No Boundaries: Exploring Strategies and solutions for Life in Diaspora

Get A Grip

2011-06-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

Get a Grip: Practicing Self-Care

The second “G” of the Three G’s method involves practicing self-care. Self-care is usually not a high priority for new immigrants who are struggling to survive in a foreign country. Yet without self-care, the migrant is not likely to achieve much success in the host country, in the long term. One needs stable psychological and physical health in order to hurdle the obstacles of life in Diaspora. Emotional strength and mental stamina are created through self care, which involves such aspects as: dealing with grief, seeking professional help when necessary, creating social support networks, learning to de-stress, and maintaining good physical health.

Allowing the Grief Process

The issue of grief and loss is a major part of the migrant life experience. Grief and loss are emotional states that need to be acknowledged and then adequately mourned. The feelings cannot be ignored or shut away inside but must be consciously processed in order for the migrant to successfully adjust and adapt to life in the new country. Mourning what has changed and what is gone is a necessary part of this adjustment. Mourning is not a sign of weakness--it is a normal and necessary process. In order to get past the grief, one needs to go through it.

Individuals vary in their response to mourning. While most people would associate mourning with crying, emotional release can be accomplished through a variety of other ways such as talking, writing, meditating, engaging in art or dance and practicing meaningful rituals. It is important that migrants take the time to process the grief they hold, in whatever manner that is appropriate for them.

Grief might be on-going, especially in the initial post migration period. In other cases, grief might appear only sporadically, as when a face on the street seems oddly familiar, or a fragrance or sound suddenly reminds one of something back home. Although grief and loss are normal emotions, if the feelings become too intense or obsessive, one may need to seek professional help to cope with them. If feelings of grief interrupt one’s ability to stay focused and accomplish the tasks of everyday life, then it is probably time to look for outside help.

Seeking Professional Help

As was discussed in the previous articles, one study of migrants found that a significant per cent suffered from some sort of clinical psychological condition. Depression, anxiety, grief/loss and isolation are normal emotions for migrants to experience, but when these conditions become overwhelming, migrants need to reach out and seek professional help. Furthermore, should Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) be evident, migrants need to find help immediately.

In most democratic Western countries, free services exist that offer mental health counseling to those who cannot afford to pay. This may become complicated if asylum cases are pending, because various countries withhold health services until the cases are resolved. However, should government services be denied, other types of non-state services do exist for migrants. Run by fellow migrants or individuals sympathetic to their plight, these services can be highly effective, and in some cases, perhaps even more helpful than the formal state-sponsored services. Migrants searching for non-government services can look for information and referrals at medical centers, telephone crisis lines, refugee organizations, Churches or by doing a local search on the Internet.

Many migrants with conditions such as PTSD may be afraid to ask for help, due to the stigma attached to mental illness. Yet left untreated, PTSD does not cure itself and will often worsen over time. Also, the longer it is left untreated, the harder it is to treat the disorder. As a result, seeking help immediately can effectively prevent future complications from developing.

In some cases, PTSD sufferers avoid seeking out psychiatrists due to fear of, or aversion to, taking drugs. However, PTSD is typically treated without drugs, using psychotherapy (talk therapy) and other safe, classic healing techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). No drugs are necessary and in most cases, are not warranted.

Along with access to adequate food, housing and employment, excellent medical care is one of the benefits available to those living in the West. Migrants would be in good stead to make use of it while they can. In order to rebuild themselves, most African countries require Diasporas consisting of strong and psychologically healthy people, not a group of exiles haunted by trauma, anxiety and depression. By helping themselves recover from trauma, individual migrants are also inadvertently helping to rebuild the homeland.

Creating Social Support Networks

One of the mainstays of clinical psychology is that social support plays a huge role in maintaining emotional health. Making friends and joining groups, clubs or organizations are not merely enjoyable activities; they are requirements for good health. Social support is paramount to surviving stress, dealing with grief and loss issues and maintaining good psychological health. Due to the hardships they have survived, migrants need to talk about their problems and to tell their story--it is imperative that migrants have people around them who will listen to them in a non-judgmental fashion. Therefore, social support goes a long way to help migrants cope with feelings of loneliness, isolation and marginalization.

Migrants should make every effort to join or create a local community of support, and seek out a network of friends in their neighborhood, church or ethnic club. Men, especially, might have a difficult time admitting they need social support but it is crucial that they accept this fact if they wish to achieve success in their new country. In the previous article on the discussion of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it was shown that those in Diaspora have a particularly difficult time achieving the needs-levels of love/belonging and self-esteem. Social support goes a long way toward fulfilling both those levels and can help the individual achieve self-actualization. Social support also makes economic sense--studies show that the presence of social networks in the destination country is vital for a successful post-migration period.[i] If one wishes to “make it” in the new host country, one needs to quickly tap into a pre-existing social network.

