The Reality of U.S. Life.
Jul 29th 2008, 5:56 am
#61
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
Not in the slightest, I went to a really tough school in Belfast, during the Troubles, as did my sister, who now teaches in a comprehensive in reading.
Her first few months she was in tears every day, she could not believe how rough the kids were, & that says a lot when we grew up with riots & bombings.
I have held conversations with teachers here in the US, who have no idea about the world outside their front door, never mind their country.
I also know a young family here in Southern California, the man moved here with his American wife, they are a simple, kind family who live a normal life, he is EXTREMELY worried about the standard of education, about how few class hours his kids get & about how many kids are in each class.
There are really rough, bad areas everywhere, but its the commitment of the system to provide that determines the standard .
Her first few months she was in tears every day, she could not believe how rough the kids were, & that says a lot when we grew up with riots & bombings.
I have held conversations with teachers here in the US, who have no idea about the world outside their front door, never mind their country.
I also know a young family here in Southern California, the man moved here with his American wife, they are a simple, kind family who live a normal life, he is EXTREMELY worried about the standard of education, about how few class hours his kids get & about how many kids are in each class.
There are really rough, bad areas everywhere, but its the commitment of the system to provide that determines the standard .
Jul 29th 2008, 5:57 am
#62
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
I will agree with you, if we're gonna let you be here long term, you ought to be able to do most things. Some of these visa types have very unreasonable restrictions imo.
Jul 29th 2008, 5:57 am
#63
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
Lisa! Don't be pissed. Go for it! Enroll somewhere if you can. That's if you still have the desire. Desire counts for a lot, that and having enough for tuition. I say go for it if you can.
Jul 29th 2008, 6:01 am
#64
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Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
yea I agree its daft when you think about it...here's me with time on my hands, money in my pocket and yet still not allowed to study....ah well..
Jul 29th 2008, 6:02 am
#65
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Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
oh I had the desire and motivation...I just didn't have a SSN, and I basically got told "if you don't have an SSN you ain't enrolling"..
Jul 29th 2008, 6:03 am
#66
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Jul 29th 2008, 6:04 am
#67
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
Well if your life still allows for a pursuit then go for it. I guess you have to see past all that now. But it would piss me off too frankly given what an education means now days.
Jul 29th 2008, 6:09 am
#68
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
I think world awareness is definitely important and I was taught to watch the news at a young age. One of my teachers recommend that I listen to NPR which I've done since I was a teenager. I might be the exception with this but I didn't notice it much. I guess living in the DC area you are more prone to get a cosmopolitan view of things. If I had grown up in Tulsa my outlook would most likely be different.
As for fostering creativity, I had loads of opportunities to express that. I can remember doing dioramas (shoe box displays) for book reports. I'd read a book and then get my creative juices flowing putting together a scene from the book using modeling clay, stuff from around the house, and my noggin. I also remember being enrolled in home economics classes where I got the chance to explore my creative side through textiles and cooking. Then there was shop class where I made a lucite pen holder for my dad and a wooden clock for myself. I think back in elementary school I had the most fun with finger painting, writing and illustrating books that were hand published. We basically made the book covers ourselves and assembled the books by hand after handwriting them. It was a fun experience to say the least. Oh and not to forget art's and crafts day. That was cool.
When I got older in school my creativity was more focused on the written word in terms of essays and prose for English class. I never really liked writing but I found that I had a smidgen of talent back then. Not enough to quit my day job.
Yeah, we were focused on testing yes, but we also had times where we got to be creative. Perhaps things have changed since then.
As for fostering creativity, I had loads of opportunities to express that. I can remember doing dioramas (shoe box displays) for book reports. I'd read a book and then get my creative juices flowing putting together a scene from the book using modeling clay, stuff from around the house, and my noggin. I also remember being enrolled in home economics classes where I got the chance to explore my creative side through textiles and cooking. Then there was shop class where I made a lucite pen holder for my dad and a wooden clock for myself. I think back in elementary school I had the most fun with finger painting, writing and illustrating books that were hand published. We basically made the book covers ourselves and assembled the books by hand after handwriting them. It was a fun experience to say the least. Oh and not to forget art's and crafts day. That was cool.
When I got older in school my creativity was more focused on the written word in terms of essays and prose for English class. I never really liked writing but I found that I had a smidgen of talent back then. Not enough to quit my day job.
Yeah, we were focused on testing yes, but we also had times where we got to be creative. Perhaps things have changed since then.
My kids were partly UK educated and partly US educated. If you encourage your child to think and learn "world-widely" along with their schooling, whatever that country may be then they will probably succeed regardless as to where they are educated.
Both my kids have degrees, have great careers and are still "newshounds", a trait they learned from us and from some of their more interested and interesting teachers along the way.
I don't think you can really say one education is better than the other. A lot of it is the encouragement your child gets from you and from the school.
Jul 29th 2008, 6:51 am
#69
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
KRISPY KREME!!!! Those little puffs of air that are pure gorgeousness rolled in trans fats, highly addictive and off limits for yours truly...
Dunkin Donuts are nothing special at all
Coffee is better at Dunkin D's though
Dunkin Donuts are nothing special at all
Coffee is better at Dunkin D's though
Jul 29th 2008, 6:54 am
#70
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
You should have been more persistent, or tried somewhere else.
My oldest was still an H4 without a SSN when he started college.
