Living in a foreign land, doing the best I can.

I am an avid follower of what’s what in the country south of us as it greatly influences so of our politics and policies up here in the great white north. I initially had plans to see every corner of the states one day, or at least a lot more of it. So far I’ve seen New York to Florida, LA, Las Vegas, and New Orleans but have not had the pleasure of what’s in between. Hopefully one day I will see more of your beautiful country. I cannot help thinking of the families who have now lost a father or brother, because they were most likely in the US on a migrant work visa so that they could send some money home to their families, working at jobs that americans may not want to do. It reminded me of going on a road trip post pandemic once the border had re-opened and finding little to no staff in the various restaurants we went into. So many of these jobs are staffed by students on study visas, not because they want to steal anyone’s job, but because those are the low paying jobs that are unfilled by the population, and easy to find. To study in another country is more expense, as universities charge foreign students a higher rate, helping fund the universities in general. 

What it must take to leave your family behind and go to another country to find employment. If only there was a way to make a living wage in the country of origin, I am sure these people would much prefer to be at home with their family, to watch their children grow, to spend time with aging parents. To take a job filling potholes on a bridge at 1:30 in the morning, you must want your children to have a good, or at least better life than you. My thoughts are with these families, I hope they know that people have deep respect for those who do the work that many of us do not want. 

As you are out and about today, take notice of those who serve you. Serve you coffee at the drive through, Lunch at your favourite pick-up joint, Taxis, Uber, road crews, repair persons, everyone you cross paths with today. Each and every one of us is trying to get by, provide, do good by our families. Everyone deserves our respect as long as they are playing by the rules and doing their part to support themselves wherever possible. 

With Easter comes new beginnings, new life, new growth, let us grow in kindness and understanding and especially compassion.