No life is perpetually smooth, and when times of trouble set in, migrants need to be able to rely upon others--to care for them when illness strikes, to provide references for acquiring employment or housing, or to pass on useful information about the new country. Similarly, migrants need a social network so that they can care for others, too--a sense of satisfaction and belonging is derived from helping others. Acting in altruistic ways and helping those in need provides one with a feeling of strength and cultivates a sense of meaning in life. Consequently, migrants need to work on actively cultivating meaningful friendships. Although already pressed for time and energy due to education and employment obligations, migrants still need to put effort into maintaining social networks because it is in their best interests to do so. Effort needs to be put into maintaining social networks, just as one would put effort into working or shopping for food, because it is these networks that may be one’s best survival strategy while abroad.

Learning to De-stress

As pointed out earlier, migrants face an enormous amount of chronic stress, due to socioeconomic pressures, immigration status anxieties, culture shock, the double life existence and the toxicity of daily life in western society. Therefore, migrants will need to learn to deal with stress on a daily basis in order to cope with pressure and avoid health problems. Some effective ways to deal with stress are:

Talking it Out

As discussed above, social support is vital in one’s arsenal against stress. Talking about problems, venting and reaching out to others for help is key. Persons who have experienced trauma especially need to tell their stories to people whom they can trust. If migrants are unable to find social support in person, they can also turn to telephone crisis lines or Internet forums to find the support they need.

Breathing Exercises

The fastest way to immediately de-stress is to take a few deep breaths. Throughout the day, physical and emotional tension can be released by using slow, steady diaphragmatic breathing. The best method is to ensure that the diaphragm pushes out while inhaling and recedes upon exhaling. Breathe in to a count of six seconds, and then exhale to another count of six seconds, repeating the technique for a minute or two.

Meditation

Meditating is one of the most ancient forms of stress management and can involve breathing techniques such as the one just described, or other spiritual techniques used to focus the mind. There are many books that teach specific kinds of meditation. One can also simply sit quietly, gazing into nature or at a beautiful piece of art. The goal is to stop the warp-speed pace of the day, quiet the emotions and still the mind for an extended period of time.

Developing Spirituality or Practicing a Faith

Practicing a religion or a spiritual tradition can help one to develop trust, resilience, courage, gratitude, faith in positive outcomes and patience--all useful traits for dealing with life in Diaspora. The daily practice of religious or spiritual rituals is also calming and soothing.

Physical Exercise

Assuming one’s job is not already too physically consuming, physical exercise is an excellent way to burn off stress and frustration. Playing sports with friends or simply taking a brisk walk can bring numerous benefits to the body, mind and spirit. For those who are exhausted at the end of a long workday, gentle stretching or yoga-like exercises can help re-energize the body and relax the mind.

Listening to Music

Music that is pleasant and soothing can help the mind and body to calm down. Music can also help process difficult emotions, and transform mood. For relaxation, choose lulling classical pieces, instrumental music or pieces without a beat. To transform mood, start by playing music that is similar to one’s mood (for example, a discordant, aggressive piece for anger) then switch to a piece that reflects the mood one wants to create, such as a happy, upbeat tune or tranquil melody.

Taking Life One Day at a Time

When life becomes too difficult, and worry about the impending future becomes too great, it is important to remember to take things one day at a time (or one hour at a time or even one minute at a time, if circumstances feel particularly overwhelming.) Excessive worry about the future can become emotionally crippling. It is more helpful to keep focused on today. Dale Carnegie once said, “Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” During the war in 1939, the British government created a motivational slogan that has recently gained popularity once again: “Keep calm and carry on.” Seventy years later, it is still the perfect mantra for life in the stress-filled West.

Play and Humor

Play is not something just for children. Recreation and leisure time help keep adult lives balanced and whole, and add creative spark to the spirit. Taking moments out of the day to engage in activities that are enjoyable can help reduce stress and restore pleasure to the process of life. As far as the situation allows, it is important to strive to maintain a sense of humor. Black humor (humor geared toward the darker side of life) can go a long way toward helping one de-stress and cope with the difficult aspects of our experience. Humor and a sense of irony can be especially useful when dealing with culture shock and cultural adaptation--just ask US president Clinton, who, when making a televised speech in Moscow in 1994, unwittingly set off a political and cultural maelstrom. Clinton made a hand signal by joining the thumb and forefinger to form a circle--a gesture that amongst Americans means, “OK.” Little did he know that to the Russians, the hand signal meant something entirely different and that he had unintentionally given the entire Russian nation an obscene gesture? The moral of this story? Making mistakes in a new country is inevitable. Consequently, maintaining a sense of humor can help one deal with these errors and can lighten up some of the darker moments in life.

