An immigrant's tale of success and pride

Highland Mills - Being an American citizen, said Rex Choe, "is like having a million dollars." Choe left his home in South Korea 25 years ago to make his fortune in the United States. Today he is the owner of the Woodbury cleaners on Route 32 in Highland Mills for the past year; he also owns cleaners in Monticello up in Sullivan County. "I came to America in 1980 and in 1981 joined the United States Air Force from 81' to 83.' One of the biggest obstacles for immigrants is English," said Choe, now 47. "I went to San Antonio but had no idea what it meant when they said, ‘Aten-hut' n it was just quick-learning after that. But I got top honor in the Air Force. I worked very hard." After leaving the Air Force, Choe got involved in the dry-cleaning business. He said it is a business that attracts many of his fellow countrymen and women. "It was easy to start," he said. "It's hard labor but good income if you want to work hard. America has great opportunities - if you want to work for them." Choe strives to keep his business almost like a "mom and pop" store, something which, with the continued infiltration of "big box stores," is hard to come across. The care for the individual customer is one of the reasons why Choe recently invested $50,000 to install a state-of-the-art cleaning machine which, he said, will keep his customers and his employees safe. "There are two major kinds of chemical used, ‘perc,' which has been around since 1950 and ‘hydro,' which is environmentally cleaner and might take away risks of cancer," he said. "There are a lot of restrictions on chemicals and perc now under New York State law and some chemicals smell. They studied and it is possible that employees could get lung cancer (from the chemicals.) But the organic solvent doesn't contaminate the ground and is not harmful for employees and customers." Choe said his investment in Hydro-Carbon machine will be safer and clean clothes better. "Everything is better for people, employees, and there is no ground contamination," Choe said. "It's good for everyone." Unlike those early days in the Air Force, Choe's English vocabulary is large. Apparently, his drive for success, achievement and education rubbed off on his 18 year-old son, who graduated from Monticello High School this year and will be attending Harvard University. The younger Choe's admission's essay was titled, "A day at the Cleaners" and it told a story about his mother's, father's and his own experience growing up in the "cleaners business" with it long hours and hard labor. But at the end, the essay displayed a feeling of gratification and success after the hours, summers and years of work. Choe is a proud man - for his son and family, for his own business successes, and for being in the United States. "In America, people help you. If you have a weak leg," Choe said, pointing out to the store's parking lot, "someone will come and help you walk. That is America." Immigrants who complain about a "hard life" in America, he added, are not working hard enough. "If they (immigrants) want to work, they have a great opportunity," Choe said. "They can if they want to do. There are schools, ESL classes, job training and job openings, if they are willing. They should take advantage of everything the USA offers. They need to have a plan and a goal." When asked if Choe has reached his "American Dream," he thought a moment. Then he said: "Money is not my goal, money cannot be my goal. In the future I want to teach people how to have a happy life. So many people are depressed, negative, and have no hope. I want to encourage them. That's my life goal."