I love my country. I miss my country. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about my country and my home state - North Carolina. The beautiful weather, the awesome BBQ, easy country living...all things that are alive and well in my memories every single day. I am, however, in Germany at this time. Slated to be here for another 20 months I have this thought to offer...
When I first arrived, I didn't know what to expect. Germany is a much different place than the U.S. I worked my way into the culture as best as I could. Yet, every day I was, and am, homesick. The weather here up North is atrocious - rain, rain and some more of the same. Chilly winters, extreme utility and gasoline prices. I could rant all day.
At the same time, I have discovered that living in Europe is easy. My son is getting a world-class education and we have medical care through mandated coverage. He's already had to have surgery once and needed glasses - I did not pay a dime for the surgery and the glasses cost me 100 bucks for a teenager approved model.
If I were to lose my job today, I would be covered for unemployment for two years. After that, I would be covered for my rent, utility bills and living expenses - indefinitely. Yes, Germany (and the rest of Europe) pays an ungodly amount of income taxes. Then again, the people are not left to rot or fend for themselves. Ever.
Without the people, a country is nothing. You can put 100 people into government but without the constituency, what are they to do? Govern their wallets maybe.
I worry for my friends that have lost jobs and are still looking. My best friend had to move to Florida to stay with her mom with her daughter. She still has not been able to find a full-time job. At 30, staying with her parents in a cramped little house - who wants to be there?
My family has already experienced three foreclosures, I worry for my mom who has uterine cancer and no medical - and I can't do a damn thing about it. We are now at a juncture where everyone has to do the best they can and take care of their own immediate family - kids, husbands, wives. And it's agony knowing that you cannot help all the other members of your family. I hate getting phone calls from family members in pain and I cannot help them. Every dime that I make goes toward my own child. Survival is the mantra of the day.
I am however one of the lucky ones. I still have a job. I don't have to worry about medical bills ruining my credit, my life, my livelihood. We are not hungry and I live frugally. My bills are paid. I drive an old beat up car, but it's transportation - I don't have to live in it.
There is something fundamentally wrong when your country no longer cares for you, when you are a mere "tax payer" and a "voter"; when your family matters nothing until someone wants your vote and support; when unemployment lines are so long, you lose hope of ever getting to the front; when you have to consider leaving the country to give your children a fighting chance of making it in this demanding place we call - global economy -; when reason has to outweigh love of country for the good of your family.
I realize not everyone is in my position to just up and leave, it wasn't my choice either. Now that I am here, I am seriously considering staying. For love of my son and what I know he can be. Then again, I'm single and taking applications. <just kidding>.
Nov. 4th will be a great day for all of us. There is no way Obama cannot win. It will be the day that I start saving money to come back home.