Techniques for dealing with stress are relatively simple. What isn’t simple is sticking with them. Regular practice is what makes them effective, as opposed to sporadic use. Practicing the methods outlined above throughout each day will help to create positive results in the long-term.

Maintaining Good Physical Health Habits

Young, energetic and on the go in a new country, migrants are not likely to be paying much attention to their physical health. Food is plentiful in the new host country and the migrant now has money to buy it, so the chief health problem of the past--chronic malnourishment--has ceased to be an issue for most.

However, in highly developed countries, where much of the food available is innutritious and disease promoting, it is easy to fall in line with the bad habits of other Westerners and start eating a poor diet. The typical western diet is high in caffeine, sugar and over-processed food devoid of nutrition. This diet gives one a huge energy rush to get through the hectic workday, but the energy provided is not consistent, and in the long run, is harmful to the body. Eating proper meals with lean protein and vegetables will provide more energy, more consistently. One simple but effective rule to live by is: eat something green every day, preferably raw. This does not require hours of shopping and cooking and can help stave off some serious health issues down the road. Eating properly also makes one feel better emotionally. The body and mind become calmer and more energized to meet the rigorous demands of daily life.

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Creating Successful Economic Strategies

2011-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Get A Plan:

The final “G” of the Three G’s method has to do with taking action and implementing economic strategies. Successful strategies to get ahead include re-evaluating and re-educating; seeking out available programs and services; setting up an achievable goal; and uniting to fight against structural oppression.

Reassess, Re-Evaluate and Re-Educate

Once migrants have recovered from misconceptions about life in Diaspora, they can begin to reassess their future. Upon arrival in the destination country, most migrants will usually have to re-evaluate their skills and consider re-training or re-educating. Studies have shown that one of the factors that help most in the initial post-migration period is to have a high level of skills. Furthermore, according to studies in the UK and South Africa, 30 per cent of migrants go on to obtain a new qualification in the host country. These trends suggest that upon arrival in the destination country, migrants need to be prepared to re-train, re-educate or change occupations.

In order to avoid dead-end ghetto-ized jobs and succeed beyond subsistence living, migrants will need to analyze the job market and attempt to supply a demand in the host country. They will also need to learn to exploit opportunities. This will require migrants to obtain some business knowledge in order to study the economy, find and fill a niche, or become an entrepreneur. Those who lack the entrepreneurial spirit and have no desire to strike out on their own should at least be willing to retrain or change occupations.

Research What Help is Available

In most Western democratic countries, free programs and services exist to help refugees and immigrants in need. These include programs and services that provide assistance with employment, education, housing, health, legal counsel family relocation and recovery from trauma. But because these programs are costly to run and limited in funding, most governments are not quick to advertise the fact that assistance is on offer. Consequently, it is left to the migrant to search and uncover what help is available. Migrants (even those who are undocumented) should never assume that help in unavailable. Even in some of the most un-inviting locations within the Diaspora, services exist to provide help to those in need. Existing help may be meager, but it can make a huge difference to those in dire straits.

More often than not, scholarships exist to help fund education, programs are available to provide benefits to unemployed workers and free counseling is offered to migrants with mental health issues. Yet migrants may be unaware that these programs exist in the host country, even after residing there for some time, and complicated government bureaucracies can make assistance appear unreachable. For example, undocumented seasonal migrant workers in South Africa are eligible for unemployment benefits during the off-season—the taxes are automatically deducted from their wages. But most migrants are unaware that they are eligible for these benefits. Most have been lead to believe that only South African natives are eligible, when in reality, undocumented migrants can claim these benefits needing nothing more than a proof of work contract.[i]

Therefore, upon arrival in the destination country, migrants need to put careful effort into researching what programs are available. When the migrant has exhausted all possibilities of government services, they can then turn to seeking out non-government and non-for-profit sources. Good locations to place inquiries are:

Employment centers

Humanitarian organizations

Mental health service centers

Women’s shelters

Education campuses

Churches and other religious institutions

Many of these places have programs, services and information specifically for immigrants or can at least act as referral centers to point toward agencies that can provide further assistance.

2011-05-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad

Exploring strategies and solutions for life in diaspora
By Nobel Pasi

Learn What Every Immigrant of Zimbabwe Should Know about Surviving & Thriving in a Foreign Country!

No Boundaries offers penetrating insights into the struggles of everyday life in the Diaspora, along with solutions to the challenges of living abroad. Part psychological self-help guide and part sociological analysis, No Boundaries is a must-read for every Zimbabwean migrant, as well as those wishing to migrate and those relatives and friends left behind.

