I came to the USA at 16 yrs old from the UK.
Boy did I find high school here to be a trip, a complete disconnect from anything I was used to. The expectations of the kids was notable, along with a complete lack of knowing about anything outside of the USA.
I’d never heard so many people talking about “losers”. The expectation of the kids, the pressure among themselves, to have solid plans after high school. I remember one kid getting a Corvette as a graduation present, I couldn’t wrap my head around that - as though graduating was some amazing accomplishment, as well as it being a Corvette of all cars.
Going from a place where I could buy myself a beer at a pub to it being an evil crime until you’re 21. Going from being treated much as an adult to being treated like a child. Same in the school, seniors with no privileges or responsibilities than a freshman? Odd.
It’s very different here. I don’t want to sound like it was bad, the differences manifest into both positive and negative. I wouldn’t trade my American citizenship for anything, I feel it is more precious to me than to many native born, they take it for granted.
As I grew older I appreciated what this country was actually about. It provided me endless opportunity. Then you realize what the Constitution really is about and that it isn’t common. That individual rights trump the desires of the collective - that what was is in the best interests of the collective ARE individual, inalienable, rights.
This is where the USA is different than any other country on the planet. Everywhere else has a collectivist mindset, that the government should decide how far our rights should reach because they have the best interests of the collective in mind. Now I look back at the UK in horror. They only have a tradition of free speech but not as an uncompromising right in a Constitution understood by everyone. Having the right to own a firearm. Talk about guns to people in the UK, they immediately think you’re nuts. Why on earth do you want to have a gun? Conceptually, they don’t understand the reasons....all while their culture is being invaded and replaced, with the ruling class complicit.
Being a citizen of the USA in 2019 is one of the most precious things that has ever existed - anywhere at any time. Yet, we have a section of the population that claim they’re “oppressed” and are fighting “fascism” - they have no idea of what the hell they’re talking about. Just a bunch of virtue signalling narcissists that are completely naive to the rest of the world.
I am likewise struck at the childlike understanding that English/Euro types have of the USA. They think they know us because they've watched our media. In reality their ignorance is profound. But unlike us, they claim knowledge that they don't have.