It’s time for me to renew my visa permit. I always get paranoid and anxious whenever I have to go to the immigration office. I forget all the German I know. If I have to fill out any paperwork in front of the officials, I suddenly forget even my own date of birth.
Did I bring everything? Are my pictures the right size? Do I have enough money to pay? Don’t forget to use the formal form in German. Will they ask me about that time I got arrested?
I sit in the waiting room with others, watching for my number to appear on the screen. It feels like everyone is anxious in one way or another. People seeking asylum, newlyweds with their partners, international students, and people like me—just trying to renew their visa. Even though I meet all the requirements and have nothing to worry about, the anxiety still hits me.
I remind myself that I’m lucky. I’m not running from war, conflict, or persecution. I immigrated for love. My dad immigrated to the U.S. for my mom, my brother, my sister, and me. He risked his life crossing the border to give us a better future than what we had in Peru. For so many immigrants, there is no choice but to risk everything to provide for the loved ones they left behind. They work exhausting hours, often holding two or three jobs just to send money home. On top of that, they navigate a new language, a new culture, and a new way of life.
I never forget to be grateful that my journey was easier because my dad made that sacrifice for us. When I created this image, I wasn’t just thinking about myself—I was thinking about all the people who leave their homes to start over somewhere new. Especially now, when so many countries want to close their borders and blame their problems on people who look different, I feel an even deeper connection to immigrants everywhere, especially those in America. I can only imagine what they must be going through.
So if you’re an immigrant like me, be grateful. Be grateful if you moved for love or pleasure, not out of fear. Be grateful if you took a plane to your new home instead of walking 18 hours through the desert and swimming across a river. Be grateful if you didn’t have to board an overcrowded, barely floating boat just to reach Europe.
And most importantly—be kind. Because at the end of the day, we are all immigrants in some way. We all feel Lost@Home, caught between where we came from and where we are now.You never know what the person sitting next to you on that city train went through just to be there.
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And once again @djjimpanse has made another great playlist for this image. It’s his interpretation in music form.