What would you have done differently if you'd been born a US Citizen?

[FutureAmerican 2]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone else here would have made different decisions regarding college, career etc, if they'd been born a US Citizen, and so had access to the kind of opportunities the US has? (assuming you'd had roughly the same upbringing/outlook on life etc).

In my case, I most likely would have tried to get into either West Point or the Air Force Academy instead of going to a Civilian college. If I hadn't gotten into either of those, then I probably either would have enlisted and then used the GI Bill to go to College or gone to a Civilian college and done ROTC. My choice of degree major might have been quite different as well, possibly something Criminology/Law based or Military Science.

As it was, after deciding in my mid-late teens I wanted to emigrate to the US by any route possible, I realised that becoming an expert in a lesser-known area would help a great deal. So I did Materials Science/Engineering at College, doing some research internships in the US with the intention of doing my Phd out there in a specialised field such as surface analysis of satellite panels (which one of my projects was on), and eventually getting a Green Card that way. If it meant I couldn't do what I really wanted to until much later in life, then so be it. As it was, I had the great fortune to meet my future wife along the way and so I can actually get back to the business of doing what I really want to in life! (Disclaimer: I never would have married anyone "just for a Green Card", as I am a firm believer in the sanctity of marriage, true love etc etc, not to mention the illegal aspects!!).

All that might sound a wee bit strange (and some did suggest I should just join the British military/police etc, as it would have been a lot easier - and I did consider that for a while), but I decided I'd rather be a civilian in a country I truely loved, than serve one which took 2nd place in my patriotism (which would make me feel like a mercenary, purely doing it for the training/experience etc that for something I believed in).

Anyhow, feel free to share any ideas for what you might have done differently!

[broma25 2]

Jeez you make it sound like we had no opportunities in the UK!!

I for one would have been much worse off in the US had I been born here. Assuming my parents were the same and that our standard of living was the same, there would have been no college fund for me!!!

Having the benefit of free education that was available to me in the UK, gave me the opportunity to get where I am today.....hmmm given that I now live in the Land of Opportunity its amazing that I had to take an entry level type job because its assumed my HR skills are not transferable....there's opportunity for you!!

[FutureAmerican 2]

I guess I ought to add that I don't think there are no or few opportunities in the UK, indeed I'm thankful that of all the countries I was born into, I got the UK as a good 2nd choice to the US. However, from my professional and personal basis, my family would have been better off in the US (my Dad's an Engineering Consultant, and is paid far less here than his counterparts in the US, not to mention that many seem to think he's a car mechanic when he gives them his job title!). From a career standpoint, I think I have far more opportunities in US Military and Law Enforcement, partly because the country is a lot bigger, there are more areas to go into (local, state, county agencies, as well as the alphabet soup Fed ones). I also immensely dislike the Class system present in the UK, from the royalty downwards. Everywhere I've worked in the UK I've been judged on my personal background and accent to some extent (which apparantely seems posh to some people, and foreign to others), whereas I've never experienced any such treatment during my work and travels in the US. Obviously experiences vary as you get a-holes in every country in the world, but I've found US culture far more relaxed and easygoing overall.

Free education seemed great whilst I was at uni, but since joining the working world I have a strong dislike of the ridiculous taxes etc that the UK has to pay for that, the NHS etc. Many other aspects of UK culture are not to my liking either (such as gun "control", the political system, etc), but that's for another discussion. Don't get me wrong, whilst living here with my wife, and now that our final move is rapidly approaching, we realise how much we will miss many aspects of the UK, such as the country walks, pubs, old churches/castles etc, but for us, the US is definately a better choice to live in.

Edited May 18, 2007 by FutureAmerican

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I would know how to drive by now!!!

I've been putting it off because it's really not necessary to drive in Buenos Aires, since we have a great public transportation system...

Now I can see myself going to driving school in the US, surrounded by 15 year olds...

[ericdraven 0]

Its a hard one to say. The problem problem with that is if that had happened I would have never met my better half. As Im a dancer, England has the best and most recongnised qualification board, So I wouldn't have messed with it, even If America has more work for me.

