The article for this week along with our class discussion was interesting and really touched me on a personal level. The article looked at Trinidadian migrants who return to Trinidad after living abroad for several years. This article aims at showing the existence and effects of transnationalism, including the effect of transnationalism on the country of origin. The article uses the experience of these Trinidadian migrants to make certain generalizations about immigration as a whole. This article analyzes several areas. The first one is the transnational family and life-course issues. Family factors can influence an immigrant to maintain connections with his/her homeland. Child rearing, filial loyalty and sickness are some of many things that can influence people to travel and remain abroad for a period of time. Transnational community relationships and the idea of being a global citizen cause people to form and keep transnational ties. These ties are made much stronger with the fact that there is cheap air transportation. It is these repetitive and constant visits that prepare people to return to Trinidad. Constantly travelling back and forth has made people develop dual citizenship with both the United States and their country of origin. These people will become involved in affairs of their current country of residence as well as their country of birth. Land ownership at the place of birth has also motivated many people to return to their homeland at a later age. Many Caribbean people travel to the United States to work very hard for a long period time with the idea that they will eventually go back to their country of origin for their retirement. However, the land that they remember is no longer the same, causing many people to feel frustration when they go back.

The term, “strategic flexibility” was very important in this article. It is with regards to future migration opportunities. This article also touches on the idea that it is often times hard for immigrants to go back to their homeland despite the fact that they maintain transnational ties. As I mentioned before, immigrants tend to have the image of how their country of origin was like when they lived there in mind and even if they discover that the country of origin made drastic changes since they left, they still do not change that mindset. Thus many face frustrations when they go back and observe the changes. If the change is for the worst or for the best, immigrants will still feel awkward and frustrated because over the years they have gotten used to the American system.

In conclusion, I am so grateful and honored to have taken this Macaulay seminar. It has really opened up my mind to many issues and ideas with regards to immigration of not only Caribbean people but of everyone in general. This reading was a fitting conclusion to our ongoing discussions on transnationalism and migrant networks. What is even more interesting to me is to read about how there have been immigrants that have been stripped of their ethnic names and identities when coming to America, almost erasing any way of future generations of being able to reconnect with the past. That is why we have many people who identify as American and do not have any unique cultural practices.

With regards to immigration policy, I think that we are really on a tough spot here in the United States. There are many different points of view. Coming from a family of immigrants, all I can say is that we do not come to this country to take advantage of its resources and opportunities and then leave. Instead, we want to make our lives in America and move on, making progress on the ladder of social mobility. The phrase it does not matter where you come from but where you go comes to mind. Also, the fact that many people are still immigrating today shows that the world we live in has a lot of disparity and all people look for is to be on the good side rather than on the floor begging for food.