This weekend I was fortunate enough to guest post this on Minnesota Joy’s blog, see HERE. Due to the fact that I have changed my blog from the free site to a self hosted blog and this has taken a large amount of time, I am recycling this entry for Tuesday’s Just Write, as that is what I did with this writing, just sat down and wrote/typed until I got it all out!!
The Life and Emotions of an Immigrant
I am not sure how it is for every immigrant, as everyone’s story is different, where they came from, what they have endured, are they leaving their homelands as refugees or as individuals who have been granted the right to live in another country and hopefully make a better future for themselves.
My story is this, I left South Africa to play ice hockey, along with that came the ability to attend college in the United States. Well really it was attending school that allowed me to play hockey here but I always said jokingly (I think) to my parents that I was coming to America to play hockey and get an education on the side.
Twelve years later, with a green card in hand, I still live and work here in the United States, in MN to be exact. I am no longer a resident of South Africa; I am a permanent resident of the United States of America. What does even mean, besides for the obvious, that I can live here permanently?
It means that I am a first generation immigrant; I have chosen to leave behind, my heritage, my country, my home, my family and along with all that a part of my identity! None of this fully sunk in for me until I received that green card in the mail in September. What should have being a joyous occasion, I mean I had waited for it for over 6 years, was actually a day that made me realize, realize that I really didn’t belong!! I no longer belonged to South Africa (besides for the green passport I still carry) and I don’t really belong to the USA, I can only work here, not vote, not do anything else bestowed only upon citizens, so I really don’t belong anywhere!!
Along with ‘giving up’ so much comes endless amounts of heartache, that if you ask me never go away, and I’m not sure I would want it to go away as that would mean I no longer love and miss all that I left behind. Don’t get me wrong, I know I made this decision for myself, I mean I DID choose this, I pursued the hockey, the college hockey and therefore the amazing education I received which lead to great employment opportunities and that along with continuing to better myself, by obtaining my CPA and CMA certifications, has created a career for me here, a future if you will, a better future, I believe, then I’d have had otherwise. However, along with all the positives remains the hurt, the heartache, and the constant ‘what ifs’, what if I stayed in South Africa, what if I pursued my education then went home, what if, what if…………
I’ll never have any answers to those what ifs so I attempt to push them out of my mind and rather focus on the positives of all I have accomplished, all I can still accomplish and all my life now holds for me in the United States.
I am thankful, thankful that I chose the route to immigration at the young age I did, that I did not involve children in this process, that with any amount of luck my children will not know the aching, the longing, the emptiness I sometimes feel when I realize I left everything behind me. Of course with this comes the fact that my children will not fully know my heritage, where I come from, our family back in South Africa, what we did for fun as kids, and why I laugh at South African humor that you can only understand if you’ve lived there. Nonetheless, I am still thankful that I can provide a better, safer future for my children, and I will strive to teach them everything I can about where I come from, who their family is on the other side of the ocean and I hope instill in them the fact that although I left the land of my birth, I am in fact PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN, and I always will be.
I am linking up at
Lovely Light says
You nicely portrayed the ambivalence in your heart. I am experiencing the reverse- being an American in SA. I have applied to permanent residency, but financially, we might not be able to stay here. We need two incomes and I’m not allowed to work due to my visa status. It’s scary to think that we can’t even afford a plane flight home. I’m facing the prospect of my first Christmas without my family and friends. How did you manage?!
Debbie/Africa says
It wasn’t easy, but I made the best of the situation I was in, realizing that been sad/miserable etc wont help the current situation and certainly doesnt change the situation, only usually makes it worse?!
Be strong, and you will get through this!!!
My thoughts are with you!
HillyG says
I totally know how you feel. I came to Israel and sometimes I feel a little homeless. My husband (who is South African) will be in your shoes soon. As I head back to the US, he’s moving there with plans to be an American. He has no desire to go back to South Africa, though. He has no love for the country and how they treat people. He moved to Israel at 19 years old and never looked back. I always had one foot still in America.
There are days when I absolutely hate it here and think everyone here is a monkey and then there are days, like today, where I absolutely love it here. I’m sure you have days like that, too. I’ve never been to South Africa (I’ve never even met my in laws who are still in Johannesburg) – but I’ll go one day just to see what it’s like…
Africa says
You have to go back!!! How long have you being married?
I am glad to be out of the country but also miss it with all my heart!! it is not an easy position to be in.
It is an absolutely beautiful country, I’ve traveled to numerous countries throughout the world and I have not found a place that can compare!!
My partner is going back with me in February, I cannot wait to show her all around my country!!