via: sofapizza: fujiidom: Louis C.K.’s Hilarious, (2010)
I have a job that pays the bills and gets me free theater tickets from time to time. I have a used car that burns oil at a disgusting rate that my parents gave me when I graduated from my small private college. (I majored in the most useless thing I could have possibly chosen, and received a fair amount of scholarship money to do it.) I hated almost everything about that college, but I stuck out it out because of one awesome and supportive mentor and so I could take a trip to Europe over the summer of my sophomore year. I am a woman living completely on her own, in her own apartment. I have sex and go out drinking and don't have to hide this from my parents or anyone. (Although, they don't want to know a lot of details about the sex part, and I suspect you don't either.) I don't go to church, and don't have to. I have a boyfriend who not only realizes that I am intelligent, but enjoys this fact. He never tries to stifle me or coddle me intellectually, even though we don't always see eye to eye, especially politically, he values my opinion enough to listen and ask me to explain. I hear "You're so smart, baby" at least once a week.
I am free. Shit doesn't come free, but I am free. I have a closet full of clothes (thrift stores!) and lots of shoes (sales!). My dvd collection has been called impressive. I can eat out, go out occasionally, and I certainly don't worry too much when I go to the grocery store. (No steaks or lobster and I try to budget on the wine and beer. Also, YAY Publix store brands). By American standards, I am poor, working class. (Despite my education. Although this doesn't mean nearly what it used to. Just ask anyone else my age.)
Pretty much anywhere else in the world, I would be rich or upper class. Don't believe me?
USA vs Haiti
USA vs Guatemala
USA vs Georgia (the country, not where the peaches come from)
USA vs Thailand
I won't say that all aspects of American life are superior, and that by virtue of being American and a non minority that my life is easy-peasy and perfect. (Unless you count being a woman as being a minority, which I don't. Seeing as there are actually more women than men in the world.) Nor will I say that if you live in Haiti, Guatemala, Georgia, Thailand, etc that you life is de facto miserable. I'm mostly looking at the money comparisons, here and every one of these is a mixed bag as far as "better" or "worse". Although, lets be honest, Haiti is in pieces right now and not likely to put itself back together in the immediate feature.
Compared to a lot of other ways of life, Americans are harried, overworked, and seriously lacking in vacation time. Heck there's always Spain, where everything closes down in the middle of the afternoon for two hours so that everyone can go out and party with their friends and families every night. Or Australians, who get ample time to trek the world toting backpacks and drinking beer. Lets not act like everyone in this country has it easy.
However. I think we can all agree, that when it comes to standard of living, our perception as Americans of what is normal is skewed on the high side.
But, I'm confused by the dichotomy of that while I acknowledge that in a lot of ways, I have it easy, and that in the grand scheme, I should count myself lucky and just work hard to improve my situation and enjoy the gigantic bone the universe has thrown me, I am often sad, lonely, and plagued with feelings of wanting more.
This is the "not an idiot" equivalent of the "different languages on the ATM" thing.
I'll just have to keep reminding myself of that when my car eventually dies.
