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After 17 Years in the U.S., Jurga and Family Return to Vilnius, Leaving Behind a Dream Life
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Culture & Society

After 17 Years in the U.S., Jurga and Family Return to Vilnius, Leaving Behind a Dream Life

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A Lithuanian woman, Jurga, returned to Vilnius with her family after 17 years in the U.S., leaving behind a life in California.
  • Her family is surprised by the decision, but Jurga explains that after having children, her priorities shifted towards her hometown, family, and familiar comforts.
  • Jurga's experience in America began with a connection to a distant relative's will, leading to educational opportunities at an elite U.S. school and a formative lesson about

Jurga returned to Vilnius with her family after 17 years in the United States, a decision that has left her relatives questioning why they would leave behind what seemed like a dream life in California.

"Our relatives are happy, but they still wonder why we decided to leave such a life?" Jurga shared with a smile. She explained that after the birth of their children, the couple's priorities changed. The allure of California sunsets could not replace the familiar streets of her hometown, the wild strawberries of summer, or the lively atmosphere of a large family.

Jurga's initial connection to America began unexpectedly in 1999 with the death of a distant relative, Jonas Stiklorius, an intellectual from Klaipฤ—da. His will stipulated that his ashes be scattered over the Baltic Sea. His son, a successful financier raised in the U.S., traveled to Lithuania with his children to fulfill his father's wish. Jurga, then 14, remembers the ceremony at sea, complete with an orchestra and the cries of seagulls as the ashes were released.

Our relatives are happy, but they still wonder why we decided to leave such a life?

โ€” JurgaExplaining her family's return to Lithuania after years in the U.S.

Her fluency in English and confident demeanor impressed her American uncle. He invited her to spend summers in the U.S., covering her flights and tuition at the elite Choate Rosemary Hall school. For three summers, Jurga studied alongside children of American elites, including the daughter of a former U.S. president and a Bhutanese prince. She experienced immersive education, digital technologies, and excursions to New York, Washington, and Boston, returning to Lithuania completely captivated.

She recalls a simple yet profound lesson from her uncle during a summer trip to buy a fan: "You're in America, you need to think big." This phrase became a symbol of America as a land of opportunity for her. After finishing school in Lithuania and pursuing journalism studies at Vilnius University, Jurga worked in Lithuanian media and public relations before ultimately deciding to move to the U.S. with just one suitcase.

You're in America, you need to think big

โ€” Jurga's uncleA formative lesson Jurga received during her summers in the U.S.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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