When did you come to realization you are more American than anything else?

[Twomoles 8]

So just wondering and contemplating about your thoughts and experiences.

I wanted to know, after how long time or after what kind of events, you settled your mind and knew - this is it.

I am more American than where I came from.

I am not even feeling like half and half anymore, or something of one or other.

When did you start to feel that at your birth country - you are a visitor, and US - this is a true forever home?

Was it gradual, or was it a cathartic event?

When did you start thinking and dreaming in English as your default language?

[SB5130 88]

1 hour ago, Twomoles said:

So just wondering and contemplating about your thoughts and experiences.

I wanted to know, after how long time or after what kind of events, you settled your mind and knew - this is it.

I am more American than where I came from.

I am not even feeling like half and half anymore, or something of one or other.

When did you start to feel that at your birth country - you are a visitor, and US - this is a true forever home?

Was it gradual, or was it a cathartic event?

When did you start thinking and dreaming in English as your default language?

for me... NOT YET. only one thing that makes me feel and outsider. 

In terms of food, lifestyle, etc, i feel very comfortable like it's my own. 

Language... as a filipino, was taught with English from 4years old. English is not at all foreign to me... 

 

But the only thing that I dont understand is $$$$$$. 

From every country I visited, as the number increase in a currency, so as it's value. Like, 500 is a lot and so as 1000. 

I dont understand how a lot of Americans would say "nah, it's just $5". So if "$5" is "just a $5", why wouldnt folks in US toss $5 for a bottle of water? Turns out value is very subjective in America. 

 

Like $100 is a lot but not a lot for a hotel room? $5 is nothing for a taxi ride but a lot for a bottle of 500ml water?

To me, it is confusing. I dont know what's a lot and what is cheap. 

 

[Twomoles 8]

Ha, very interesting. I think maybe it is because the commercials and thinking here is not conditioned by what is one thing worth against the other, in comparison, so not so much like - what you can afford at the moment, does this moment validates spending that amount for you, and for this item, but more like inner haggling looking for a "deal".

[Twomoles 8]

I think  big moment was for me, that I realized that I understand American jokes and stand up comedy, better than the current humor back at my birth country. Once you start getting political jokes and getting Dr Seuss,  but lose touch and interest about the ones back home, you are turned.

[Falcon Cara 377]

First time I was age 15, I went to England for a month.  I noticed how jealous the people were about me being from the USA, especially the men, It was around 1981.  It was an eye opening experience for me.

 

Didn't think much about it for year until I went to the Philippines and noticed how much respect I got from the people there for being and American.

 

 

 

 

[Roel 7,191]

1 hour ago, Falcon Cara said:

 

 

Didn't think much about it for year until I went to the Philippines and noticed how much respect I got from the people there for being and American.

 

Somehow I doubt it's actually "respect" lol. It's like when my husbands says that when he travels (usually poor-ish countries) and notices how everyone likes and respect Americans! I mean, hun, you're a walking, full wallet. Of course they will like you. 😛

 

As for "thinking" in English, I think I used to that even before there was an opportunity to move to the US. For some reason, some phrases just translate better and are "easier" to say in English rather than in Polish. Does that make sense? I also used to play looots of video games in English, talk to many online friends in English..

 

I HOPE I will never actually feel American though. Only time I have that feeling, remotely, is when I eat weird American foods (I didn't know mac'n'cheese existed before going to the US?). I like feeling Polish. I think being a foreigner gives a cool, unique perspective on "American" things.

Edited June 1, 2019 by Roel

[Twomoles 8]

I have been here long enough that I do find many topics, especially, related to everyday life, to be easier to express in English. I mean, how do you start explaining the various car or health insurance policies to a European?

 

I think somehow deep down I have found that my new country matches my personality and character more than my birth country ever did -the general kindness and people ease at interaction, the hero culture. I mean, what is nationalism? You kinda presume certain personality types, styles and interests to the region and keep pumping it for no reason other than you must, but no one knows why, except you were born there. I used to think that national identity is needed for ones personality realization, now I am thinking it is actually stripping individual from his dreams, and true character and keeps it in bondage. Does it even make sense? Because much of it just romanticized bologna.  For example, am I supposed to like our ornaments, and outdated belief system or political opinions ? because I really dont. I like the songs but leave me alone with your knickknacks, and stop correcting my grammar, and I have my own thoughts, thank you. Here - there is no expectation like that of me and it is liberating.

