Bulgaria. A former allie of Soviet Union and part of a horrible communist regime. His name was Todor and he is my maintenance man at my apartment complex. His English was better than he claimed, and I can tell that he was very happy to be in this country. He fixed my bathroom socket, Garbage disposal, and the kitchen lights. While Todor was fixing my lights he asked me if I was Korean. I told him I came to da states when I was ten years old. It was strange but there was an instant bond because of the fact that we were both immigrants.
Yesterday I was talking to Kenneth about Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. (add one more "e" and you got junglee!) hahhaa! Going back to da book, its a story about meat packing industry in Chicago with Polish immigrants. Just a horrible story about what immigrants and their suffering.
I can tell that Todor went through much to become a maintenance man. I can tell that he takes much pride in what he does. But I can also tell that he was much educated man and because his unfortunate situation of being an immigrant, he cannot use his education in this country for his living. He found a way though. He was all smiles when he told me that after 5 years in America, he interviewed to become an American and he is becoming one this coming month.
I learned that key to living in life is survival. Something that we do not really understand here being a 1.5 or 2nd generation Korean American. But I am sure that we all have some story of survivin' in our lives.
Our parents probably understand. Oh yes they do. Yes being an immigrant is no fun for many. But there is Gov. Schwarzenegger's triumph.
Probably the greatest immigrant story in recent times.
Survival... Its not just an insurance comapany... Sometimes its the name of the game we call life.
