HOW TO BECOME INVISIBLE. Whenever I could, being the good old journalist that I am, I would write about what I?ve experienced and what I?ve observed Being an immigrant who did not speak the language of my new home, but was educated in my native country, I know first-hand about being misjudged and dismissed. Immigrants try their best to fit in, going against the reality of exclusion in all its forms: social, economic and cultural. The challenge for newcomers is not just to find a job, but to find a purpose for this new life, the right cause worthy of fighting for, and a way to contribute. People immigrate to America from around the world with a preconceived vision that is very far from the reality of their evolving new life. I was one of them. Leaving your native country for whatever reason and trying to make it in another is obviously not easy because the culture, language, and traditions are so different. Unfamiliarity and the sense of being alone, away from loved ones, plus the desire to go back home, constantly permeate your thinking. Knowing that it is not feasible is heartbreaking. It is the people you meet along the way that can unknowingly give you the strength to continue. Each new person you meet brings something to the table, each one like a piece of a puzzle that all together forms a beautiful picture; each one trusting that whatever they contribute is unique and important so things can go smoothly. This realization keeps you going, especially at work, performing tasks that you?ve never done before. My eyes are closed and my pen struggles to release memory to share the experience of climbing the stairs of life?s lessons. If you are climbing, it is always good to look back without asking others to have pity on your struggle. Climbing the stairs of life requires courage to take the steps one by one with peace and love. The days go by and the silence is still there: we work, look, listen, meditate, and observe while there is time. Being an observer is like a lesson of wisdom with flexible rules, giving you the opportunity to become invisible while you learn and grow. I started my first job in the kitchen, carrying the food as well as washing dishes. Under the quiet gaze of my supervisor, while performing my duties, I observed and reflected about all the people around me ? coworkers, supervisors, and the clients we were there to serve. Sometimes life?s circumstances force us to stay behind the curtains, But this becomes a place of observation that is enriching. Godfroy Boursiquot
