The day I entered America is a day I will never forget.
Cliche? Maybe. True? Without a doubt.
Excitement was an understatement, I had no specific ideas what was going to happen, what was going to be different. I did not read any articles on how to adapt to American society, or anything of the sort. I just got out of the plane and jumped into that fire. And I survived.
I met the "good" things and the "bad." I entered situations I have never been in. I had moments I could not say what I meant to, or I said what I did not mean to. At the beginning, the language barrier was the hardest thing, but I still had eyes and instinct.
"OK." That is the "easiest" word everyone uses all of the time, but what does it exactly mean? I had to learn that "OK" is not actually OK. I began to wonder about this word; if this cake is not tasty, why do they say it is "OK"?
Why do people try to talk to me if they do not know me? Why do they care how I feel or how my day is going? Is it really their business? These were my first thoughts. I assumed that these people were fake because they smile every time I looked at them, without any specific reason. My culture in my home country is different. If you do not know someone, you do not talk to them, you do not ask questions like, "How are you?", "How is it going?", "How is your day?" Who cares? If it is not your bag, why would you be concerned with what is inside? Maybe this is just a "Colorado" thing, but I have learned that actually, I love it. It is incredible to see people smiling while talking to foreigners.
My culture is different, but not in a bad sense. Actually, it is great, even though people do not smile to each other without a reason, and do not ask, "How are you?" All of them are really hard workers but somehow they find time to stop and rethink, to enjoy nature, visit family on weekends and watch their favorite daily TV show. In the US, time flies by so fast that you do not even realize it has gone.
Commuting to work takes a long time, then there is the mandatory break for lunch and the distance in between places. All time directed towards work. I believe that is why the economy is such a strong thing here. In America, everyone works to gain income. In Poland, my home country, life is directed towards family time, not the income.
This experience allowed me to experience cultural variety. It is nicer to be in the store and hear, "Did you find everything alright?" It is nicer to walk alone on the way in front of someone, and while passing, both of you smile or say, "Hi." Contrary to that, do you feel comfortable when you have a really bad day and a stranger asks you, "How is your day going?" Even though it is a terrible one, do you have to lie and say it is good? What if you tell them the truth and they will not like it because of its negativity? So should you care or not? That is only one of hundreds of things I have noticed about America that differs from my past experience.
For me, time for a meal is (was) a family time. Here, when I sit with friends in the cafeteria, the main "thing" they do is to begin to use their smartphones. Starting with checking a message, next a Snapchat, then Instagram and Facebook for a dessert. People all around act exactly the same way. Maybe this is the runway from reality to virtual reality for a moment, or maybe not. Most of the time, humans are more interested in what you put on your social profile or how many likes you get rather than what is on your real face: happiness or sadness? This is a huge difference from what I have grown up with.
Technology connects everything. Everything and everyone is connected constantly. I am scared of the future. Now, people do not leave their home, do not leave their rooms, they do not go anywhere without phones. When I left my country in 2014, smartphones were rare. Now the American culture came and with it, the same "plague." The truth is, life has gotten easier, because everything that you need is in this little thing: GPS, calculator, games, notebook, books and also your friends and memories. But you cannot even call them because they will not answer. They will text you back, "What's up?" Real talks disappear. Instead of sobbing to your best friend on the phone or on their shoulder, you send a text with a crying emoji face.
That is the hard truth. I am still adjusting to it, because you have to "fit," and I almost do. Almost.
Life in America is easier, is better and really enjoyable.
Even for a Polish girl like me.
I am the person who sees these things, comments and rolls with it.