“The book, No Boundaries is a fine read. It has excellent tools on how to deal with stress and ostracism. I felt overwhelmed by the way the book provokes you into thinking and engaging with the author on his discoveries and research. I absolutely enjoyed reading the book and as someone in the diaspora I found my mind wondering away to some things I experienced and asked myself, “If I had this book, would I have done things differently.” (Owen Mujuru, Perth, Australia)
“I found the book quite interesting and as I was reading I would pause and say Wow!!! this is so true because I personally experienced most of what the author discussed, such as difficulties with fitting in (with the host country society) and depression and stressful everyday life.”
(Simon Msara, London, UK)

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From the desk of: Nobel M. Pasi

Whether you're a Zimbabwe immigrant living in a foreign country OR you're serious about trying to make a difference in the current crisis in Zimbabwe, you MUST keep reading…

Are you looking to move to a foreign country and worry about the cultural differences and how they will affect you? Are you a native of Zimbabwe already living as an immigrant in a different country and are having difficult assimilating into your new environment?
My name is Nobel Pasi and I know what it's like to leave the comfort of a country you know and how easy it is to move to a new country and face nothing but struggles. Still, for many Zimbaweans, the move to another country is a necessary part of life!
While native Zimbabweans grieve what they lost, those same migrants abroad are sustaining relatives back home with a modest but consistent cash flow. The Diaspora’s income is helping to shore up the desperately fragile Zimbabwean economy for those that are left home.
Necessity, But at a Cost. How Do You Survive?
Migrating to a new country can not only be exciting, but it can be scary and have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem. You already know where you came from. You know what conditions you lived in, good and bad. You've built a reputation there and are comfortable with your environment.
But what will you find and how will you be treated when you live in a different country?
Remember, when you leave your native country and move somewhere else, you leave behind your reputation, the qualifications and skill level you acquired in your home country. You basically need to start from scratch! This can leave many immigrants feeling lonely and depressed as they struggle to be successful in a new country.
It can be terrifying. But with such a growing population of Zimbabwean's leaving their native land out of necessity, it was clear there was a need to show people what they can do to survive such a transition. I made it my mission to be a "fly on the wall" and learn as much as I could about what skills helped people succeed, and where these immigrants went wrong.
I talked to a wide number of people who were immigrants in other countries, and to those who'd stayed, about the importance of each role and how to make the most of it.
After months of research and discussion, I wrote No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora), a book that gives real solutions and strategies to achieve a fulfilling life for both immigrants and native Zimbabweans living in Diaspora.

Here's a preview of what you'll get…

Contemporary Zimbabwe: A Population on the Move
Disappointment and Disillusionment in the New Host Country
Get Real, Get a Plan, Get a Grip: Positive Coping Strategies for Life In Diaspora
From Surviving to Thriving
Living in Cultural Limbo Land (page 59) The Desire to Return and Should You
The Role of the Diaspora to the Motherland

And more!

No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora) will show you exactly what you need to know, the 3Gs of success, when leaving your native country and moving to a new locale. You'll learn real strategies you can use to help you thrive!

Creating Social Networks

2011-05-25T04:55:00.001-07:00

Creating Social Support Networks

Migrants should make every effort to join or create a local community of support, and seek out a network of friends in their neighborhood, church or ethnic club. Men, especially, might have a difficult time admitting they need social support but it is crucial that they accept this fact if they wish to achieve success in their new country. In the discussion of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it was shown that those in Diaspora have a particularly difficult time achieving the needs-levels of love/belonging and self-esteem. Social support goes a long way toward fulfilling both those levels and can help the individual achieve self-actualization. Social support also makes economic sense--studies show that the presence of social networks in the destination country is vital for a successful post-migration period. If one wishes to “make it” in the new host country, one needs to quickly tap into a pre-existing social network.

The Process of Cultural Identity Change

2011-05-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

The Process of Cultural Identity Change: Separation, Limen and Re- aggregation Applied to Migrants

After studying Ndembu culture, Turner went on to apply the concept of separation, limen and re- aggregation to other societies, including contemporary Western industrialized societies. There, he found the ritual stages operating in such unlikely areas as modern art, literature, theatre, sports and other recreational pastimes. Similarly, it is possible to take Turner’s views and apply them to cultural identity issues to migrants in Diaspora. Upon comparison, it is evident that the immigration process mimics the three stages of separation, limen and re-aggregation.

