Ben Rutkowski ’09
"There are so many different languages in the Retreat. I love to come here and talk to everyone," says staff worker Flutura Ismali, who came to the U.S. from Albania. A true melting pot, the Retreat has staff members from all over the world. Meet (from left to right) Flutura, Sima, and Dorata.
Flutura Ismali
Country: Albania
At Vassar: Seven years
"In the beginning, it was very hard because coming here changed my life - my culture and my traditions - everything. English was so hard! My daughter helped us because they studied English in school. I had gone to college and was a teacher. I worked with students in my country, and I do here, too, which is nice, and students will tell me about their schoolwork. My son is a senior in high school and my daughter is at Marist. I push them now, but I came here so they could have a good life. They were born in Albania; my family is still there. I go back every two or three years. My husband went to college in my country and had one of the best jobs as a policeman. Now he works as a janitor in Alumnae House. He does a good job here. Sometimes I want him to do the same at home!"
Sima Ghodrati
Country: Iran
At Vassar: Nearly five years
"Before I came here, I finished my school in Iran and worked as a nurse. I have two kids who are 14 and 12. My husband works as an engineer and commutes every day to New York City. He went to school in this country and then came back to Iran. We got married, but then he wanted to go back to America. He wanted to make a better life for the kids, and we all came over. It was hard to leave the religion and the culture, and I had never been here before. I had a good life over there, and a good job. I’ve been back a few times to see my family. We have some movies from back home of family that we like to watch. I miss walking down the street in Iran and talking to everyone. It’s a little harder to do that on the streets here, but at Vassar, you can know everybody and talk about everything. They even had a lecture on Iran that I went to. I understand the students because I was one, too, and know what it’s like to be far away from home."
Dorata Wonszyn
Country: Poland
At Vassar: 14 years
"I have three kids, who are in or went to college. They were the first to go in my family. We came over from Poland because my husband made the immigration lottery, and it was finally our turn to come over, after we waited for a while. In Poland, I also worked in a kitchen cooking. I like to cook in my free time and cook lots of Polish food at home and still do the traditions. I may go back to Poland this year because I’d like to see my family and my house. I miss my country - it’s beautiful. I miss the traditions, especially the holidays. The kitchen is nice at Vassar because everyone works together and we’re friends. It’s nice to work with someone else from Poland, too, and to tell Polish stories. We have fun together and with the students."