Photo Montage by Magali Gomez: A Story of Hardship, Resilience, & Faith in a Better Future
with Evgeny Novikov, Monika Kaiswal, Moon Kyin, Tatiana Bambysheva,
Akmaral Yskak, Olha Ushakova, and Magali Gomez
with Evgeny Novikov, Monika Kaiswal, Moon Kyin, Tatiana Bambysheva,
Akmaral Yskak, Olha Ushakova, and Magali Gomez
Boh Aissata Kouyate
I would like to talk about my best Day in my life. The Day I went back to my country after spending four good years studying in China was the most wonderful Day in my life. The 5th august 2014 at 1Am I flew from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to arrive at Conakry Gbessia Airport at 5pm. It was a long fly almost 24 hours, I was so excited during the flight about seeing my family back after many years. All my family members were waiting for me at the Airport, when we landed at Gbessia Airport, the first person I saw when I came out was my Mother. She gave me a hug during some minutes and started crying, I cried too, we were so happy to see each other, we went to meet the others, my dad, my elder brother and Sister, we exchange kisses and hugs. AND then they took me to the restaurant they booked for me to eat LAFIDI, one of our traditional food that I didn't eat since I left my country. We were really happy eating a dinner in family. I noticed that Day that nothing can replace one's family.
After the restaurant we went home, I showed them my Master degree certificate, they were really proud. At night my brother took my Sister and I to a night club where I met some school friend and à cousin. We enjoyed the moment. That Day was a memorable day for me.
After the restaurant we went home, I showed them my Master degree certificate, they were really proud. At night my brother took my Sister and I to a night club where I met some school friend and à cousin. We enjoyed the moment. That Day was a memorable day for me.
Olha Ushakova
I want to tell you about that day I have been waiting for 8 years. Honestly I have not believed already that it will ever happen in my life.
On that day my husband and I were visiting a doctor. I had a positive pregnancy test but I didn’t haste to be glad. I was waiting sonograma. My heart beat too strong and it seemed to me these beats were heard by everyone. Then the doctor said to us that cherished frase: “Congrats! You will have a baby! ” He turned screen to us and we could enjoy as our adorable baby waves at us with his tiny arms.
It was the best day of my life!
On that day my husband and I were visiting a doctor. I had a positive pregnancy test but I didn’t haste to be glad. I was waiting sonograma. My heart beat too strong and it seemed to me these beats were heard by everyone. Then the doctor said to us that cherished frase: “Congrats! You will have a baby! ” He turned screen to us and we could enjoy as our adorable baby waves at us with his tiny arms.
It was the best day of my life!
Deysi Martinez
It was hard for me to choose one day of my life as the best because there are so many, I always try to enjoy the moments during the day.
Last year a group of friends surprised me on my birthday, they invited me to celebrate it at Jefferson Park, with coffee and sandwiches, something very simple but very meaningful because it was pandemic time and the first outing for some of them after quarantine, there were friends from, Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico and Chile, there were no more than 8 of us, but we enjoyed it.
It was a celebration of LIFE for the time that was lived and that marked a before and after for many, now I value more the relationships of friends trying to be present in simple gestures of the day to day.
Last year a group of friends surprised me on my birthday, they invited me to celebrate it at Jefferson Park, with coffee and sandwiches, something very simple but very meaningful because it was pandemic time and the first outing for some of them after quarantine, there were friends from, Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico and Chile, there were no more than 8 of us, but we enjoyed it.
It was a celebration of LIFE for the time that was lived and that marked a before and after for many, now I value more the relationships of friends trying to be present in simple gestures of the day to day.
Magali Gomez
I The Best is Still to Come
Becoming an immigrant has never been easy, and it will never be, especially if one of the problems you face, is the lacking of knowledge of a new language. You should have at least some minimum knowledge of the language in the place you will be living. If you don’t, it will make thinks very difficult.
Even if the city you are moving to has plenty of people from your own community -no matter what nationality you are-, eventually you will con front difficulties that, if you were in your homeland, would seemed so silly.
Simple things such as doing the laundry, figuring out the best way to get home, making appointments or trying to get “into the system” can be come a nightmare. This new country you have moved to has a different way to do pretty much everything -starting with the language, right? Even a phone call to the doctor’s office can be very challenging. You are living in an amazing place, but it comes with a whole package of problems that need to be solved. It’s a great responsibility, and none else can do it, but you.
Relying on a member of your family who is fluent in the foreign language is not a very good idea. At the beginning it may work it out, but little by little, you will need to go outside of the cocoon and become self-sufficient. Be bold and show the world your own voice, literally. Communicating and starting to practice is the key.
