" American dream "

[George & Roth 1,485]

We were both living happily in Cambodia and neither of us cared much about which country we would continue to live in. 

 

Until we decided to have a child that is, and when we looked closer at the education and opportunities for our son we decided to move to the USA. And consider the politics and value of life in Cambodia it was a better environment for our son. 

 

To be honest I am starting to look at other countries now, as I prefer them for a number of reasons (quality of the people, politics, gun laws, education, crime, healthcare, racism, the threat of terrorism). Things seem to have degraded greatly in the years I was gone. I hope it improves!

[Unidentified 2,930]

I wrote a whole bunch of stuff but decided it was too negative to post... I have lived here 7 year and I used to love it and now I would love to go back to Sweden. 

[L0bster00 41]

American Dream is nothing but ONLY a dream.  Realities are Taxes, Debt payment and death.

 

 

[George & Roth 1,485]

31 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

I wrote a whole bunch of stuff but decided it was too negative to post... I have lived here 7 year and I used to love it and now I would love to go back to Sweden. 

One of the best in my opinion. 

[seck101 14]

My parents moved to the country for better opportunities. My dad.. one of those guys... "I came here with 50 dollars in my pocket". He paid good portion of my education and majority of my brothers. My parents now own a home with 2 cars, they do not live pay check to pay check. They have money they save up. They are not rich, but comfortable in their own way. Considering the conditions what might have been. Most people immigrate to America because of luxury. No matter how comfortable you may be in most parts of the world, U.S has products and conditions that are 1 step up.

 

- If you are looking for my version of it. I coatailed my father. Trying to one up him by finishing my degree... going for my MBA program. I work in a decent work environment, saving money to buy our own house. Waiting for the wifey to come over first of course. Then continue on a path to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Now if you are asking about my pursuit of happiness... well, that's a whole new level of questioning lol.

[SB5130 88]

10 hours ago, Nemeseax said:

Dear people- what do you consider by " American dream " and what is that actually? Why millions of people are trying so hard to come here? Arent expectations a bit too high when reality shows up?

What was your main reason for living here? And  (honestly)are you satisfied or disappointed?

 

I am a Filipino. Despite from being from a third world country, i didn't have dreams to live here. 

I've been here multiple times on business trips. I was on the height of my career traveling across the globe on business trips then I met my now husband. He is the most wonderful person I know, my soulmate, the one who could best complement me. I gave up everything I have to build a life with him. (Main Reason for living here)

 

My only expectation when I moved here, I was expecting I won't be culture shocked because it's not my first time. I had been here on my business trips for months and for multiple times. But living here, I've realized there is really a difference when you are just a visitor as compared to being a resident. There are adjustments. Yes. 

 

Im satisfied? There are aspects I am not satisfied. There are things I don't understand. I don't understand credit score and the point of building debts. I don't understand why bullying is condoned in school. etc. 

But at the end of the day, when the environment is bringing me emotionally down, I look at my husband. He is the best for me. He gave me all the love I could ever asked for. He gave me awesome in-laws who loved me more than my parents. (My in-laws would leave work just to pick me up if I need a ride). He gave me the family I never had and I had always hoped for. 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

Pros - husband, California weather, diversity in California (many immigrant communities - so many opportunities for international shopping and dining), polite people, good customer service, variety of products and services (mostly due to population size here), higher salaries if you're privileged enough to have had good education 

 

Cons - mass shootings, homeless people, religious wackos (not as many in California but still), inequality, poor kids going to school 

hungry, ridiculous Healthcare system, terrible political climate, basic women's rights are still being debated, you need a credit score for everything, people insisting that owning guns is a right, kids not really having equal opportunities, no worker's rights. 

[EmilyW 1,222]

It's not a Nanny State, which is a dream in and of itself.   I know some love the Nanny States.  We were quite happy to leave ours behind.

Edited March 28, 2018 by EmilyW

[usmsbow 795]

11 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Pros - husband, California weather, diversity in California (many immigrant communities - so many opportunities for international shopping and dining), polite people, good customer service, variety of products and services (mostly due to population size here), higher salaries if you're privileged enough to have had good education 

 

Cons - mass shootings, homeless people, religious wackos (not as many in California but still), inequality, poor kids going to school 

hungry, ridiculous Healthcare system, terrible political climate, basic women's rights are still being debated, you need a credit score for everything, people insisting that owning guns is a right, kids not really having equal opportunities, no worker's rights. 

