Editor’s note: In this two-day series, we profile people who have recently moved to the Norwich and New London area eager to learn English and better their lives, and the professionals dedicated to teaching English to school-age children and adults.

Norwich ― They use words such as “poor,” “rough,” and “no safety” to describe their homelands and why they made sometimes difficult journeys to get to the United States and to Norwich.

Hundreds of immigrants, individuals and families, have arrived in Norwich over the past few years, many joining family members already living and working in the Norwich area. A top priority for all the newcomers, no matter their ages, is to learn English. Local public schools report dramatic increases in the number of multilingual learners, a term that acknowledges some of the newcomers speak multiple languages, but not English.

The Day interviewed 10 newcomers, ranging in age from 10 to 57, learning English in elementary or high school, or at Norwich Adult Education.

No matter their age, educational backgrounds or experiences in getting to Norwich, the students expressed one universal, if cliché, theme ― the United States is the land of opportunity. They also offered advice to those who follow them to this country.

Freddy Lobos

“I was excited perhaps to go to the U.S.A. and seek opportunity,” said 20-year-old Freddy Lobos, originally from Guatemala. “Here, they have a lot of opportunities. The only thing that makes it difficult is learning the language.”

Lobos left his native country five years ago at age 15, alone, hopping on buses and trucks in a zigzag 12-day trek to the U.S. border. There, he turned himself in to Homeland Security officers, who sent him by plane to a shelter for unaccompanied minors. He stayed there for two months before the authorities connected him with his father that he never knew, living in Virginia. Lobos was given a temporary juvenile visa.

He smiled and said his journey was difficult but did not elaborate on his experiences.

Lobos stayed for two months with his father, but the two strangers didn’t hit it off, Lobos said. His aunt, who lives in Norwich, drove to Virginia to pick him up and bring him to her home. He has other family in Norwich as well.

Lobos never enrolled in high school here, but obtained a work permit. He has been working at McDonald’s in Gales Ferry for the past two years and is enrolled in Norwich Adult Education English classes.

“(I am) learning about the culture and the people and how the system works here,” Lobos said following a class with a quiz on American history and civics. “I’m learning a lot.”

He said understanding what people are saying to him is easier than responding or writing the language. Once he gains English proficiency, Lobos plans to enroll in high school classes at Adult Ed, then go to college and pursue his dream of a career in computers or accounting ― perhaps working for a bank or starting his own online business.

At NFA, learning English and preparing for medical careers

Leilani Pineda, 17, a high school senior at Norwich Free Academy, was born in the United States but grew up in Mexico. Three years ago, at age 14, she decided on her own that she wanted to move to the United States. She is living in Norwich with cousins and started at NFA in her sophomore year. Her father is in Pennsylvania, while her mother, two brothers and one sister are in Mexico.

“I think here, we have better education,” Pineda said. After graduating from NFA, she plans to attend Three Rivers Community College to become a medical assistant. She played soccer and was on the NFA track and field team in fall.

Pineda and NFA junior Christyna Riffin, 16, who moved to Norwich from Haiti eight months ago, are among a dozen NFA students enrolled in the school’s new manufacturing pipeline class in medical translation. Along with their required high school credit courses and multilingual English learners classes, they are learning key medical terminology, medical protocols and how the system works.

“It’s important not to limit yourself to the possibilities, to the opportunities here,” Pineda said of the advice she would offer to others following her path. “That’s what I say.”

Riffin, a junior at NFA, moved to Norwich with her younger sister, 13, to live with their aunt and uncle. This is her first year at NFA. Enock Petit-Homme, intervention specialist in NFA’s Diversity Department, helped translate for Riffin during the interview.

Riffin did not wish to speak about her journey from Haiti, stressing instead her determination to learn English and pursue her dream to go to college and become a nurse.

Petit-Homme recalled Riffin was confused by the size and complex class schedule when she started at NFA last fall. The girl said Petit-Homme helped her to adjust. She joined the Haitian Club and the French Club. Riffin is fluent in Haitian Creole, French and Spanish and hopes soon to add English to the list.

Asked to offer advice to others in her situation, she spoke non-stop in Creole until Petit-Homme asked her to pause to translate.

Riffin said newcomers will find learning English difficult, and they probably will not like the New England cold ― she shook her head vigorously when asked how she liked her first winter.

