Being a foreigner in another country isn't as easy as people think

A lot of people romanticize the idea of moving to another country- like it's this big exciting adventure where everything is better. And sure, there are BEAUTIFULL moments... but there's also a really  hard side that people don't talk about enough: What it's actually like to be a foreigner.

I've seen seen and lived it firsthand, especially with older people. Many of them don't speak the language, they struggle to understand how things work, and instead of kindness... they get laughed at. People mock their accents, talk to them like they're stupid, or just ignore them completely. It's heartbreaking.

Thankfully, I'm young, and I picked up the language quickly. So for me, this time, that wasn't a huge problem. But I've watched others-- people who came here just trying to survive-- being treated like they're less. And it's not okay.

Sometimes, it's not even about the language. It's about how someone looks, dresses, or talks. There are people who think that just because someone is ''different'' they have the right to judge or exclude them. And that kind of discrimination hurts. Especially when all you want is to feel safe and accepted in a place you're trying so hard to call home. 

Being a foreigner doesn't mean you deserve to be mistreated or ridiculed. No one leaves everything behind to be treated like a burden.

I wish more people understood that empathy costs nothing. A little patience, a smile, even just not being mean... it can make someone's day-- or life-- so much easier.