Protected: A Returned Expatriate’s Lament

The last time, well, the only time to be honest, that I've been to America, I was 8. My family spent a year there due to my father's work. On the last day of school, I got farewell cards from all my classmates and I was the one to hold the American flag while everyone said the pledge of allegiance, which of course I knew by heart as I had said it a zillion times. That thought seems kind of distrubing to me now. Then I went home, I read my cards, I started to cry hysterically and I begged my parents to stay in that awsome country with huge toyshops where everything and everyone is cool... They had never even considered the thought, thank god. I cannot imagine mysefl living in America now. And I cannot imagine becoming even a vaguely similar person that I am now if my family had stayed there. But that being said, even that one year away from my country somehow made me never fit in in my own country again. So I can understand where you're coming form.

Thanks for sharing! I don't think anyone can really understand where this post is coming from unless they've experienced themselves. When I talk to other expatriates or people who were expatriates they know exactly what I mean. But when talking to people who have not experienced expatriatism (<==made up word) they just don't really "get it". I've lived outside my country for well over half my life so it's pretty hard at times.

You mention one thing that has bothered me for quite awhile, the greed that many Americans have, especially those of corporations. I completely understand what you are talking about in that regard. There are, however, millions of Americans who are barely able to get by, so I would also add that not every American is rolling around full of greed, not thinking about others or their hardships. I know from experience, I have seen the kindness Americans can offer, the issue usually is that they ignore what they don't see.

I am not sure that we can condemn people for using their own money as they see fit, they earned it on their own. It can be disheartening at times to see their lack of caring, selfishness, but again, that is not all of America, that is just some of American.

It is this type of awareness that turned me from a regular college student to a bit of an activist. I found myself in a position to where I thought there was a problem and I could ignore it and continue on, run away, or turn and face it head on and try to raise awareness, in hopes to bring some change. I chose to face it, educate people and try to get more people involved.

I am very well aware of the fact that not EVERY American is well off. I was referring to Americans holistically speaking. I guess in a sense my statement was a fallacy, a hasty generalization. Both of my parents grew up very poor. In the one of the poorest states in the nation.And when I go and visit relatives who still live there I see first hand the poverty they have to endure. That being said, I did say my view of America as a whole has been changing. Maybe it is because I live here or maybe because im older and more mature either way statistically speaking America is one of, if not the, most wasteful nation.

awww. I think you're right tho, people do take things for granted here.

That being said, I don't feel like I belong at the very least in Texas. Meh.