A message to all Americans (from a Naturalized Citizen) - General

[QUOTE=Rocko's;38163680]I wish I got to experience America the way you did when I moved here. I was a wee lad, and when we came here we settled in Detroit. Worst idea, I used to think America was awful cause of how shit Detroit was, that was until I moved to Florida.[/QUOTE] Detroit is the hairy armpit of the United States. The police response time there is literally so high that entire neighborhoods are joining together and hiring private security firms to drive armoured cars down their streets.

Detroit collapsed with the American car industry right? Really sad :(

[QUOTE=Mlisen14;38160369]This isn't the 1930s, immigrants can work hard and make it most, if not all developed countries.[/QUOTE] Yea, this is pretty much what I figure. For most of the Western World, international borders are starting to get a bit more hazy. North America's still fairly restrictive, if only because they're geographically isolated from the more populous Asian/European parts of the world, but I think global immigration policies in general will likely see some pretty damatic relaxation over the next fifteen years or so. The internet is playing a huge part in that, I think. Thanks to the internet, for the first time [I]ever[/I], almost anybody in the world, in any developed country, can hop on a computer and be introduced to life outside their borders through first-hand experience. We can talk directly to foreigners in real time, be updated about world events instantly, and generally experience a much more connected world than the generations before us. This exchange is sparking cultural diffusion on a global scale--the world is shifting towards a more general, shared understanding of customs and culture and policy. As communication and transit technology continues to improve, international barriers will be more rapidly dissolved. It's happening more rapidly in Europe, from what I can tell, thanks largely to the geographic closeness, and easy accessibility, of those nations. Travel and extended stay outside your country of origin just doesn't seem like much as much of a fuss as it is in the more isolated countries, like Australia, America, or Canada. [I]Disclaimer: all just speculation[/I]

[QUOTE=Disotrtion;38159375]I hear stories like yours alot up here in the state of Massachusetts. Coincidentally, one of my best friends was born in India too.[/QUOTE] Yeah, Massachusetts in my opinion is one of the best states to live in. Very culturally diverse, and maple and apple sweets are prominent, which is good because I love maple candy. EDIT: @TH89 Obama has been helping it a bit with his plan to revive the car industry, hopefully it will bounce back sometime in the next five years.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;38166256]Yea, this is pretty much what I figure. For most of the Western World, international borders are starting to get a bit more hazy. North America's still fairly restrictive, if only because they're geographically isolated from the more populous Asian/European parts of the world, but I think global immigration policies in general will likely see some pretty damatic relaxation over the next fifteen years or so. The internet is playing a huge part in that, I think. Thanks to the internet, for the first time [I]ever[/I], almost anybody in the world, in any developed country, can hop on a computer and be introduced to life outside their borders through first-hand experience. We can talk directly to foreigners in real time, be updated about world events instantly, and generally experience a much more connected world than the generations before us. This exchange is sparking cultural diffusion on a global scale--the world is shifting towards a more general, shared understanding of customs and culture and policy. As communication and transit technology continues to improve, international barriers will be more rapidly dissolved. It's happening more rapidly in Europe, from what I can tell, thanks largely to the geographic closeness, and easy accessibility, of those nations. Travel and extended stay outside your country of origin just doesn't seem like much as much of a fuss as it is in the more isolated countries, like Australia, America, or Canada. [I]Disclaimer: all just speculation[/I][/QUOTE] The speculation about Europe is very close to the truth if you ask me. I have been travelling quite a bit this year, and I can go where ever I like on the european continent, as almost all countries in Europe (not just the European Union) allows a person to stay for up to three months at a time without applying for any kind of visa or anything, you just need to bring your passport and you can go anywhere.

[QUOTE=TH89;38166160]Detroit collapsed with the American car industry right? Really sad :([/QUOTE] Detroit, afaik (never been there), has been and will still be a shit hole for crime

[QUOTE=Keeshond v2;38157912]Not generally, but we do have enough fuckheads to make foreigners cringe at times. If you're american I wouldn't recommend it because people will make the assumption that you're naive and ignorant the second they hear an accent. Depends on where you go too. I think we're a mostly reasonable people. DO NOT COME HERE ON AUSTRALIA DAY[/QUOTE] What if I'm european. Northern european to be exact. I'm seriously considering expatriating but I'm too lazy to learn a 3rd language.

