The would-be American

After 15 years, my younger sister finally received notice of an immigrant visa available for her so that she can start a life in America.  I’m sure that her initial reaction was one of ecstasy and excitement.  Where she comes from, such a visa is akin to the unreachable star. 

However, I had misgivings about it.  First of all, she’s 44 years old now.  Taking advantage of that visa would mean uprooting herself from everything that’s old and familiar and transplanting herself into a new world.  Where she grew up, there are only two seasons during the year, either wet or dry.  Where she’s headed, there are four seasons.  It’s a climatic challenge that she will find very uncomfortable considering that with the two seasons in her country, she gets sick a lot!

It took her sometime to decide to not pursue the visa application.  I‘m proud of her decision.  It was both wise and proactive.  Most people her age are looking forward to retirement, not spending their life savings and dropping everything to pick up a new lifestyle.  It might be a fun adventure, but not if good health is not one's personal asset.  Unfortunately, my sister has lived all her life battling episodes of bad health.  In America where she would start a new life, medical care is far from cheap and affordable.  Without a good job, or an employer that offers great health care benefits, how will she thrive?

I believe that many immigrants here have come hoping to chase the “American dream.”  But, you see, the realization of that goal comes with so much sacrifice.  Newly arrived immigrants, unless they have outstanding skills, typically start at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.  If someone is a manager or executive in his country of origin, starting all over might be a bitter pill to swallow.  One time I was at the dry cleaners when the manager suddenly screamed, “I’m an architect, for goodness sake!”  At that moment it was obvious that it suddenly dawned on him that he had a degree in architecture because his dream was to build beautiful homes.  What was he doing with dirty laundry?

Many end up stuck in work situations that hardly pay enough.  So they usually end up with two or three part-time jobs.  It’s a crazy way to handle life going from one job to another and not getting enough rest in between.  But there are bills to take care of and resting the body, mind and soul can take a back seat.

One evening I heard an excruciating wail from a man inside a car at the parking lot outside my home.  The screams went on until the sounds became unbearable.  The police came to check out what was wrong.  It turned out that the man was a non-English-speaking immigrant from a war-torn country and it became apparent that the stress of living here where he couldn’t understand what was spoken was too much for him to bear.  There are many more such cases of new arrivals breaking down from the challenges they face as the “new kids on the block.”  Others who are flexible can immediately blend in and carry on without any hardships.  But those who can’t even speak English will have a hard time appreciating life in an English-speaking community.

A couple of years ago, I met a woman named Julie at the Park-n-Ride where I catch my bus to work. Her home country is somewhere in Europe, but because her English is limited I've been unable to find out exactly where.  Then for a long time I took a different route to work and didn't see Julie for sometime.  Just before Christmas, we bumped into each other and I was amazed at how her English has improved.  I still have difficulty carrying on a casual conversation with her, but I noticed that she has added more words to her vocabulary.  At least Julie tries her best to speak like the "natives" unlike other foreigners who can't be bothered and who require an interpreter.

People from other countries who have the opportunity to come here to start a new life need to ponder hard if they should indeed make the giant leap.  If they already have great stable jobs in their homeland, why halt their personal progress to walk into the unknown?  Let’s face it, relocating to America does not guarantee that life will be good and abundant.  The last few years have demonstrated that it would be risky to take such an adventure.  The new arrivals are fighting for the same jobs that the citizens who might have lived here all their lives need for their own survival.

If I didn't make the giant move almost three decades ago, I would have been retired by now.  Many of the folks I shared an office with in the country I left behind have quit the corporate jungle for quite sometime.  We make personal choices that we believe will work for our situations.  I strongly believe that I made the right choice for myself.  Thankfully, my God rewarded that sacrifice!

Many of us who came long before the current economic crisis were blessed with good fortune.  We had gainful employment, and even if we lost our source of income at one time or another, another came along.  We managed to save enough to afford our own space in the neighborhood and drive cars that took us to places.  We made enough that allowed us to visit our countries of origin and to travel to other foreign places.  We are truly blessed and we should be grateful!

For those who have the opportunity to establish roots in this country, the best of luck to all of you!  It’s going to be a bumpy ride from the time you get off that ship or airplane.  Everyone deserves to make a giant stride to wherever they think would bring them success.  I sincerely hope that just like the gazillions before you, the right job and eventual financial prosperity will be yours to enjoy.  If that happens, please remember to be thankful.  Not everyone like you might have been blessed with the same good fortune.  Good luck!  You will be needing lots of it!