My experience from US
I learned so much from my time in the US. But, I can sum up my learnings in a couple of points. And thanks to my life experience, I can see the two sides of the coin.
I’m not moony, but not cynical either. Here’s what I’ve observed.
Positives: Every man for himself.
You can do anything.
People work a lot.
Negatives: Every man for himself.
You can do anything.
People work a lot.
In the US, people don’t keep up with the Joneses. Everyone (mostly) stays in their own lane, leading to an individualistic society brimming with potential.
But this makes it harder to develop social and emotional connections since everything is digital and meant to be done quickly. There’s not much space for the human in us.
There’s a vast market of opportunities for any job. Everyone can make it (in theory) because it depends on the work you put in.
However, too many choices can often lead to analysis paralysis – there are a million options out there, how do you choose which ones are worth your time?
Finally, the American attitude toward work is vastly different than Macedonian one. For many ambitious people in the US, it’s all work and no play. This may lead to great successes in a person’s work life, but not as many in one’s own personal life.
And in the end, your family are the people that value you most, not your job.
I’m not writing this to say that one’s better than the other. Like everything in life, it depends on a person’s priorities and ambitions.
Have you had an inside look into another culture’s lifestyle? Has it made you question your own?