Russianborn Jewish singersongwriter Regina Spektor reflects on her immigration to New York in 1989from the fantasies she and her cousin had about moving to the tropics to the realities of adjusting to life in the Bronx, where their new Jewish community became an extension of her family.

Regina came to the United States through HIAS, an organization that rescues, resettles, and reunites vulnerable refugees. Her interview is part of HIAS' myStory project; view more videos at www.myStory.hias.org.