Words can't express the contempt I have for the global bureaucracy that has stranded my family abroad for nearly 3 years.
⌛ Time Can't Be Given Back 🙅♂️
A few months ago I received an external hard drive and a new SSD to replace my frozen HDD, allowing me to recover lots of photos from our past in Cambodia. Today I was missing our life in Cambodia very much, so I began looking through our recovered photos.
I immediately noticed how full of smiles and positive vibes we were before being stranded abroad here in Suriname. We never imagined going abroad for a few months to get legally married would strand us abroad just before a global pandemic would exponentially complicate things.
🤦♂️ So Much Regret
For the first time in each of our lives, @sreypov and I had some relative economic stability, a successful microbusiness, and enjoyed lots of free time with family and friends. Ultimately we decided having legal family rights would give us a better future for various bureaucratic reasons.
We sold everything we had (it wasn't much), condensed life to some rolling luggage, and figured we would fly to Ecuador for a marriage/honeymoon/vacation, and return within three months. We weren't worried about returning to Cambodia nearly broke because it only takes $500 a good idea to start a successful business in Cambodia.
⛔ Tired Of Bureaucracy 🛃
Things have gone about as surprisingly wrong as possible. Fast forward nearly three years and we've lost everything, currently stranded in Suriname nearly 3 years, a place we never intended to live, but unable to return to Cambodia or immigrate to the USA, this is our "home."
I miss using the seat of a random motorbike to share a sugarcane juice with Monkey-B, the amount of free-time I used to have with my family to make memories, and the economic means to do so. I miss watching Srey-Yuu win random household items (like an iron) for being awesome student, and I miss taking homemade birthday cakes to an Indian restaurant for a special night out away from home.
Even now, supposedly within three months of getting an interview date for the US Embassy in Guyana, we have borders to cross and visas to obtain before even having a chance to possibly fail an interview at the American Embassy.
The staff at the US Embassy here seems to think we won't be able to travel to Guyana from Suriname nor be able to arrange an interview with the US Embassy there due to pandemic-related problems. We have mounds of paperwork, vaccines, physical exams, bio-scans, and so many more things standing in our way of simply moving across imaginary magical lines know as nation-states.
🧗 Hanging On By A Thread 😤
We now suffer mental health issues from the isolation of life in Suriname, lack of friends and family, hyperinflation and other financial problems, the lack of work, and well, I should stop now because I could go on and on.
It's degrading to have my freedom of movement and ability to earn a livable wage taken away from me by iniquity workers who've never lived through the struggles they force those under their control to endure. My daughters are now on the verge of growing up with only a partial childhood, and I will never forgive those responsible for these conditions.
We should be allowed to tackle this pandemic and global economic crisis on familiar territory like the USA or Cambodia. I find I can no longer even stay in the same room when I hear someone talking about voting, governments, saying nationalistic things. I immediately get filled with rage, and I don't like the person I've become over the last several years.
All I can do is give thanks to you Hivers for providing a safe place to vent my frustrations and concerns, and it turn allow me to earn enough to keep the family fed, clothed, and sheltered.
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My goodness.
I dont' even know where to begin. My heart breaks for you and your family.
Thankfully - I look at their smiling faces and take a deep breath and I'm thankful that children have more resilience that we do as adults.
We see all that they could have had - and they just look at what is there.
I'm sure at some point - it will hit them very hard - but for now - their smiling faces really cheer me in the midst of your painful struggle.
I hope this all gets sorted sooner rather than later and I really hope that your interview goes well and you can get your family to a place where your joy starts to return.
It is crazy how long this COVID-19 and stranded abroad mess has gone on. Afghanistan is proof that the stroke of a pen can change everything in a moment, and rules can be broken. I worked my whole life for minimum wage and built the wealth of other Americans before I left the country, and I have nothing to show for it except no insurance, bad knees, and a bad back.
