American Dream?

At the lab on Thursday while having my 3-hour glucose test, I started a conversation with the medical attendant who took my lab work...

I said: Are you Filipino? (I wasn't sure if she was Filipino. She kinda looked like Vietnamese too.)
She said: Yes. Are you Filipino also?
I said: Yes. Where in the Philippines are you from?
She said: Pangasinan. Ikaw?
I said: Bohol. Bisaya ako!
She said: Uuyy, Chocolate Hills?
I said: That's right! That's where I'm from.
She said: Matagal ka na ba dito? Magaling na ang English mo ah!
I said: Hindi naman. Eight years pa lang ako dito. Ikaw?
She said: Four years pa lang!
I said: Ah ok! Wala ka bang plano umuwi para mag-bakasyon?
She said: Ay wala. Hindi pa ako nakauwi mula nang dumating ako dito. Kung uuwi man ako, matagal pa siguro!
I said: Bakit naman?
She said: Mag-iipon pa! Wala pang pera! Naku, mahirap masyado ang buhay dito! Dios ko! Napaka-hirap talaga!
I said: Bakit mo nasabi?
She said: Basta! Ang hirap ng trabaho, nakakapagod! Sa bahay naman, ikaw lahat ang gagawa, walang katulong, walang yaya! Ang mahal ng mga bilihin, mahal ang renta! Kung bibili ka ng sasakyan o kaya bahay, utang lahat! Ang sweldo natin dito kasya-kasya lang. Kung magpapadala ka pa sa Pilipinas, kukulangin na talaga! Hay naku! Grabeh!
And she continued whining...
I said: Well, pareho lang naman siguro kahit saan.
What I really wanted to say: Well, why did you come here in the first place?!?!

I find it quite sad that some people think coming to America means living the ultimate, comfortable, effortless life!  I think wherever we are--in the Philippines or abroad, we have to work hard to make a living.  We have to make sacrifices to survive!  Moving to a different country entails dealing with a lot of changes, and I'm not only talking about moving out of the Philippines.  Moving in from elsewhere should be the same thing.  One has to adjust to the people, the culture, the climate and most of all a totally different way of life!

Moving to a different country is a life-changing event--one that has to be thought of several times before a decision is made.  If we are comfortable where we are, if we don't want any change, then why do it?  Why move?

I wonder if she knew or even thought about all these before she came here.  Unless she was forced to come here, then that might be a different story.  But I highly doubt it...