Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Like I said before I am an immigrant, that one of the reason I choose to write a few blogs on immigration. I have been in the United States for eight years. I tried to understand the American system to make my life easier. First of all I had to learning English. When I had any appointment especially pre-natal at the Hospital, my husband had to leave work to accompany me. I am not trying to generalize it, but not too many Haitian live here, so there was no one to translate for me. I have three children, all three of them used to go to Minnieland Day care. It cost me a lot. Finally I decided to use a baby sitter as they start going to school. Most of the time, I am referring to Spanish, because I meet a lot of them at work and I have a chance to talk to them a lot than other nationality, besides African. I am very thankful to those Spanish baby sitters who are helping with my children; only my husband is able to communicate with them. Out of four, only one can speak English, this is a reality. I am trying to encourage them to learn so English at least to defend themselves. My nephew went to a Catholic school, one day the director of that school had to call my sister to have a meeting to find out how come, my nephew was born here, and he had a heavy accent and they had a hard time to understand him. She even told my sister, if he still the same he will have to take more English classes. In this example, I am trying to point out one of the problems as an immigrant we are facing.
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6 comments:
The big difference between the developed countries like Canada and the US, and Third World countries like Haiti, is social security: the developed countries have it en masse while countries like Haiti don't. But the problem with social security in the developed countries is a declining birth rate: too many old people and not enough young. Therefore, countries like the US should just throw open their borders and let everyone in. Instead of spending money trying to deport "illegal aliens" back to where they came from, like Mexico, they should tax them instead of having them work "under the table." With the money that these people would pay in taxes, they could pay for your social security and mine. Quebec, where I come, has the reputation for having the best creches in all of Canada; it's good to be working mother with children in Quebec. The problem is that creches cost money. But if you let everybody enter legally, their employers couldn't hold the threat of deportation over them if they wanted more money: they could just go find another job, and eventually, people would see the wisdom of doing everything above board and tax both employer and employee alike. The problem is that the employer sees the employee as a thief: they never think you deserve what they pay you.
This was a really enlightening post. I know, especially as an immigrant, that you have had experiences that are light years beyond my own, and that you see this situation quite differently than I do. I am thankful you are so honest in your discussions of the issues so that we can all learn from you.
Keep teaching us. Maybe we just need to hear more of your message. Of course immigrants struggle--you posted that here yourself with your experiences not only as an immigrant but working with other immigrants.
Remember that each of our families are immigrant families. Maybe it was a few generations back, but they all were. I remember hearing stories about my great grandmother who didn't speak English (she spoke French) and who would be ostracized in her Massachusetts community because of it. I think it takes a lot of time and no shortage of ability to learn a language (languages are extremely hard to pick up as adults). But you worked extremely hard to do it...your encouragement of others is such a benefit to them!
My father is a diplomat so I lived in many different countries growing up and I faced the same problem, only mine was I only knew English. Most the nations he worked in were Third World and still developing so few people new English. I had to learn how to pick up languages fast and how to communicate in ways other than verbal. Sometimes it felt like I was a mime. It was frustrating but I am glad I know so many languages, you can never know too many. I think your kids are at an advantage knowing more than one language.
Wow! Thanks for sharing your life experience with us. Just like you, I am also an immigrant. But you can practically say I was born here because I have been here ever since I was 3 years old (Now I am 21). Fortunately, for me, learning things were much easier and I picked up English faster than my elder brother (on the other hand my native language has become much weaker). But just like you, my parents had to learn English and they still are learning English- it is harder when you are adult verses being a child coming to America. Fortunately, there are many English classes for adults now which has made life much easier. I agree, to get around in this country one must learn English and that should be their number one priority-it does not have to be perfect but one should learn enough English to get around. Your blog informs us that English is necessary to learn (just like if you were living in a third world country it would be important to learn that language).
That must be something that is very frustrating for you. My father is in the military and he was deployed to Okinawa Japan for seven months and my family took a trip out to see him. It was a whole different world for me. And you are right, it is reality, it’s the fact that many people have a hard time facing it these days. Change scares them, and instead of adapting to it they try and avoid it.
How does all this make you feel, is it worth it in the end or no? this country is encountering more and more different cultures everyday, especially Hispanic and one day I think we will have to become bilingual in that area. Many seek America for a better lifestyle and it going to continue for this is the oath we took as a country long ago.
You made this a very personal post and it was interesting to read, kept me wanting to read more.
Thank you for sharing one of your experiences. Its true, everyday people go through situations were its hard to adapt to a life with many changes, like culture and society. Languages and customs are at times completely different. My parents came to the U.S. almost three decades ago and still continue to adapt. The English language to them is still a barrier that restricts them not to communicate their complete thoughts with others. They do not leave their safety boundaries and stay where they feel comfortable with family and friends. I thank my parents for their sacrifices they have made. Without them I would not be the person I am today.
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