On August 7, 1998, my family and I arrived at JFK Airport in New York City. We were not on vacation. We were here to stay. Although my 13 years old mind, at the time, just couldn’t grasp the finality of living in a foreign land from then until eternity.
The first year, especially the first month, was tough for all of us. My parents had a total of $1000 USD to start, and $600 went straight to paying rent on a dingy finished-basement-apartment in Elmhurst, NY (Queens). So that left $400 to feed two hungry boys and everything else in between. My folks only knew enough English to not get lost and with plenty of common sense they set out to find jobs. My Mom was a teacher, she became a seamstress at a factory in Chinatown earning $0.02 per piece. My Dad was a family driver for a rich family, he became a bus boy in a Chinese restaurant in NJ earning minimum wage and whatever tips the waiters care to share.
As for me, let just say being different and couldn’t spell pass a 1st grade spelling-bee competition during the late 80s in NYC was not cool. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been egged on my way home or have my backpack stolen only to be returned a day or two later.
My parents told me not to pick any fights since we’re new, but she never quite told me what to do should the fights come to me. Nevertheless, I learned to internalized every bit of the agony knowing my parents were not having a very good time either.
Fast forward 20 years…
I am now 33 and can probably beat a first grader at a spelling bee. My parents have more than a $1000 to their name and have time to enjoy life like they should. All in all, we’re doing fine and are glad we’ve taken the journey. According to my mom, given the chance and knowing what they do now, they probably wouldn’t do it all over again. It is not because they’re not happy with the result, it is because they can’t stomach all the sufferings along the way.
Would I do again? I will have say yes. The first few years were not easy, but I wouldn’t be who I am if not for everything else along the way. It has opened my eyes to things I would have never experienced and know that I can handle almost any adversity thrown at me.
Happy 20th anniversary to the journey across the world!
