A Stranger's Face

I wish I could describe the anxiety of being an immigrant. You are always the stranger in a crowded room. Secret whispers seem to crowd the tongue of every observer. You try to imagine that you are invisible, that you are as anonymous as you feel. Yet, behind every small action is the fear that you could never be camouflaged enough to avoid detection. Waiting in line can make you feel as small as an insecure child. Behind you wait ten busy and sometimes impatient people. Their mouths wait to speak, simply, quickly, and I have not the simplest notion how to pay for a stick of gum with the correct change. I never want to be a bother to anyone. In this new place, I am now the slowest man in line.

We were turned away at the doctor's office today because I cannot speak French. The receptionist asked questions. I could only respond in English that "I don't understand. I'm sorry". I was indeed truly sorry. I wanted to fix things, whatever the problem might have been. My daughter stood by watching as I struggled helplessly. I am smart, witty, educated... still, here I was without the most basic words to function. We needed that appointment to get her physical for school. Yet, we were shut out. Now she'll miss the first day or even week of school. I wanted to do the right thing, all the leg work, all that's expected of me as a parent in this society we now live in.

Back home there are many people that feel immigration is some sort of societal plague. I contest that notion. People generally want the same thing, to be part of something more. I also suspect that anyone seeking to judge a person for where they're from or what language they speak, has never had to leave the comfort of home. How brave the soul that wagers all for a better life. Besides, home is not a place. It lives inside the adventurous heart and cannot be taken by anyone. To overcome all the pressures of living, often without approval or permission, is one the bravest journeys a human can take. No matter where you are, find those that struggle and get involved. Never belittle or assume, judge nor criticize. If by chance you take the risk to live abroad, inside what you fear, what you love, there is the heart of all humankind. After all, to some degree we are all immigrants.