Day 11: We're All Immigrants

Wish 11: Dignity and Integration

Two medical technologists, both recent immigrants, were working in a laboratory when one noticed the other's error. The younger technologist politely pointed out an error in a procedure. The older, and recently hired technologist felt insulted. They did not speak to each other for a few days.

The older technologist then confided with a colleage, "How dare she speak to me like that. In my country, I was the chief medical technologist with 25 years of experience." The colleague answered her, "Yes, but in her country, she was a doctor."

North America is a land mass populated by immigrants. That is a known fact. The early immigrants survived off the land, built shelters and learned to mass produce and store food. With basic needs met, they pursued knowledge and the arts, built huge edifices and advanced technology. These technologies were then used to conquer or defend, to advance commerce within and with other countries, and to make life easier and longer. That's pretty much the history of Canada and the United States in a nutshell.

The more recent immigrants, however, having not gone through the rites of the older immigrants, must work their way into the fabric of this land. America's technologies, knowledge and skills are now also learned elsewhere. The countries outside North America have the same technologies, knowledge and skills as North America, even though they may not be as economically rich. But the rites for integration remain.

Many older immigrants are defensive, "We've worked hard to get to where we are. You should too." They create hurdles that hope to defend their children. They hire graduates of their own schools. They set up certifications based on things their universities teach. They set up residency standards and language standards. No hablo Ingles? Start here please. Hablo Ingles with a different accent? Start here also, please.

And so we have immigrant doctors who have to be nurses, or immigrant nurses who have to be nurses' aides. We have immigrant lawyers who work as receptionists, immigrant financial wizards who work as clerks, and immigrant professors who drive taxis or clean toilets. Talent is in our midst. And wasted.

A highly-educated immigrant from China had to serve tables while taking classes in English. He then worked on an undergraduate degree, and then a masters degree. When he finally headed a large immigrant services society, he was invited to sit in a board of trade leaders. His professor also sits in the same board, and he still humbly calls him "teacher" instead of calling him by his first name. He could only restore his previous professional status by getting the same education in a new land.

One of North America's ten most influential female lawyers recently made an appeal. She asked businesses to integrate immigrants into their organizations faster because they have the right skills. Not integrating them quickly will be a great waste, and a lost opportunity in understanding the global markets.

Think about it. Would outsourcing of American jobs have been an issue if they only hired the talent that was already residing in America? Would there be a shortage of people in our health industries? Would we understand other cultures enough to make our global operations multi-local?

The story of the immigrant doctor and technologist happened two years ago. Yesterday, that doctor was finally offered residency after almost three years of study and certification. And she did this while working a full-time job and having a baby.