Immigration is not glamorous
I know that many young Lebanese are considering leaving the country—given the economic troubles and political instability, I completely understand that impulse.
However, as someone who has immigrated to the US, I’d like to share my perspective.
This isn’t about changing anyone’s mind, just offering a dose of reality from my own experience.
I left Lebanon in the early 2010s to pursue a graduate degree at a top engineering school.
I climbed the corporate ladder at a leading firm, then went on to a prestigious business school for my MBA, and later secured a position at an even more distinguished firm.
Eventually, I left my role at a Wall Street hedge fund to start my own business. Now, I'm thinking about moving back to Lebanon with my young family, and here’s why:
Life in a tier 1 US city is incredibly expensive, and the services you get for your money don't compare to what you could receive in Lebanon or the Gulf countries, even if you were wealthy
The education here, even at $50,000+ for private schooling, does not match the level of the top schools back in Lebanon
A significant portion of what you pay in taxes ends up funding military spending in the Middle East
My kids are losing touch with Lebanese culture, risking not learning Arabic, and face potential bullying at school for being Arab
This is just my take on it, though immigration might still be the preferable option for many.