I wish I had been born in the US

[latino158]

I was born in Colombia and came here at 22, knowing basically only a few words of English. It took me many years to get the level of English proficiency that I have now. I feel like if I had been born here, I wouldn't have wasted all these years catching up with everyone else. I would have degrees and making much more money. I'm 31 and going to school and even now I feel uncertainty and not being good enough. What if I don't make it?

I have been practicing and studying English for years. I can speak well now, but no matter how hard I work, I still make some mistakes from time to time. I feel as if I'm at a huge disadvantage against everyone else and although people understand me, I still have an accent. Native speakers, including women, do judge you and see you differently when English is not your first language no matter how well you speak it.

I see some other latinos who were lucky to be born here and I wish that would have been me. They experienced the American high school system, and took advantage of all the great things being born here can offer you. I suppose the same applies to any country. Immigrants will always have it ten times harder than anyone else.

 

[Tictac]

 

[latino158]

feels batman

 

[SeymourCake]

Why not talk to other Colombian girls around the area? You can't be the only one there.

 

[latino158]

You may say, well, there are many adult immigrants who came here without knowing English and have had successful careers and lives. It may be true, for some, but not for the majority. The majority speaks broken English and work at low wage jobs. It will also not change the fact, that your English still sucks compared to everyone else and you have an accent.

I know you can have a decent life as an immigrant, but I guess I'm more concerned and sad with not being able to speak English like a native speaker. I hate the fact that no matter how much I practice and how many thousands of hours I invest in reading, speaking, taking accent reduction classes, buying English books and my English is still NOT good enough. I hate it and I want to sound like a native speaker, without making any single freaking mistake, and especially without having ANY accent.

I guess I can only dream. I know very well is never going to happen. I have met people who have been living here for decades, and even though they speak English with better fluency than I do, they still have an accent and make some mistakes. I speak Spanish perfectly, but I don't give a crap about it. I avoid speaking it unless is really necessary when someone doesn't speak any English. All hope is lost, such is life, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[ThrowAwayId]

All hope is lost, such is life, ladies and gentlemen.

Yawn. Yeah, poor you.

Every year, 6 million children in the US are reported as being abused. The number of reports is only a fraction of the abuse actually happening.

If all hope is lost for you because you have an accent, is all hope lost for those abused children? Or do they have hope because the lack an accent?

 

[Bible_Belt]

I speak great English, and I don't have a job.

 

[ChrisFloyd]

I speak great English, and I don't have a job.

Oh, that's why you are on the Poverty Diet.

Why don't you be an MMA coach?

 

[El Payaso]

What you see as a curse today might turn out to be a blessing another day. For example, you might end up working for a company here in the U.S. who are currently expanding internationally and looking to set up shop in Colombia. If you set yourself up properly, you would be the best candidate for the position to head operations in their expansion down there.

It's like PairPlus said. Being bilingual and educated is good. Just keep working on your English, education and don't give up. Don't whine about where you were born. It's not about where you're from, it's about where you are headed.

 

[Muscle brain]

You have to deal with the card that have been giving to you! You live in the Us and not in a third world country like india or Africa.
So if you play your Cards Well there is always Hope. Life is a struggle for everybody.
I suppose that you have 2 arms and 2 legs and a brain so use them.
Become a learning machine. excel in everything you do and it will pay off one day.
No need to be born in the Us to make it in the Us, if you are smart you can achieve anything..
Life is Hard and this is why we cry when we come into this world.
Speak Less and do more.

 

[PeasantPlayer]

United States is overrated, bunch of delusional people who think they are successful being slaves working jobs 9-5

 

[Bible_Belt]

Oh, that's why you are on the Poverty Diet.

Why don't you be an MMA coach?

Ha! I'm an entrepreneur. That's a fancy word for unemployed.

Martial arts is largely about honor, respect, and loyalty. Trying to sell what I know violates all three of those ideas.

 

[Yewki]

United States is overrated, bunch of delusional people who think they are successful being slaves working jobs 9-5

Curious, where do you live?

 

[Tictac]

Curious, where do you live?

Who cares? As long as he stays in his dystopia, we're good!

 

[Muscle brain]

A Man Makes his own Luck!

 

[Maximus Rex]

I was born in Colombia and came here at 22, knowing basically only a few words of English. It took me many years to get the level of English proficiency that I have now. I feel like if I had been born here, I wouldn't have wasted all these years catching up with everyone else.

Do a google search of the Fuente, Pardón families and José Garica. These are all big names in the cigar industry and they basically have the same damn story. They're all Cuban exiles who started their companies from nothing to become what they are today. In the case of the Fuentes, they have to overcome four separate fires that either burned their factory or destroyed their inventory of tobacco. Both had to deal with Communist revolutions.

I would have degrees and making much more money.

You do know that there's a gang of under and unemployed college graduates don't you.

I'm 31 and going to school and even now I feel uncertainty and not being good enough.

Why do you feel that way.

What if I don't make it?

Why don't you think that you'll make? What you need to is start reaching out and networking with people who'll be able to give you a job upon graduation. Are doing an internship? If not, then tomorrow, you need to stop in at Career Services and get one.[/quote]

I have been practicing and studying English for years. I can speak well now, but no matter how hard I work, I still make some mistakes from time to time.

So.

I feel as if I'm at a huge disadvantage against everyone else and although people understand me, I still have an accent. Native speakers, including women, do judge you and see you differently when English is not your first language no matter how well you speak it.

Go to your dean and find out this there is a class you can take to learn to speak English without an accent. If you're school doesn't offer one, then take a class on your own. If you're "po', broke, and struggling," then go on Youtube! and find some tutorials on how to speak American English without an accent.

I see some other latinos who were lucky to be born here and I wish that would have been me.

Why? How would this had benefit you?

They experienced the American high school system,

LOL. Really bruh, unless you went to

Or another high school with an equivalent reputation, high school in America leaves a lot to be desired.

and took advantage of all the great things being born here can offer you. I suppose the same applies to any country. Immigrants will always have it ten times harder than anyone else.

America is very accommodating to immigrants, (even illegals,) if you can't make here, then that's on you.

 

[PeasantPlayer]

Curious, where do you live?

Chicago

 

[Ronaldo7]

If you keep telling the same sad story, you'll keep living the same sad life.