I was imagining, last night, what it might be like if I was going to call Peru home forever. But more in an abstract sense. I told myself I had a family with little kids and we had moved here to find them a better life. I imagine that we didn't know anyone and they didn't know us. Housing, jobs, schooling, taxes; everything works differently than it did at home. Every time I step out the door I feel the slight unease of stepping into a place that I cannot feel is really mine. My husband was a doctor or a lawyer at home, respected and known. Here he is still studying to get his certification, and must endure what feels like to him the demotion of working as a school janitor. My kids are quickly surpassing me in their language skills, forgetting their former country, and looking down on their mother who's still attached to the land where she was born. Not only them, but I hear news of many people who not only do not hope we succeed, but are angry at us for being here. But I cannot go home again. I came for my family, and I stay for them.That is not, of course, my situation at all. But I felt a little lonely last night, having not talked to anyone in English for four days straight, and felt a vague wave of gladness that this situation wasn't permanent. In six months I will go back to the US, where it is familiar and comfortable.
And then I reminded myself that to many thousands of immigrants to the United States, their situation is permanent. My heart goes out to them. And I can't wait to dedicate my life to helping them learn English and adjust and maybe... feel like they have a new home in which they are respected and belong.
This post makes me very happy. Not happy that immigrants have a hard time in the US, but happy that there are good people, like you, who care about them. I'm tired of all these anti-immigration laws and ideas.
ReplyDeleteaww, this is touching. you've a good heart, Dani. =) keep doing what you're doing and life will be ever so meaningful day by day.
ReplyDeleteMy last employed days were spent working in the area around our site where your story was the story of some of the people in the neighborhood. Your voice is important - hurry and come back to do good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving our immigrants a story other than the distorted one that is so often told by those who hate anyone who hasn't yet pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps.
Pffft you can be in your own country and feel alone and like an outsider. Just wait 'til you get into the working world.
ReplyDeletePS:
http://www.samfordacappella.org/2010/11/there-is-no-such-beauty-as-where-you.html
http://www.esnips.com/doc/75fa837f-59a2-4244-998b-810e694fb96d/I%27ll%20be%20your%20home-%28full%29%20DMC
That's such a great thought, Dani....kudos!
ReplyDeleteIt's strange like that, how you're so excited to go to another country but after being there you want someone to speak English with and have the same food again, and then when your home you miss it all and want to be back...
ReplyDeleteNothing like spending signigicant time in a non-English speaking country to give you a certain amount of perspective. Also enhances your appreciation for people with the gumption to deal with a similar situation every day. I admire your guts to the Nth!
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