 

[little immigrant 800]

I have an accent I can't shake. I forget words and expressions in my mother tongue. I get discriminated by people and they tell me I shouldn't be here and should go back to my country. I don't think I'll ever feel "American" as I don't feel welcome here. But I also don't feel German. 

Edited June 2, 2019 by little immigrant

[Boiler 43,429]

Probably never.

[Twomoles 8]

1 hour ago, little immigrant said:

I have an accent I can't shake. I forget words and expressions in my mother tongue. I get discriminated by people and they tell me I shouldn't be here and should go back to my country. I don't think I'll ever feel "American" as I don't feel welcome here. But I also don't feel German. 

I think I now have accents in both languages. And both are there to stay.

With few exceptions, US people are generally welcoming.

I do not have problem being American, I have people who back home think I am too American now for their nationalist standards.

[Lil bear 3,831]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Probably never.

I’ll join you in that ! 😁. 

[TBoneTX 43,048]

13 hours ago, Roel said:

some phrases just translate better and are "easier" to say in English rather than in Polish. Does that make sense?

Oj tak.   

[TBoneTX 43,048]

20 hours ago, Twomoles said:

When did you start to feel that at your birth country - you are a visitor, and US - this is a true forever home?  Was it gradual, or was it a cathartic event?

Can be immediate, upon obtaining and wearing:

 -- MAGA cap

 -- T-shirt that says "Relax, Gringo -- I'm Legal!"

[TBoneTX 43,048]

When Mrs. T-B. got her green card, she was wild to go back to Ecu.  She wanted 7 weeks there.

However, it wasn't quite the same.

She realized that most of her friends had moved on with their lives, and that she was not an intimate part.

By the third week, she was begging me to get her home early.

(I refused, being fully occupied with my imaginary harem of 6 blondes.)

 

A couple of years ago, she & Mini-Bone visited Ecu.

Mini-B. was miserable.  So was Mrs. T-B.

The weather was too hot.  Society, commerce, and government were too inefficient.

Hotels that were previously sufficient were now strikingly inadequate.

By the third day, she was begging me to bring them back (I didn't; see above).

 

In a few weeks, I'm going back for the first time in something like 6 years.

Ecu is nice, but it's firmly a third-world country, and I realize that.

I'll take mental note of how well Mrs. T-B. handles and abides things.

One benefit to her presence is that I can get "native" prices and not inflated "gringo" prices for everything.

Edited June 2, 2019 by TBoneTX

[Twomoles 8]

On 6/2/2019 at 12:31 AM, TBoneTX said:

When Mrs. T-B. got her green card, she was wild to go back to Ecu.  She wanted 7 weeks there.

However, it wasn't quite the same.

She realized that most of her friends had moved on with their lives, and that she was not an intimate part.

By the third week, she was begging me to get her home early.

(I refused, being fully occupied with my imaginary harem of 6 blondes.)

 

A couple of years ago, she & Mini-Bone visited Ecu.

Mini-B. was miserable.  So was Mrs. T-B.

The weather was too hot.  Society, commerce, and government were too inefficient.

Hotels that were previously sufficient were now strikingly inadequate.

By the third day, she was begging me to bring them back (I didn't; see above).

 

In a few weeks, I'm going back for the first time in something like 6 years.

Ecu is nice, but it's firmly a third-world country, and I realize that.

I'll take mental note of how well Mrs. T-B. handles and abides things.

One benefit to her presence is that I can get "native" prices and not inflated "gringo" prices for everything.

I guess it depends on country you are from and how stark is the comparison. But you are right, you are not part of their day to day lives anymore, you do not sing along the local radio and understand local political humor. And in childhood memories grass is always greener no matter where you are from. My mini-me loved visiting, because at certain age, kids get along just fine. I remember seeing in Frankfurt airport, all color and langues toddlers were playing in one tune. Now that she is older and language is a barrier, she is starting to have a certain insecurity and resentment.