The Journey
Leaving
Rebecca's parents had been planning to move for over a decade before they left the country. They had applied for a Visa in 1978 and it was not approved until 1989. At the time, there was a large waitlist for people to leave the colony legally. Rebecca immigrated to the United States before her family.
As a result of the long wait to obtain a Visa, Rebecca was already 21 years old by the time the family's Visa was approved. Therefore she came to the United States by herself under an H1 student Visa. She was able to do this because she had been accepted to study at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Why Leave?
For Rebecca, there were many reasons for leaving. The first was due to the fact that she had been denied from both of the universities in Hong Kong, even though she was a straight 'A' student. This made the possibility of continuing her education nearly impossible.
Rebecca still wanted to pursue higher education, therefore she looked abroad and was accepted to the University of Massachusetts Boston, compelling her to leave and study in the United States.
There was also a large amount of social and political tension surrounding Hong Kong with the handing over of Hong Kong to China by the British and the path that the new government was going to take. This led to concerns about future freedoms and potential economic limitations. There was increased concern with what the world had recently witnessed in Tiananmen Square. Because of the uncertainty regarding the city and distrust towards the Chinese government. Immigration to America was the family's best option.
A Progressive student protesting in Tiananmen Square surrounded by CCP soldiers
Students participating in a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square (1989)
Famous protester "Tank Man" stopping 59 takes from reaching Tiananmen Square (June 5, 1989)
The Journey
"I had no hesitation, I wanted to go to the USA for better opportunities I didn't have in Hong Kong" -Rebecca Dyson
Despite never flying on a plane, Rebecca was excited to leave Hong Kong and go to The United States. She looked forward to the new opportunities that awaited her in America. Rebecca's flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles to Boston took nearly 24 hours and cost around $1200 dollars, a large sum of money that was paid for by her mother. When she landed she was greeted by her aunt, who had already been living in Boston.