When I was a kid growing up I have always heard about a country called the USA, like I have heard about many other ones. For some reasons I kept hearing more about America than any other countries. Growing up in Haiti, I've always heard about the "land of the free" as the "paradise country". In my young mind, I thought there was a tree growing up money in everybody's backyard, therefore for me from my interpretation of the country I thought that everybody was rich. I have had a lot of expectations for this country and I have always wanted to call home such a beautiful and rich country. Oh, before I forget it as well... I thought also all American could sing!!!!!
I have heard a lot more about America but these two conceptions were the ones that I was expecting the most. Well... God made it possible for me to come leave in America. What about all I was told about it? Was I disappointed? What do I think of it right now!
Hold on, don't be too much in a rush and let me slowly but surely take you to my conclusion and may be you will be able to see for yourself what a Haitian boy from way up in the mountain who is now a father think about America.
I have been living in this country for almost 10 years now. America is my home, since I am a Citizen of this country ( Thank God). I have seen lots of even unfolded from 9/11 to the Iraq war, from people being fearsome to being more patriotic than ever. I have read a lot of blogs ad watched a lot of news! I am a news junkie by the way! I have seen people cry in America more than I have ever seen in Haiti. In America, I have learned it's OK to cry, 'cause this can release your stress, your pain. I have learned to stand up and make a difference. Most of all what I have learned is that you can be everything you want to be as long as you work hard for it. I do think that Americans in general are the nicest people I have ever made! Some of them are the rudest ones as well! But like I say generally in my opinion, they are pretty inviting.
I have been blessed to meet the nicest people who have helped me to shape a new picture of America. Of course, as soon as I set foot in this country I realized: "where in the world are those money trees people were talking about?" There surely isn't nothing as such , at least I haven't seen one or knows everybody who has one, but may be tit was a metaphor and my innocent mind as a child took it literally... Well... there are a lots of grown-ups who still think so!
I have also realized that there are a lot of singers in America but I did not know about these people who think they could sing and unfortunately they sound as nice as a cow and horse signing together when they are hungry and I am a member of this club (lol).
Am I disappointed? not at all! I love this country! America is always the first country people have eye on when there is a natural disaster in any part of the world! If any country do not help the one that will receive the most blame will be the USA. Why because they are always there to help! I am not saying this country is perfect. There are a lot of stuff happening in it that I do not agree with such as kids not respecting any adults, signing all kind of songs with bad languages in front of elders and not even care about them, people living 1 yard from each other and not even know their first name, the way Haitians are treated when it comes to immigration/deportation. No country is perfect for sure! Still I am not disappointed! Why? Because this country gives me a lot of possibilities! I can be anything I want to be! It will not be given to me on a golden plate, I just have to believe in myself and work hard for it!
Unfortunately a lot of Americans do not have a slight idea of how blessed they are to call the USA their home country. They are spoiled and spend their time complaining about their 500th TV channels which is not working while the 499 others are. They complain about the hamburger which was not warm enough or making a scene about a pickle missing on their burger.
My point is no matter what, The USA remains the richest country of the world and is still the land of the free, a land of opportunities for whosoever. It amazes me to see the amount of people who spend their time complaining about nothing or about useless stuff instead of being thankful to God that they live here!
May God bless America and every other country and may America keep on rising up knowing that God should be their anchors. I love America and wouldn't' trade it for any other countries! I love Haiti as well it is the land on which I was born and no matter what happen I will always remain Haitian and my heart will always be buried in Haiti but living in the USA has thought me so much: you can be anything you want to be, just work hard for it.
On this 4th of July I wish America and Americans from all over the world a happy anniversary! May God keep on blessing this country and make people within realize there is no true happiness in the world no matter where you are but all this can be found in God. If I had to choose again where to live without a doubt it will be America! As we are celebrating with fireworks, barbecue and all kind of festivities, please remember the true heroes who fought for this country's freedom and those who are still keeping it this way! Let's us all be grateful and cherish this treasure that we all have which is America! I love this country!
If you feel the same as I do or you have better feelings for America or you feel totally the opposite way, please write your comments with respect (no cursing) and I will post it.
Happy 4th of July to you all!
Sammuel
What a beautiful tribute! I love how it's from the point of view of an someone who "adopted" America, someone who one day dreamed of America and can now recognize both the good and the bad. Even as we struggle with what the media calls an "economic crisis," may we still recognize how blessed we really are!
ReplyDeleteyou are right on this Maria! People need to travel and look around and they would appreciate their situation more
ReplyDeleteThank you for this refreshing read this morning!! It's beautiful & brought me to tears, we are SO blessed!! Happy 4th, my friend and God bless!!
ReplyDeleteYes Gina we are so blessed! I am glad God is using me at least to impact a life! Keep on being thankful because it is contagious just as the opposite is. Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteA great blog. A perspective someone coming to America. You are right in what you say. And Americans are spoiled. I come from a different perspective, having been born and raised in the U.S. I am old enough to see many changes. I wonder what people who move to America and appreciate it's possibilities think when they see Americans showing what they percieve as negativity. Many natural born Americans from my generation totally appreciate and love America. Many of us have traveled to other countries; some in military service. What may appear as complaining is a fear that America is losing what has made her great. We may love America more than anyone. We want to keep those values that have been America the place to be; minus some of the ones that been wrong. Other countries are indeed passing us in education, industry, etc. I know that people in some countries think Americans have unlimited money. I told a friend they think it is like Jesus feeding the multitude. Just reach in you pocket and pull out another dollar; our pockets never get empty. Jim
ReplyDeleteJim great comment!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, July 3rd, my babies become citizens of this amazing country too. They came home with me on February 6, 2012. I am thankful to the people in the service that protect our freedoms and the citizens of this country that continue to challenge, questions and protect the freedoms we have been given. I am forever proud to be an American and excited to pass this pride on to my children!
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