I realize it's not a potential life and death situation like in Afghanistan, but I feel I've helped my country considerably in my life, and to be disrespected by both Cambodia and the USA in this time makes us feel we have no home. I've tried to teach our daughters to have no allegiance to flags and nation-states, but that loyalty should be given to our fellow human beings. Our experience is a brutal example of why I live this way, but I hope this causes our daughters to be winds of change for humanity.
Thanks for your kind words my friend, they are worth much more than any upvote.
I wish I could spirit you all back to Cambodia. My heart aches for you all.
It's just crazy to think that you can't go back to either one of the countries you or Pov were born in and take your family with you. I only recently realised they'd changed laws in the UK back in 2014, which meant that a British woman and her South African husband were being deported (or he was, which effectively meant her and baby too) because her wage wasn't high enough. This despite the fact that he was also working.
Everywhere I turn these days I'm feeling sickened by the lack of humanity in way too many people.
Yeah the world is crazy, even the USA requires me to earn 125% of poverty for a family of 4 to immigrate. Luckily we have a sponsor, but once we're in the USA we won't be able to earn anything close to that. This combined with the fact that we won't be eligible for any government assistance until after citizenship means it's gonna be tough there too, but at least we'll be able to work, unlike Suriname.
Let's hope a better world is on the horizon for us all my friend....
Thank you for sharing this updates!! I have been wondering about the progress. Have you thought of start a fund raising program? The one in Canada is called “ go funding” I’m not sure if it’s international wide. Once you have a link up I would love to do my part on contributing to the fund and share among the people I know to help raise fund. If you guys can travel to a country not so strict with covid rules and grant a landed visa ( is Mexico like that ? I haven’t looked into it) so you can get tickets go there first and have enough money for living there while get ready to go to US. I don’t know if this is a solution, just taking out loud I really hope this will end soon. I have never seen a family this persistent, brave and hard working and such beautiful souls!! You guys deserve the very best and keep fighting I know that day will come!!!! Btw the girls are so cute love those pictures!
It was tough even before COVID-19, because Cambodians only get visa on arrival to Cuba, Haiti, Ecuador, and Panama. Mexico won't even let Cambodians transit their airports without a visa in advance, and now the world is only more closed. Albania would be our best bet if the USA fails. The family could get e-tourist visas, but technically would have to leave the country while I arrange a family reunification visa to bring them back in.
Of course that's problematic because of visa and border issues related to COVID-19, but I love Albania, lived there 5 months several years back. When we have USA green cards, Albania may be a home 6 months out of the year, as we only have to stay in the USA 6 months a year to not jeopardize citizenship.
We did do a fundraiser on PayPal for our wedding a year or more ago, and it allowed us an upgrade in living conditions and put many legal issues behind us. Much love to you and your family from mine.
Yeah it is covid on top of all the immigration/ border rules made thing even more difficult…😞
HAHAH look at Monkey-B and her baby round face. So you can just use a strangers random bike and sit on? Interesting, says a lot about the people.
Gwaan give thanks Justin, it rough, but at least Suriname "accepted" you guys in a sense.
Monkey-B was all cheeks back in the day. Oh the best thing is when you come out the market to get on your moto and a teenager is busy popping their zits into your mirrors. Remove yah!!!! Definitely the Suriname bureaucracy has accepted us, and we do give thanks there's a wild west place open to Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and us.
I am beside myself when I hear your stories of absolute injustice that is upon your family. You are good people that just want to go home.
The photos are so sweet. I really hope you get to Cambodia before USA but freedom from Suriname first. I saw a video the other day which took place in Cambodia and my heart was aching thinking about the beautiful country you all should be living in. In fact I would be more than happy to call it my home as well.
I send warm wishes to you all.
Cambodia is such a magical place, but of course nowhere is perfect. That being said, we miss so much about our former life there. All we can do is hopefully get to the USA and return to Cambodia when bureaucracy allows. Lots of love from us to you.
I'm sure I dont' feel what you go through after reading this post, and I'm sure it feel suck to be in your situation. All I can say is, as long the family is healthy and safe, that's all that matter. If you have a God, pray. If you don't, time to get one. Nobody said God will answer everthing, God is not our slave, other than #hive, the next best way to find peace if probably via prayer. Cheers buddy.
