By Gina Chon
Iraqis here are used to seeing foreigners come and go. There’s a large group of staff at the U.S. Embassy who are done with their year here and have started to leave. Journalists are in and out every few months or weeks, depending on their rotation. And soldiers head home after 15 months, which is changing to 12 months, after their tour is up. So Iraqis are accustomed to saying goodbye to their foreign friends and co-workers.
But a new program has many Iraqis I know discussing whether they will be the ones to leave. Under an expanded refugee program, the U.S. is now letting Iraqis who were or are employees of certain organizations or companies that are based in America to apply to go to the U.S. That includes Iraqis who work at U.S.-based media organizations. And unlike the program for Iraqis who work as translators for the U.S. military, which requires a year of employment, there is no criteria when it comes to length of employment.
Since word about the program began trickling out, the local staff of all the news organizations have been buzzing about it. Should they go? Should they stay? Who will they bring? Will life really be better in America? The entire staff of some news organizations have applied. During an embassy briefing to media organizations about the program, we joked that this was their plan to shut down all the news bureaus in Baghdad.
Iraqis have a lot of misconceptions about what their life will be like in the U.S. One of the most common ones is that upon arrival, they will receive everything they need: a house, a car, a job. Some assume they will receive seed money to get started in their new life in America.
When I talked to our staff about the program, I emphasized that it was a great opportunity for them. But I also told them they had to be realistic about what they would face. They will receive some help for a while, but those benefits expire. They won’t have to worry about car explosions, suicide bombers or kidnappings. But they may feel isolated, have a hard time finding a job and miss Iraqi food and the other comforts of home.
I told my Iraqi staff that at my home in the U.S., I only really know one neighbor. Many Iraqis know everyone who lives on their street, the next street over and the street after that. I also told them they may have to swallow their pride for a while, just as my parents had to when they first arrived in the U.S. in the late 1970s. But if you make it, you can achieve the American dream.
Our staff have taken my advice seriously and none of them have yet decided what they will do. They are talking it over with families, figuring out finances and weighing the pros and cons of remaining in Iraq. “We just don’t want to suffer more in the U.S. than we do here,” one Iraqi told me. “But maybe you have to take that chance.”
kool
Kevin, I’m not sure what America you’re talking about, but I’ve lived in 4 different states, and I’ve never known my neighbors. This might be different in small town America, but for the most part, living in the U.S. is an anonymous experience. This contrasts greatly with the strong communities that many immigrants come from; the lack of that community spirit is usually a heartbreaking shock to new immigrants. I think Gina was right to talk about the ups and downs of American life. There is an amazing amount of opportunity in the US – that’s what makes it one of the most amazing nations in the world – but it also takes backbreaking effort to be a success here. A lot of immigrants don’t realize just how much sacrifice and adjustment is required. But as the daughter of an immigrant family who has made it here in the U.S., I would say it’s well worth it!! Any iraqi who has the chance to come over here, DO IT. The odds are low that you will regret it. I recommend avoiding places like New York City though – try smaller East Coast cities or California. New York City is a rough place for new immigrants, though it has plenty of them. Also come with a game plan that has several alternatives for making a living – one that doesn’t include welfare or support from the government. Believe me, you’ll need that plan.
Don’t know wher Gina Chon lives but in most American cities we do know our neighbors; not just one! Give me a break Gina, the America I know still is the most sought after place to live, work, raise a family and worship our creator! Tell your Iranian friends the truth and let them seize a great opportunity!
Zalabt glama hit
Tih, Zalabt glama hit and Zalabt
Is it true that Iraqi people
are enjoying better life
after Saddam Hussain?