Every new journey is full of challenges and opportunities. So why would the process of immigrating to America be any different? As an immigrant, you might have many questions about these possible dangers and the ‘golden’ opportunities. But fear not because we are here to answer the question – “What challenges did immigrants face upon arrival in America?”
Before you fall into the deep abyss of anxiety about the ‘challenges,’ bade-bade shehron mai aisi chhoti-chhoti baatein toh hoti rehti hain, Anjali.
But it is more important to remember that where there are challenges, there are also opportunities to grow. So strap your seat belt as we tell you about your possibly future bumpy ride!
The Big Move To A New Country and Continent… Is A HUUUUGGGEEE Deal!
What you know about America is what you hear from the neighbourhood Pummy Aunty, whose son ‘settled abroad.’ Then there is the fact that every tv show and movie ever calls the US ‘The land of the free and the home of the brave.’
But what Pummy Aunty and Karan Johar aren’t telling you is that there are also many obstacles and struggles that happen before you might finally enjoy the perks of being an NRI. What challenges did these immigrants face upon arrival in America, you might ask. Well, the answer is in the question itself. Being an immigrant isn’t easy. A country can be as welcoming as possible, but it has its own cultures, values and norms, which are often different from an immigrant’s home country. No, Rahul, this does not mean that they have no culture!
On the contrary, the country’s culture and societal rules make it unique. It is also the most intimidating part about immigrating to a new country. The biggest challenge for an immigrant is to survive so far away from family and friends in a new place with new people. You are away from all you not only love and know. A new country is the equivalent of ‘The Great Unknown!’ You know next to nothing about the actual ground realities or the actual life in the place. Fact – money doesn’t just start flowing when you land in America. It takes a lot of time before you become like the aforementioned ‘Pummy Aunty’s son.’
What Challenges Do Immigrants Face Moving To A New Country?
You might have stayed in hostels or PGs while studying or working in India. But it isn’t the same when you have to shift to a whole new country. Fine, Anjali, you practised living without mumma and papa 24*7 while away at your hostel.
But you still had the luxury to pack your bag and visit home for a few hours when nostalgia and craving for home hit hard. This isn’t the case when you shift to America!
Since we have been discussing this for a while now, let’s get to the point. What challenges did the Indian immigrants face upon arrival in America?
Jet Lag
Let us begin with the most immediate and easiest ‘challenge’ you’ll face. Apart from being on another continent, America is also in a different time zone. While this challenge might not make much sense to you right now, trust us, it will be the smallest and easiest to overcome. Jet lag is a mismatch between your circadian rhythm when you visit a different time zone.
While suffering from jet lag, you might have issues falling asleep, staying alert, and even stomach problems. But don’t worry—this is only a temporary problem. Like your will to break up with your problematic partner, this will only persist for a few days or weeks. Just expose yourself to more light and a slight bit of caffeine, and you’ll be good to go.
Cultural Shock
For an Indian, many things abroad don’t make sense. A small example is the American habit of smiling at strangers. People on the streets will smile at you because they think of this as basic courtesy. At the same time, they won’t just pay their friends a visit without a phone call beforehand. While such things seem strange from an Indian perspective, they are quite normal in America. So, Rahul, you had better politely smile at that stranger rather than make your weird-thinking face.
Another cultural shock might come in the form of the American work-life balance. Whether a student or a working professional, Americans don’t think working overtime is cool. On the contrary, they work only 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. and then do things other than work for the rest of their day.
If that shocked you, the following fact will be even more shocking. You won’t find drivers honking in traffic. In fact, the roads aren’t as full of ‘car noises’ as they are in India, and people honk their cars only when it’s absolutely necessary. The neighbourhoods are also very quiet, with people preferring to stay inside their homes without a lot of mingling with other members of their locality.
DIY (Do-It-Yourself, because a maid costs too much mulaah…)
The biggest challenge to overcome is that you must do everything yourself. In India, house help is easy to come by. You can always find a new maid if your current one leaves. If you don’t know how to cook and don’t have a maid, you can order food online.
But in America, hiring someone to clean the house or wash clothes is expensive. In fact, hiring house help might cost around $3000-$4000/month, and chances are they might not even be the live-in kind. As someone who has just landed in America, it might be easier and cheaper to do your own cleaning and laundry for a long time. You might even benefit from cooking your own meals. Put in some effort, but save money!
Some Indian Luxuries are American necessities
The Indian and American concepts of luxury are a bit different. In India, a two-wheeler is the most affordable vehicle and is found in almost every house. On the other hand, a car is a luxury for most of the Indian population.
It is the opposite in America. A car is a necessity for Americans. While there are cab services and taxis in America as well, they are pretty expensive. Travelling is a must for the fast-paced American lifestyle. One big piece of advice for an immigrant going to the US for a job is getting a car.
You might ask why this is included in the ‘What challenges did the Indian immigrants face upon arrival in America?’ list. The answer is that getting a car is not easy, and the money required for it is also not small. But you could always go for a second-hand model and then work your way to the top!
