Lost in Translation - Found in Transformation: Immigration's True Gift

Immigration's True GiftNeda Amanat

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Have you ever looked through a broken vase, mended with pieces of colored glass, and watched the light pour through it? The fragments, once shattered, now merge into something breathtaking — colors reflecting through, dancing together in unexpected harmony. That is what leaving my homeland behind did to me.

Immigration is one of those rare life events that can be thrilling and terrifying, inspiring and exhausting — often all at the same time! It is praised as "character building". But the truth is not that simple.

Immigration breaks you before it shapes you,

Bends you before it strengthens you,

And yet in the end, with patience, it transforms you.

I vividly remember my very first day in the Netherlands. I arrived with my parents and younger sister, and as soon as we stepped into the airport, we looked around and thought: "How tall are these people"? (The Dutch really are the tallest in the world!)

From that moment forward, every small encounter was its own adventure. Asking questions from a woman behind the counter, navigating crowded streets, keeping an eye on the fearless bikers flying by, even tasting patat with mayo (the beloved fluffy fries) — everything was new, and 180 degrees different from what I was used to.

Little did I know that two short years later, this land would become my second home, after marrying my Dutch-Persian husband.

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I was fortunate. My husband was born and raised in the Netherlands, and he knew the culture, the system, and the way things worked. But still, no one could walk the path for me. Immigration is not something you can skip over or be carried through — you have to face it head-on, step by step.

At first I thought language was my biggest challenge. And yes, it was hard! But I did learn Dutch. The real challenge was understanding how people thought, what they valued, and how the society truly worked.

There were days when I felt like I was drowning in a pool of uncertainty.

What do I say?

When do I say it?

How should I say it?

Who am I supposed to be in this context?

Every encounter with the outside world felt like a mini classroom session, full of lessons that I had no choice but to absorb.

When I got things right, the sense of accomplishment was exhilarating.

When I misstepped, the feeling of disappointment cut deep.

It wasn’t that I was "wrong" — I was just different.

From a different country.

A different culture.

A different mindset.

And when you don’t share the same language or norms, it’s easy to feel isolated from the rest.

Slowly, I learned to find myself in this place that once felt so alien.

The secret?

Embracing the differences, letting go of the need to know everything, and being willing to learn.

It wasn’t easy. There were tears, sweat, and plenty of moments when my confidence shattered into pieces. But with patience and resilience, I put myself back together —

stronger, wiser, and more open.

The Netherlands became more than just a place I lived — it became a second home. And in that process, I grew into a new identity, as part of another society, another culture, another home.

My once solid vase, now pieced together with new colors, was gradually transforming — and in the cracks, I began to see the beauty of growth; The freedom to reflect both the values of my homeland and the spirit of my new land.

Immigration expanded my perspective. It shaped me into a more multidimensional, empathetic, and resilient person.

Carrying the two worlds, I held on to my roots while growing new wings.

To me, that is the true gift of immigration: The chance not just to start over, but to

start stronger and rise higher.

And if you'd like help with that, my door is wide open.