A Polish Girl in America

The American Enterprise Online ^ | 8/17/05 | Olga Walendziak

[wideawake]

I knew that immigration officers at the airport are not as terrifying as they are said to be (or maybe I’m just lucky).

Or maybe you're just hot.

[Michael.SF.]

She seems like a sweet young girl.

Americans still manage to run their country relatively simply, effectively, and with a great dose of common sense.

I bit nieve, but she will learn.

[2banana]

Voting and working, words almost forgotten in Europe, seem to be basis of American society. For a European it is surprising that here hard work is considered something of which to be proud, not ashamed.

GOOD LINE...!

[untenured]

I wouldn't exaggerate the "Americans are more polite" argument. One time in Osaka outside the wrong train station I asked a guy going in, in very primitive Japanese, how to get to the one I wanted. He told me very patiently. But what was really surprising is that about five minutes later he turned around and tracked me down, presumably missing his train, to tell me he had given me directions to a station on a different line, and then gave me proper directions.

People openly discuss politics, the economy, and, most astoundingly, they vote. Voting and working, words almost forgotten in Europe, seem to be basis of American society.

My understanding is that turnout rates are higher in most European countries than the U.S., but I could be mistaken. Certainly the idea of active citizenship is something that some Americans (but fewer over time IMHO) take very seriously next to Europe. Democracy, or republicanism if you prefer, is the secular religion of many of us.

For a European it is surprising that here hard work is considered something of which to be proud, not ashamed.

This I absolutely agree with. There was a Freeper, whose name unfortunately escapes me, who became terminally ill. I remember him saying that one of the last things he wanted to accomplish was to get his software business up and running. This is a profoundly American thing to do. Like many Americans, he believed that commerce in general and his work in particular was something valuable to society, not something to escape from the way Europeans treat it.

Immigration, Then and Now.

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}enjoy

[anonymoussierra]

thank you"Valin"/dzieki

[luvie]

Thanks....I did! :o)

[Valin]

Note: I am neither Polish OR Female....let me check....nope, I appear to be male, unless they lied to me in biology class. :-)

[anonymoussierra]

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"I don't know how much proof I have to give to show you that we polish people love your great nation. I just hope when time comes you will stand by us as we stood by you all the time."

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[Valin]

I HAVE to be male...I NEVER ask for directions.

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[anonymoussierra]

thank you"Valin"}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[luvie]

We know how much you love us, Sara--and that your great country does. We have and will stand by your side if and when you ever need us. I pray that you never do need that kind of help!

[Nagual]

Thank you Olga.
This is the best place on the planet!!!!!

[anonymoussierra]

THANK YOU

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"I don't know if they showing you what I see is happening in land of the Lord Israel; please pray for Israel nation: what a sad day has this become; they removing them and enemies of Israel have a feast day. May God give strength to that nation and wisdom for there is something wrong here."

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thank you/dzieki

[sergey1973]

Very funny -:)))))

[Aquinasfan]

So I already knew that American English is different from British.

"Billion" is "milliard" in British. Really. I'm still recovering from that one.

[blackie]

Great article ~ thanks Sara!

[anonymoussierra]

How are you Sergiej?