Getting your brain to stop thinking of $1 as Rs.83
Remember seeing your mom and dad talking about the “badhti mehengai” at the breakfast table, Anjali? Then you might also remember the dollar’s conversion rate following this statement. Every Indian knows that one American dollar equals Rs. 83!
The dollar’s conversion rate is so ingrained in our minds that every Indian immigrant has problems spending money even on the bare necessities in America. A big challenge for any immigrant is getting the conversion rate out of their mind. A walmart packet of instant Ramen is 11 dollars, so if you convert it to rupees, you might not like the answer, Anjali.
A simple solution to this problem is to change the thinking pattern slightly. Instead of converting every dollar to rupee, think of what you are spending money on. If it is a necessity like vegetables, 11 dollars is okay. Don’t save on the bare minimum needs of life. Instead, save money on the ‘extra-curricular’ activities like eating out, going to the movies, etc.
One important tip in the same category is getting a good mattress. While it might seem costly, a good mattress will offer you a good night’s sleep, which is important for a productive day. And a productive day means you’ll be able to make back the money you spent on your mattress faster!
Emotional And Psychological Ups and Downs Of Immigrating
While the aforementioned are some of the more obvious and material challenges of immigrant life, we want to address some more queries. One such question is: What emotional challenges did the Indian immigrants face upon arrival in America?
Homesickness
This might not come as a surprise to you, but homesickness is a real and big deal. One reason for this is that you are in a place thousands of kilometres away from home and full of unfamiliar faces! There will be days when you will feel very lonely and think of your Swades, like Shah Rukh Khan. In fact, you might also have to miss important family events and functions because America is a continent away and travelling home is not easy.
It might seem like immigrants who have been living in the US for a while now don’t feel homesick. They do! But they are now accustomed to it. On the other hand, you are still immigrating, so the feelings of homesickness will hurt you more. The pain might also be equivalent to remembering your ex from your currently broken relationship. But we promise you’ll be over both these things in no time (at least we hope so).
Depression
As stupid as it might sound, you can easily fall into depression in a new country. The reason for this is simple. You are in a new place with almost no family and friends to meet or talk to and with an all-new social system and customs. Nothing is familiar.
With no one to share your struggles with, depression is an easy state to fall into. Giving advice about depression is easier said than done. However, we strongly urge you to find a good therapist whenever you feel like the ‘feelings’ are getting too much. Going for a simple morning/afternoon walk will also help you make some friends, and fresh air is always good for us!
Making friends is a mammoth task.
How is this a part of the ‘what challenges did immigrants face upon arrival in America’, you ask. Well, the answer is that making friends as an adult isn’t as easy as it was when you were a kid. It is even more challenging for introverts. And with the loss of friends, it is harder to be optimistic about things in a new place.
This is where the concept of networking comes in. And being an Indian is also your biggest advantage, Rahul! Indians are almost everywhere. So, making a friend in the long run might be a bit challenging. But finding a fellow desi to make some of your journey easier might be easy.
Making friends with fellow desis is easy. But if that doesn’t work out for you, fret not! Americans might initially seem intimidating, but they are very friendly and outgoing. In fact, in many cases, you might find that making American friends is easier than it is to make a desi friend. Or, you could have a mix of the desis and Americans because variety is the spice of life!
The US Is Also The Land Of Opportunities
You do know that America is also the ‘Land of Opportunities’, right? So far, we have only answered,’ What challenges did immigrants face upon arrival in America?’ It’s time we also showed you the relatively happier side of things, also known as the new opportunities you might have!
Everyone knows that America has more job opportunities for the youth and more prospects for earning money. It is also easier in America to have a basic standard of living than in India. But did you consider what personal benefits you can get while immigrating? When you are in a new place where no one knows you, you have the probably once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a new version of “YOU”. No, Anjali, this is not a time for some “more shopping”! This is the opportunity for you to reinvent yourself. You can try new things and see what suits you best. It is also an opportunity to get a new circle of friends and try things you haven’t done before.
But the biggest opportunity this ‘big move’ gives you is to mature a little more and become more responsible. You can learn how to do things on your own because now, your survival depends on it. And the best part is that when you go back to India or come here for a visit, you can brag about your struggles and tell others how far you have come! In fact, who knows, you might even outshine Pummy Aunty’s son’s fame!
Conclusion
We hope we have answered your biggest worry: ‘ What challenges did immigrants face upon arrival in America?’ We know immigration is a daunting task. It requires not only finding good accommodation but also acclimating to US culture and society. There are many hurdles, like having to do your own dishes and laundry or the constant urge to convert your expenditures into Indian rupees.
There are also the bigger worries like saving money and the cultural shock of not finding honking cars on the road. But that doesn’t mean that it is all scary and dangerous. On the contrary, it makes the journey even more exciting because now, you have the opportunity to be better than you were at home. Along with earning more, you can now make new friends and network more!
Challenges might seem plenty, but so are the opportunities. All you need to do is start your journey with a positive mindset. Now, go and pack your bags for this wild ride!
