I am an immigrant.
What drives people to leave everything behind, desert their homeland, forsake the people they love, start from scratch somewhere new, live the life of strangers, learn a new language, integrate into a different society, and adapt to a different culture?
Migration has always been humans’ way to survive, whether it was to find food sources, escape natural disasters or climate change, or avoid conflicts with other groups. Migration has always been our way of seeking better opportunities and new beginnings. We followed animal migration patterns and quickly learned that sometimes you must move away to survive.
We found evidence of different cultural influences throughout ancient history. We also found clear connections between different civilizations, manifest in similar art styles, architecture, writing systems, and spiritual practices, among many other similarities.
Historically, America has been the prime example of immigrants being drawn to more freedoms and opportunities.
Immigration is not a new concept; it’s at the core of the human experience. People always seek to better their lives and their families’ lives, if not for themselves, then for the benefit of future generations.
For my family, it was seeking more freedom. Where better to find it than in the Land of the Free? Financially and socially, we were way better off where we came from, but that wasn’t our priority. We transferred our lives to New York, a family of five then. My husband joined an international organization, and I tried to find a job in my field, pivoting when it wasn’t possible. How can one become an archaeologist in New York?
Adapting to our new chosen reality every step of the way, we moved our family from one place to the next. The girls went to college, high school, and kindergarten; we enrolled the younger girls in a private international school in NYC, as we wanted to keep them at the same level they were used to. We squandered our savings in just a few months, as managing finances proved challenging. But we adapted quickly; after our daughter graduated high school and headed to college, it was time to readjust. We left the Big Apple for the more affordable suburbs.
We wanted to be fully immersed in the Westchester County community. We embraced all of the new traditions, and we loved them. We had our youngest in the midst of all of this—a new beginning indeed! I volunteered at the girls’ schools and food pantry and donated to various causes whenever I had the chance. When it was time for me to go back to the workforce, I pivoted again. I applied for licenses and certifications in a brand-new field and started over again.
