Quote:
Originally Posted by synthia
Do you still have your European citizenship? And is it in a country that has entered the EU? At least then you don't have to worry about immigration policy.
One thing I have to agree with is the increasing degree of social isoltion I've noticed every year when I come back. I don't know that many people any more, but I've noticed that although I usually only visit them once ayear for a week or two, I seem to be the friends they have the most face to face contact. People seem to maintain most of their friendships by e-mail and IM, even if they live only a few miles away. I'v always been somewhat of a hermit, but I've noticed that even gregarious persons live that way.
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Yes, I do have EU citizenship. Unfortunately, my country has just recently joined the EU and work restrictions still apply.
Otherwise, I re-read my post just to make sure it didn't sound too harsh (it did) but then I also had to admit I have nothing really to withdraw. I just wanted to convey that I am one of those for whom the "American dream" has come at a price perceived to be too large. This dream seems to come with the same price for pretty much everyone else but not everyone minds paying it or even perceives it as a price.
However, if I manage to get back to Europe with my family, under decent material conditions, I will look back and be grateful for some of the pragmatic advantages I gained by having come to the US for graduate school, not to mention the family I formed here. I have also learned quite a bit just by being here and observing local ways, mentalities, etc - not all of which I consider to be avoided. Americans are eternal pragmatics and you have to be an idiot not to adopt SOME of their ways and apply them in life, where and when appropriate.
In the end, I learnt I am European to the bone, and certainly not a "modern type". While I am not naive to think that Europe has remained a traditional, community-oriented haven in a world driven insane by postmodernity (I have visited Europe yearly since I left) I remain confident that it is still not where the US is in terms of those "ways of life" that have disappointed me so severely here.