Living in America…
Sunday, March 4th, 2007 -- BuzzurroIn a nutshell…
Positive aspects of living in the USA:
- I earn 4 times what I was making in Italy for the same job
- if I want to quit my job and find another one, I have realistic hopes to find it (instead of Italy, where, once you find whatever permanent job, you’d better keep it until you retire)
- if we’ll want, for any reason, to leave New Mexico for another state, I have hopes to find another job soon somewhere else in the USA, see above
- people here are MUCH more civil than in Italy
- customer service is, generally speaking, much better than in Italy (see below what I write about customer service in NM)
- I do not live anymore in a country (Italy) where WHO you know is 98% the key to success
- United States has many beautiful places to see (New Mexico included)
- I don’t live anymore in a country (Italy) where a lot of left-wing people are communists, and a lot of right-wing people are bigots
- since 2006, I have again the hope that, if I want to improve, I can. I didn’t have this hope at all in Italy.
Positive aspects of living in NM:
- weather (among other things, I LOVE the lack of humidity)
- stunning landscapes and amazing skies
- laidback lifestyle
- generally speaking, low cost of life (with the exception of Santa Fe)
What I “complain” about living in the US:
- sometimes you have to struggle against your insurance to have it pay your medical expenses they HAVE to pay
- I try to keep in touch with my Italian friends, but apparently, after my move and the initial curiosity, a whole bunch of them… doesn’t seem interested in friendship anymore.
Friendship is a two-way thing, if only one gives and the other doesn’t, in the long run I will get bored and I stop calling and sending emails. To them (the whole bunch, not my few real friends), I say, cordially: go get screwed
- the “language barrier”, that, with time, and improvement effort from the two only neurons of mine, becomes more and more thin
- US chocolate sucks !! It is gross !!
What I complain about living in NM:
- they don’t have a clue on how to clean roads from snow (or they are too lazy to do it properly)
- NM’s motto is “the land of enchantment”. NM’s REAL motto is “the land of mañana”, where, with “mañana”, they mean tomorrow, the next year, maybe….
I had great expectations about the efficiency levels in the US, after experiencing bureaucracy Italian style for more than 35 years. Plus, I was spoiled by the real American efficiency after spending three months in New Jersey + New York.
So…
Italian customer service oftentimes is not courteous neither efficient.
NM customer service sometimes is not efficient, but courtesy is never missing.
Inefficiency with a smile.
So…
I don’t know where, in the United States, J.Doe and I will be in five years, maybe here in NM, maybe not.
Surely, we won’t be in Italy except as tourists.
That whole friendship thing goes the same where ever you move. I can not believe the number of “good friends” who don’t even take the time to write to me anymore. LIke you, I stop calling and sending emails when none are returned.
Sounds like you are happy about your move to the States. There are days when I miss my old job and wish I could just go out and work. But on the whole, I really love living where we are. Just wish the job thing could be a little easier here.
Cyn
Cyn:
the job thing is a disaster in Italy — and not only for expats. I’ve seen in person J.Doe’s struggle in her unlucky job search.
It sounds like things are going your way, that is great. As you know we are moving back to the US and I am excited to have the chance of getting a job again and earning something. I am sure sometime soon I will be writing a similar type of post. Auguri and your job and success.
Fasinating. I love reading blogs where folks have either transported to Italy from the US or the other way around. The comparisons are so insightful.
I sure agree with you about the chocolate. and the food in general. Maybe you tired of Italian cuisine but you can’t find it here in the states. Or at least that’s been my experience. I think part of the reason is due to American’s “rush” attitude.
The fact that you’re earing 4 X’s the amount you were bringing in while in Italy is amazing too. 4 X’s!? Ouch. Cost of living is not THAT much different either.
Anyway, life is good. I’m glad you guys are here and settling in.
hey buzz, you hit the nail on the head. i am FED UP with just hoping for a seasonal job that MIGHT, if i’m lucky, pay me 1000 euro a month. it is absolutely pathetic.
i have a degree, but even in a job here not requiring one i could make 2000 dollars a month here…what am i waitin’ for?
Tracie:
were you able to convince your loved one to move back to the US ?
Initially, I was totally contrary to the idea, then, a few years later, I changed my mind…
I am more in agreement with ya on the friend thing…Isn’t it just SAD that people who you thought were your best pals can’t seem to send an email? When I call them they are great, but what do ya do? Come to think of, it, though - I did most of the calling when I was in the states, too. Boh!