American Dream
A narration that I wrote 5 years ago about my first landing in what so-called “The American Dream.”
2 October 2015, Dubai.
Ambitions gained from hardship are utterly contrasted to unrealistic dreams. The things we imagine will be ironically very disparate from the things we experience. That the ordeal that many people do not want to tell you when they draw a wonderful picture about moving to America. Personally, my life can be compared as a boat which has been moved up and down with the ocean’s waves when it anchored to the so-called United States of “ a paradise.”
For most of people who grown up in some developing countries, setting foot on America is like entering a promising heaven. However, no one knows what is waiting for them behind that marvelous fantasy. There is a vivid truth that no matter who you are, where you are from in your own country, at the moment you decide to come to this land, you have to abandon all the glory and ignominy to begin a new life from the very bottom. It means even you are a king in your country, now you have to experience the position of a slave, then stage by stage reach the crown again. The American society does not care whatever you do, even as a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a senior or manager in your home country. No one accepts your home degree or recognition. When you come here, you have to use your manual labor to earn money for living from the lowest social status. Normally, some people begin their life by being a cleaner, a dish washer or a waiter/waitress. It may not be a big deal as long as you can collect the initial “green dollars” without violating any ethical aspect. This is the starting point for almost everyone from the poor nations who try to seek for a better life in this fantastic land.
Honestly, America is not a dream in my perception. It is just another choice for me to change my life in an optimistic way. Still, I was deeply depressed at first to discover this tormented truth. In Vietnam, I was not really in a high degree position, but people always looked at me with admiration. I did a job that was a dream of thousand girls in my country. I flew from one to another city like a bird, stayed in the four-stars hotels, experienced many cultures of mankind, met the celebrities in a personal distance, and earned a competitive pay. I got rid of all the fabulous things around me to reunite with my family, because my uncle had sponsored us for fifteen-years, just for the moment to see us here. As I mentioned earlier, I regarded my life as a boat when I came to United States mainly due to the twist of status that I had been through. Like everyone else, I did need a job to cover the living expenses. My first occupation was being a nail technician without any skill or experience. It was just a selection from my relatives as this was the easiest job to earn a lot of money at the beginning. Unfortunately, I disappeared after the first day of working. The reason was I could not stand the terrible smell of the pedicure as well as the smell of the chemicals. Moreover, the technicians used the razor to remove the callus from the customers’ feet which I found deadly disgusted and unhygienic. Even I was unable to polish a nail color in dedication. It was always a mess and I nearly cried when the owner asked me: “Have you ever regretted to get rid of being a flight attendant in your country in order to touch those dirty feet to earn money? For me, I think you’re like a princess failing from the nine-cloud of heaven to the eighteen-stages of hell.”
After a month, I came back to the nail shop, but a different one, because another owner promised to teach me how to do it. The feeling of disgust never vanished from me, but I tried to overcome myself from this obstacle by a more open-minded insight. Eventually, when I changed my mind, it turned into better outcome. I was able to do pedi and manicure. However, it was such a tantalization that the owner who seemed to be very kind to me, never paid me a single cent for my work. I never complained about that, but quitted after finding another part-time job — being a cashier in a supermarket. Actually, it was not better, but at least I got paid with the very first one-hundred dollar after a hard-working week. It was my “hard earned” money, since besides doing check-out for customers, the owner required me to lift the heavy food boxes as well as clean the store whenever I was free. It was my “hard-earned” money, since I learnt how to shut my mouth up when it was not my fault. There was a time when a customer who bought a cigarette box by using food stamp. I did not accept this kind action which violated the government rule, so he scornfully insulted me with serious dirty words. Although some people showed sympathy towards me, no one could understand how bitterness I was trying to swallow and how much tears were welled inside my mind.
Coming back home from that horrible incident, there were a mixed sensations stirring around my head. I started to believe that it was a lie to say that America was a paradise of equality. I started to believe that it was a lie to say that America was a paradise of non-violent behaviors towards women. I started to believe that America dream was nothing more than a nightmare for me. Nonetheless, I did not cry. I thought that instead of crying or blaming, I could do something else to improve the scenario. Thus, I opened all the self-help books I brought from Vietnam and listened to all the motivating audios I had in my laptop. Finally, there was an inspiring story about the Thai sandwich man that amazingly moved my life. It was a story about a millionaire who had had bankruptcy due to the economy crisis in the 1900s, but ten years later he got rich again with the Franchise sandwich brand. During these ten years, he was selling the sandwich in the street of Bangkok in order to pay his debt and the salary to his employees. Despite the challenges, he said: “”Today as you can see, I can smile. Although I was formerly rich, I was a bankrupt person. Today, I run a very, very small business. And I still sell sandwiches on the streets of Bangkok, although I’m going to have shops now one after the other. I feel happy.” It seemed to be a miracle, but it was not. Instead, this was an excellent illustration of how amazing human’s persistence could defeat obstacles. (Read the article here: https://www.voanews.com/archive/perseverance-pays-thailands-sandwich-man) Compared this story to my life, I thought that I was not a millionaire. The things I lost could not be comparable to the things that great man had possessed. My life just like a boat which started to face some waves in the huge ocean. I realized that it needed a navigation. At that moment, I decided to be back to do the things I loved. I knew that Emirates airlines was hiring some cabin crew in many cities of America, but never took a chance to join. Seriously, your life could not change in the way you wanted, if you did not grasp the opportunity. Now it was the time for me to change. I was not too picky to choose the job any more. I did everything as long as it provided me money to buy the ticket to fly to the city that had Emirates’ recruitment interview. And I did it.
I am currently living in Dubai with the well-furnished accommodation provided from the company. I can travel around the world for free and widen my knowledge. I can buy the ticket for my family to go anywhere in the world. Even I can study online for free in the community college at the same time with flying. I am doing what I love and appreciating every moment as I know it was not easy to obtain. I choose to work outside the America, but it does not mean that I will leave it permanently or have a pessimistic view about it any more. In contrast, I believe America is a dream now. It is like a lucky wave has moved my life into paradise. America, where I will be back in somedays with a different appearance and position. At that time, I will be proud of being there. America dream teaches me how tough life can be; but as long as you believe in yourself, nothing can prevent you from making your dream come true. In the words of Gerald. R. Ford: “The American dream does not come to those who fall asleep.” United States is truly a paradise, only for someone who is ready to face challenges and drive his/her life into victory.
*After 5 years, I now come back to Saint Louis, Missouri. It’s time for me to fulfill other duties and soar with more ambitions. Though the country is in a disastrous division more than anytime in history, I believe that: “The essence of America — that which really unites us - is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion, it is an idea -and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.” — Condoleezza Rice. Every American needs to recall what is the core value of this country. And I hope in the next coming days, a new government will do its best to embrace our underlying foundations for a brighter future.