E84: Iqbal Chowdhury says belonging starts with finding economic stability

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Iqbal Chowdhury, a Research and Teaching Assistant at Dalhousie University, Canada, whose academic work on immigrant integration and mental well-being is deeply informed by his personal journey to Canada.

When we talk about immigration, we often focus on the logistics or the challenges, such as finding a home or similar. Now these are important. But I think the the psychological journey of rebuilding your identity in a new country is probably more important.

And Iqbal’s research reveals how economic stability serves as the first steps towards cultural integration and belonging. You need economic security before you can truly engage with your new community.

Iqbal explains the troubling phenomenon of the "healthy immigrant effect" and how it deteriorates over time as newcomers struggle to find suitable employment that match their qualifications. This disconnect between expectations and reality ends up affecting the immigrant's mental health and integration process.

In this conversation, Iqbal and I chat about the stark contrast between our imagined and actual immigration experiences. We also explore:

* The work we need to do as immigrants to accept our multiple identities

* The importance of maintaining connections with one's cultural community while building new relationships

* How language barriers create cascading challenges in professional and social settings

* Finding the delicate balance between integrating into a new culture while honoring your heritage

* Plus, Iqbal shares practical advice for prospective immigrants to better prepare mentally for the journey ahead

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Iqbal on LinkedIn

📚 Read about Iqbal’s research

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com