Most migrants tend to reside between two cultures. Like the Ndembu initiates, they have been removed from their culture and society in a process resembling Turner’s stage of separation. Migrants have also been transplanted into another country where they are expected to assimilate or re-aggregate into the new culture, complete with a new status, role and responsibilities. However, it is evident that many migrants are unable to do so. In many cases, re-aggregation is not fully achieved due to such things as immigration status problems. With no legal status and no access to certain privileges within the host

country, (such as the right to work or receive health care) undocumented migrants have great difficulty laying down roots and assimilating into the host culture. The same is the case for many asylum seekers whose cases are still pending. Xenophobia and racism can also prevent re - aggregation. The worse the xenophobia is within the host country, the harder it becomes for a foreigner to attach psychologically and economically to the society and develop a sense of belonging. As well, culture shock and grief issues that involve mourning the homeland can delay the process of adapting to the host culture and completing assimilation. Thus, being unable to fully participate in the new society while also being unable to return to the old society leaves many migrants in “cultural limbo.” Similar to the limen state that Turner describes, migrants are neither here nor there—they are stuck “betwixt and between” cultures, lacking in cultural identity. They are isolated and socially “invisible,” possessing no cultural status—a case that is especially true for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.

In rites of passage, the liminal phase is intended to be a temporary condition. It is not possible for an individual to live permanently in a state of limen, without some sort of identity. Lack of identity is confusing and causes psychological discord as well as the inability to fully function within a society. However, as we have seen, many migrants are forced to indefinitely reside “betwixt and between” cultures. What is the solution for them?

For many undocumented migrants working in the Diaspora, the solution lies in keeping a primarily homeland cultural identity. Because xenophobia is so high in some host countries, assimilation is difficult. Moreover, many migrants in some host countries tend to be seasonal laborers--agricultural workers who return home during the off-season. Subsequently, it is simpler for these migrants to label themselves as “foreign seasonal workers,” rather than new citizens of the host country—their cultural identity can remain unequivocally that of their homeland and they encounter no identity crisis.

But what about the rest of the Diaspora, who live further abroad and do not get the opportunity to visit home as frequently? And what about permanent residents or political refugees who have no option but to reside indefinitely in their host country? These members of the Diaspora live in a cultural “limbo land,” forced to struggle with two different cultural identities. The issue is further complicated by the fact that many in the Diaspora plan to migrate home some day. Those who plan to eventually return home would likely attempt to maintain their national identity throughout their residence abroad. Yet to do so can be extremely challenging. Time spent in Diaspora often unintentionally drags on for years or even decades. Immigrants in these circumstances often find themselves forced to make a choice between two cultures--a particularly painful and confusing dilemma. However, as the following section will demonstrate, the answer perhaps lies not in choosing one culture over the other, but in creating a new cultural identity based upon cultural integration and time.For More Information CLICK HERE

Allowing The Grief Process

2011-05-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Allowing the Grief Process

The issue of grief and loss is a major part of the migrant life experience. Grief and loss are emotional states that need to be acknowledged and then adequately mourned. The feelings cannot be ignored or shut away inside but must be consciously processed in order for the migrant to successfully adjust and adapt to life in the new country. Mourning is not a sign of weakness--it is a normal and necessary process. In order to get past the grief, one needs to go through it.

While most people would associate mourning with crying, emotional release can be accomplished through a variety of other ways such as talking, writing, meditating, engaging in art or dance and practicing meaningful rituals. It is important that migrants take the time to process the grief they hold, in whatever manner that is appropriate for them.

Grief might be on-going, especially in the initial post migration period. In other cases, grief might appear only sporadically, as when a face on the street seems oddly familiar, or a fragrance or sound suddenly reminds one of something back home. Although grief and loss are normal emotions, if the feelings become too intense or obsessive, one may need to seek professional help to cope with them especially If feelings of grief interrupt one’s ability to stay focused and accomplish the tasks of everyday life.

Seeking Professional Help

Depression, anxiety, grief/loss and isolation are normal emotions for migrants to experience, but when these conditions become overwhelming, migrants need to reach out and seek professional help. Furthermore, should Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) be evident, migrants need to find help immediately.

Migrants would be in good stead to make use of it while they can. By helping themselves recover from trauma, individual migrants are also inadvertently helping to rebuild the homeland.

The Immigrant Life: Life in Diaspora

2011-04-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Immigrant Experience: Life in Diaspora

Most immigrants arrive in their new host country with great expectations. They have said good-bye to friends and family, traveled long distances and taken huge risks to finally arrive at their destination--the new land of “milk and honey.” This new country, the immigrant have been told, holds a higher standard of living, plenty of work and opportunities galore. Compared to what the standard of living was like in their homeland, life in this new capitalist haven should be fantastic, right? Well, yes and no.

Even under the best circumstances, immigrating to a new country can be a harrowing experience. Life in diaspora is often more difficult than previously foreseen. No matter how well prepared one thinks one is, inevitably, there are things that will catch one by surprise. Bewilderment, confusion and eventually, disappointment can set in when reality meets fantasy--when the envisioned dream of life in the “promised land” and the day-to-day reality of life in the new host country do not match.

