Tag Archives: Immigrants Hope Their ‘American Dream’ Isn’t Fading

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102866466

Watching the movie “Maid in America” has evoked so many emotions within me. As a young child my entire family was obsessed with coming to America along with many persons in my third world country. We grew up thinking that America is the land of realizing any dream and Americans have the perfect lives. According to the above article coming to America can be a culture shock and significant readjustment. I would not dispute that America is a land on great opportunities but has its limitations especially for undocumented immigrants.

Firstly, migration separates families which can leave so many emotional scars on family members. I am speaking from experience since my dad migrated to the USA since we were very young in search of a better way of living for our family and he was restricted from returning if he left due to immigration laws. We were not able to enjoy the presence of a dad in our home and when we were eventually granted this opportunity to be with him he died about four years after. This no doubt can leave emotional scars which may never be erased. Secondly, many persons I have known gave up comfortable lives in our country by migrating in the hope of realizing the American dream but instead have had to settle for uncomfortable lives but would not return to their country because of what they have given up mainly a job or some have sold their houses. Also many immigrants have to accept menial jobs in order to survive and many persons similar to the ones in the movie are being abused by their employers.

On the positive side some persons have been able to make their lives better by migrating to the USA and can assist their family in their homeland thus enabling them to live better lives.

I can say that I have no regrets of migrating to the USA since my life has improved significantly in comparison to life in my country.