Today we’d like to introduce you to Nevena Ristić.
Hi Nevena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My American journey started 10 years ago, after many years of just dreaming about seeing this beautiful country. No, I never actually had Houston in my mind. When you are “dreaming the American Dream,” you usually picture scenes from movies or music, New York or L.A., not necessarily Texas.
But when the opportunity finally opened, I didn’t overthink it—I just took it. You know the saying: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Truth be told, looking back with today’s experience, it might have been smarter to wait a little bit. But my husband and I couldn’t bear to spend another day apart.
We arrived with just our baby, two suitcases, and a Pack ‘n Play—nothing else. We didn’t have any family or friends here. We only had the opportunity with his job in The Woodlands. But we came with big dreams, thinking, “As long as we are together, everything is going to be okay.”
At that point, I was still on paid maternity leave (which is luckily one year long in Serbia), so I wasn’t initially worried about my career. But I was in my prime, well-educated and with broad working experience.
I had no idea that my visa situation would leave me legally unable to work. It really was six full years, and they felt never-ending—mostly because I had no idea how long it was going to take. It felt like I didn’t just start from zero; I started from minus.
But that didn’t stop my dreams. I decided to use my journalistic curiosity as a tool and started building my blog, ‘”Američki San” (American Dream).
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I poured all my frustration from my early years into my work. Everything I had to learn the hard way, I wrote down so everyone else could have a better starting point for their own American journey. That blog grew from a passion project into a business.
For seven years, I focused only on the Ex-Yu region because of the language bond. But through the years, I talked to so many people from all around the world who shared their stories with me. And this is how I learned that it doesn’t matter where you come from. Whether you are from Serbia, Brazil, or Germany, all immigrants have the same feelings. We are all trying to figure out the same system—a system that is different from any other in the world.
That is why I am now transitioning and translating my work to English, to be a resource for the global community. I have published over 40 detailed articles and wrote two ebooks: a ‘Guide for Beginners in the US’ and a ‘Guide for Real Estate in the US’, covering everything you need to adapt.
But what I am most proud of is the community I have built. It is incredible to see that we now have contacts in almost every major American city—people who are ready to help one another. They are all part of my core philosophy: ‘Just because I struggled, doesn’t mean you have to.’
Now, as a U.S. Newcomer Mentor, I want to help newcomers achieve an American Dream that is truly theirs, not a borrowed one. I love to say that the greatest inequality in America is based on information. It’s not just about money; it’s about knowing how the system works. Having that knowledge can save you so much time, money, and energy. And honestly, that feeling of clarity—when you finally understand how things work instead of constantly wondering—is simply priceless.
What sets me apart is deep empathy. I deeply sympathize with everyone who came to this country to chase their dreams. I understand that even though there is so much beauty in this new life, the path is often very thorny and difficult. That is why providing a sense of community and support—knowing you are not alone, and having someone to turn to for help—is what makes my work special.
I truly believe in the saying: ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ And that is exactly who I strive to be for my clients.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Success is rarely a solo journey, and I have been lucky to have incredible people in my corner.
It all started with Jovana Miljanović, who inspired me to launch my blog with one magical sentence that changed everything: ‘Imagine a job you would do with such passion that you would do it even if you didn’t earn a single dollar from it.’ That sentence was the spark that gave me the courage to start.
Over the years, my mentors have evolved as I grew. Currently, my work and business mindset are most heavily influenced by Rachel Rodgers and Lucia Adžić, who challenge me to think bigger.
But ultimately, absolutely none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my husband. He has been my rock through every move, every challenge, and every phase of this American journey. We built this life together, and he is the silent hero behind everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://americkisan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nevena.ristic.us
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blogamerickisan
