I guess all the ppl in the world love american, eh!

[Dana-Mića 51]

My parents didn't choose to move us to America out of love for America but out of love for their family and a necessity for safety and somewhat of a better life. If there was never a war in former Yugoslavia they would have been happy with us staying over there with both having somewhat good jobs living their lives not with much money like here but a happier more relaxing life. My husband did not want to come here at all infact he isn't infatuated with America at all. He lived a poor life in Serbia and loved it but since he loves me more he moved here and is trying to make the best of it. I am hoping that within the next few years he will not see it as a bad move and will actually like it.

I see the benefits of both countries but for me it is easier here and frankly I like it here better.

Edited May 1, 2012 by Dana-Mića

[Gigli2008 70]

I thought it was 6 weeks FMLA for a normal birth and

up to 12 weeks if it was a C-section. Could be wrong though

And those time allotments only being if the employee

had worked the required amount of hours (like 1,250 hours)

to accrue the time off.

A birth is a birth. FMLA is 12 weeks. Those who want more than 12 weeks can by getting short-term disability through their employers health insurance. You get 30 days short term disability, then take your 12 weeks FMLA.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

That would be a real double-take for a Brit there.

From the first time he opened his mouth to the obligatory "have a nice day" I couldn't stop laughing.

Even a "these are serious traffic charges" from him still made me burst out of laughing.

[Peter_Pan 661]

You need real Tax advice If you are paying over 30% of your paycheck to taxes with children!

Rich like mitt Romney : 15%

Work like me (Married filing single without kids) 25%

You with spouse and kids: 30%

I'm talking here, no kids yet (but still pay them). I don't even wanna think about filling taxes in the US, sounds like a big pain.

[B_J 2,752]

I'm talking here, no kids yet (but still pay them). I don't even wanna think about filling taxes in the US, sounds like a big pain.

Just out of curiosity - how much time have you spent in the US?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Does your SO know of your prowress and are you planning on having young uns? Perhaps a "cup" should be a mandatory wearing apparel for him.

He knows and trembles in the presence of my ferocious glory.

Then we snuggle up to watch "Shaun of the Dead."

[Peter_Pan 661]

Just out of curiosity - how much time have you spent in the US?

None.

[AngelAndJoy 22]

The US is not a country like other countries where there is a majority religion. The US has many many religions, Muslim, Catholic Christian, Mormon, Budhists, Jewish/Judaism and many many more. Choose which religion you are, say Christian. Would you want your child to be made to pray a Muslim prayer in their school? If you are Muslim, would you want your child to be made to pray a Christian prayer in their school? If you are Catholic (who don't believe in salvation) would you want your child to be indocrinated with salvation talk. In my opinion, religion is parental responsibility, not the schools. Keep religion (any religion) out of school and you will not be accused of indoctrinating someone elses child with your personal beliefs.

Right. So you made my point that religion is out of the school.

Without religion, there is no moral standard.

So, where do we disagree?

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

He knows and trembles in the presence of my ferocious glory.

Then we snuggle up to watch "Shaun of the Dead."

A tip of my bowler hat to the Lady and her impeccable wit

[Peter_Pan 661]

Without religion, there is no moral standard.

Religion is not the only moral standard.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Right. So you made my point that religion is out of the school.

Without religion, there is no moral standard.

So, where do we disagree?

Utter baloney. I'm a non-believer, the child of non-believers, who was raised with a high moral standard. Religion is one manner of codification of moral standards. One need not be religious to be moral, and conversely one need not be moral to be religious.

A tip of my bowler hat to the Lady and her impeccable wit

Why thank you! I'm in decent fettle this morning despite not having had my morning cuppa.

[WrightFamily 34]

None.

[Mike B. 231]

Also, as stated in the quote that American men look to marry foreign women, it's simply because almost all American women are not as educated, graceful, and cultured, as those women in the rest of the world.

BS. The United States has an absolutely tremendous level of education for women that, when weighted by population, blows the rest of the world out of the water. China has about 80,000,000 illiterate women. How many do you think the US has? 80% of women in the world are literate. 99% of American women are illiterate. Want something more than literacy? Throughout the world, only about 7% of the population have college degrees. In many countries, women are extraordinarily underrepresented in the population of college degree holders, as sending a person to college is something families can at best afford to do once, and men get the priority. And in the US 27% of American women have college degrees and women go to college at higher rates than men. It is just patently false to say that the US isn't educating women. In fact, from what I've seen on this webpage, that is precisely the problem that many American men have with American women: they are not uneducated and docile enough for their tastes. It's pretty repulsive, actually.

[R&RM 11]

I have to say that I am really sad that this thread turned into something for bashing the US. It is not right to bash any country. The fact is every country has its good and bad and we should respect each country, especially if you are actually planning to move there. Wherever my fiance and I go, that will always be my outlook, to treat that country that we are calling home at that time with respect, to accept the good with the bad. For those with strong sentiments against the US (I have no strong sentiments either way), I do think it is very much worth discussing it further with your partner because it sounds to me like it will be tough to have a happy marriage when there is such a strong hate for the country you will be living in. If there is anything good to come from all of this, perhaps it is for people to reflect the course of their lives and if they can be content with the direction it is heading in. I loved this question that remained unanswered:

Question for you - Are you moving to a country (USA) or relocating to join your loved one???

In a way it is both but I think the focus had better be on how great it will be to be in one place with our loved one. We all have preferences, not just about countries but about many things (and we are entitled to these preferences) but what should be at the top of all those things is our commitment to our relationship with the person we are moving to be with. I just want to start a life with my fiance and wherever we are, to be filling each other's lives with love and enjoying the good times and holding on through the bad. This is what I think about the most, not which country has won my heart the most. I am coming to the US with the very best attitude, to add value to it as I believe I have my home country and to make the most of things there and that is my general plan for any country I will live in.

I hope I don't further agitate anyone with these closing thoughts but I felt I had to say this. If anyone is offended by my statements, I apologize in advance, it certainly is not my intent.

I wish all of you and all the countries you represent the very best on this journey and more importantly, life's journey.

[Gigli2008 70]

Well, we will see.

The poor uneducated immigrants were given as a standard to aspire to - aka, go through thick and thin to make in the the US, no matter how hard it is to cross the border and how underpaid they are here compared to Americans.

Per child.

I guess a country like Romania that has ONLY 19 Million in population (in comparison to 300 Million US population) and the size somewhat equivalent to the great State of Michigan can afford to be a "great" country hence the tooting of the horn. The US has to manage 300 Million people and try to do right by all of them, including the roughly 1.2 Million Romanian-Americans. Cut us some slack. Hopefully, unlike you, those 1.2 Million Romanian-Americans love being here.