my family is still abroad and I visit often.

 Angela Hoke
 Living in Bedford for 22 years
 From Argentina

 I am an Argentine by birth, an Italian by blood, and an American by love. My American husband’s work brought us here in 2000 from Chile, where we were living when our children were born. Thanks to the Newcomers Club, I developed a wonderful network of friends, and thanks to the Italian Cultural Society, I found the perfect group to feel like I was among family. Bedford combines the best sense of community, with a convenient location and an excellent school system. It’s been my home for the last 20 years and hopefully, the next 20 as well.

 Louise Lee
 Living in Bedford for 11 Years
 From Taiwan

 Twenty-two years ago, I met my husband online and got married a year and 3 months later. Due to my husband coming here for college and his work, I moved to the U.S. along with him. At first, we lived in Manchester; however, when my second child was born, we moved to Bedford for the great school system. Bedford is a community filled with kind people, convenient streets, and a good ratio of greenery versus stores. Public places, such as the Bedford Public Library, have always been great places to bring my children to read or study. The library also sometimes offers children's activities and concerts occasionally.

 As someone who originates from Taiwan, things that I do miss would be the cuisine, or crowds on a night market. Of course, there is a “China Town” an hour away in Boston, but it simply does not give the homey feeling that I often miss, I would also personally consider that drive to be too long to go weekly, as I am not in the greatest of health. Overall Bedford is a quiet town with not too much hustling, while I do sometimes miss crowds of people like in a city, the gentle atmosphere is good as well.

 Gayle Hincks
 Living in Bedford for 13 years
 From Wales

 After leaving university in London, I spent 18 months backpacking around the world with two girlfriends. During this time, I decided I would like to study nursing. Returning to the UK would have meant another 4 years of schooling, but friends I met while traveling introduced me to an accelerated bachelor's degree program at UMASS Amherst.

 My original intention was to return to the UK. However, during an internship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, I was introduced to my future husband who lived in Portland, Maine. We moved to Bedford 13 years ago to pursue career opportunities. Our son was born in Portland, but as he has lived in Bedford since he was 5, he feels, as do we, that this is our hometown.

 Shelly Ni
 Living in Bedford for almost 2 years
 From China

 I received an offer to study at the University of Vermont for their Ph.D. program in Biology. This brought me to the United States. Upon graduating, I landed a job in Manchester and liked the neighborhood and school system in Bedford so my family and I ended up here. What I miss most about China is hanging out with friends while eating hot pot and doing karaoke! Some fairly close hot pot spots include Happy Lamb Hot Pot at 693 Washington St, Boston, MA., Hot Pot Buffet at 70 Beach St, Boston, and Pink Bamboo Hot Pot Cafe at 128 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH.

 Joanne Smith
 Living in Bedford for 17 years
 From The United Kingdom

 I was born in England, went to high school on a remote island in Northern Scotland, and college in Wales.

 After graduation I worked in travel, guiding groups of American tourists around Europe. It was on a trip to Budapest and Vienna that I met a nice American photographer named Peter. When my job brought me to Grand Circle Travel’s office in Boston I reconnected with Peter and we got married.

 We initially settled in Boston and I gave up my travel job when our first child, Cole, was a baby. After the birth of our third child, Ava, we bought Peter’s mother’s old house in Bedford. It was fairly small and very run down, but over the years we have renovated, extended, and built it into a home that we love in a town where we feel welcome and supported.

 As the kids grew, Peter went to work for Boston University and I took over his photography business. I discovered that I love photographing people and that I am quite good at it!

 I still travel back to the UK often to see my 88-year-old Mum and the rest of my family. I have my favorite brand of Yorkshire tea delivered by Amazon, but I do wish there was a tea shop in Bedford that served a traditional British cream tea!

 Francesca Dall'ora
 Living in NH for 7 years and working in Bedford for a year
 From Italy

 My husband, Mateo, and I fell in love with New England during a vacation trip in 2013. We visited Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. During that trip, we started wondering about moving here and changing our life. After two really tough years, we were able to move to the U.S. in February 2015, during one of the snowiest winters in New England.

 When we arrived we were shocked about the amount of snow there was around! In October 2015 we finally opened our first restaurant in Medford, Massachusetts, called Real Italian Gusto.

 We moved around Massachusetts trying to find our perfect place to live with our pets; finally, we found it in Manchester, NH. We really love being here, so we started thinking about opening something close to our home.

 Here it comes, Bedford! An amazing town and community, a perfect fit for Gusto Italiano Market. Our new venture is like a second baby for us! We are facing so many issues due to Covid-19, but we are working hard to make it successful and are confident that we will be able to bring some real Italian experiences here.

 We miss our relatives in Italy, we don't have family here, and we miss the weather and the monuments of our cities, Milan for me and Florence for Mateo. But we have started enjoying the amazing autumn and the White Mountains where we go camping and hiking with our dogs.

 Gabi Maters
 Living in Bedford resident 8 years
 From Hungary

 I am a Hungarian who was born in the Soviet Union and raised behind the Iron Curtain. I grew up bilingual in Budapest, Moscow, and Kyiv. In college, I met my Dutch husband on the streets of Prague, just after the Berlin Wall came down, and he followed me to Budapest. We both worked for large multinationals and when his job brought him to Munich, I followed him for a change. And then I followed him again and again through Rome, London, Bucharest, and Texas!

 I became a full-time ex-pat spouse, and our four children were born along the way, all of them in different countries. In each country, our friends became family, and we left little pieces of our hearts with them. After Texas, work brought us to Boston, and the search for an affordable house combined with a high school offering an IB Diploma Program landed us in Bedford, which turned out to be a perfect fit for our family. I love volunteering at my kids’ schools, and I am actively involved in the Bedford Women’s Club social, fundraising and scholarship committees.

 Through my job with relocation management companies, I help foreign assignees to settle in New Hampshire. I hope they enjoy the backyard trails, the mountains to hike and ski, and the vicinity of the ocean, as much as I do. I do miss my family and friends back in Europe, my mom’s mouthwatering meals (especially her pelmeni), as well as the majestic view of Budapest when you cross the Danube. But now, I feel at home in Bedford, where I have met so many lovely international friends whose shared experiences bring me comfort and belonging.

 Carmen Du Plessis
 From Durban, South Africa
 Living in Bedford for just over 18 years

 My husband's soccer scholarship and studies brought us to the U.S.

 When he announced his job transfer from the West to the East Coast I adamantly responded, "Not New Hampshire!" I very quickly changed my tune and absolutely love New Hampshire and the town of Bedford. It's been a beautiful place to raise our two sons with a great sense of community. I currently work as a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker in Bedford.

 How lucky am I to live where Presidential Primaries happen. At the persuasion of friends, I attended a Primary in 2008 where Hillary Clinton was campaigning. A chance encounter with President Bill Clinton led to a conversation about immigration where I relayed all the pertinent points about our struggles with the green card application. After being prompted by the President I handed him a letter I had prepared…just in case. Thanks to Clinton's attention, we were finally able to continue the journey to green card approval in 2016.

 There is something about Africa that stays in your blood. There's a vibrancy of the people that's hard to explain. I miss the sound of the crickets on a summer's night, family, friends, and the familiarity of a language that is a version of English that all South Africans understand. The meaning of a braai is commonplace and “ah shame!" is an apt response to everything. I am very grateful for the many years and memories of life there.