Immigration is something that has been prevalent for centuries. Ever since the nomadic lifestyles of the Stone Age era, to the present day, immigration has always formed a big part of our civilization. People may keep moving around to different countries for fun or leisure, but when they finally settle down in another country, it is called immigration and the people thereof are called immigrants.
Most of the time, immigration is a happy thing, as people might be escaping wars or famines in their old country and starting a new life in their new one. Unfortunately, not all immigrants feel the same about their new homes. Immigrants are often torn between their two homes, old and new, as they struggle to adjust to their new world. There are many factors that may bring about this painful ordeal. Cultural differences, climate or factors such as racism may raise their ugly head to make the immigrants feel that their old home was better. On the other hand, acceptability, inclusion in professional and social spheres and global trends may make the immigrants find a comfortable home in the new country of their choice. Thus, immigration has both pros and cons.
The Downsides
Cultural Shock
Immigration can be challenging due to various factors. First and foremost we find that the majority of immigrants are thrown back due to cultural shocks. Around 40% of foreign immigrants have trouble picking up and understanding the new culture that surrounds them. Out of the many cultures that shock the immigrants, one is the American culture. Despite having the most immigrant population, this culture continues to shock the new people. Elements like talking back to older people, open gun-culture, cosmopolitan crowd and many such things make it difficult for people to adjust.
Climate
Secondly, climate may play a deciding role whether or not people like their new homes. Cold countries in Europe like Britain look very lucrative on the immigration brochures. But when people start living there, they are faced with the cold and dreary weather, which may become upsetting. This is especially true of people coming from tropical climates. Likewise, various parts of countries like New Zealand, Australia or even Canada do not have pleasant weather throughout the year. This might bring second thoughts to immigrants about calling these countries their long-term homes.
Racism
Last of all, immigrants may find difficulty in their new homes due to the much prevalent racism. Countries like Australia and USA where racism is very prevalent leads the migrants to miss their homes. Random insults, sneering remarks and unexplained physical assault may propel them to return to their native countries. Between 2018 and 2020, approximately 26% migrants in Britain identified themselves as part of a group facing discrimination based on race, nationality, religion, language, or ethnicity. Factors such as these lead migrants into thinking whether they should have stayed back instead of adopting new homes.
The Upsides
Although challenges are plenty, the new country may have quite a lot to offer. Afterall, this is what had enticed the immigrants in the first place. A few things that allure immigrants to foreign countries are education, professional landscapes, safety, etc. Many people immigrate so that their children can have a good education from world-renowned universities. They also get good work opportunities in foreign countries, with better positions and more lucrative pay packages. Many countries also offer safety, which is why people move from disturbed areas to peaceful and prosperous ones. Immigrants have dreams of succeeding in life- the reason why they leave their old home in search of a new and better one.
There is no doubt that migration has become a world-wide phenomenon. Yet, it is up to people to decide whether they believe in it or not. For some people, migration may be a very valid choice due to several reasons, while others may find that their own countries are the only homes they would like to live in for their whole lives. Leaving one’s home is always a difficult choice and leaving it forever to move on may be even more difficult.
It is needless to say that we always miss what we’ve left behind.
Nonetheless, we can make our lives easier by whole-heartedly accepting what lies ahead of us.
Writer : Aadarsh Nair
Grade : 10 (Year 2025)
Place : Melbourne, Australia
