Comparision

Every time I sign in to my blog account and decide to write something new I hesitate and stop. My thoughts freeze, my words jumps off my mind as if I'm having the so called "Amnesia".

Three months ago and while I was preparing my self to head to the States I was thinking of writing myriads of posts once I arrive! But it turned out to be something different, something I have never thought about. Everything I've anticipated and borne in mind about the US turned to be the opposite.

I've always heard that America is the land of opportunities and freedom. In my case I don't see any opportunity coming away. The moment I arrived here I finished my papers and got the green card, I started applying here and there but no one wants to hire. The priority goes to the citizens, work record in the States, college degree from the States and the list goes on, when I compare my experience and who I am and the degree I have, my chances of finding a job tail away.

Through these three months I've noticed too many things; I am talking about Michigan State especially, and the States in General; I have noticed that there is no transportation like buses, taxis, trains, metro...only in down town which is not a safe area you can find a couple of cabs here and there and school buses. Other than that you have to buy a car, as we say in Iraq: it will become your hands and legs, without a car you are paralyzed!!

I have noticed that the cellphone network is not that popular, I mean there are people who have cellphones but not all society sections. Basically they depend on landlines and mails. while emails come as the third or last choice to communicate.

Bills: this is a new term which have invaded my life dictionary oh not to mention "Tax". What ever you but here, if you choose to pay it via credit card then you have to wait to get a pay bill by mail and pay either by installments or one time. This will build your credit in banks. Or you choose to pay via your debit card which is taken from your bank account. Pay by cash is seldom used, if you give the cashier a $100 bill then you might expect few questions from her, because this is a huge amount...they might think that you are a drug trader.

I have noticed that this area in not a safe place. Every day you hear about crimes, kidnappings, robbery. I have noticed that women who drive cars here are more than men. I have noticed that nepotism and referral are two faces for one coin, without them you can't get a job!! I have noticed that American are very simple in how they dress, no high heels, no mini skirts it is all about shorts and sport shoes. I have noticed that those Iraqis who have had the American citizenship; most of them are verrrrry rude and detested, they stick their nose up in the air.

But what I have noticed is that we who came from the third national countries are very ex post facto, very old fashioned (I don't mean the way of how we dress). They way we run the country, the way our markets are run by, the way of living... I have noticed that the children here are number one while they are neglected back home. I have noticed that there are many places to go and have fun at, to spend a nice weekend with your family, lots of outdoors and indoors that you can take your children to but nothing to mention back home!! I have noticed that if you want to buy a cigarette, you will be requested to show your ID first. It has been a long time since I have smelled a cigarette smoke. Smoking here is almost nonexistent in public places, while we have chimneys inside house, schools, and work station back home. The language: I thought it will be very easy for me to expatiate on, but you have to pay attention to anyone here because not all Americans speak the American accent, you have Indians, Middle Easterners, Asians, Russians, Dutches and so on.

Family Bonds: I am proud to be Iraqi who came from a strong bonded family. Here, the bonds are weak.

Internet: Even if you don't choose to pay for a very fast Internet you have the government one which is for free and set every where.

Clinics: you don't want to go to the doctor unless you have a health insurance which is hard to obtain. If you do so, then you gotta pay between $100 - $200 just to see a doctor. Food: you find every thing here even thing that are not in your mind, but to be honest there is no meat better than the Iraqi -lamb meat...yummmy!! Cancer: Is way too spread here.

Streets: Are very bad and full of holes because of the salt that is spread to melt the snow away in winter. Sale and clearance: a lot of big names like: Meijer, Target, Kohl's, Dick's, Kroger announce on sale and clearance for their goods and it is a very good idea to sell off. Measurements: I get a hard time converting the numbers from Pounds to kilos, from Miles to kilometers, from feet and inches to meter and centimeter and from Fahrenheit to Celsius. Traffic Police: hahahah...every one should respect the speed limit and drive according to that number when a police car is driving behind you or beside you. Electricity: that is what I like the most about this State. The power is ON all the time. But there is something missing, something I used to see since 2003. There are no military vehicles roaming the streets here, I have heard it is forbidden. The weather: fantastic, the main thing is that no dust at all!!

Conclusions:

I am on a scale now, the right hand is my endless home "Iraq" and the left hand is my new home" America". When the right pan gets down and heavier it means that I feel homesick to my family, my city, my work and cries for what is going on there, and that I can't face the challenges here as if I want to give up and pack up heading back. To be honest the left pan hasn't gotten deep down yet it seldom did, that means I am still striving and resisting to live, I have to get accustomed to the environment here and go with the program. My dear readers: please forgive me for not posting any thing since July. Reading my post will explain my absence. Have a nice day and happy labour day Marsho