What is the point of living in the US?

[Anonymous]

I am an immigrant, so the question is highly relevant to me. The real estate is so expensive that it entirely negates the point of earning high salaries. Schools are garbage, crime is rampant, nothing is walkable... once upon a time at least you could get a huge house to compensate for that. Not any more. I am now embarrassed to show tiny old houses with low ceilings and vinyl siding that go for million+.

[Anonymous]

Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an immigrant, so the question is highly relevant to me. The real estate is so expensive that it entirely negates the point of earning high salaries. Schools are garbage, crime is rampant, nothing is walkable... once upon a time at least you could get a huge house to compensate for that. Not any more. I am now embarrassed to show tiny old houses with low ceilings and vinyl siding that go for million+.

Funny.

[Anonymous]

I mean, you can get a wide variety of fast food handed to you through your car window...

I think the US is overrated, especially right now.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you were such a fool, OP. Do you blame yourself or your parents, or do you just offload your angst onto the rest of us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

[Anonymous]

Many people don't want to learn a new language, and/or their jobs are not transferrable to another country. For example, lawyers (pretty much the dominant profession in DC) can't just start practicing law in another country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

I'm sure you aren't alone. Have you considered going back? It's probably hard if you have kids, but lately I have seen a lot of social media posts about people leaving the US and how much happier they are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you were such a fool, OP. Do you blame yourself or your parents, or do you just offload your angst onto the rest of us?

I was very ambitious and wanted to be among the best in the world - I was very focused on my academic interests and haven't considered the consequences that immigration would have on the rest of my life. My parents should have had provided a balancing perspective there but they failed to. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have listened to them anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

I'm sure you aren't alone. Have you considered going back? It's probably hard if you have kids, but lately I have seen a lot of social media posts about people leaving the US and how much happier they are now.

Thank you for this. Americans can be very kind, especially to strangers. I will miss it. Yes, I am in the process of moving.

[Anonymous]

Parisian here. My Bethesda property is much cheaper per sq ft than my parents' apartment in Paris.

So... depends where you come from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

Well now you know, so when will you be leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Parisian here. My Bethesda property is much cheaper per sq ft than my parents' apartment in Paris.

So... depends where you come from.

This. OP, are you comparing this to life in Tokyo, Beijing or London, or are you comparing it to life in a poorer country where, with your newly minted US education and experience, you can cash in and get a big house (and servants) for cheap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

At 22 you didn't think about a house and kids in your future? Pretty dumb for a 22 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you immigrated here. Do you often do "pointless" things?

I immigrated when I was 22 years old. It's not like I was thinking about real estate, kids, schools, etc. If I knew what I know now, I would never come here.

At 22 you didn't think about a house and kids in your future? Pretty dumb for a 22 year old.

So you were researching real estate listings and commute times and school ratings at 22? Really?