Cultural Elements an Immigrant Misses

Curiously, after leaving behind our country, our people and our culture, we begin to miss a lot of things, including things we never really missed while living there.

While we still live at home... eating out with friends we won’t order sancocho, ajiaco or any other typical food, since we usually tend to try new things and know a little more about other cultures while being at home. This also relates to the large number of international restaurants present in our cities (some more than in others).

It is the same case in the cultural aspect. We anxiously anticipate the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro, the frequent famous plays and shows by international artists. We also take for granted the publications, weekly magazines, etc.

But when we are no longer in our country, we long for the things that somehow defined our childhood. We crave those tastes, smells, the landscape and especially the people. Although we took these things for granted, we now seem to wish and yearn for them even more.

Sometimes we get to dream or think about things that make us feel a little closer, silently recalling those sweet memories.

I believe that it is all part of a normal process in which we must think about all the good things we had at that moment, and which we somehow didn’t make the most of or appreciate the way we should have.

In other words, we no longer yearn for foreign things or what we already have –because they are close to us; On the contrary, we begin to realize our country has a lot of nice and positive things that could be easily compared with the goods and specialties of any other culture… We simply didn’t take the time to realize how proud we should have been about our homeland.

In addition to that, an important touch and a balance that is hard to achieve, just as many things in life: the acrobatic act that signifies to live and enjoy the environment and culture of a different country, without leaving behind the roots which make us what we are, but without being obsessed for what is abroad. It could prevent us from growing new roots, where our children are growing up and where our future lies. Just as everything in life, multiple options, experiences and alternatives make us better, but we have to handle them correctly so they play on our side and not being a senseless anchor to a nostalgic past, but a positive and enriching thought that makes us really proud.

Our mission at El Telefono Rojo is to keep you closer to those people and cultural roots so that you can stay in touch and not lose the memories of where you came from. For more information, go to www.eltelefonorojo.com, the best way to keep you connected with your friends and family back home.