All the members of a family have their own responsibilities. They can't do what is meant to be done by you, just as you can’t do what they must do. If you are alone, it must be something you definitely need to embrace: this is your new life and communicating is part of it. Living the best way depends on you, so you’d better do whatever you need to do.
Learning a new language is hard. You face a steep learning curve before you can feel confident expressing yourself in a different language. You will find soon enough that the everyday small stuff can become stressful or even threatening. If only you could feel more confident and speak as if it were your first language… Sometimes expressing myself never felt so frustrating.
I was in the middle of these bitter-sweet thoughts, trying not to give up, when someone asked me about THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. What was the best day of my life? What was yours?
When it when you got married? When you found out that your first son or daughter was coming? Or maybe when you had the most inspiring meditation? Was it your best day when you finished that challenging marathon? Or when you heard the audience applaud you after a presentation? Or when you you published your first book? Or when you had a nice vacation with your family or friends?
But you know what?
I would rather to think about the future, As immigrants, we may fin the best day of our lives will be when we finally are blended into this new community that has become our home. After all, America was built by immigrants trying to have a new place they can call “home”.
Even though it seems a hard path to walk and sometimes not even a straight path but an uphill climb, there will be a moment when we finally feel that we can communicate well, without hesitation, when we listen to ourselves speaking with confidence in this new and wonderful language we have been learning.
I hope that the best day of my life -and your life-, is very close… the day when we feel stronger than ever, becoming part of a society and doing that we most like to do, eventually getting a job and feeling fulfillment and joy in our new home. That day will come and we would feel that that day will come and we will feel that the day is the best, because we will have the confidence to achieve whatever our goals are. So don’t give up - another best day of our lives is coming soon!
Becoming an immigrant has never been easy, and it will never be, especially if one of the problems you face, is the lacking of knowledge of a new language. You should have at least some minimum knowledge of the language in the place you will be living. If you don’t, it will make thinks very difficult.
Even if the city you are moving to has plenty of people from your own community -no matter what nationality you are-, eventually you will con front difficulties that, if you were in your homeland, would seemed so silly.
Simple things such as doing the laundry, figuring out the best way to get home, making appointments or trying to get “into the system” can be come a nightmare. This new country you have moved to has a different way to do pretty much everything -starting with the language, right? Even a phone call to the doctor’s office can be very challenging. You are living in an amazing place, but it comes with a whole package of problems that need to be solved. It’s a great responsibility, and none else can do it, but you.
Relying on a member of your family who is fluent in the foreign language is not a very good idea. At the beginning it may work it out, but little by little, you will need to go outside of the cocoon and become self-sufficient. Be bold and show the world your own voice, literally. Communicating and starting to practice is the key.
All the members of a family have their own responsibilities. They can't do what is meant to be done by you, just as you can’t do what they must do. If you are alone, it must be something you definitely need to embrace: this is your new life and communicating is part of it. Living the best way depends on you, so you’d better do whatever you need to do.
Learning a new language is hard. You face a steep learning curve before you can feel confident expressing yourself in a different language. You will find soon enough that the everyday small stuff can become stressful or even threatening. If only you could feel more confident and speak as if it were your first language… Sometimes expressing myself never felt so frustrating.
I was in the middle of these bitter-sweet thoughts, trying not to give up, when someone asked me about THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. What was the best day of my life? What was yours?
When it when you got married? When you found out that your first son or daughter was coming? Or maybe when you had the most inspiring meditation? Was it your best day when you finished that challenging marathon? Or when you heard the audience applaud you after a presentation? Or when you you published your first book? Or when you had a nice vacation with your family or friends?
But you know what?
I would rather to think about the future, As immigrants, we may fin the best day of our lives will be when we finally are blended into this new community that has become our home. After all, America was built by immigrants trying to have a new place they can call “home”.
Even though it seems a hard path to walk and sometimes not even a straight path but an uphill climb, there will be a moment when we finally feel that we can communicate well, without hesitation, when we listen to ourselves speaking with confidence in this new and wonderful language we have been learning.
I hope that the best day of my life -and your life-, is very close… the day when we feel stronger than ever, becoming part of a society and doing that we most like to do, eventually getting a job and feeling fulfillment and joy in our new home. That day will come and we would feel that that day will come and we will feel that the day is the best, because we will have the confidence to achieve whatever our goals are. So don’t give up - another best day of our lives is coming soon!
Madhu Jain
For me, the best day of my life was when I got married. It was done in a traditional Indian style in 1990. It marked another phase in my life as shortly after, Me and my husband moved over to America. For me, America was a land of opportunity as I came from a small village in India. Through this, I got to learn more about America and it’s culture, and the lifestyle of Americans. It is remarkably different from the culture that I grew up in, but I also miss my family back in India.
