The Happiest Place on Earth

Some people come to the United States for freedom, a new life or for a job. Josee Barcellini came for Disneyland.

Barcellini's family lives in Paris, France. On a student exchange program, Barcellini came to Canada to study in college.

"I studied there for three and a half years. Then I was supposed to go home. I called my family for more money and they said, 'if you want more money go to work,'" Barcellini said.

As the self proclaimed "black sheep of the family," Barcellini went to work in Canada at General Electric. After a year of working she decided to travel to the United States to see Disneyland.

She didn't speak any English, and when an American couple overheard her speaking French they introduced themselves.

"After my vacation I went back to Canada, but they were calling me all of the time," Barcellini said.

The couple invited her to move to the United States and stay with them in Los Angeles. She eventually decided to take them up on the offer. She moved in with them and taught French
classes out of her home.

What she didn't know was that the couple was trying to set her up with their friend Jim Barcellini.

"At first I didn't like him," she said.

But after many dates and being strategically seated next to him at dinner parties, Josee married Jim.

"He didn't speak French and I didn't speak English," Barcellini said. "Well I knew a few words like 'yes' and 'I do.'"

Barcellini is a permanent resident. She never tried for citizenship because without any family in the United States her husband didn't want her to lose her citizenship in France, in case anything happened to him.

"Now I want to get it because I could be a citizen in both countries," Barcellini said.

"The freedom you have here you never experience anywhere," said Barcellini. "Here we can speak, when I go back home to my family I have to close to my mouth."

Thirty-six years later, the two are still married and now living in Phoenix, Arizona.

I guess the United States has a lot to offer, some more obvious than others. And perhaps people come for their own reasons, be it freedoms, jobs or love.

But then again I guess we also have Disneyland.