Upon entry into the country of destination, the migrant has to focus upon the major issues at hand: gaining resident status, employment and a place to live. However, even if the migrant has managed to acquire these fundamental necessities, a number of hurdles remain to be crossed--hurdles that are both psychosocial and economic in nature. To a large degree, the immigrant experience is shaped by how well one has prepared for these problems. An old saying states that, “to be forewarned, is to be forearmed.” Those who are unprepared will not fare as well as those who have pre-armed themselves with knowledge about the conflicts they will face, along with useful strategies to combat those conflicts--the knowledge plus action framework.

First, however, we turn to look at some of the psychosocial problems typically affecting immigrants’ life.

Psychosocial Issues Affecting Migrants

Grief and Loss Issues

Traveling hundreds of miles and separating from one’s family, home and culture can create tremendous feelings of loss. Even if the migrant is excited about emigrating and even if the situation at home was less than to be desired, there is still an accompanying sense of loss felt by the migrant--and loss always requires adequate mourning.

Letting go of the past and moving into the future can be an exciting adventure, but underneath the “adrenaline high” lies a great deal of sadness and physiological stress. Psychologists tell us that change always produces stress in one’s life. This happens to be the case even when the changes occurring are positive ones. Therefore, the emigration experience feels particularly overwhelming because there is change and concomitant stress in nearly every aspect of one’s life--geographic, economic, social and cultural. Feelings may run the gamut of both high and low extremes, all in the course of a single day. While the migrant may feel joy at their newfound opportunities, that joy is continually punctured by loneliness for loved ones back home and in some cases, a sense of guilt that the migrant is in a better place than those left behind.

Grief and loss issues are not limited to the immediate post-migration phase. It can take years to settle in to a new country of residence and during that entire period, grief issues can make themselves keenly felt. Furthermore, even though many migrants consider their life abroad as temporary, not knowing when one will return home produces an uncertainty about the future that further fuels feelings of sorrow.

Isolation

Isolation is an essential part of Diasporas’ life. A condition universal to any immigrant experience, it may be seen as one of the defining factors of living in exile. Isolation is a two-fold problem, and can be felt as isolation from other immigrants, and/or isolation from the native population in the host country.

Isolation from other immigrants is less likely to be a problem in certain destination countries such as South Africa or the UK..

The degree of isolation migrants experience in Diaspora depends upon on the immigrant status--those awaiting verdicts on asylum cases, those with temporary status and those who have no legal documentation are likely to feel a greater degree of isolation from the rest of the population than those who possess permanent legal status. Legal and permanent status affords one a sense of belonging and makes it easier to begin the process of laying down physical and psychological roots to the host country. For those without legal documentation, isolation will exist indefinitely and will be one of the foremost elements of their life in Diaspora, affecting all of their decisions and actions for as long as they reside in the host country.

While isolation is an experience usually felt by the individual migrant, marginalization is felt by the entire sub-population of migrants. As a group, foreigners are often marginalized--pushed to the fringes of society, where they remain, unaccepted by the native majority. Marginalization can also turn into discrimination and structuralized racism , whereby the migrant group is prevented from assimilating into, or advancing within, the host country. Both individual isolation and group marginalization can produce acute feelings of loneliness, which in turn enter into a cycle with grief and loss. Feelings of grief can trigger feelings of loneliness, which then lead to a sense of isolation. As well, the cycle is self-perpetuating and any element within it can trigger the other two elements.

Culture shock

Culture shock refers to the feelings of alienation and estrangement that accompany the process of learning to adapt to a new host culture. Even if one’s destination country speaks the same language that the immigrant is accustomed to, people in the new country will speak that language using different accents, dialects, euphemism and idioms. They will use unique body language or gestures and will behave in ways that the migrant is not accustomed to. Different cultures operate using different underlying normative assumptions. As a result, trying to adapt to a new culture can feel as if one is trying to learn the rules of an invisible system with no accompanying guidebook or manual--a frustrating and often bewildering experience.

For example, migrants may be puzzled by the me-oriented “cult of individualism” that pervades in the West. They may also be somewhat surprised by Westerners’ “worship” of youth and disregard for seniors. In turn, Western society, with its emphasis upon the nuclear family, will not easily understand the African practice of neither polygamy, nor the customary loyalty to extended family and the practice of supporting relatives back home. Furthermore, the excessive nudity and pornography found in European and North American culture may offend some immigrants, whose home culture tends to adopt a more modest approach. As a result, some migrants may view the standard behavior commonly found in the West as overly liberal, immodest or even vulgar.

