One thousand, four hundred and thirty six miles east of here is Norfolk, Virginia. A city of almost a quarter million people. When Giovanny Gonzalez first made plans to move to the United States to attend college, he was certain he was moving to Norfolk, Virginia. Much to his surprise, he found he would be moving to Norfolk, Nebraska.
Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, a city of eight million people, Gonzalez spent time in California as a high school international exchange student. His plans were to stay and attend college; however, uncertain about a major, Gonzalez returned home. He worked with his family and an international student organization and determined the best route would be to start with a community college.
Gonzalez researched various schools and determined Northeast Community College in Norfolk would be a good fit. With a city on the beach and plans to attend Virginia Tech after the community college, Gonzalez’s plans were made. Plane tickets were purchased. He packed his bags. His family took him to the airport and said their good byes. The plan, as Gonzalez knew was to fly from Bogotá, Colombia to Atlanta, Georgia to Norfolk, Virginia.
Gonzalez passed through security and cleared customs. He was preparing to board his flight NorfolkNow.Org to Atlanta. He opened the envelope containing his plane tickets. An international student agent arranged travel plans. On his final ticket he read he was going to Omaha, NE. NE? Nebraska? Yes, Omaha, Nebraska. Ready to board a plane to the United State, Gonzalez first learns he will be heading to Omaha, Nebraska. He is sure this is a mistake. In this moment he is faced with two choices that will alter the path of his life forever. He could turn back and correct his ticket and land in Norfolk, Virginia; or he can travel as his itinerary shows and correct the mistake once he lands in Nebraska. Assuming it is a mistake, Gonzalez determines he can fix it once he gets to Nebraska so he chooses to board the plane.
Wearing nothing but a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, Gonzalez’s plane lands just before midnight in Omaha in early January. As he waited with his three large suitcases for the shuttle to the hotel, Gonzalez recalls not being able to feel his fingers or face in the short ten minute wait. At one point, he was even approached by a police officer to ensure he was okay and not going to freeze to death. Gonzalez assured the officer he was okay and was very grateful to see the hotel shuttle.
In the process, Gonzalez contacts the International Advisor and verifies that he is heading to the correct state—Northeast Community College is in Norfolk, Nebraska. His plane ticket was correct. He has come from mild- climated Colombia to a frosty Nebraska winter. After a night’s rest, Gonzalez boards the shuttle to Norfolk, Nebraska to begin his adventure as a college student.
Starting classes in January of 2007, Gonzalez finds a home at Northeast Community College and decides to stay. He found friends in other international students—many who came from cities close in size to Bogotá. In December 2010, Gonzalez graduated from college with a business degree. In his time at Northeast Community College, Norfolk became home. Gonzalez began the job hunt, hoping to find employment that would allow him to stay in Norfolk.
For two months, Gonzalez searched, applied, interviewed and came up empty-handed in his job search. He felt he was running out of time to find employment and began making plans to return home. He landed another interview with an investment company. During this interview he expressed his goals of working in real estate—his interests lie in property and real estate investment. At this time, Gonzalez discovered one of several luxuries of small-town life. He was given the name of Jim Booth at Booth Corporation and advised to contact him. Gonzalez left the interview feeling hopeful about the prospect. He immediately called Booth and lined up an interview the next day.
Gonzalez interviewed with Booth and his wife, Cindy. Within a week, he had two jobs lined up as Cindy Booth contacted her brother about opportunities to assist Gonzalez. Gonzalez began working at Booth Corporation in 2010. In 2011, Gonzalez accomplished his initial goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. He returned to school at Wayne State College and in 2013 he earned his degree in business management.
In the five years since graduation from Northeast Community College, Gonzalez has very fondly called Norfolk, Nebraska home. Moving from a city of 8 million people to a town of 25,000 residents, Gonzalez has had to adjust. However, he has found how much he values smalltown life, not just in Norfolk, but also in the surrounding communities.
Over and over, Gonzalez has experienced the kindness and friendliness of everyone in the area. He recalls one time he and a friend went fishing in Pierce. They were trying to find their way back to the main highway and found themselves driving in circles. They finally pulled into an empty parking lot to determine how to find the highway. Moments after parking, a complete stranger pulled up next to them asking if they were lost. Gonzalez explained the situation and instead of just giving them directions, the kind woman led them to the highway so they could get home. He said these experiences show the true nature of the folks in the area and their willingness to go above and beyond. Gonzalez also appreciates the traffic, or lack there of. His brother is attending the University back home in Bogotá. His brother commutes almost an hour and half one way to school while Gonzalez only drives five minutes to work. He is very appreciative of his short commute.
Gonzalez has experienced other smalltown traits since moving to Norfolk. He welcomes the slower-paced lifestyle as well as the safety of the area. He is a hard worker, which he knows is necessary to achieve his goals, but he also does not have to work his life away to pay the bills. He is able to comfortably afford the cost of living while enjoying the luxury of being able to scratch his itch to travel.
When asked if he would ever consider moving to Norfolk, Virginia, Gonzalez replies with a very confident “no.” Norfolk, Nebraska is home. What he may have originally thought was a mistake on a plane ticket, he knows has now given him opportunities and experiences he would never have had. Moving here has allowed him to meet his wife, Brittany, and find a career he is passionate about. Mistake or not, Gonzalez states, “I don’t view it as a mistake. Everything worked out just the way it should.”
