Nobody here looks like me. Nobody speaks my language. To be fair, there are a few people I’ve met who can speak English, but they’re the exception, not the rule. 

I am different. My brain works double-time to keep up with the conversations. If I lose the train of thought, it’s hard to catch back up. I can speak Spanish now, but not like I speak English. 

I finally found a yoga class here in Manizales, Colombia. I missed yoga. Much to my surprise, the 30-person class was entirely women. One of the students is not like the others. 

Growing Up in the United States

Growing up, I was never in the minority. My high school was diverse, but white students were still the plurality. Everyone spoke English. 

I understood the basic structure of how society functioned. I knew to dial 911 in an emergency. I could solve problems by talking to people in my native language. My phone had GPS. 

Fitting in is a difficult process for most teenagers (myself included), but I never really considered how much harder it must have been for someone who felt different from everyone else. 

Now I get it. 

How it Feels to Be the Only Gringo in the Room

There are times when I have no idea what’s going on. Sometimes, I zone out a little bit because I need a break from constantly speaking Spanish. Occasionally–or perhaps a little more than occasionally–I say the wrong word. 

I generally find my mistakes and shortcomings to be entertaining. In fact, I enjoy them. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. When it comes to Spanish, I can confidently say that I am the opposite of the smartest person in every room. 

By being submerged in a sea of Spanish, I learn very quickly. It’s sink or swim. There’s no other option. I force myself to improve because I want to interweave myself into the fabric of this Colombian society that I love so much. Every day it gets easier. 

The Difference Between Immigrants and Expats 

However, there is a big difference between my situation and the life of a new immigrant in the United States. I’m here 100% by choice. And yes, I realize that immigrants choose to go to the United States, but it’s not the same thing.

I chose to come to Latin America because I wanted an adventure. Immigrants from Latin America choose to go to the United States because they want dinner. 

If I truly felt like I couldn’t stand another day in Colombia (which, I assure you, is far from the case–I love it here), I could be home in 24 hours. I could find a safe place to live. I could go to the grocery store and pick up my food for the week. 

When immigrants fleeing gang violence and death threats come to the United States, they don’t have the option to hop on a flight and return home. When I was a lawyer, I sometimes helped children from Central America apply for legal residency. Their stories were insane. They can’t go back.

Moreover, most immigrants in the United States don’t have resources or time to invest in convenient ways to learn English, the legal system, or societal norms. The acclimation process can take much longer. It can take years. 

Lend a Hand to Those in Need

When you’re in the majority, you don’t consider how hard it must be for the minority. When everyone looks like you, you don’t comprehend many people’s daily struggles to navigate society.

So if you come across someone who seems to be having a difficult time, lend them a hand. There have been so many people here in Colombia that have helped me on my journey, and I couldn’t be more grateful. However, I often wonder how many immigrants in the US get the same treatment. 

We’re often preoccupied with our own problems, but just taking a second to help someone else who looks confused doesn’t take that long. Making someone feel welcome will brighten their day. It will brighten your day too. We’re all human beings. We’re all going through the same things. We might as well do it together.