For those migrants who are migrating to highly developed countries, going from a land where basic food and shelter is in short supply to the other extreme--where one is flooded with food and commodities--can be a disconcerting experience. A highly developed capitalist culture with a glut of excess can be confusing and disorienting to exiles that are used to more frugal lifestyles. Bombarded by an endless array of choices when there used to be none, some migrants may feel temporarily dizzy from the “glitz and bling” of Western capitalist culture. For younger migrants, such as university students, it is easy to become sidetracked and distracted from their goals especially during the initial post-migration period--how does one stay balanced and focused when one feels as if one is living in “Disneyland”?

Trying to adjust to new foods can also affect one physically. One may become ill until one’s body adjusts to the different types of food and drink consumed in the new host country, and the excess amounts.

A new culture means learning about new holidays, new social rituals and new political and bureaucratic systems. Having to learn fundamentals like these can make one feel like a child again. Furthermore, starting over when one is an adult past the age of thirty can be a nerve-wracking experience.

Trauma

Trauma is a complicated emotional state that is different from loss, grief or anger (although it can include all of these emotions). It is a psychological condition that involves shock, distress and long-term emotional and cognitive effects. Trauma is considered to be a normal reaction to extreme events, such as experiencing violence, sexual abuse, war, or living through a natural disaster.

Nightmares, flashbacks, generalized anxiety and depression are all symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD can be so intrusive that they can interfere with the ability to function normally in day-to-day life. In many cases, individuals with PTSD will not seek help, due to the social stigma attached to mental health problems. Men, especially, resist seeking treatment because they are socialized to put on a strong front and avoid displaying emotional vulnerability. However, left untreated, PTSD will continue over a lifetime, and can seriously hinder the individual’s ability to work, study or engage in meaningful social relationships. Untreated PTSD can often lead to secondary complications--those suffering from trauma often also suffer from domestic problems and may resort to self-medicating with alcohol or drugs in an effort to cope From this we can conclude that migrants live in constant fear of harassment by natives, exploitation from employers and abuse from police and other officials. As one Zimbabwean migrant state, “You run away from danger just to be arrested, to be asked for a bribe and then put back where you are running away from.”

In other destination countries, physical violence may not be the chief concern, but other pressures, such as immigration status, will produce daily stress. Asylum cases often take years to process and during that time, legal access to employment or income benefits is prohibited in many countries. Trying to survive when one is not legally allowed to work can put one in a state of extreme crisis, further heightened by the anxiety of having one’s claim eventually denied. And for those migrants never fortunate enough to acquire legal documentation, attempting to live incognito produces lifelong fear of arrest and deportation, and instills a sense of always having to live life “looking over one’s shoulder”.

For those who are fortunate enough to secure legal immigrant status and to live in a country where violence against foreigners is minimal, low-grade chronic stress is still a feature of daily life. Migrants as a group are at risk for financial strain, lack of social support, and under-employment in poorly paid, monotonous jobs--all of which are factors that lead to chronic, low-grade stress.

Studies show that living a life of prolonged stress can lead to physical and mental health problems as well as early onset of various diseases. These studies also suggest a correspondence between social status and chronic stress levels. Consequently, stress and poor health is a fact of life for many migrants living in diaspora.

The “Double Life” Existence and the Pressure to Succeed

Another huge source of chronic stress is the “double life” existence most immigrants lead. Those in Diaspora arrive at their host country feeling enormous pressure to succeed economically. Not only do they have to succeed in order to ensure their own survival, they also have to ensure the survival of others who are relying on them back home.

Many migrants hope to save up enough money to eventually bring home luxuries such as a new car or a down payment on a house. But for many, disappointment and disillusion set in again as they find that they are unable to save enough money to achieve these dreams. Life in the host country is usually more expensive than expected. As one US migrant puts it: “The flush of saved money doesn't go far in these times when every American dollar that we have buys food and pays bills with nothing left over for the other essentials necessary for life and health. After paying the rent and the bills in the host country, and then sending cash home to waiting relatives, not much is left of a paycheck.

Each day, migrants are arriving in Diaspora with dreams of “making it big.” Meanwhile, structural economic factors in the host country are actively blocking their attempts to produce enough money and resources to achieve these goals. The economic situation for migrants is rife with contradiction and consequently, frustration for the individual living out this contradiction.For more information CLICk HERE

The diasporas' Life: A Complex Interweaving of Social, Cultural and psychological Processes

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People in diaspora are faced by many complex problems on a daily basis. Even those who lead relatively stable existences and have managed to achieve the coveted goal of landing a good job and securing a comfortable place of residence are still faced with difficult and challenging predicaments. These predicaments include such things as structural barriers to employment (breaking the glass ceiling); grief, loss or trauma issues; systemic racism; cultural identity crisis and also the thorny matter of what the diasporas’ new economic and political responsibilities to the ancestral homeland should be. Those in diaspora feel enormous daily pressure to resolve these dilemmas, yet most feel powerless to do so. This is largely due to the fact that many of the individual migrant’s micro-level problems are largely due to macro-level issues—in other words, the immigrant’s problems stem from the host country’s existing social structure, and are therefore largely beyond the individual’s efforts to control. Of course we must talk about, “Breaking the silence”. We need to find out why people in the diaspora are so depressed, that they think life unfair. Is it pressure, loss of family/relatives and friends, loneliness or some other social ills . I believe the only way to find out is to talk and listen to each other with tolerance, love and acceptance.

