What They Don't Tell You About Being an Immigrant

Immigrants Journey

Becoming an immigrant is like embarking on a grand adventure to a new place where everything is different. People often talk about the challenges and opportunities for a better life, especially where I come from in the west of Africa, a country once called the Gold Coast, where tribes and multi-cultures live in harmony with each other.

They assume one is all done or filled when they pursue a journey of being an immigrant, but there’s much more to the story that isn’t discussed as frequently.  

What they don’t tell you is the food and people we have left behind, to meet with whom you don’t even know you will meet. It’s a deeply personal journey that involves bravery, self-discovery, and trying to fit into a place that often feels slightly foreign.

Two Nigerian Female Migrants, Bound For Europe Were Rescued In A Shipwreck Off The Coast Of Tunisia. However, 17 Other African Migrants Were Not So Lucky/Nigerianeye

Imagine moving to a new school where nobody knows you, and your actions seem a bit different from everyone else’s. That’s similar to what immigrants experience. They live between their old and new homes, trying to fit into both simultaneously.

They don’t tell you how much they must sacrifice, they don’t tell you how wet their eyes can get without anyone to comfort or wipe them off, but to keep moving and keep on.

Yet, what they don’t tell you about being an immigrant you still need to go even when sick, to a place where you see yourself as a stranger, where you need to blend in or have no blood relatives.

Honestly, you have no one as your support especially if you are even a newer expatriate, you must do it for yourself at all possible costs. This duality can lead them to ponder their identity and how to be themselves in this new context.

A Refugee From Syria Prays After Arriving On The Shores Of The Greek Island Of Lesbos—Aboard An Inflatable Raft Across The Aegean Sea From Turkey—On September 7, 2015. Greece Sent Troops And Police Reinforcements On September 6 To Lesbos After Renewed Clashes Between Police And Migrants, According To Media Reports, While Syrian Refugees On The Island Were Targeted With Molotov Cocktail Attacks. More Than 230,000 People Have Landed On Greek Shores This Year, And The Numbers Have Soared In Recent Weeks As People Seek To Take Advantage Of The Calm Summer Weather. # Angelos Tzortzinis / Afp / Getty / The Atlantic

Moreover, leaving your home is heartbreaking and difficult. People miss their friends, family, and even the familiar sights and sounds of their former home. This sense of loss doesn’t fade easily and can lead to feelings of loneliness.

They don’t tell you how they missed their childhood memories, which they are far from the scene, and they don’t tell you all the rivers they once swam in their villages with good old friends.

Being an immigrant means learning many new things, like speaking another language or navigating a new city. When you come from a place full of sunny shine every day, to a region of coldness and snow, they don’t tell you how being an immigrant, you must cope through that transition.

Each small achievement feels significant, showcasing the strength and adaptability of individuals even in uncertain times. One challenge is trying to integrate into the new community while preserving one’s traditions and culture.

Especially, in my hometown where we darn a fully multi-colored traditional African Kente clothing and a gold necklace with its hand band. While, in other cultures, wear a jacket or suit all day.

Immigrants often strive to balance adapting to their surroundings with keeping their heritage alive. It’s akin to maintaining a piece of home, despite being far away. Sometimes, being an immigrant means feeling somewhat excluded, possibly due to an accent or not understanding certain jokes or references.

An example could be signing language, what meant peace in another country might be a curse word in a different country but the same sign symbol or language. It’s like being on the periphery of a group, trying to join in but not always feeling fully included.

@Ai Generated Image

However, moving to a new place also redefines the concept of “home.” Home is no longer just a single place; it encompasses the people and memories that provide love and happiness, regardless of geographical location.

The same happens to families, family becomes the people you meet on the way who share a common value as you pursue this life of immigrant they don’t tell you about. This expanded notion of home can be richer and more inclusive.

Despite the challenges, being an immigrant can also inspire gratitude for new opportunities. It’s about learning, growing, forging new friendships, and learning new skills and experiences you never knew existed, especially when it comes to different cultural foods, activities, and landscapes or architecture.

It also opens the door to becoming successful through your experiences and courageous decision-making skills you have learned to survive in a foreign country, while being looked upon as a source of inspiration and hope for your family.

Thus, being an immigrant isn’t solely about the hardships or the prospect of a better life. It’s a significant adventure of self-discovery, creating new bonds, and learning to call a new place home, all while cherishing a piece of your original home in your heart. It’s about resilience and optimism, no matter the circumstances.

 Resources & Motivation:

After reading the essay “What They Don’t Tell You About Hurricanes” by P. Gerard. I was motivated to compose this essay using a similar structure.

Just as the piece by Gerard does, my goal is to bring or teach my readers about what it takes to be an Immigrant, which they may not know about intimately and have not experienced, or, at least, have not experienced as I have.

This essay incorporates factual information with personal reflection.

1. britannica.com – immigration
2. epi.org – Facts About Immigration and the U.S. Economy
3.TheAtlantic.com – A Migrant’s Journey

Original link: Data Alchemist