Life

Take a Moment
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Whatever you’re doing right now stop. Take a few seconds to think about what I’m about to say right now. This article is mostly directed at, how can I put it in simple terms, those who are citizens of “developed” countries. More specifically citizens of developed “western” countries.

Coming from a third world country, ever since I’ve been in Canada and travelled to other places, visas, permits and paperwork have always been an issue. As a Cameroonian I need a visa (which usually cost a lot), to go just about anywhere on this planet.

However I want to focus on something different, because therein lies the message I want to convey today. Over the years we’ve seen people risk it all (and most of the time fail, usually meaning they lost their lives or were caught) to reach these countries that could offer them a better life.

In this situation, the developed western countries I’m talking about are in western Europe and North America. For the most part, many, many people aspire to immigrate to countries in one of these two continents. There’s the immigration crisis in Europe, where Africans arrive illegally (for those that actually are lucky to make it) in massive numbers, overwhelming the governments of certain countries. Many of them die on the way, and as of recently, some of them have become…oh well you watch the news.

In North America, the most common example is of citizens from different Latin American countries illegally entering the US or overstaying their visa limit (as is also the case in Europe).

What do all these people risking life and limb look for by coming to these countries? Freedom, security and opportunity. Aung San Suu Kyi once observed: “Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.”

She wasn’t wrong and I completely agree with her on this. Constantly watching the news and going home recently (more on this later), made me understand some things more clearly at 25 years old, than they would’ve at 20 or even 22.

Living in Canada on a student visa, then work visa, I’m never completely at peace, no matter how comfortable or relaxed I try to be. There’s always this thought in the back of my mind that my visa is running out and that I need to do something about it. It’s like the sword of Damocles is constantly hanging over me.

This affects my life in more ways than one and more than I’d like it to. The stress seeps into my day to day, mercilessly. I can’t really focus 100% on being a dream chaser because I have visa issues (read: my future) to worry about. It’s a financially draining problem that I can’t even begin to explain.

So when I see observe certain people here, the US, the UK or elsewhere in Europe, who don’t have worry about these issues, squandering their opportunity I can’t help, but be a little irritated. Here you are with the license to be whatever you want to be, with the freedom to enjoy opportunity and security and everything else your country has to offer, and you’re doing what? Oh please.

I can’t blame them though, if they’ve always been in this situation, then it’s all they know and I cannot expect them to relate to something they probably have no idea even exist.

I know what that freedom and security is worth, and I only know it because I had the incredible luck of having visionary parents. So for those who have had the incredible luck of being a citizen of these coveted countries, recognize that it’s a huge commodity, especially in 2018. This is just the truth.

I’ve seen friends overstress because of visas, they looked unrecognizable. I’ve spent days in defeat, mentally blaming God for advantaging certain people and not others, and getting ready to just give up everything. It took me a while to get out of that way of thinking.

Now, even though it’s not perfect, I’ve learned to play the cards I’m dealt, without complaining or believing the grass is greener somewhere else. I still have my weak moments, but they are fewer and far between.

That’s the right mindset to have, even though it’s not always an easy one. Which is why my biggest priority in life, my obsession almost, is to not waste this freedom, opportunity and security.

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