From the Philippines to the Prairie

WHEN NOEMI GARCIA LOOKS BACK on her childhood, she remembers the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines. Nights glowing under strings of streetlights, seafood cooked fresh on the beach, and music rising from every street corner as families gathered to sing karaoke, a very important pastime for Filipinos. She grew up in Pangasinan, the eldest of four siblings, in a culture where warmth and community were as abundant as the mangos in the trees.

From a young age, Noemi was drawn to care for others. She witnessed firsthand how difficult it could be to access quality healthcare in her developing country and dreamed of becoming a nurse who could help bridge that gap.

“I wanted to be part of the solution,” she said.

After graduating as a registered nurse from the University of Pangasinan, Noemi spent a few years working in her field before taking her first big leap, accepting a nursing position in Saudi Arabia at just 25 years old. Despite the distance, she kept in touch with her high school sweetheart, Edmundo, a civil engineer. Their international phone bills piled up, and after five years apart, Noemi returned to the Philippines, where Edmundo lovingly declared, “We are getting old we need to get married!” And so they did.

Noemi paused her nursing career to focus on raising their children. But after five years at home, she returned to her alma mater, not as a student, but as a clinic instructor. For 14 years, she mentored aspiring nurses, instilling in them not just the practical skills of the profession but the compassion and drive that fueled her own path.

Noemi and her husband Ed; daughters Christine, Carla, and Camille; son-inlaw Travis; and grandson Gregory.

Often those working in the healthcare profession will go through an agent that will aid them through the complex journey of relocating to another country. Even though Noemi worked with an agent, the process was no picnic. While applying for her EB3 immigrant visa, she also needed to pass the NCLEX, a licensing required to practice nursing in the United States. With years of strong experience under her belt, she passed on her first try. But the other exam she needed wouldn’t come as easily, which was the IELTS, or International English Language Testing System.

As a non-native English speaker, this was more of a challenge. After much studying, she was able to finally pass after three tries. Lastly, the biggest challenge of all, was the backlog of immigrant cases the U.S. government was working through of cases from the Philippines. After eight long years of patiently waiting, she was finally granted her chance.

The family’s first stop was San Diego, where the beaches and familiar Filipino community softened the transition. But another opportunity soon came knocking, a job offer at Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She said yes with mixed emotions: excited for the opportunity, but uncertain about life on the prairie.

“Moving to Aberdeen felt like landing on another planet,” Noemi laughed.

The snow (measured in inches?!) was shocking, the culture different, and the concept of nursing homes foreign. In her culture, elders were always cared for by family. But she adapted quickly. Her children Christine, age 13, and Carla, age 7, enrolled in the public schools with her oldest Carmelia, age 18, at Northern State University. Edmundo found work in contracting and maintenance. Noemi worked nights and found joy in the friendships she formed with residents and coworkers alike.

As her two-year contract neared its end, the family held a vote on whether to stay or move on. It was unanimous; Aberdeen had become home.

Noemi eventually moved to the Dialysis Department at Avera St. Luke’s, where her coworkers have become like family. And her children? They are thriving. Her brothers have also moved to the U.S., living in California near her parents. Carmelia, her eldest, works in state government accounting in Bismarck, North Dakota. She married an attorney and is now a mother herself, giving Noemi the cherished title of grandma to three-year-old Gregory. Christine recently earned her master’s in clinical counseling from NSU, and Carla, the youngest, just graduated high school and is preparing to follow her mother’s footsteps, study nursing at NSU. She’s currently working as a dietary aide at Mother Joseph Manor.

Reflecting on her long journey, Noemi said: “Even though Aberdeen is nothing like where I came from, I never imagined I’d find such acceptance. I have not only been accepted, but I’ve been embraced. I have been embraced as a valued part of a supportive community that sees the hard work behind every journey of being an immigrant. I know that I can raise my kids and grandkids in this welcoming community, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

Though miles from where her story began, Noemi has found in Aberdeen a community where her family can thrive, and a place that truly feels like home…