From Struggle to Success: My Journey Here
He took a drag off his cigarette. His furrowed eyebrows showed his frustration. I ran towards him, having no clue what was bothering him. He took out the few coins he had in his wallet filled with photographs and ordered me an ice cream. He put out his cigarette, grabbed his pen, and briskly went back to writing in his notebook.
My uncle is the most passionate person I know and a talented writer. But writing cannot support a family in Albania. Journalism is evidently facing a crisis worldwide, and a particularly bad one in my country. Hardworking and gifted, my uncle suffered most of his life and never had job security. Someone who gets a job in Albania either has money for bribes or political connections. This corruption is common and affects honest families: my uncle’s was one of them. The pressure to keep food on the table weighed on him and, unable to secure an income, he had to give up his lifelong dreams.
He chuckled and jokingly told me, “You better publish this as soon as you get to the U.S.” His eyebrows relaxed. He closed his notebook, took my hand, and we left the cafe.
Everything in Albania was mediocre. Schools were all the same level. People did not try to succeed or have goals because they had no jobs to look forward to. I personally noticed this first in my uncle. Seeing him work so hard and go nowhere discouraged me. He had courage, dreams, and talent, but no hope. See, my country was experiencing a transition from a communist system to a democratic one. It was a time of corruption, bribery, and theft. My peers were unmotivated, and this stifling environment pushed my family to seek better opportunities, away from our motherland. What helped me stay focused was the knowledge that I would soon immigrate to the U.S. It made me keep working because I had a potential future waiting for me. I, unlike my classmates and uncle, had hope.
After ten years of persevering, my family and I were lucky enough to move here. Of course, like all immigrants, we took time to adapt. It was summer, so my brother and I only had a month to get ready for school. We had to find a good school quickly, and to improve our English. It already felt different from Albania just knowing there were so many school options. Excited for the new journey, I started my freshman year. It was difficult to communicate; I was afraid to speak knowing I would be ridiculed for my poor English and heavy accent. My classmates’ influence, though, was a reason I thrived. They worked hard and were concerned about their futures. This created competition, something schools in Albania lacked. It forced me to aim higher. I can recall countless times when I skipped fun events to go home and prepare double the time regular students did. Now, I have a better work ethic, and reaching higher is simply my habit. After a shaky start, I prospered, and it was all worth it.
Whenever I think about my struggles, I remember what my parents went through. They left their comfortable home where they were surrounded by a loving, supportive family. They knew they likely could not achieve the American Dream themselves, but came here so my brother and I might. They went from being homeowners to renting a tiny apartment in a run-down neighborhood, from working in offices to having to hustle multiple jobs, from knowing everything about their culture to struggling to communicate.
I just got off Skype with my uncle. He got a new job at a newspaper. He spent an hour avidly explaining his ideas about his next article. But, I could see unsatisfied longing in his eyes. He knew this situation was not going to last. I, on the other hand, felt lucky not to be afraid to dream.
Comment:
My experience with re-writing and translating this piece was quite interesting. It really felt like full circle in the class and it was both a challenging and enjoyable experience. As I was deep into the process, I realized that capturing and conveying the same emotions in a different language required a deep understanding and connection to the original piece. Translating emotions accurately was demanding but a lot of fun as I explored nuances, cultural references, and linguistic notions that needed to be carefully considered. This exploration of the depths of languages and the perfect words to recreate an emotional impact was a great adventure to take on. This piece and the class overall allowed me to immerse myself in the rich language that Albanian is and I will be forever grateful. While it was challenging, the process was so fulfilling and satisfying and it deepened my appreciation for both languages and the intricate ways in which they shape and convey our emotions, especially intimate ones.
Where is Albania?
Me! Excited for America since a youngin…
All that I am or ever hope to be // I owe to these two
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