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TJ Kuri of Houston made it his life’s mission to emigrate to America from his home country of Jordan. In an interview with Houston Daily, he discussed his move to America in January 2013 and how his faith and career as a registered nurse provided opportunities. Kuri is now a “proud” Houston resident and is training to become a nurse coach.
Houston Daily: When did you emigrate from Jordan?
Kuri: It started at the age of eight. I was sitting in the airport with my father. We were about to leave America after my father had finished his graduate studies. I was crying. I didn’t want to go back to Jordan. I was losing my friends and favorite toys. My father said, 'Why are you crying?' I said, 'I don’t want to go to Jordan. I don’t want to leave America.' He responded with words of wisdom that have echoed in my consciousness ever since: 'If you love America this much, you can study hard and come back the same way I did.' From that day on, emigrating to America became a lifelong mission. I came to America seeking The Divine—Allah, God, or whatever name you choose. Before I entered college, I read an article that said America would need one million nurses by 2020. I found my calling. If America needed nurses, then I would become the best nurse possible for her. I graduated in 2010, got my visa in 2012, and flew to America in January 2013. They say you can't take a country out of a person. I claim to be an exception to this rule. It took me a decade in America to get out of Jordan. And it feels as if I arrived last year, and surely I found what I was looking for.
Houston Daily: What made you settle in Houston instead of other places?
Kuri: I took advantage of the cheap gas in 2020 and embarked on a cross-country journey searching for a new home, trusting that my heart would guide me. One of my stops along the way was Houston, a city I knew little about then. As I drove down Interstate 10, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the city and the dense traffic filled with people in a hurry. I felt the vibrant energy in the air, as if the whole city was a young adult in its prime. During my few days' stay, I witnessed the diversity of Houston, the openness and genuineness of its residents, its affordable living, its various busy markets, and its impressive Middle Eastern food and authentic recipes that I grew up on. It felt like home. Recognizing that cuisine, business, and culture are the products of great civilizations, and the bedrock of personal growth I’m seeking, I started to connect with Houston. I continued on my journey and visited other cities only to confirm that my search should have ended in Houston.
Houston Daily: What is your profession in Houston?
Kuri: As a child, my father taught me that as Muslims, we believe life's purpose to be the Divine’s vicegerent—someone to serve the Divine on earth by serving others. Whether as a Registered Nurse, a Ride-Share driver, or in my current pursuit as a Nurse Coach, my profession has been to serve my fellow humans.
Houston Daily: What is it about Houston that makes you so grateful to live here?
Kuri: I am grateful for the gift of food, friendship, family, work, equality, and growth. But most importantly, I’m grateful for Houston because I found The Divine here. I can define The Divine as the unity of the multitude who are seeking perfection. Houston, as a global city with harmony among various cultures all working together for a better future, became the most vivid manifestation of The Divine that I have ever come across.
Houston Daily: What was your life like in Jordan? How does that compare to your life in Houston?
Kuri: Simply put, in Jordan, you are a piece of the puzzle. In America, you are an individual solving the puzzle. This isn't about better and worse. Jordan, like other countries, is built upon certain cultural, religious and other factors. These factors are almost unchangeable, which is comforting for many and oppressive for others. There, society dictates how to live your life; who is your enemy and who is your friend, what job to get, what to believe. In contrast, America—One Nation Under God—represented by its great cities like Houston, offers a different experience. Individuals have freedom to carve their paths and set their parameters and definitions. I can't deny that it is way harder to live here, but the reward is freedom, a rarity throughout history. This makes America like a mother who opens her arms equally to everyone, yet respects their differences, and unites them. I believe minorities like me who are new to this country bear the responsibility to stand up for the country and tell her true story to the world Remember that no matter how different we are, as Americans we are one family under God, even for those who deny Him. That is our strength as a nation. Let us be proud to be Americans.
Kuri's blog can be found on Substack.