Language Adaptation as the Best Defense for the Immigrant

 One of the primary survival skill to ensure success in your immigration long lasting process after becoming a resident.

 Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Chameleon (Hebrew Koach "ko'-akh"): adapts to any climate, any situation or circumstance and creates the resources necessary - an atmosphere conducive - to it's own success.

After having spent an incubation period of six years in a chameleon egg, my eye sight afflicted by its innate stereoscopy woke up to its environment. I had gone through a metamorphosis that went beyond my sense of Cartesian analysis. The mirror only reflected kaleidoscopic dimmed lights whose alternance never ceased to engulf me in a deep and disquieting instability.

The more I looked at myself in my new habitat, the more my perception of public approval of my appearance of a weird animal in the cultural show window did not stop me from being aware of a certain internal protection against an imperceptible, but yet strongly felt erosion. This provoked in my being, a profound malaise similar to what happens to a sailor on a drifting boat, I had let go of my moorings, my roots had no more soil in to hold on to.

On the other hand, with the passing years, I have learned to accept this new nature of the chameleon. After all, it doesn´t wonder if its instinctive protection system follows the latest trends if the political, intellectual, social or artistic winds are in vogue, if he must today clothe himself in blue, red or as the order of the day dictates in green or with a bizarre costume. Adaptation , including a new language learning acquisition, if only a change of accent is a must if the immigrant´s career or being an integral part of society depends on his willingness to integrate and assimilate to his new environment.

Can we accuse the chameleon of being a weather vane? Of course not, the weather vane is blown by and follow the direction of the wind whereas the chameleon confronts the changing winds and his alarm system allows him to detect incoming danger and to trigger his inoffensive yet effective security device.

Or could we chide or blame the long lasting statesman Marquis de Talleyrand of having survived several successive governments or rulers without losing his head. Perhaps was it his reptilian composure (in French: cold blood) that allow him to keep it attached to his shoulders?

This is simply one of the adaptation mechanisms I had to develop along my life experience, without resorting to human psychology therapy, without artificial prescription or other drugs creating a false peace and illusory and ephemeral contentment.

Note from the author: Born in Algeria from 3 generations French parents, life carried me through 3 immigration processes that demanded acquiring survival skills. Learning a new language is a passport or a visa to a new way of life and demands efforts, courage, resilience and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges.

I have already survived 3 immigration successful processes and I am about to embark on another exciting journey on my 4^th. Adventure. Going back home to Europe. Wish me well. 

Jean-Louis