Yes, we give thanks for what we do have, which is a lot more than many others during this pandemic and global economic crisis. We do our best to hold the faith and pray a better day is on the horizon. Your posts are significant part of my daily humor intake, so you and the ASEAN Hive Community keep us in good spirits too.
Lieve Justin,
I feel for you guys so much. It really puts things into perspective.
P.S. Your daughters just ooze cuteness and happiness and I love all of the pictures you shared!
Big hug and good vibes coming your way, my friend...
We are hoping some new exciting adventures are in our future, but until then we'll keep making memories in our studio apartment. Monkey-B and Srey-Yuu have grown so much since they came into my life. Sending good vibes to Portugal...
Hi Justin!
My heart goes out to you and your beautiful (and growing) family. My heart aches too hear how you have struggled far from home... and yet! You have all held together and grown strong and resilient! That is nothing short of love held true.
I am so confident that one day this experience of hardship (that has shaped you all) will give context (and even an edge) to the next chapters of your lives... and it is my hope that these times will have stitched every ounce of your beings to each other!
All through these times... you have been a family unit and so I hope that this brings you the joy that will heal your hearts over the coming years.
These pictures you've shared do have so much joy in them! They are unforgettable treasures! Thank you for sharing them with us... and I'm so glad that Hive has been your blockchain home. You had the foresight to transcend those physically imposed barriers to freedom and sufficiency by making Hive your home...
If it wasn't for this... I would never have known your story... and my family wouldn't have connected with yours.
I hope that you are able to solve these very real problems soon and I hope that you are all able to reclaim what you have lost... But more importantly! I hope that you are all able to gain more than you have lost (with compounded interest!) as time allows you the ability to reframe and rebuild your lives.
This I know... When life is at it's hardest... When the competition is the toughest... When the resistance seems the stiffest... When all seems but lost... THAT is when the breakthroughs happen!
That is my wish for you and your family.
Your friend,
@wil.metcalfe P.S. Just to give you the headsUP! I have ⭕️ targeted this post with @Comet.Ranker! A new service I have launched exclusive to Hive to encourage more wholesome engagement and also a friendlier blockchain! INCOMING!!! ☄️
What a legendary comment my friend. These are kind words I will definitely orally translate for the family to hear. There is no telling what the future holds, but if we escape this relative prison and make it to the USA, one thing we want to do is travel because we've been stuck in place for years. Who knows, maybe even Canada can be on the list, but I must admit I've been denied entry twice before by land.
Hugs from my family to you and yours my friend, this comment has brightened my day.
I can't imagine how hard life has been for you and your family sir. But please don't lose hope. If only the Philippines can take you and give you home here. People are welcoming and friendly. I hope you will find a good home for you and your wonderful family.
I think I would life in the Philippines, the people are friendly and the lifestyle is similar to Cambodia. In fact, most of my co-workers in Cambodia were Filipinas. It's a shame though because the residency visa for the Philippines is almost impossible for me to get. Give thanks my friend.
Never give up, fighting
!PIZZA
Yes, we keep pushing forward always...
$PIZZA@justinparke! I sent you a slice of on behalf of @naythan.
Did you know Pizzabot in Discord has a bunch of useful commands? (3/10)
Dear friend and three beautiful ladies, I am so sorry to hear that the mental state in Suriname is not great at the moments. Never forget your fate and the fact that you have the three prinsessen. I know that is not what you want o hear and not what you think is needed but I hope that faith and the future will fulfill all your and the girls dreams,
Sending some love from the Netherlands
We give thanks that we are going through this together at least. One of our landlord's has just gone back to the Netherlands to work and save money. She was tired of the situation here, I can't blame her. Lots of love from my family to you and yours my friend.
It’s hard on many places , and I hope that things are changing soon. Maybe the landlord will stay here and you can take care of their home.
You know we all wish you and yours well
You are in my prayer