You are all alone in the world
Far far away from Your family
You were born a boy. And grew up, knowing that one day you needed to leave your family, your friends, your home. To work in Europe or USA. To make money, to send back to your family.
Expectations are high. There is sometimes no food. At times no money for school fee. Often no money for medicine. And they all put their hope on you. You and your brother.
They don’t understand. They live still in their home, under the warm sun, always in company with family and friends. Food is cheap. Clothes is affordable. As long as you send money to them. Then life is a little easier.
And you need to make your mother proud. You need to work as hard as you can. To send what you can and save what is left, so that one day you can build a house of your own and start your family.
What else is there? To be a man, to accomplish what your father and other men around you have accomplished. How? You were not sure growing up. They seemed to have a nice life - over there. They came for vacation, with lots of money and new clothes. They seemed to had made it.
What you didn't know then, but know now, is that it meant taking jobs that most other people don’t want. Or making money doing things most people don’t need to do. And then work as hard as you can, save and take it all with you when you come to visit. Because there are so many people who needs at least something in their hands. Because if you don’t give them anything, people will start talking about you, telling everybody that you are greedy and selfish. Because of course you are successful over there. How can it not be? You send so much money, you come with so much money.
They don’t know the loneliness you have in your heart. They don’t know how little you actually have - over there.
You miss your mother. You miss your family and your friends. But you try to manage where you are. Spend time laughing, smoking, drinking - when you are not working. To pass time. Until. Until what? You have enough and can finally return?
I wish the best for you, in this horrible system we live in. I wish the best for you and I just want you to know that you are not totally alone here. I understand.