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Although individuals in the diaspora may feel helpless when it comes to resolving the macro-level issues of their new society, these individuals can still practice certain micro-level solutions that will help to empower themselves and allow them to navigate their daily lives more successfully. These solutions are the focus of my book: “No Boundaries – Exploring strategies and solutions for life in Diaspora.” In general, the solutions can be seen to boil down to two processes: garnering knowledge plus implementing action. Knowledge plus action can be defined as follows:

· Knowledge:

o Educating one’s self about the economic, political, social and cultural (macro-level) forces impinging upon one’s life

· Action:

o Practicing psychological techniques and self-help strategies (micro-level practices) to cope with macro-level forces

o Taking part in group-activism to combat macro-level forces

Together, knowledge plus action can help to strengthen the individual, plus supply the cognitive and emotional equipment needed to deal with the macro-level forces affecting daily life in the diaspora. Not only will this produce healthier, happier and more productive individuals, but it could also generate a group who may one day author the macro-level solutions so greatly needed within their societies.

"To Find Out More Information Click Here"

www.vividpublishing.com.au/noboundaries/index.html

"No Boundaries"

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Learn What Every migrant Should Know about Surviving & Thriving in a Foreign Country!"

Whether you're a Zimbabwe immigrant living in a foreign country OR you're serious about trying to make a difference in the current crisis in Zimbabwe, you MUST keep reading…

From the desk of: Nobel M. Pasi

Are you looking to move to a foreign country and worry about the cultural differences and how they will affect you? Are you a native of Zimbabwe already living as an immigrant in a different country and are having difficult assimilating into your new environment?

My name is Nobel Pasi and I know what it's like to leave the comfort of a country you know and how easy it is to move to a new country and face nothing but struggles. Still, for many Zimbaweans, the move to another country is a necessary part of life!

While native Zimbabweans grieve what they lost, those same migrants abroad are sustaining relatives back home with a modest but consistent cash flow. The Diaspora’s income is helping to shore up the desperately fragile Zimbabwean economy for those that are left home.

Necessity, But at a Cost. How Do You Survive?

Migrating to a new country can not only be exciting, but it can be scary and have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem. You already know where you came from. You know what conditions you lived in, good and bad. You've built a reputation there and are comfortable with your environment.

But what will you find and how will you be treated when you live in a

Remember, when you leave your native country and move somewhere else, you leave behind your reputation, the qualifications and skill level you acquired in your home country. You basically need to start from scratch! This can leave many immigrants feeling lonely and depressed as they struggle to be successful in a new country.

It can be terrifying. But with such a growing population of Zimbabwean's leaving their native land out of necessity, it was clear there was a need to show people what they can do to survive such a transition. I made it my mission to be a "fly on the wall" and learn as much as I could about what skills helped people succeed, and where these immigrants went wrong.

I talked to a wide number of people who were immigrants in other countries, and to those who'd stayed, about the importance of each role and how to make the most of it.

After months of research and discussion, I wrote No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora) , a 104-page Book that gives real solutions and strategies to achieve a fulfilling life for both immigrants and native Zimbabweans living in Diaspora.

When you purchase No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora) for the low price of just $29.95, you'll get a full 104-page Book that gives you real information and advice about how to survive in a foreign land as a migrant.

Here's a preview of what you'll get…

Contemporary Zimbabwe: A Population on the Move (Introduction)

Disappointment and Disillusionment in the New Host Country (page 1)

Get Real, Get a Plan, Get a Grip: Positive Coping Strategies for Life In Diaspora (page 20)

Living in Cultural Limbo Land (page 56)

The Desire to Return and Should You (page 67)

The Role of the Diaspora to the Motherland (page 80)

Make no mistake about it. This book is NOT just for Zimbabweans. Because so few non-nationals in the west truly understand what the situation is like in contemporary Zimbabwe, this book is vital for those in the general public who strive to find solutions to its current crisis.

Ordering No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora) is simple by clicking the link below.

www.vividpublishing.com.au/noboundaries

You could literally be reading all this valuable information in minutes!

Why suffer with low self-esteem and depression because you're struggling as a migrant in a foreign country? Learn what you need to know to survive and thrive with the 3Gs of success I offer in No Boundaries: Zimbabwean Migrants Abroad (Exploring Strategies and Solutions for Life in Diaspora) .