“Know the reasons why you came here,” Riffin said through Petit-Homme’s interpretation. “NFA taught me to be an independent thinker. Know when you’re right and not right and accept the challenge.”

She continued by urging immigrants to the United States to learn and embrace the culture here. Her favorite class at NFA is history and civics.

Both students were asked what their biggest surprise was when they first arrived.

“The first thing was the school,” Pineda said. “It’s so big. The teachers are great. The community here, they have a lot of support.”

Riffin’s answer: “It’s safe here. The security.”

Medical professional from Nicaragua starts over with English

Keylin Vargas, 27, excitedly accepted The Day’s invitation to be interviewed. She saw it as a great way to practice her English. Vargas came to Norwich from her native Nicaragua to join her husband, a U.S. citizen from Nicaragua who serves in the U.S. Army as a recruiter. Vargas practices English every chance she gets, from learning numbers and words to spending time at Otis Library and giving presentations to her Adult Education class.

She was able to take her written driver’s license test in Spanish, but she knew the instructor’s directions would be in English, so she brushed up on driving words beforehand and passed on the first try.

Vargas has a college degree in medical technology in her homeland and managed a medical laboratory there. When she arrived in Norwich, she applied for a medical job, but was told she would need to learn English first. She took a job in housekeeping at the Courtyard Marriott in Norwich.

“It is very hard,” she said. “This work is very hard.”

Vargas soon landed a job as a personal care assistant for Companions & Home Helpers, a job closer to her career aspirations. Once she perfects her English, Vargas plans to take classes to become a phlebotomist, what she calls her first step to regain her career in medical technology.

“My story is very interesting,” she said. “I was excited to learn. I got opportunity in this country. This school is very, very home to me. The people in this country are polite, friendly. This school has a lot of people from different countries and unfamiliar cultures. I love this country.”

She has yet to meet any Nicaraguan students in Norwich, but has been following the news about people from her country having access to the program announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in January 2023.

Called humanitarian parole, it allows qualifying citizens in Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela to apply to U.S. embassies and consulates in those countries for permission to come to the United States for up to two years. Applicants must pass background checks and have an approved supporter already in the United States to qualify.

Vargas encourages people to follow that method to reach the United States rather than the dangerous trek to the southern border.

“Not illegal. It’s not a good idea,” she said. “You need employee permit. Immigration is very hard. You need permits for work. Permits for license.”

A way out of Haiti

Norwich Adult Education students Cinfilice Cadet, 33, and Bowles Paul, 28, each applied and were accepted last January for humanitarian parole from Haiti. Separately, both arrived in Norwich last summer. They live with relatives, take English classes and work at the Amazon distribution center in Hartford, carpooling to work with fellow students.

“Haiti is a poor place,” Paul said. He and his father immigrated together. His father works at Mohegan Sun and takes night classes at Norwich Adult Education. Paul wants to continue his schooling and go to college to study accounting and computer science.

Cadet said he has lots of family in the United States. He left Haiti because of the “security problems, political problems.” But he left his 6-year-old son behind, living with the boy’s grandmother. He worries about the boy’s safety constantly and misses him greatly. He has applied for humanitarian parole status for the boy as well. Cadet’s mother wants to stay in Haiti, he said.

Cadet and Paul enrolled in English classes in the fall, getting in just before Norwich Adult Education became inundated with applications from a new wave of immigrant arrivals to Norwich. The school was forced to create a waiting list for new students and asked three teachers to double their class load to create afternoon classes, which reduced the waiting list by about 70 students.

Flora Lucas Philippe, 57, left Haiti following a much different crisis scenario, the devastating 2010 earthquake. She lived for two years in Florida, and family urged her to come to Norwich. She arrived in Norwich in 2012, enrolling in adult education classes. She proudly showed her 2013 medal as the recipient of the superintendent’s award for Adult Education.

Philippe works as a housekeeping attendant at Foxwoods Resort Casino. After she reached proficiency in English, she returned to Norwich Adult Education this year to attend CNA classes.

Philippe raves about adult education and urges any newcomer to enroll in classes. She described how the adult education director, John Glover, greets students at the door in the morning to welcome them to school.

“All the staff here is here for you,” she said with a broad smile.

c.bessette@theday.com