i got butterfly's point also, did not think it negative in any way, and i agree.
believe it or not, that old myth about America still exists- even in this day and age, some modern version of those old cliches about "streets paved with gold', & "land of milk and honey" still exists in the minds of people all over the world. to ppl who've not been here, the perception is still that we're loaded and it's easy to come by, just by being in America. I can't tell you how many of my friends who emigrated here thought they'd have it easy and get rich - only to discover when they got here how HARD they must work to make that 'milk and honey'.... and have returned to their home countries after they realize the quality of life here is nowhere NEAR the 'comfort and ease' they had been led to believe, all their lives.
just like we say about jamaica - vacationing and living there are two different animals -- same for here.... unless ppl move here, and become immersed into the working culture of the USA, they really don't 'get it', that we must bust our chops to have money to go on vacation, and spend (what seems to them) "freely". Even though we've busted our asses to GET that little bit of spending money to be able to throw around for a week, and WE know there's only a certain amount of it -- that's not obvious to others, who make the assumption we 'have it like that', and spend like that, 'all the time', just by virtue of being in America.
this notion is entrenched even further by the emigrants who, when returning home, make sure to wear their best clothes and bling on the plane, bring back as much gifts as they can, to look SUPER successful when they visit home... cause of course they want to make a good impression upon family and friends - nobody ever wants to admit they got that Miracle Visa, and are only struggling to barely get by. So, just like we do, they scrimp and save and put together a few blingy outfits to make sure they look successful, and bring plenty of spending cash, and treat as many ppl as they can when they get there. and of course, that only furthers the notion to others in the home country, that the USA is that brass ring they've wanted all their lives. i've seen this in action over and over again; sometimes to such an extent that emigre's don't want to visit home cause just like us THEY will also be begged - or worse - for the 'perception' of how much they have. it's a catch-22....
So for ppl who've never left their home country, there IS still a definite perception that everyone in the USA has loads of money to spare, share, and give away, and that it's 'easy' in the USA, so they may as well ask us to share/give, "since we have so much". I don't mean to imply that's the only reason "why" so many ask us for stuff - i think the answer to that is a combination of several things mentioned in this thread -- but i think it does play a part.
Originally Posted by Accompong
