Archives West Finding Aid

This oral history interview with Irina Francis was conducted by Katy Weaver on November 15, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Francis discusses her education in linguistics and international communication in Russia, and her marriage to Scott Francis. She describes her early life in Perm, Russia, during the Soviet era, including the diverse neighborhood she grew up in, hiding her Christianity, and her family life. She talks about her education in Russia, including bullying she experienced and her love of languages. She discusses the process of getting a fiancé visa, immigrating to the United States, and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon. She also talks about traveling back to Russia to visit family. She describes job-hunting as an immigrant, dealing with stereotypes and discrimination, and her home life. She closes the interview by talking about her cultural and ethnic identity and her plans for the future.