[mawilson 2,133]

Free education seemed great whilst I was at uni, but since joining the working world I have a strong dislike of the ridiculous taxes etc that the UK has to pay for that, the NHS etc. Many other aspects of UK culture are not to my liking either (such as gun "control", the political system, etc), but that's for another discussion. Don't get me wrong, whilst living here with my wife, and now that our final move is rapidly approaching, we realise how much we will miss many aspects of the UK, such as the country walks, pubs, old churches/castles etc, but for us, the US is definately a better choice to live in.

I agree with you 100%, and you wouldn't believe how happy I am to hear you say that!

For me, America is definitely a better choice, and I've always wanted to move here

(for as long as I can remember.)

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Knowing my parents, I would have been the typical ABCD (my sister is almost as confused as one, but was born in India).

[Yaads 0]

I am the USC but I know that Andre and I have spoken about it a lot and he would have loved to have the opportunity to travel and see more places when he was younger and didn't have as many responsiblities.

[broma25 2]

I guess I ought to add that I don't think there are no or few opportunities in the UK, indeed I'm thankful that of all the countries I was born into, I got the UK as a good 2nd choice to the US. However, from my professional and personal basis, my family would have been better off in the US (my Dad's an Engineering Consultant, and is paid far less here than his counterparts in the US, not to mention that many seem to think he's a car mechanic when he gives them his job title!). From a career standpoint, I think I have far more opportunities in US Military and Law Enforcement, partly because the country is a lot bigger, there are more areas to go into (local, state, county agencies, as well as the alphabet soup Fed ones). I also immensely dislike the Class system present in the UK, from the royalty downwards. Everywhere I've worked in the UK I've been judged on my personal background and accent to some extent (which apparantely seems posh to some people, and foreign to others), whereas I've never experienced any such treatment during my work and travels in the US. Obviously experiences vary as you get a-holes in every country in the world, but I've found US culture far more relaxed and easygoing overall.

Free education seemed great whilst I was at uni, but since joining the working world I have a strong dislike of the ridiculous taxes etc that the UK has to pay for that, the NHS etc. Many other aspects of UK culture are not to my liking either (such as gun "control", the political system, etc), but that's for another discussion. Don't get me wrong, whilst living here with my wife, and now that our final move is rapidly approaching, we realise how much we will miss many aspects of the UK, such as the country walks, pubs, old churches/castles etc, but for us, the US is definately a better choice to live in.

Tell me the US is a better choice when you have lived and worked here! I too had delusions of granduer before I came. I am not saying that the US is a worse place to be...on the contrary I love the US, but it is very hard to establish yourself in another country unless of course you are bringing with you plenty $$$$$$.

Also we think that there is little difference between the US and the UK, again this is not the case.

Given my time all over again...would I still move here?....yes, but I would make sure I had much more money than I brought with me.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

If I were a US citizen the only different thing for me would have been that by now my fiance and would be already married!

I have had great opportunities in my own country, which is not the general rule for many people living here, I consider myself very fortunate. Personally, I don't think that you have to be in the U.S. to succeed, so many people think they'll have a better life there and access more opportunities, that's not my case! To me the only reason for moving to the U.S. is my fiance, if it wasn't for him... I would have never considered leaving my country. I have a great life here.

[athena_ny 1]

My husband never in a million years would want to have been born a US citizen. He's only considering it to make his life easier.

[Alex+R 0]

My husband never in a million years would want to have been born a US citizen. He's only considering it to make his life easier.

Mine too. I can't imagine feeling patriotic toward a country you're not from. Totally foreign concept to me (pardon the pseudopun). I'm not even that patriotic toward my own country (I love the US but nationalism has always seemed strange and unnatural to me) so the only reason I can imagine for wishing to be born in a different country is romanticizing that country or being from a seriously war-torn one.

[mawilson 2,133]

My husband never in a million years would want to have been born a US citizen. He's only considering it to make his life easier.

Mine too. I can't imagine feeling patriotic toward a country you're not from.

That's because you don't know what patriotism is. You're not feeling patriotic towards your own country either.

[Fandango 1,439]

My husband never in a million years would want to have been born a US citizen. He's only considering it to make his life easier.

Mine too. I can't imagine feeling patriotic toward a country you're not from.

That's because you don't know what patriotism is. You're not feeling patriotic towards your own country either.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I was JUST gonna say that!!

[mawilson 2,133]

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I was JUST gonna say that!!

Awwww

I love you guys

Ok, so maybe I had too much to drink, but I still love you guys