Ruth Abreu
The best day of my lifeIt's every day that I can open my eyes, see the sun shine, use my lungs to breathe, my feet to walk and my eyes to see the Hudson River, boats and birds alight on the railing.
Enjoy a delicious coffee by the side of the river, think each is the best for just being alive.
The best day of my life, is every day, every day is a divine gift, there are happy and sad days but every day is the best of my life.
Enjoy a delicious coffee by the side of the river, think each is the best for just being alive.
The best day of my life, is every day, every day is a divine gift, there are happy and sad days but every day is the best of my life.
Marcela Ocampo Cardona
The best of my life was my wedding day. That day everything was perfect and full of happiness. I got married to the person I have always loved.
It was a simple day, but my husband and I were with our families and my best friend. My mother and my friend helped me get ready. After that, we went to a City Hall in Manhattan for the ceremony and then to Astoria Park where we took pictures and remembered old times because this park has a lot of history for us. Finally, we headed to the restaurant where we had made dinner reservations, the food was great, and we had excellent time there. That day was special and beautiful for me and will always be in my heart.
It was a simple day, but my husband and I were with our families and my best friend. My mother and my friend helped me get ready. After that, we went to a City Hall in Manhattan for the ceremony and then to Astoria Park where we took pictures and remembered old times because this park has a lot of history for us. Finally, we headed to the restaurant where we had made dinner reservations, the food was great, and we had excellent time there. That day was special and beautiful for me and will always be in my heart.
Akmaral Yskak
My first visit to New York was in November 2014 with my family, one month before Christmas. It was certainly a journey and an adventure. I loved New York and I hoped that one day I would return here.
Finally, in autumn 2019, I moved from Kazakhstan to New York.
Day by day I felt happier. Despite the announced lockdown because of COVID-19, all the days of my life were like big movie shoots. I want to share with you one of them.
My English class of Level 5 began in February. When I heard that my classmate Magali was going to do a photo project in April, I thought it’s a good idea because a photo can express the most emotions. I supported her idea and I decided to participate in the project. A week earlier, on April 13, began the holiday Nowruz, which means new day and Muslims celebrate it every year. I think it’s a good coincidence.
I imagined that the project would combine all of us, the teachers and the classmates and finally we can meet in person.
On April 19 at 2:05 p.m. in Bryant Park I saw renewal all around. Trees blossomed, people as usual made conversation or hurried to wherever. Near the carousel in the park, Magali began slowly preparing her supplies to take pictures of me and my classmates. She led many photo sessions.
I seemed as submissive as a child in a big family. We did anything. Sometimes we were like bees buzzing around flowers in the garden. Even outsiders stopped and smiled at us. Participating in a photo project for the Community Impact made me fulfill my wonderful mission to enjoy it. By the time I thought how to get back home my friend offered to walk with me over the Brooklyn Bridge. After that, at home, I was ecstatic (full of joy, overpowering emotion) and I thought that day was a good day in my life.
In my life, there were many teachers whom I was thankful to, and nowadays, especially, I would like to express my deepest respect to my teachers Diane, John and Tom, who supported all of us and they were there.
It was a moment I won’t forget, and I would like to come back again. I bet I will. (I believe it.)
Finally, in autumn 2019, I moved from Kazakhstan to New York.
Day by day I felt happier. Despite the announced lockdown because of COVID-19, all the days of my life were like big movie shoots. I want to share with you one of them.
My English class of Level 5 began in February. When I heard that my classmate Magali was going to do a photo project in April, I thought it’s a good idea because a photo can express the most emotions. I supported her idea and I decided to participate in the project. A week earlier, on April 13, began the holiday Nowruz, which means new day and Muslims celebrate it every year. I think it’s a good coincidence.
I imagined that the project would combine all of us, the teachers and the classmates and finally we can meet in person.
On April 19 at 2:05 p.m. in Bryant Park I saw renewal all around. Trees blossomed, people as usual made conversation or hurried to wherever. Near the carousel in the park, Magali began slowly preparing her supplies to take pictures of me and my classmates. She led many photo sessions.
I seemed as submissive as a child in a big family. We did anything. Sometimes we were like bees buzzing around flowers in the garden. Even outsiders stopped and smiled at us. Participating in a photo project for the Community Impact made me fulfill my wonderful mission to enjoy it. By the time I thought how to get back home my friend offered to walk with me over the Brooklyn Bridge. After that, at home, I was ecstatic (full of joy, overpowering emotion) and I thought that day was a good day in my life.
In my life, there were many teachers whom I was thankful to, and nowadays, especially, I would like to express my deepest respect to my teachers Diane, John and Tom, who supported all of us and they were there.
It was a moment I won’t forget, and I would like to come back again. I bet I will. (I believe it.)