One thing I learned this past year is the true value of an American passport. I never realized what a gift it is to be able to buy a plane ticket to just about anywhere in the world and then just go. This is NOT the case for Ecuadorians who need to collect huge piles of papers months before their trip to try and obtain a visa. Often, even with all the correct paperwork people are turned down. Sometimes they are approved but for a shorter period of time than they wanted. Other times they are approved for the full time and then it is shortened when they go through customs.
Many Ecuadorians are forced to move (legally or illegally) to the US or Spain because the opportunities for making money are much greater in these wealthier nations. About half of the boys I worked with at the treatment center had fathers or stepfathers working in Spain. There are towns made up only of women, children, and older men, as all of the young men have moved abroad for better work. Many children are being raised by their grandparents and can barely remember their parents who left Ecuador years ago.
It was interesting to come back to NY with this new understanding of travel rights and emigration/immigration. I have a new appreciation for the many immigrants in New York working and struggling to create a better life for their families. I understand how very valuable being born here is and how very hard it is for people to bring their loved ones over, even if they themselves are an American citizen. There are many many people here who are filled with a never-ending fear of being deported. Such a hard life!
As much as I hate much of what is happening politically in the US right now, I now understand how lucky I am to be an American citizen. Cheesy, but true.
It is so good that you were able to understand this. Mostly now, with all the debate abour immigration in the US.
I also would like to add that, at least in Argentina, when my mother applied for the visa to come and see me and be here for the birth of Fiona, she had to pay a big amount for the application and then wait outside the embassy standing in line in the rain. And the applicants are not treated very well either. It was so frustrating to not know if my mom could be here for such an important moment. Even though, like you say, she had all the right paperwork.
Posted by: Veronica TM | July 24, 2006 at 11:57 AM
I feel the same with my Dutch passport. Life is so much easier than for people from third world countries or even second world countries. Although an American passport would be even better. All the fuss I had to go through to get a US student visa...
Posted by: Marieke | July 24, 2006 at 02:12 PM
Thank you. I have been feeling very ungrateful about my citizenship as I desperately want to go to Cuba and there is that little matter of a stupid embargo that stands in my way. But I am lucky in so, so many other respects that are far more important.
Posted by: Briana | July 25, 2006 at 01:01 PM
here here
no joke
how lucky we are...
wish americans
really
appreciated that...
and
would understand
why people
so desparately
want to come here
for such freedom!
Posted by: bugheart | July 27, 2006 at 03:21 PM
I saw a movie 2 days ago about imigration and I felt I am very lucky indeed.
Although I come from a country traditionally seen as poor and of people who have to emigrate (unfortunately that is true up to a certain extent) and I lived abroad for many years as an immigrant I still feel lucky because life was hard but there are millions of desperate people out there and that is very depressing.
Posted by: simple me | July 28, 2006 at 11:12 AM
Risa, This is the post I would write if I wasn´t so selfishly preoccupied with my stomach issues and training woes. I´ve been thinking about all this stuff too, already I have heard stories from folks that make one´s hair stand on end. It´s another side that doesn´t get covered in the immigration debate in the states very well. Ahh, like everything else. Anyhow, well said.
Posted by: Claudia | July 28, 2006 at 04:51 PM
wow! it's nice to read this for some reason... you know, inform people and help us all to remember to count our blessings... although there is still so much racism with the immigrants and just different nationalities in general, it still can be a blessing....
on the side note: are you in the states for good now?!
Posted by: Account Deleted | August 04, 2006 at 07:36 AM
The value of American passport is very impressive they are using new latest techniques to provide the appropriate pasport by the person's everything was being searching.
Posted by: Get Passports | May 06, 2010 at 05:44 AM
A lot will come out over time but the truth has been out there for a long time as well but that doesn't give you what you want so this dance just goes on and on.
Posted by: Nike Vandal | November 02, 2010 at 09:23 PM
Good post, I like to leave comments because it allows bloggers to become more engaged and for the opportunity to perhaps learn from each other.
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