Sorry you had such a tough experience. I thought 4 years was bad enough........ but 7........ yikes!
Jul 29th 2008, 6:56 am
#71
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
the reality of US life is that CA just had a 5.8 earthquake which has rattled Los Angeles.....are you all ok elvira?
Last edited by TruBrit; Jul 29th 2008 at 7:00 am.
Jul 29th 2008, 6:57 am
#72
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 719
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
I like it here so far. I dont think I'll stay more than a few years though, main reasons being...
1) Ok, I know its hard to get hard facts to prove it, but in my experience the average American doesnt have a clue or just doesnt care about world affairs. I want my kids to be actively involved and understand the world around them.
2) Healthcare. The NHS is a long way from being perfect, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to get serioulsy ill and have all of your savings wiped out.
3) TV. TV in the UK is pretty shit as well, but at least you dont have to sit though adverts every 4-5 mins.
4) Distance from Europe. I want my kids to be able to visit different countries easily and to understand other cultures.
5) Unless you live in a major city, you have to have a car. Even if you live in a major city, you still kind of have to have a car!
Reasons that I would stay:
1) People here tend to be more optomistic and friendly.
2) Cost of living is a lot less here.
3) I like the American uni system. The US has the best universities in the world. They are incredibly expensive, but I facilities tend to be better. I went to UW Madison to visit recently and I was amazed!
1) Ok, I know its hard to get hard facts to prove it, but in my experience the average American doesnt have a clue or just doesnt care about world affairs. I want my kids to be actively involved and understand the world around them.
2) Healthcare. The NHS is a long way from being perfect, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to get serioulsy ill and have all of your savings wiped out.
3) TV. TV in the UK is pretty shit as well, but at least you dont have to sit though adverts every 4-5 mins.
4) Distance from Europe. I want my kids to be able to visit different countries easily and to understand other cultures.
5) Unless you live in a major city, you have to have a car. Even if you live in a major city, you still kind of have to have a car!
Reasons that I would stay:
1) People here tend to be more optomistic and friendly.
2) Cost of living is a lot less here.
3) I like the American uni system. The US has the best universities in the world. They are incredibly expensive, but I facilities tend to be better. I went to UW Madison to visit recently and I was amazed!
Jul 29th 2008, 6:59 am
#73
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
Jul 29th 2008, 7:10 am
#74
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: The Reality of U.S. Life.
.
I like it here so far. I dont think I'll stay more than a few years though, main reasons being...
1) Ok, I know its hard to get hard facts to prove it, but in my experience the average American doesnt have a clue or just doesnt care about world affairs. I want my kids to be actively involved and understand the world around them.
I've said this to people before, you could raise ignorant kids in Europe or you could raise world-wise kids here. You do your part as a parent to make the next generation of Americans more knowlegeable than the last. Just because your kids friends are ignorant doesn't mean yours have to be.
2) Healthcare. The NHS is a long way from being perfect, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to get serioulsy ill and have all of your savings wiped out.
This will change. I don't know if the result will be better or worse than what we have now, but it will change and I believe relatively soon. If you don't want to stick around to find out, I can understand.
3) TV. TV in the UK is pretty shit as well, but at least you dont have to sit though adverts every 4-5 mins.
Throw your TV out the window.
4) Distance from Europe. I want my kids to be able to visit different countries easily and to understand other cultures.
Not much anybody can do about that.
5) Unless you live in a major city, you have to have a car. Even if you live in a major city, you still kind of have to have a car!
I like cars. Most of the time... This too is changing, the last time I was in the city (St. Louis, MO) I was amazed at the amount of scooters and motorcycles I saw out and about.
Reasons that I would stay:
1) People here tend to be more optomistic and friendly.
2) Cost of living is a lot less here.
3) I like the American uni system. The US has the best universities in the world. They are incredibly expensive, but I facilities tend to be better. I went to UW Madison to visit recently and I was amazed!
1) Ok, I know its hard to get hard facts to prove it, but in my experience the average American doesnt have a clue or just doesnt care about world affairs. I want my kids to be actively involved and understand the world around them.
I've said this to people before, you could raise ignorant kids in Europe or you could raise world-wise kids here. You do your part as a parent to make the next generation of Americans more knowlegeable than the last. Just because your kids friends are ignorant doesn't mean yours have to be.
2) Healthcare. The NHS is a long way from being perfect, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to get serioulsy ill and have all of your savings wiped out.
This will change. I don't know if the result will be better or worse than what we have now, but it will change and I believe relatively soon. If you don't want to stick around to find out, I can understand.
3) TV. TV in the UK is pretty shit as well, but at least you dont have to sit though adverts every 4-5 mins.
Throw your TV out the window.
4) Distance from Europe. I want my kids to be able to visit different countries easily and to understand other cultures.
Not much anybody can do about that.
5) Unless you live in a major city, you have to have a car. Even if you live in a major city, you still kind of have to have a car!
I like cars. Most of the time... This too is changing, the last time I was in the city (St. Louis, MO) I was amazed at the amount of scooters and motorcycles I saw out and about.
Reasons that I would stay:
1) People here tend to be more optomistic and friendly.
2) Cost of living is a lot less here.
3) I like the American uni system. The US has the best universities in the world. They are incredibly expensive, but I facilities tend to be better. I went to UW Madison to visit recently and I was amazed!
Jul 29th 2008, 7:30 am
#75
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