What's So "Alien" About That?

When we talk aliens, what must come to mind is that green creature with wide set eyes and antennae; but we who have just set foot into a new country know better. Can't seem to figure which sounds weirder—alien or foreigner; to me one is as bad as the other. Six months in a new country, yet classified as an "alien", though all necessary documents, save the other green thingy—Green Card—remains to make its appearance in that nude postbox of ours. I ain't getting no job without that Green Card, I'll tell you that! Am I qualified—like hell I am! Why else would I be so mad when the only thing that's possibly holding me back is that green piece of plastic! It sure is just a rectangle of plastic, but it sure seems to be controlling my life. Strange how life plays out, eh? How do I start earning and take care of family until I get employed. 

You know, it sure is a parody of circumstances. All my life I've lived in India, shuttling between Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Bangalore, Karnataka from the time I started working right after college graduation. And the companies I worked for were all American companies, with their headquarters in LA and Texas. and now I'm settled in the United States and I don't have a job! I console my aching heart that it's just a matter of time when the Green Card comes through and I could earn a living. I do understand that a lot has to do with safety measures with terrorism doing its rounds; the most recent being the one in Boston. It was tragic, and to think that the brothers were citizens of this country. Who would have ever fathomed what was to come. Despite the Government doing their best to protect and prepare the country of such mishaps from twisted beings, a whole lot of innocent souls also suffer, which is truly unfair. I hope and pray there would be better means of dealing with immigration formalities. We don't want people to stop wanting to come to the U.S. just because of the tedious process. 

Fortunately, the people I have come in contact with have treated me with a lot of love and respect. Truly appreciate it. It's not about the masses, it's just the status and the lack of a well-paying, salaried job.  I hope I could shed the "Alien" from my status before I do turn green and grow some antennae.