Captain Singh - When Michael Jackson visited my store

Initially, our plan was not to come to the United States, we came to visit Disney World. My dad really loved Miami, its cleanliness compared to where we lived. So he decided that it was best to stay and for the children to start studying here instead of going back to India.

It was quite challenging, a different language, even though we learn to speak English, it is different when you come here, the culture was different.  I went to Miami Beach High and then to Florida International University, and those were my building blocks to understanding the culture, the people and what this country is all about.  My father worked very hard all his life to build a better future for all his children.

The job that I like the most is the one I do today. It has been almost 20 years, helping my dad, interacting with different kind of people, from different countries, different backgrounds ... so I guess I must love it, because I’m still here.

… 7 o'clock comes around, I see 2 or 3 limousines pulled up, bodyguards come out, and then Michael Jackson and then all the crowds that saw him get out, they went crazy.  I had to lock the, they kept banging on the front door.  So, I had to shut down the whole store because he was in here buying some magazines from real estate and I took some photos with him.  It was an interesting moment and I’m still reflecting back on how amazing that moment was.

This is a country that has a lot of opportunities, but at the same time, you have to work hard. People are not throw things at your for nothing.