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 4th.
Adventure. Going back home to Europe. Wish me well.
Jean-Louis