That's not just the case in the US. It's pretty much the same over here. I only have like 5 people in my class that aren't Dutch, but that's probably because most foreigners live in the western part of my country, where about 40% of the population is foreign.

[QUOTE=areolop;38167309]Detroit, afaik (never been there), has been and will still be a shit hole for crime[/QUOTE] Yes, because of the collapse of the auto industry there. Places don't just become shitholes for no reason.

I currently live in England and my whole life i've wanted to move to America. I still plan to, its just crazy difficult.

Another thing about Detroit was the Emergency responses via ambulances and fire trucks. Our neighbors house caught on fire there, and a fire truck showed up 30 minutes after since the city never built a Fire Department in that zone. The house had burnt to a crisp by then, and they luckily enough were able to escape. Last I heard they moved out of Michigan.

WOO 'MURICA

Nothing beats good old Scandinavia. [sp]let the dumb ratings commence[/sp]

Hey, you asked for it. :v:

[QUOTE=Robbi;38170666]Nothing beats good old Scandinavia. [sp]let the dumb ratings commence[/sp][/QUOTE] Unless you're muslim, I hear :B

[QUOTE=TH89;38174664]Unless you're muslim, I hear :B[/QUOTE] atleast we haven't all got mosque shootings so far.

Californians don't know how good they've had, I mean, holy shit, I can go [I]outside[/I] here without being mugged. You'd think I was over exaggerating but my friends and I would get robbed RIGHT outside our school in SA and it sucked dick, again and again. The only place you're safe is either at a mall with loads of people or at your house/some populated building. Out here I can go for walks and shit and nothing happens, it's awesome, I can bike to school too, which is sweet.

It's nice to hear you found your place in the world. I hope I'll be able to aswell, one day or another.

[QUOTE=Robbi;38170666]Nothing beats good old Scandinavia. [sp]let the dumb ratings commence[/sp][/QUOTE] does finland count as part of scandinavia? finland sucks i hate the climate plus no halloween that's just ultra faggy i'm planning to get out of here at some point in my life

[QUOTE=Joazzz;38189965]does finland count as part of scandinavia? finland sucks i hate the climate plus no halloween that's just ultra faggy i'm planning to get out of here at some point in my life[/QUOTE] Wait. Do Europeans celebrate Halloween? :O

[QUOTE=Mike42012;38175236]Californians don't know how good they've had, I mean, holy shit, I can go [I]outside[/I] here without being mugged. You'd think I was over exaggerating but my friends and I would get robbed RIGHT outside our school in SA and it sucked dick, again and again. The only place you're safe is either at a mall with loads of people or at your house/some populated building. Out here I can go for walks and shit and nothing happens, it's awesome, I can bike to school too, which is sweet.[/QUOTE] I live in California and people get robbed and beat on campus not that infrequently.

[QUOTE=Mike42012;38175236]Californians don't know how good they've had, I mean, holy shit, I can go [I]outside[/I] here without being mugged. You'd think I was over exaggerating but my friends and I would get robbed RIGHT outside our school in SA and it sucked dick, again and again. The only place you're safe is either at a mall with loads of people or at your house/some populated building. Out here I can go for walks and shit and nothing happens, it's awesome, I can bike to school too, which is sweet.[/QUOTE] Where I live nobody locks their doors on their cars our houses

[QUOTE=ewitwins;38190106]Wait. Do Europeans celebrate Halloween? :O[/QUOTE] Yes, but the modern celebration is a product of Americanization. It's not an old tradition. The old Halloween from Western Europe is long gone. I'm European but I live in Japan. Being an immigrant in Japan can be really tiring. It doesn't help that the things that non-British Europeans struggle with have next to no recognition because of the much more vocal anglosphere. The anglophones also think they represent all of the West, which is also annoying. I hope immigrants to Europe have it better.

[QUOTE=jaredop;38190363]Where I live nobody locks their doors on their cars our houses[/QUOTE] ...because the bastards steal the locks as well.

I am a Norwegian / American who's lived in both countries. I can say that the US is better at integrating immigrants than Norway, and likely much of Europe too.