Chicago - A place to be!
Year
of migration
|
#
of immigrants, and refugees
|
1971
- 1980
|
164,175
|
1981
- 1990
|
250,786
|
1991
– 2000
|
365,604
|
2001 - 2004
|
267, 081
|
Immigration is a major
component in the lives of many Asians (Indians) – why they come here, what they
do, how many come, and what exactly happens to them after they get here.
There are multiple programs initiated by the Indo –American
center to promote the well-being of South Asian Americans and immigrants
through services that facilitate their adjustment, integration, and friendship
with the wider society, nurture their sense of community and foster
appreciation for their heritage and culture.
Post-independence (1947) in India, we have English literacy
in both government and public schools. Schools also give us an option to learn
another language; be it a local Indian language or Spanish or French or German
in our middle and high schools. Students in India are exposed to more than two
languages during their childhood and are comfortable in either. Post college, many of us, migrate to the US to study, work or lead a comfortable life. Here, the quality of life is much better and so are the opportunities.
It interested me in your word choice to use alarming when you said, “The numbers of people who have migrated from India is an alarming number”. After saying that you go on to say that after receiving an education they move to the US. Is this what is alarming to you? That Indian’s that are receiving an education are not staying in India to progress the country? I would have found it interesting if you have voiced why you thought it was alarming that Indian’s are moving to America.
ReplyDeleteI love that you connected the reading to your own life experiences! It is wonderful that the Hart-Cellar Immigration Act and the Indo-American Center have both provided the means for immigrants to explore new lives here in our windy city. A lot of Assyrians migrated in the 70's and 80's to Chicago for the same reasons you've listed. I read Paul's comment, and I also wonder if all the educated people leaving India are hindering India's development. But at the same time, I am sure the people who come here are bettering themselves for their families and sending money back home. This post reminds me of our conversation when we were walking by the Jane Addams Hull House that is on campus. It is basically the 1889 version of the Indo-American Center for European immigrants. It is wonderful that so many programs still exist to help new comers become adjusted to American life, finding housing, and educate them on social and educational life in America.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Chicago is a wonderfully diverse city with great resources to tap into for various cultures. This is one of the main reasons I think I still live here despite the severely cold winters! I wonder how India stacks up against other immigrants in terms of numbers of immigrants as well as the total Indian population here in the U.S. I also think that it's interesting that as the world has become more global, other countries are requiring English be taught to their citizens. This acceptance of English into their cultures seems like something we could replicate here in the U.S. not necessarily in terms of mandating the U.S. citizens learn other languages of at least display acceptance of other people's languages. As educators, we need to make sure that we keep nurturing the youth in a way that respects their culture and also teach formal English use (and when/where to it should be used).
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