C
caupina
Full Audioholic
Anybody here from out of USA????. I'm from Chile, South America, that thin and long country surrounded by Argentina, Peru and Bolivia (there's a joke, I heard it from an Argentinian that says that Chile is a country holding on tight to the Andes mountains so it doesn't fall into the Pacific Ocean ) I've been living on L.A. for almost 7 years, working for an airline which got me transfered here. Never thought I'd live in the States, in fact the only other country I lived for some time was Brazil, 3 years, finishing high school in an American school so I learned both English and Portuguese at the same time (my Portuguese is a little bit rusty but I do speak and understand a lot). This thread has to do with coping with the fact I'm a stranger, a foreigner and how difficult or easy my experience has been so far. Well it has a little of both. I can't thank this country enough for the opportunities I've been given, it has open a whole new world to me, and I've been able to reach some goals. It's so practical to live here, and one of the things that stands out the most among others is the importance given to customer service....man that's been a eye opener for me. Also the facilities that at your disposal when the situation requires it...I had a motorcycle accident at the beginning of the year and I got to give it to you guys, the quick action of the paramedics probably saved my life (if I had been in my country, I wouldn't be writing at this moment, probably). There is a lot of things that are very good, I'd say extremely good, that having experienced first hand, I don't know how I lived without them for so long. You guys have an oustanding place to live and call home, no wonder so many people want to cross the border.
However there's a part of me, a big part of me that knows I just don't belong here, and wishes I was back home. You see is just my wife and me, all my relatives are back home and I miss that, big time. One of the things I've found very hard to grasp is how less sociable people around here are (it's probably a California thing), and the word family takes a whole new meaning. Here kids leave home when they are 18 (or younger) and that family union (or unity) is gone. Parents spent most of the time away from the sons/daughters and I guess nobody has time for each other anymore, just one family reunion for Thanksgiving or some other important occasions, and that's it. Where I come from (and it's probably the rule in most of Latin America) family remains together, visiting each other regularly, and your parents are being taken care of on a regular basis. All the important dates, Christmas, birthdays, holidays are celebrated together. I go to Chile every time I can (even though I must confess, I've been avoiding going to Chile lately 'cause it's winter and I hate cold weather), but I certainly make sure I don't miss my parents' birthdays. I'm not saying that's this issue here is bad.....just different.
The company I work for has been paying for our papers to become legal residents (I'm on a work permit/visa) so I'm a very favorable position considering the illegal immigration situation here, but at the end of the day I don't think I'll spend the rest of my life here, in fact we've set a plan for the future with my wife, which if it works out will have us back in Chile in 2-3 years. We do have a future there, and it's not like I was trying to get away from a terrible life back home, but this opportunity to work here was presented to me and I decided to make the most out of it.
I'm extremely grateful for the chances I've been given, and I've had a great time here so far. There are some internal issues I agree with, other I don't, but since I'm just a visitor I've tried to stay out of any debate.
So how has the experience been for you the outsiders here????
However there's a part of me, a big part of me that knows I just don't belong here, and wishes I was back home. You see is just my wife and me, all my relatives are back home and I miss that, big time. One of the things I've found very hard to grasp is how less sociable people around here are (it's probably a California thing), and the word family takes a whole new meaning. Here kids leave home when they are 18 (or younger) and that family union (or unity) is gone. Parents spent most of the time away from the sons/daughters and I guess nobody has time for each other anymore, just one family reunion for Thanksgiving or some other important occasions, and that's it. Where I come from (and it's probably the rule in most of Latin America) family remains together, visiting each other regularly, and your parents are being taken care of on a regular basis. All the important dates, Christmas, birthdays, holidays are celebrated together. I go to Chile every time I can (even though I must confess, I've been avoiding going to Chile lately 'cause it's winter and I hate cold weather), but I certainly make sure I don't miss my parents' birthdays. I'm not saying that's this issue here is bad.....just different.
The company I work for has been paying for our papers to become legal residents (I'm on a work permit/visa) so I'm a very favorable position considering the illegal immigration situation here, but at the end of the day I don't think I'll spend the rest of my life here, in fact we've set a plan for the future with my wife, which if it works out will have us back in Chile in 2-3 years. We do have a future there, and it's not like I was trying to get away from a terrible life back home, but this opportunity to work here was presented to me and I decided to make the most out of it.
I'm extremely grateful for the chances I've been given, and I've had a great time here so far. There are some internal issues I agree with, other I don't, but since I'm just a visitor I've tried to stay out of any debate.
So how has the experience been for you the outsiders here????