When I moved to North America almost 10 years ago, I knew things were going to be A LOT different than in Colombia. The Canadian lifestyle clashed against my habits and beliefs more than once, but the country is laid-back enough for me not to freak out. Yes, people over there are obsessed with work, and they talk about it in social situations, and money is a big thing, and Canada is a consumerist society. Yes, people don’t work to live, they live to work… etc. And then I had the idea that it was exactly the same in the United States. I was, oh, so very wrong.
The first thing that made me think about it, was when I watched a Michael Moore’s documentary (I don’t remember if it’s Bowling for Columbine or Fahrenheit 911) and he stated that Americans are paranoid. And while I don’t want to offend anyone, I do believe Americans do have a very peculiar personality. People here are always rushing (and I live in KC… Imagine I was in NY… I would go insane!), people never have time for anything, people use every single minute of the day doing something. It’s almost like they are on defense mode all the time. Kids go to school, and then spend the afternoon at every class you can think of. Their parents work 60 hours a week to keep up with the fast-paced society… not to mention consumption.
You must be thinking “This isn’t new, you silly woman.” and you are right, it isn’t new. But it finally hit me now that I joined the American work force. I belong to a minority that comes from a culture where people still take the time to stop and smell the roses. That lunch you have with co-workers? Make it 5 minutes longer, so you can enjoy a cafecito. Saturdays are made to be with friends and family and not stuck in an office catching up with the things you couldn’t do during the 50 hours you did during the week. You know what I mean, right?
So yes, I’ve been in the North side of the American continent, but I had never lived in the U.S.A., and now I’m starting to understand why this country is the way it is. I understand why Americans are the way they are. The sad thing is that when I try to reach a conclusion, I can only think of two words that can be the cause of the depressive malaise that affects people in this country so often: Overworked and undersexed.
That being said, I do my best to stay afloat. That is one of the reasons why I like being a latina. Even with the busy work schedule and being pooped at the end of the day, my husband I still feel like dancing and loving. Because we like to stop and smell the roses.
