Written by Novia Lestari
The sun was scorching hot when Zeed and his wife, Ratu arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport one afternoon in August last year. With four 29-inch suitcases and a backpack on Ratu’s shoulder, they were ready to begin their 24-hour journey to the United States. It wasn’t without reason that Ratu carried the backpack — Zeed couldn’t walk because his leg had been dislocated. Two weeks earlier, Zeed had fallen and was still recovering from his injury, but that didn’t ruin their excitement. She guided her husband through the bustling airport to find the terminal where they would depart. The long, exhausting trip to Gainesville was not a burden to Ratu. “I just took it easy. I didn’t feel burdened at all,” Ratu said.
Zeed Hamdy Rukman and Siti Tsamratu Ramdiani are living a story that is familiar to many international student couples. They moved across continents for one’s dream, while another waits quietly in pause. Zeed was a teacher at an Islamic high school in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and he is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling education at the University of Florida. His wife, who once worked as a psychologist assistant in Jakarta, has had to put her career on hold. Yet this couple shows that sacrifice doesn’t mean standing still. Every time they stumble, they lift each other up. They continue to grow and choose each other. In early 2024, Zeed and Ratu got married after their engagement the previous year. She didn’t expect that within just a few months, she would be flying to the other side of the globe — starting a new life in the Sunshine State.
Ratu admitted she was worried about the move. She was unsure how she would spend her time in a new country.
“I asked him what I would do there because I was working here, and suddenly had to move to the United States. I wouldn’t have anything to do. I was sad and confused.”
The early days in Gainesville were full of uncertainty. Even something as simple as finding where to buy Asian groceries was challenging for them as they did not get much information about it.
Academic life was even more overwhelming for him.
“There is no pressure related to our household so far,” he said with confidence, knowing that both he and Ratu were doing their best to support each other.
“It’s more of my academic life because I have to adapt with the education system, assignments, and the culture that is completely different from Indonesia.”
Four months into his first semester, self-doubt began to creep into Zeed’s mind, questioning whether he was capable to meet all the academic standards. One cold evening in November, Zeed got off the bus with his head down, unfinished assignments still hanging over him. He walked home slowly, exhausted after a long day on campus that took what little energy he had left. Ratu opened the door of their apartment with a sweet, warm smile. With food and a cup of tea, Ratu was all ears. “I almost gave up,” Zeed said. “But my wife reminded me that it was normal — it was just the beginning. She told me I just needed to adjust and go with the flow of the classes.” Zeed felt relieved to share his insecurities and low points with his wife, things he knew he could never share with anyone else. That small moment made Zeed realize that all he needed was his number one support system — Ratu.
But for Ratu, it wasn’t the weight of new responsibilities that she felt. Instead, it was the absence of the routines that used to fill her days back in Indonesia. Her turning point came unexpectedly one night. She was lying in bed and scrolling through Instagram when she saw her friends back home posting about their achievements. Ratu said the first two months in Gainesville were when everything started to hit her. “I fell into this kind of lingering sadness, I kept comparing myself to my friends back home,” she admitted, explaining that she had lost the routines and the things she used to love doing. Watching her friends moving so far ahead with their professional programs or starting careers in human resources, she felt like her own career is stagnant. “Those were actually my dreams too, I felt like I was still so far behind,” she said. Zeed encouraged her to join an English class, not just to keep her busy, but to help her adjust to life in the U.S. and give her experience of what it felt like to sit in an American classroom. She took her first steps by joining the Alachua County Public Schools ESOL program, but she didn’t stop there. Ratu is now enrolled in advanced classes at Santa Fe College. Despite being the only Indonesian in class, she is content.
“I’m so happy. I never imagined I could take an English class overseas and now I have friends from all over the world,” she said with a cheerful smile, her hands slowly fixing the folds of her brown hijab around her face.
Coming all the way from Jakarta to Gainesville to follow her husband’s dream, Ratu never expected that along the way, she discovered her new dream too. Ratu initially planned to pursue a professional program to become a licensed psychologist. But after living in the U.S. and seeing her husband thrive as a graduate student, she is now more interested in pursuing a master’s degree instead. Ratu also found a new side of her passion for communication. She used to enjoy public speaking and moderating events back in Indonesia, she now rediscovered her love for communication through social media. They launched a YouTube channel sharing stories about their daily life as an international couple in the U.S. As they adjusted to their new life, time flew by like an arrow.
“I do have responsibilities academically, but I can’t lose sight of my role as a husband,” Zeed said, his eyes softening as he looked at his wife.
The couple made sure to celebrate every little achievement, whether it was as simple as a movie night, cooking, or traveling together. They have traveled to four states — including a recent trip to Philadelphia when Zeed presented his research at a conference.
“I do everything I can to make sure Ratu can come with me wherever I go,” Zeed said.
Follow their journey on https://www.youtube.com/@zeedrara