As the new owners of Abigail’s Bed and Breakfast Inn, Adam and I would like to welcome you to our Story. I did a small introduction in our Innkeepers section but I am sure you would all love to hear how Adam and I came all the way to American and how we ended up in Ashland, Oregon and how we were lucky enough to become the proud owners of our beautiful Abigail’s.
Zimbabwean Elephants – a painting by local Zimbabwean artist Crystal Wynn
Our Story..
In 2008 Adam entered us into the USA Green Card Diversity Lottery. Well as Americans you may ask “What is the Green Card Lottery?” It was created by the US Government to diversify the population of America and this is accomplished by granting 50,000 green cards each year to countries that don’t normally send many immigrants to the US. There are however requirements – you must have at least a high school education, two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years worth of training or experience. Unfortunately the demand for Green Cards can be greater than supply and preference is given to those who are spouses and children of US Citizens or those who are highly qualified workers. The wait can be anything from up to two and twelve years. When Adam entered us via the internet, we were at a time of our life where we were having to think of our future and our retirement. The political situation in Zimbabwe was deteriorating at an alarming rate. The work situation dire and the imminent collapse of the infrastructure was and still is looming if things do not change. We still have 20 work years ahead of us, enough to secure our future we felt and so he took a chance!
Chance, so to speak, was a fine thing and to this end it paid off for us. We were informed within the year that we had been selected. I was amazed, shocked and well pretty unsure about this opportunity – as one gets older, one becomes more cautious and less confident I think. We received documents via the post and had numerous forms to fill out to get to the next stage. Once that was completed we had to pay for medicals, police clearance, interviews and on it went. This “lottery” does not entitle a person to anything other than the right to “Permanent Legal Residence” in the USA, the remainder is up to you! Once we had passed all the criteria we were finally interviewed. Much to my shock and complete amazement, we were granted American visas. From that date we had six months in which to activate them by flying in to America – not necessarily to live there immediately, but to show intent.
Abigail’s Bed and Breakfast Inn, Ashland Oregon with the American Flag
Well to cut a long story somewhat short – Adam and I flew to America in the January of 2011. Both of us had never been to America – Adam was working and committed, so the plan was do a quick visit to activate the cards and return a year later to have a good look a the West Coast. With that decision made we flew into Orlando, Florida for 10 mad crazy days as tourists. We stayed in a condo in Kissimmee just outside Walt Disney World Theme Parks. I shall never forget the evening that we landed at Orlando, I think I fell in love with America then – no waiting just straight away! It felt so good, everyone welcomed us openly and politely. Everything was organized and efficient. No bribery and corruption were evident, just follow the rules and all works. I felt safe for the first time in years! By the time we left I was well and truly committed to us living in America.
Adam and I went back to Zimbabwe and I spent the next year researching America, its States, Towns and properties for sale in and around the West Coast Area. As I said in our introductory I am a Chef, not qualified but self taught and totally passionate – for the past 30 odd years of my life I have lived, breathed and eaten food as you will no doubt
Food and Wine
see! My last venture into the foodie world put me directly in the path of the American Diplomats – my evenings of Wine and Food Pairing enticed them into my home where I cooked for up to 40 people plus. When they heard that Adam and I had DVs’ they offered plenty of advice on where we should go to settle. Ninety percent having lived in Zimbabwe for some time recommended the West Coast simply because of the weather and the other foodies recommended California because of the food. One person recommended Sedona, Arizona and another Ashland, Oregon.
Our Return…
The stage was set – we settled on a two month road trip in an RV a year later at the end of January 2012. Decision time – we collected our RV from Phoenix, Arizona and we drove right on up through Arizon to Sedona. So lovely and incredibly beautiful but not for us work wise. We drove to the Grand Canyon, through Death Valley, up to Lake Tahoe – too much snow – down on into Nevada – Las Vegas, wow! and then on into Oregon and along Route 66 into Ashland. We spent a week looking at houses and work opportunities but were still not one hundred percent convinced. So back into the RV and down along the Pacific Coastal Highway through all of the towns and into San Diego. We returned to Zimbabwe pretty certain that the move would be within the next two years. I have no idea to this day why we choose two years, but it turned out that that time wait was what it took for us to know in our hearts that we have done was entirely the right decision.
African sunset on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe
Within a week of our return to Zimbabwe my darling sister had an aneurysm and survived a heart-sore six months until she passed. It took me another year to come to terms with the grief and when I did I knew that we had to leave and make the most of the opportunity that was given to us.So it was in March of 2014 that we came to spend a month in Ashland. The plan was to look at purchasing either a house or a business. I knew Ashland pretty well by then as I had spent months on the internet looking at houses, restaurants and bed and breakfasts. It was a month prior that visit that I came across Abigail’s and from then on I was hooked. Now I had to convince Adam – Adam is an Accountant, our Minister of Finance. That title alone is self-explanatory…. When I saw Abigail’s I wanted her – plain and simple. Adam – well I just knew that as soon as he started asking questions that he was well on the way to being interested. Abigail’s became ours to love and look after. We returned to Zimbabwe to sell our other homes and to pack up our belongings. So it came to be, that Adam and I left with our ghastly luggage which caused untold travelling stress – four huge suitcases and four pieces of hand luggage to start our new life in America with Abigail’s by our side.
The Final trip…
Now for the future of Abigail’s – Adam and I have continued to run Abigail’s with
Abigail’s Two Bedroom Vacation Cottage
improvements over past five years – updates to both rooms and bathrooms. To date we have purchased new mattresses for all of our rooms plus the Vacation Cottage . We purchased new linens and upgraded our towels as well as our amenities. We added small one cup keurig coffee machines to each of our rooms with a selection of either tea and/or coffee k-cups for choice. Our breakfasts remain communal unless our guests specifically require privacy. Breakfasts continue to be served promptly at 9 am. As before coffee, tea and light refreshments with home baked goods remain available throughout the day.
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival continues to bring us guests far and wide thankfully. The year of our arrival, 2014, was the 80th Anniversary year of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and in honor of that milestone they had a season that was bursting with adventure from “all over the world”. Visit our website to have a look at
Oregon Shakespeare Festival 2019
what will be on offer in the way of specials. Just quick reminder about our OSF package deal that we run every season except during the month of mid June and mid September. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact either Adam or I here at Abigail’s .
For now Adam and I will say “Au revoir” and we look forward to hosting you during the coming Seasons!