When the new decade of 1980 rolled in, our family plans had already been firmed up, ready for execution.
The entire family had decided that our migration to the US, to unite with the rest of the family of the wife would go into full swing. And so as the new year commenced, everybody immersed themselves in the preparations for the long, arduous and historic trip away from the old homeland. Away from the familiarities, expectations, and standards we had all been used to since birth. Away from the security and comforts accorded by the old homeland.
Since the move had already been decided much earlier, there is then no need to delve into the whys and wherefores for the migration. After a long and thorough thinking and weighing of all possible implications, it was the decision to migrate that finally came out.
The initial step taken would be securing our passports and visas for the trip. And so photos were taken and the one above was precisely the one used in my initial passport. It showed a rather pensive guy, obviously burdened by the manifold ramifications of such a move. The attendant fears and insecurities weighing heavily on my shoulders as we embarked as a family of six, with 4 minor children with ages ranging from 11 to 6 years, in a long journey of thousands of miles
Like a well-prepared soldier, I looked neat, fit, and in the pink of health even though already past my 30's. I had reasonably managed and controlled my prevailing physical health issues, from my pared-down thyroids to the congenital heart condition that I had been carrying since childhood. So here I was ready for the expected rigors, and this shared by the rest of the family. Visits to the doctors and dentists already done early on. Financial affairs marked and winded down to the last t. Proper clothing for the changing environment noted and secured. Etc.
And so after countless preparatory moves, the actual dates came into view with the trip being divided into 2 phases. In June of the same year, the wife and the 2 elder children were first to go. And they would then stay with my mother-in-law in San Francisco. A few months later, I with the twins left behind would follow suit. And as planned, by the end of August, the entire family was reunited, now in the cool environment of the famous city of San Francisco.
As expected, the initial months and years would be periods of great challenges, sacrifices, and some frustration and regrets. Many of our unresolved fears would come into fruition and my innate timidity would offer more obstacles to our eventual assimilation into the local community. But we did all persist and were able to survive all the impediments thrown at us.
And this allowed us also to be creative in our approaches to the goals that we had wanted to attain. For one we threw aside a number of perceived impediments that migrants like us were said to be subjected and thus would not be able to surmount easily or expeditiously. And because of this, many in turn were amazed and surprised at the early achievements that we had garnered. One big one was our ability to own our own house barely going 3 years into our stay there. This ability opened a lot of doors for us to improve our economic and financial status. As more doors for profitable investments were opened for us. This in spite of having 4 minor kids to also care for.
To make a story short, that migration took a lifespan of over a quarter of century before it was decided to relocate back to the old homeland. And that we did, except all the kids and their new families are still there, all gathered together in the great state of California.
