I remember growing up watching soap operas on TV and see how the characters would be all glammed up, driving nice cars, living in nice houses and i would think to myself, wow life in USA is great. Well, there are people here who live that life of luxury, but just like in any other part of the world, it is just a percentage of the general population that live that good.
Now, for many foreigners in this country, you know trying to explain to people at home that you have your daily struggles here they may not understand. Some would accuse you of having forgotten where you came from, or that you have changed, or some you just don’t want to help the people you left behind anymore. It is hard making some friends and family understand that here the average family end up living paycheck to paycheck. You spend almost everything you earned on bills, school, or other essentials to survive, and when you do save it is only a small fraction of what you earn.
On the other hand, there are people that are in the developing countries like for example African countries that are filthy rich. Some parts of Africa too are very developed, most people spend cash and not live on credit, they own their homes, cars etc, but what is shown on TV here are the areas that are NOT quite developed. They show the wild, dry, famine-stricken places, but this is not all there is of Africa. There are several young entrepreneurs there, educated youth, and growth in foreign business investments. People with mansions of their own, and just doing really great.
So the next time you see a tourist in your African road, don’t just assume they are filthy rich, and when you do hear your neighbor is from Africa, don’t just assume they lived under a tree or beat up mud house either. For the families left behind by loved ones, realize that living abroad is not as easy as what you watch on Tv, people do work hard, or even harder to keep up with the expenses, so be patient with each other.
Really, one doesn’t need to compare Africa and USA to realize life is not a reality Tv show, i guess once put into words it is what it is, heck – just look out your window, you will see what it truly is.
Good night.
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