VisionAfricaMedia

By Kofi Quaye

For most Americans, Europeans, Canadians and others in different parts of the world, success has been attained when they can afford a decent size house in the suburbs, drive a couple of late model cars, have immediate access to funds saved, go on Caribbean or European vacations and educate their children in top quality private schools and colleges where they receive highly efficient specialized instruction. A job that pays well usually provides that sense of security. 

 For most Third World immigrants in America, Europe, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, success is determined by similar circumstances. But just as gratifying and perhaps even more significant for immigrants from Third World countries is the ability to get a job that will enable them to live a reasonably decent lifestyle overseas and take trips to their native countries when they want to. At the same time, they make every effort to save enough money to prepare for retirement with minimal social security and retirement benefits or none at all, if they don’t qualify for one reason or the other. Majority try to set up businesses and build their retirement homes in their native countries. The goal is to go back home while they are strong and healthy. 

The need to be productive, to make and save money, in order to accomplish the goals they have set for themselves is the driving force in their lives. It’s all about doing everything they can to make good on the promise they made to themselves and their families that they would return with material possessions, money in the bank and a feeling that immigrating was the right thing to do. They are driven as much by fear of failure as by the promise of success.

THIRD WORLD IMMIGRANTS ALWAYS UNDER PRESSURE

As a result, the average Third World immigrant overseas operates under the pressure of making and saving money. Nothing else explains their willingness, even eagerness to take any job and do everything they can to keep it. They cannot afford to do otherwise. They deny themselves the privilege of being selective about the kind of jobs they want, or get caught in situations that deny them the ability to work and save their money. That is the kind of lifestyle most Third World immigrants have to deal with on a daily basis, essentially one of constant pressure often intensified and sustained by the need to accomplish self-imposed goals, which includes making as much money as possible within a reasonable period of time without jeopardizing their health or personal safety.

FEAR OF FAILURE HAUNTS THIRD WORLD IMMIGRANTS OVERSEAS

At least, in the beginning, that is the attitude of most Third World immigrants, especially those who lack professional credentials that can get them good paying jobs. New to the country to which they have immigrated, its culture and not well informed about the choices available to them and feeling the pressure to accomplish certain goals, they are likely to grab any job opportunity that comes their way and make every effort to keep it. Those who qualify on the basis of their educational credentials, expertise and experience get high paying jobs that make it possible for them to save to build their dream house or set up a business back home, or retire with good pensions and social security benefits. Thus being gainfully employed is the essence in the lives of Third World immigrants all over the world. They cannot afford to be unemployed. Nothing else matters much, particularly during the initial stages.

But it doesn’t always work out as planned. Many get stuck in America, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world. They are stranded or ‘trapped’ never to return to their native countries. Ultimately, many have to deal with another scenario that is just as abhorrent to them: their lives end before they can go back home. And that is the last thing they want to happen to them. Not returning to their native countries alive is the worst nightmare of many Third World immigrants and haunts them in ways that are as powerful as any psychological trauma, sickness, mental illness, drug or alcoholic addiction.

IMMIGRANTS CONSIDERED SUCCESSFUL IF THEY RETURN HOME STRONG AND HEALTHY AND WITH FUNDS

That fear and concern remain uppermost in their minds, particularly the older generation who subscribe to the notion that an immigrant can only be considered successful when he or she returns home in good health, strong, fit and able to enjoy life. It’s even better, if they go back home with money in the bank, to a new house and a business they had built for themselves or their family. Becoming citizens in the country to which they have immigrated is not a priority. It becomes necessary and acted upon when there is no other choice.

The mere thought of not being able to return to their native countries when they want to presents many immigrants from some Third World countries with something to be terrified of. The problem is, quite often, plans go awry.  As a result, many immigrants end up ‘trapped’ and stuck in foreign countries, in part because they were misinformed in the beginning, made wrong choices and are not able to take the necessary actions that will prevent them from becoming ‘trapped’ overseas and not able to return to their native countries when they want to.