The land of opportunity?

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When I came home from having lunch today, my uncle was waiting for me by the door. He had that look on his face that he wanted to talk to me about something. I tend to fear that look because it usually concludes with me having to do something that I would much rather not. Today's request came as a surprise to me and caught me quite offguard. He asked me to write a piece on something relevant to Bangladesh. Seeing the look of panic on face, he quickly stated it could be about anything that comes to my mind. Of course, the broadened range of topic choices only increased my panic level, but the expression on his face was so hopeful that I was unable to refuse.
Three hours of staring at a blank page and surfing through Bangladesh news on Google have yielded…zero results. There is no shortage of turmoil happening in Bangladesh and I could pick any one of those cases. If the assignment was to be a research paper, no problem - collect notes and regurgitate the information in fancy language. However, I am to write an opinion segment and I have realised that by reading the news tucked away safely at home from 8,000 miles away, I cannot relate to those problems. The people in Bangladesh who are living in the current state of affairs, who may eventually read my piece, will not care to take my opinion seriously. After all, how can I write about a subject I have no experience in? Though I was born in Bangladesh, after 19 years of living in the United States, I have wrapped myself in the protective bubble that separates America from the affairs of the rest of the world. Another hour passes by and now my deadline is quickly approaching. In midst of my anxiety, an idea strikes me. I may not be able to understand the situations that are occurring in Bangladesh, but surely I can apprehend the conditions that Bangladeshis are facing in America.
The United States of America, they call it the "land of opportunity." Every year, hundreds of Bangladeshi immigrants flock to the States in hopes of a better life. Jaded by the delusion that life will be perfect as soon as they arrive, most receive a jolt back to reality when they grasp the fact that success won't just come knocking on their door. Though amenities are nicer and choices are endless, the cost of living is also much higher. These people are limited by a language barrier and lack of a specific trade. Instead, they are forced to take up jobs in whichever industry will hire them. Recently, I took a trip to Atlantic City, the east coast's homage to Las Vegas. There, I was shocked to find so many of the workers to be Bangladeshis - from shopkeepers to waiters to casino dealers! I couldn't understand why they would choose to work in such an environment. Everything Atlantic City represents - parties, alcohol and gambling - is considered 'haram' in Bangladesh. As I am also fluent in Bangla, many of the workers were eager to converse with me. At the end of the day, I learned one simple fact after talking with everyone: The number one priority is to survive. The Bengali immigrant community in New Jersey is fairly large and Atlantic City, being a hotspot for tourists, there is a surplus of odd jobs and business opportunities. Therefore, regardless of the environment, Bangladeshis will choose to work to provide for themselves and their families.
With a strong educational background, success may be closer than for those that did not have the same benefits. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Someone who is highly influential and wealthy in Bangladesh may migrate to the United States only to find that they are unable to attain a job in their field. This causes a serious dilemma. Bangladeshis are quite egotistic by nature. Someone who is used to higher privileges will not easily comply with taking up a job they feel is beneath their standards. For example, an esteemed professor in Bangladesh will be hesitant to work as a cashier in America, even if it is to provide for his family. I have observed this trait firsthand in my own family. My uncle, who was well respected as the general manager of Krishi Bank, now retired, has come to the States. With nothing to do at home all day, he talks about getting a job. However, a bank job is out of the questions as rules and regulations are different in America from Bangladesh. His options are to possibly apply for a small part-time position or to consider making a business plan. Nonetheless, though he claims to want a job, he is hesitant in acting towards his words. For him, it would hurt his prestige to work as a cashier after being in such a high position for so long. Instead, he resolved that he would start his own business. Currently, his time is occupied in attempting to turn his business plan into a reality and I wish him all the best of luck with his endeavor!
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