Okay, so it's been a bit since I've posted. Things have been busy, as usual. But the trains have been mostly running on time, and filled with sneezy, coughing people. Consequently, I am working from home today.
So the other day at work one person was telling really bad jokes and wanted company, so he called out to other folks to tell jokes. He asked my Polish coworker and Greek coworker to tell jokes from their respective countries. Both declined, and he asked me, "Tell an American joke!" I respond, "Nah, I suck at telling jokes - ask someone else." Of course, some ass from across the room had to yell out, "America is a joke." I am certain that the person who made the comment was not really trying to be an ass. It was likely a combination of 1) They were trying to be funny, 2) They are ignorant about what life really is like in America, 3) They didn't actually think that was an offensive comment. Because I am a guest in this country, and I because I was at work, I said nothing. But, this is my blog, and this is my forum to rant. However, rather than point out all the many things I don't like about the United Kingdom, and England, let me instead say the following:
In the United States, Ray and I had a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2000 square foot home with a garage, a deck and .35 acres of land in Cary. We had three cars. Specifically, a BMW M5, an absolutely fully loaded Chevy Avalanche (I miss my truck) and a BMW Z3 coupe as our run-around-town car. We each made more than the median income for Cary. We had a lot of stuff, like bikes and kayaks. And we always had money left over. I took a paycut to come out here, and since Ray is still getting paid in US$, we are living entirely on my salary. I walked away from a lot of stuff in America, so that I could experience another place. I, unlike a large number of immigrants to the UK, did not come here for a "better" life. I knew I would not find a "better" life than what I had in the US. I am not bemoaning that loss - it is something I chose willingly because, among the myriad reasons, you can never fully appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore. There is no better way to grow than to just try something new. Granted, it doesn't have to be quite this extreme, but, the opportunity was there, and I took it. I see no need to point out all the endless shortcomings of the Great Britian and its government and its taxation and its socialized medicine and its people's attitudes, lack of patriotism, etc, etc, etc. I could explain why I think the United Kingdom is a joke. But that is not the point of me being here.
So the other day at work one person was telling really bad jokes and wanted company, so he called out to other folks to tell jokes. He asked my Polish coworker and Greek coworker to tell jokes from their respective countries. Both declined, and he asked me, "Tell an American joke!" I respond, "Nah, I suck at telling jokes - ask someone else." Of course, some ass from across the room had to yell out, "America is a joke." I am certain that the person who made the comment was not really trying to be an ass. It was likely a combination of 1) They were trying to be funny, 2) They are ignorant about what life really is like in America, 3) They didn't actually think that was an offensive comment. Because I am a guest in this country, and I because I was at work, I said nothing. But, this is my blog, and this is my forum to rant. However, rather than point out all the many things I don't like about the United Kingdom, and England, let me instead say the following:
In the United States, Ray and I had a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2000 square foot home with a garage, a deck and .35 acres of land in Cary. We had three cars. Specifically, a BMW M5, an absolutely fully loaded Chevy Avalanche (I miss my truck) and a BMW Z3 coupe as our run-around-town car. We each made more than the median income for Cary. We had a lot of stuff, like bikes and kayaks. And we always had money left over. I took a paycut to come out here, and since Ray is still getting paid in US$, we are living entirely on my salary. I walked away from a lot of stuff in America, so that I could experience another place. I, unlike a large number of immigrants to the UK, did not come here for a "better" life. I knew I would not find a "better" life than what I had in the US. I am not bemoaning that loss - it is something I chose willingly because, among the myriad reasons, you can never fully appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore. There is no better way to grow than to just try something new. Granted, it doesn't have to be quite this extreme, but, the opportunity was there, and I took it. I see no need to point out all the endless shortcomings of the Great Britian and its government and its taxation and its socialized medicine and its people's attitudes, lack of patriotism, etc, etc, etc. I could explain why I think the United Kingdom is a joke. But that is not the point of me being here.
posted by Jen Parker at 13:05
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