The American Dream

Certainly, you have heard of the “American Dream”—big, bold letters that determined whether your life was going to leave that plateau and start to see success. Stepping into the country labelled as having the largest economy, most technologically powerful goods, and the standard of living that exceeded worldwide norms, was an eye-opening experience.

Having been born in a developing nation where the average salary per year was no more than $8,500 dollars, the privilege of simply being able to purchase plane tickets was already sufficient to separate you from the densely populated 100,000,000 citizens of Vietnam. Hearing all these positive aspects of this foreign country only made me more intrigued and keen on visiting.

It was an understatement to say that so many aspects I had in my everyday life in Vietnam, was unusual or different from the eyes of a US citizen. “Eye-opening” more so referred to the culture shock, courtesy of the majorly different perspectives and living standards that Americans have. 

Who knew that avocado was enjoyed on a piece of toast, with an egg and salt sprinkled on it? Instead of the “regular” mashed avocados mixed with condensed milk—suddenly, a fruit I have enjoyed as a dessert my whole life has turned into a breakfast option?

Everybody here had giant water bottles and water fountains were extremely common. I loved the idea of being able to have access to clean water at my own convenience, so long as I had a water bottle with me.

Fast food chains were plastered all over the streets I walked. It did not matter which part of the country, state, or city that I was in; it seemed that affordable options and convenience were top priorities. Vietnam was not far off, but it was the sort of convenience that you could grab and go, eat on the motorbike, as you rush off to work or school. As opposed to that of the streets in Vietnam, where stalls and street vendors were the standard, I was now standing in front of the most modern looking McDonald’s ever, looking down the road at a Chick-fil-a that was only a 2 minute walk away.

Which takes me to another point, pedestrians here have their own streets; properly allocated areas specifically for people walking. In Vietnam, the sidewalks are practically shared with motorbikes, so being able to not only see my own area when I am going out for dinner, but also being completely free of motorbikes, was surprising in its own way. It was new to me that no one used motorbikes here. In fact, it was so rare to see a motorbike that I forgot how common it was in Vietnam after arriving back.

Bigger cities had buildings stacked one after another, making going to different destinations extremely easy. And yet, for smaller areas, everything was spaced apart by miles. Only a car could take you to the next place. Back in Vietnam, I was surrounded by narrow streets filled with shops and convenience stores, all within a short walk from my house. It was easy to take for granted that I could grab anything I needed—from a snack to a replacement soap bar—without a second thought. Coming to America, I realized how different it is to have to drive just for a simple errand. That convenience, which I never truly appreciated, suddenly felt like a luxury I missed.

An aspect I never got to fully appreciate before I left was the weather. It was certainly special; I had never experienced 10°C in the morning, freezing as I left for class and then a drastic spike in the afternoon, reminding me of the 26°C in Vietnam. The sun setting so late into the night made the days feel much longer, but also fueled my productivity. 6pm in Vietnam was enough to make me feel drained, with the sun down and lights turned on.

Social interactions and communication styles between the U.S. and Vietnam showcase some major differences. In the U.S, iMessages is the go-to messaging app, akin to Zalo in Vietnam. And whilst in Vietnam, a nod is gestured as a respectful acknowledgement, the U.S prefers fist bumps as a common greeting, a much more relaxed and friendly approach.

This trip taught me various valuable facts and information that I otherwise would have not acknowledged. Beyond the classroom, it was intriguing to learn more about what life in America looks like, finding out more about other perspectives and cultural norms.