USA, the nation of immigrants

This subject matter is intended mainly for the so called "first - generation immigrants" or, the way I call them "the boaters" (I can do that, I'm one of them).

Now I know that we all have our own, different and unique experiences with living in the US. These experiences reflect our opinion on the people living in this country. Some of us did great and love this place and the people, some did OK and "sorta-like-it", and some didn't do so well, they went back defeated and they probably did not like it at all.

USA is one of the few countries in the World where you can move to and not feel like a foreigner. If I have had emigrated let's say to Germany I'm sure I would have enjoyed very much their efficient government and a great social system not to mention the fabulous German beer. The only thing is that in Germany I would for ever be thought of as "that Polish guy" and my kids would be thought of as "those kids of that Polish guy". Probably there wouldn't be any malice in that thinking - just a "set of mind". In the US on the contrary, I am considered a "new" American, as long as I am a citizen and speak the language. I think the reason for this is that almost everybody remembers that one grandpa or grandma straight from the old country who spoke with accent and they sympathize with that. It is, after all, "a nation of immigrants" as oppose to let's say Germany, which is a nation of... Germans.

The best thing you can find in here is not money, huge houses, cars, or whatever people outside of US associate this country with. But it is a great place to raise your family. The best in the World.

i think that kind of depends. actually that's one of the few doubts i have about USA.

everything else is right on. i think the greatest thing about america is that you really can be or do whatever you want. if you have a dream, you can achieve it here. life is really pretty darn easy here, imho. :)

the number 3 thing would have to be the expance of this country. if that's not enough, there is always the even emptier canada. :)

I was first born on USA soil. What a differance born into freedom vs, fighting for your rights. After what my family went throught being Roman Catholics from Kresy 1939-45, I can't even think how the ones that stayed could be silenced. Your babies, families, whole generations got killed, yet don't you dare speak about it. How is that for healing. Since 1989 they tell them ok you can feel again. I respect the Polish strength, I on the other hand being born here, would not have made it to long in communist Poland.
Carol

Yes, America is a nation of immigrants. Anybody who sets their foot on this soil can feel right at home from the very beginning. I did. I felt at home from the start even tough I had to learn the language, the new life style...you name it. Yet, it was somehow so close to the real ME. No matter what any jealous America basher wants say, there is no place on this earth which gives so many opportunities and - nothing more. It all up to you, who you want to be and how you want live your life. You are not given anything, you earn it. Your neighbors don't point your finger at you, if you drive a seven year old car or 2008 Hummer. It is 'normal'. You have what you want and what you can afford.
I live in the 'burbs', the cities are different. They have good parts and they have bad parts. You don't have to be there, if you don't want to. It's up to you to move.
It's not perfect, but it is close enough.
People who wish for this great country to go down are dumb, because if we go down, we take the whole world with us. Sorry, but that's the big picture and if you can't see beyond the tip of your nose that's what you'll get. We may suffer a little, but you end up in the sewer. So there.

thank you dice, and I really appreciate your post, its a nice change to hear good
and decent things, aside from politics , people do not realize and will never realize
till they come here how good it is.. those that do come and appreciate know and would
never disrespect it..

three cheers for Eurola!!

girl, well put I do say!!!

this is so true, we might be a super power, but its because all these great people
came from over there and were tired of the crap so we became strong country together!! and we are all races.. not seperate..

like eurola said we arent perfect, but we are united..

don't forget about those who actually do go and then come to the conclusion that it is totally overrated...America's a great place, just like many other countries with clean-running tap water. by the way isn't Canada also a nation of immigrants? And Australia?

that is so not true...
have you actually ever lived in germany? i guess not.

like everywhere it makes a difference with what kind of people you mix. the higher educated ones will surely not keep seeing you as "that polish guy" or even if, they will not judge for being polish (or any other nationality)...

with the less educated ones it is different almost anywhere on this planet (incl. USA i guess)...

the less educated ones in the US will waste no time calling you a dumb Polak even if you have already been living there a long time, whether you have citizenship or not...

Very much so.
In 1980 over 60% of Canadian citizens were born outside Canada. The numbers changed and I think it's about 40% now.

Any country that takes in immigrants, to a lesser or greater extent, requires those people to fit in to the ways that country does things. This goes for sports, clothing, maybe even food, definately language. Particularly in the US, but also in Canda, Australia and so on, English is the language you will need in order to prosper, even if communities speaking other languages are strong and may be very useful.

Wherever you go, you have to make your future for yourself. This is particularly expected in the US, but even in Britain where many immigrants have done well for themselves out of their own efforts and entrepreneurship.

Part of the culture there seems to be the turning of backs on all that has been left behind in the old world. That may be why so many Americans seem to have so little regard for the rest of the world - it is the thing they or their parents' generation had left behind in search of a better future. That can also be explained by how insular most countries are in looking at themselves rather than the bigger picture of the outside world.

America has the best and the worst of everything.

agreed

Not true... people pass down customs and traditions from their countries of origin for many generations. Maybe it's different in the UK.

Some do. I accept that. I'll even go as far as to say some communities hang on to traditions that get lost back in the old world, but by and large, I'm not so sure. As an example: many 'Irish' Americans seem to have very little understanding of the situation in both the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland with regards to religion, the economy and so on.


Some communities, especially those originating in Southern Asia remain culturally in their place of origin. Many other communities are too small to keep language and customs alive.