Yes, good point about customer service. That's another thing my wife raves about (mainly related to store return policies). 

[Maria and Jason 55]

29 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Pros - husband, California weather, diversity in California (many immigrant communities - so many opportunities for international shopping and dining), polite people, good customer service, variety of products and services (mostly due to population size here), higher salaries if you're privileged enough to have had good education 

 

Cons - mass shootings, homeless people, religious wackos (not as many in California but still), inequality, poor kids going to school 

hungry, ridiculous Healthcare system, terrible political climate, basic women's rights are still being debated, you need a credit score for everything, people insisting that owning guns is a right, kids not really having equal opportunities, no worker's rights. 

owning is a gun IS a right...

First 10 amendments = bill of rights...

Edited March 28, 2018 by Maria and Jason

[Orangesapples 1,954]

Oh, I forgot :

Pros - people do their best to treat immigrants as equal and not as outsides

 

Cons - suburbs are boring and cities are dangerous, in most places you need a car in order to get around 

3 minutes ago, Maria and Jason said:

owning is a gun IS a right...

In the US it is indeed. That's one of the cons I have listed. Contributes to the last con about dangerous cities as well as the first one about mass shootings. 

Edited March 28, 2018 by Orangesapples
Typos

[evapaula 230]

3 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

The United States of America is where ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.

This! 

My father-in-law came to America with his family on a diversity (lottery) visa 22 years ago. He's an incredible hard worker who was able to give his children a comfortable life and a chance at higher education, while in Romania, fresh out of communism at that time and ridden with corruption, hard work didn't get him too far and he was barely able to feed them.  That is the American dream for him. 
My context was very different - I had a good job in a more developed Romania 20 years after they left. I never dreamed of leaving my country when I met my (now) husband. Leaving that life behind was hard and the American dream had no meaning to me at that time. However, I came to respect the things that make America different, the Constitution it's based on and the sacredness of individual rights. The American dream may have held more meaning 30-50 years ago, but I'm convinced that still, because of the way America was built, with no regard to "noble" origins, "clans" and who your parents are, ordinary individuals are given the same chances as anyone else, and that's a big deal.  

[audacieux89 256]

I did not come to the US because of an "American Dream". Honestly I think it doesn't even exist anymore with the current economy, healthcare, and the government. The sole reason I came here is to be with my then fiance (now husband). I was already living the dream before as an expat--I had a stable job, more than average wage, and living in a country just 4 hours from my home country.

 

There are other countries that have better economies, benefits, and foreigner-friendly cultures in my opinion.

[dawning 212]

34 minutes ago, Maria and Jason said:

owning is a gun IS a right...

First 10 amendments = bill of rights...

 

34 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Oh, I forgot :

Pros - people do their best to treat immigrants as equal and not as outsides

 

Cons - suburbs are boring and cities are dangerous, in most places you need a car in order to get around 

In the US it is indeed. That's one of the cons I have listed. Contributes to the last con about dangerous cities as well as the first one about mass shootings. 

It's actually kind of ambiguous; just says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed on, without specifying what kind of arms.

We don't go on and on about the right of people to have bombs, or anthrax, or nuclear weapons, in fact we are mostly eager for those to kept of impulsive hands.  I think it's more cultural norms that have made guns sacred in some peoples minds, and the intent of the framers of the constitution seems like it's open to debate. 

Just a thought, not wanting to get in a war of words or anything.

[SB5130 88]

25 minutes ago, evapaula said:

... because of the way America was built, with no regard to "noble" origins, "clans" and who your parents are, ordinary individuals are given the same chances as anyone else, and that's a big deal.  

Unfortunately, not in my side of town. Here where I live (Corpus Christi, TX), everything is about connections. Companies have their entire families in. If somebody hands your application to the hiring manager, the next time you come in, you'll be signing and filling up employment forms already. Otherwise, it's gonna sit there forever regardless of qualifications. 

 

I know that doesn't generalize America. But, I guess that's how smaller towns are.