Lim-Che Yan
Level 6
2/1/2008
Lost In Translation
I have read many stories about new immigrants’ lives in the U.S. in newspapers and magazines and most of the stories described how they had hard times and struggled against many difficulties to survive. They departed from their home countries to a strange new country, where no one speaks their language and the culture is very different. Most of them left their parents and friends. They dreamed for a better life for their family and a better future of their children. One can imagine that a new immigrant will encounter many problems and difficulties to get a new start here. Most of them can’t find well paying jobs and they have to work long hours. They probably lost a lot by immigrating. Similarly, I am an immigrant from Hong Kong, a small island in the southern part of China. Like the disappointed immigrants, I have given up several important things such as a close relationship with my mother, my old friends and my previous job leaving me to feel lost in translation.
To begin, it is important to understand that Chinese people recognize taking care of their parents as a valued tradition. They respect and put their parents first in their lives almost like many Christians keep God first in their lives. It is the duty of their sons and daughters to take care of their parents until they die. They should always be with their parents; otherwise, the sons or daughters will be considered bad children. Right now, my mother is in Hong Kong and is over eighty years old. If I were in my home town, I would take care of her because she requires my help in her old age. I feel bad that I cannot take care of her. Due to this circumstance, I call her two or three times a week as an alternative to show my concern and she is always happy while we talk over the phone. These phone calls give us an even closer connection and the distance between us becomes shorter
Furthermore, employment is very essential to each immigrant. Every one must have a job to earn a living for his or her family. Most immigrants cannot find the same kind of job as when they worked in their hometown. A friend of mine was a registered nurse in Hong Kong, but she cannot be a nurse here in Chicago because her qualifications are not accepted by the government. She ended up getting a job in a restaurant. She worked long hours, but she was content with her job. She couldn’t escape from reality. She told me that she is now studying the nursing course and hopes that she will be a nurse after graduation. As for me, I also experience difficulties finding the same kind of job that I had in Hong Kong, and this is the cost of migration. Migration often takes a heavy toll on one’s lifestyle and background. It is inevitable that I need to sacrifice something and confront reality.
In addition, all new immigrants have to leave their friends when they immigrate here. Some of them sometimes have nostalgia for the good old days in their hometown. I have many friends in my hometown, but I left them like most immigrants. I often remember the good times I had with my old friends especially the farewell party they held for us before my migration. We are very close like a family. We often helped each other if problems arose and played together. Every morning we practiced Tai Chi Chuan in the park. After practicing, we went and had Dim Sum breakfast together. We sometimes played Mahjong or went hiking, fishing or swimming. We really had a lot fun. I am still reminiscing over my good old days I had with my old friends. Since immigrating, I have come to know many new friends in Chicago and I hope we will become good friends soon, but I will never forget my old friends in Hong Kong.
So far, I have had several main lost in translation experiences. I am aware that taking care of my elderly mother, the difficulty of finding a job and the loss of good times with my old friends are my cost for migration. However, I wish all new immigrants including me myself will realize their American dreams as soon as possible. My migrating is the beginning of my life’s next chapter and I know that I will probably face many challenges ahead
Level 6
2/1/2008
Lost In Translation
I have read many stories about new immigrants’ lives in the U.S. in newspapers and magazines and most of the stories described how they had hard times and struggled against many difficulties to survive. They departed from their home countries to a strange new country, where no one speaks their language and the culture is very different. Most of them left their parents and friends. They dreamed for a better life for their family and a better future of their children. One can imagine that a new immigrant will encounter many problems and difficulties to get a new start here. Most of them can’t find well paying jobs and they have to work long hours. They probably lost a lot by immigrating. Similarly, I am an immigrant from Hong Kong, a small island in the southern part of China. Like the disappointed immigrants, I have given up several important things such as a close relationship with my mother, my old friends and my previous job leaving me to feel lost in translation.
To begin, it is important to understand that Chinese people recognize taking care of their parents as a valued tradition. They respect and put their parents first in their lives almost like many Christians keep God first in their lives. It is the duty of their sons and daughters to take care of their parents until they die. They should always be with their parents; otherwise, the sons or daughters will be considered bad children. Right now, my mother is in Hong Kong and is over eighty years old. If I were in my home town, I would take care of her because she requires my help in her old age. I feel bad that I cannot take care of her. Due to this circumstance, I call her two or three times a week as an alternative to show my concern and she is always happy while we talk over the phone. These phone calls give us an even closer connection and the distance between us becomes shorter
Furthermore, employment is very essential to each immigrant. Every one must have a job to earn a living for his or her family. Most immigrants cannot find the same kind of job as when they worked in their hometown. A friend of mine was a registered nurse in Hong Kong, but she cannot be a nurse here in Chicago because her qualifications are not accepted by the government. She ended up getting a job in a restaurant. She worked long hours, but she was content with her job. She couldn’t escape from reality. She told me that she is now studying the nursing course and hopes that she will be a nurse after graduation. As for me, I also experience difficulties finding the same kind of job that I had in Hong Kong, and this is the cost of migration. Migration often takes a heavy toll on one’s lifestyle and background. It is inevitable that I need to sacrifice something and confront reality.
In addition, all new immigrants have to leave their friends when they immigrate here. Some of them sometimes have nostalgia for the good old days in their hometown. I have many friends in my hometown, but I left them like most immigrants. I often remember the good times I had with my old friends especially the farewell party they held for us before my migration. We are very close like a family. We often helped each other if problems arose and played together. Every morning we practiced Tai Chi Chuan in the park. After practicing, we went and had Dim Sum breakfast together. We sometimes played Mahjong or went hiking, fishing or swimming. We really had a lot fun. I am still reminiscing over my good old days I had with my old friends. Since immigrating, I have come to know many new friends in Chicago and I hope we will become good friends soon, but I will never forget my old friends in Hong Kong.
So far, I have had several main lost in translation experiences. I am aware that taking care of my elderly mother, the difficulty of finding a job and the loss of good times with my old friends are my cost for migration. However, I wish all new immigrants including me myself will realize their American dreams as soon as possible. My migrating is the beginning of my life’s next chapter and I know that I will probably face many challenges ahead
3 comments:
The idea is very clear and concrete. It makes me think a lot, espeacially the first body paragraph. In fact, I did have a same situation in my life. Since I came here, I have missed my mother. I couldn't stay with her and take good care of her. Therfore, the only thing I can do is to keep in touch with her by phone, and I would call her at least one time a week. In addition, I have to work hard to earn more money so that I can support her. I can't explain how much I miss my mother, but I only can say that I still love my mum even though we are far away from each other.
I think the essay is very good. All the paragraphs are clear and i can think about it much. So anyways i got sometimes the same fellings and think about my mum while she is in Germany. But i call her like everyweek and its not that hard for me to "live" without her in america.
I really like how optimist you look in your life in Chicago. Like every immigrant you missed a lot of things that you left in your country, yet you are conscious of chalenges to face in Chicago such as keep on contact with your mother, find a job like the one you had in Hong Kong, and make your new freinds to become like the good ones you had in Hong Kong. I hope for you the same.
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