The very first time my grandparents traveled outside the Philippines was when they immigrated to the United States 20 years ago. They came here right after I was born to help my parents raise me and my sister. After my grandpa died early on, my grandma decided to stay with us and became a U.S. citizen. I never realized it when I was younger, but now as I look back, even though my grandma was the one raising me and teaching me life lessons, she herself was going through her own journey as well.
The number one difference that people usually identify between countries is language.
One of the main issues that immigrants face when they first come here is definitely a lack of communication due to language barriers. Although my grandma had been exposed to some English in her country, she still wasn't as fluent and confident in her speaking skills when she first came here. It was especially difficult for her because she came here when she was much older, making it so much harder for her to grasp the language as quickly as someone who immigrated here at a young age. Many times even as a child, I sensed that this inability prevented her from authentically translating what she was truly feeling, or what she intended her words to convey versus how people perceived them didn't always correspond. I remember her opening up to me that she did feel some sort of inferiority and shyness when interacting with other people who had lived here their whole lives. It's frustrating to think that some people may feel the same way she did because I know that my grandma had so much more to offer and express than what people external to our family observed. Honestly, that's often the case for many immigrants, at least, based on my observations.
Another issue that immigrants face is being separated from their family in their home country.
My grandparents prioritized taking care of their family in the U.S., and therefore, had to make sacrifices such as not being able to see their children and other grandchildren in the Philippines as often. They missed many weddings, birthdays, and other life events, and even though they would return to the Philippines sometimes, my grandparents weren't able to establish a deeper bond or connect with my cousins as much as they did with me and my sister. They didn't intend to appear as strangers to them, but my grandparents were at a disadvantage because they weren't given the luxury of more time to spend with their extended family due to distance.
Although there were many disadvantages and obstacles that my grandparents faced, their immigration journey included not only the lows but a lot of highs as well. By moving here, they learned more about American culture and truly came to embrace everything about it.
They became exposed to more racial and ethnic diversity, and now understand and welcome the benefits they bring.
In return, they were also able to share the background and culture that they were so proud to represent with everyone that they encountered. My grandma discovered her obsession for cheesy old school TV shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Golden Girls, and Full House. Most of all, I watched her become more confident in herself, how she started to stand up straighter instead of slouch in the background, and how she learned to connect with others through more than just verbally speaking to them.
This is a lesson to everyone that it's never too late to undergo a life transformation or learn something new. Even older people possess the ability to makes moves and encounter a life-changing perspective.
