My kids once asked me, "What is the difference between an immigrant and a refugee?"
An immigrant moves to another country to live there permanently. A refugee escapes the birth country because of political or religious persecution. Events such as war displace a country's citizens and endows them with a refugee status.
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| photo credit: Don Sheffler |
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| My blanket displayed at the Smart Museum in Chicago |
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| Can you spot the red,white, blue and yellow blanket? |
In a recent visit to Washington D.C, a friend of mine went to the Smithsonian, and posted on social media a picture of a plaque describing why there are many Filipinos in the United States.
http://www.history.com/topics/us-immigration-since-1965
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| photo credit: Eric Leones |
I immigrated to the United States in 1989. Later in the year, the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a teenager, I witnessed the upheaval of Philippine society with the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. To this day, these two events define my perception of People Power.
In the summer of 1989, I landed in Los Angeles to the sound of the stewardess announcing,"Welcome to Los Angeles. It is 8:00 pm." I look out the window in disbelief. It was still light out, how could it be night time? In the Philippines, the sun sets at 6 pm.
I carried two large bags woven from native hemp material. In those bags, I packed as many clothes, books and souvenirs. I realized that they were too heavy, and I stopped to eye a long train of dollies. After some thought, I reached into my pocket and relinquished my one and only dollar to the slot, releasing a dolly to ease my burden. Thus, I arrived to America totally penniless.
My mom and uncle picked me up from the airport. "Did you receive the money I sent?" asked my mom. I shook my head. Back then snail mail took weeks, and wiring money was unheard of.
Although I spoke English and was armed with a college education, I was not immune to the prejudices that immigrants experience. I still remember the first time I walked into a supermarket. I was looking for oatmeal, and asked the clerk where I could find Quaker Oats. In the Filipino language, our vowels are rounded, A-E-I-O-U are pronounced as such. So the clerk heard "Quacker" when I asked for "Quaker." He finally understood what I meant when I said, "It's the oatmeal with the picture of an old man with a blue hat."
Even among Filipinos, there is a fine line between the locals, who were born here, and the FOBs. My cousin, although he was kind to me, explained that my accent gave me away as "fresh off the boat."
"But I came by plane," I protested, showing him the Philippine Airlines spoon that I kindly asked the stewardess to keep as a souvenir.
Acculturating took many years, and it still continues to the day. Some people think that the US is the greatest country in the world, with well-meant intentions as they welcome immigrants "to the land flowing with milk and honey". What they do not know is that people like me are lactose-intolerant, and honey is not as sweet as sugar cane.
Twenty eight years later, I realize that I have been in the United States longer than I have lived in my native country. I had come to love the country because this is my life now, the country where my children are born, and the country that rewards hard work and perseverance.
In the ongoing debates about immigration, many have spoken for the refugees and for the immigrants. In social media, a new term has arisen - craftivism. One calls for 3200 blankets to comprise 2000 miles, representing the border between the US and its southern neighbor. Each blanket, measuring 40" x 40", will be displayed in the Smart Museum in the University of Chicago. After the exhibit, the blankets will be distributed to a new immigrant or refugee.
https://www.welcomeblanket.org/
I started with the colors red white and blue - the colors of the US flag. Then I realized 3,199 other people might have that same idea. I decided to include the sun and stars from the Philippine flag. Coincidentally, while crocheting, I listened to an audiobook called "Forty Autumns,"by Nina Willner, which chronicled the stories of her family separated by the Berlin Wall. How timely is the reminder that instead of building walls, we must remember the famous challenge. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
This is my blanket, the fusion of my two cultures.
https://www.reference.com/geography/symbolism-expressed-philippine-flag-5195717e242befe3#
