• THE AMERICAN DREAM
THIS IS THE STORY OF MY EXPERIENCES ON ARRIVING AT JFK AIRPORT AND THE START OF GAINING MY GREEN
CARD AND THE TREATMENT THE LOCAL PEOPLE GAVE ME.
I WAS LIVING IN A TOTAL BLACK AREA AND THE EXPERIENCE CHANGED ME FOREVER.  
I NAMED MY STORY "the american dream"

Since writing this I finally received my Green Card and got to go home to see my family August 07, I have since
returned to New York and made this my home, don't ask me why, I keep asking myself. Maybe it was all the heartache
I endured getting my Green Card and now have to make it work for me.   
"THE AMERICAN DREAM"
MARCH 2006 - August 2007

This is some of the obstacles I encountered on my arrival October 2006 until my Departure August 2007
perceived by a Non American looking at the USA as an outsider.

  • Immigration Officials - Arabic Officer - Sorry my English is bad why are you         coming  here  (my
    arrival here at JFK Airport October 2006)

  • Applying for a green card - Patience is a virtue - do you have a spare 12 months - oh and you aren't
    allowed to work here and NO you cant leave until you are processed. (my interview with immigration
    Long Island March 6th 2007) (I finally got my green card at the end of July but was dated May 07)

  •        politics - Disney at the White House

  •     Discrimination - NYPD shoot first if they are black - do you have a spare 50 bullets        

  •     Manhattan Rudeness - Doorman shuts door in my face or was it really targeted at the  black man
    standing behind me, - Oh I didn't see you there was his comments to me

  •     War Wounded - Rehab what rehab - you are number xxx on the waiting list to see somebody and
    receive help - go private

  •     Global Warming - NO not in the USA we are a super power - maybe in the poorer countries - Al Gore
    should be listened to not told he has a wild imagination, as I heard on TV tonight - HELLO wake up
    America the Ice is Melting right above you.

  •      Emissions Gas - Pollution - What’s that, MY car isn't to blame

  •       Hurricanes & Tornado's - Katrina - What funds - we spent it all on administrative costs

  •      Air flights - Cant take off, the weather is too bad just sit here on the plane and wait 8 hours - sorry no
    air con working

  •      Airports - what luggage - oh baggage handlers running a little behind schedule - wait an hour then see
    if it has turned up

  •       Celebrities - Rehab the answer to all - I am cured - until next time

  •       Priests and Ministers - Gay who's gay - oh you mean THAT little indiscretion.

  •        Tipping - what do you mean you DON'T tip - Lady you are in AMERICA

  •       Democracy - I am the Leader - you WILL do as I say

  •       Taxi drivers - How do I get to that place - do you have a map

  •        Cops - Lethal Weapon or is it Turner and Hooch

  •        Mexican Border Patrol - Amnesty for the drug runner - Jail the Border Control Officer (These guys
    are still in jail and the Drug Runners still doing their thing)

  •       Traffic Wardens - Oh great - they are iced in lets give them a parking violation because they cant
    move their car

  •        Food Poisoning - Who said TACO Bell's food was off, What Rats in the Pizza place in The Village
    Manhattan.

  •        Bed Bugs - Oh is that what all those red itchy spots on me are

  •       Cockroaches - Is that what was dancing on the bench last night.

  •        Rats - I thought they were small dogs in the 2 foot high pile of garbage on the sidewalk

  •        Sex Trade - Come with me little girl - but I am only 14 - yes it really happens over here.

  •        The Amazing Scenery - NOW THIS IS TOTAL BEAUTY - THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING AMERICAN
    PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF - until somebody comes along and destroys it all for a money making
    project


SO THIS IS THE AMERICAN DREAM" -

I wonder how a nightmare is perceived over here.
Oh that's right "The War on Terror", let’s just send 4000+  innocent young people many under the age of 25 to
die needlessly and thousands more to come home injured, then not given the treatment they deserve. Loyalty on
a one way track. Regarded as a HERO until they actually need help, then just a number in a line of waiting
invalids. These poor men and women give so much for so little in return.
Oh what a cynical person, I have become. Just imagine what another 5 months will do to me.
These are all actual things I have read about or seen on TV or experienced in the 5 months that I have been here
in New York and some other places in the States. I have also experienced racism and seen it from both sides
But hey it would help the time go a little faster until I can actually go home and live in some type of normality,
freedom, democracy, fresh air and sunshine.

This is how as an outsider I first saw America and its people.  They  have a beautiful country - make it work for
you - appreciate what you have - treat your fellow Americans with some type of common respect. This is
supposed to be "The Land of Opportunity" - Whatever happened to equal rights, I very much doubt that day will
ever happen from what I have observed over here.
I once encountered a Black Journalist in New York when I first arrived here telling a fellow New Yorker that I
was from New Zealand. Where is that said his friend, and I quote his words "Oh the Last Bus Stop on Earth, you
know that place where all those backward people are"

There are some people in the US who have never been outside their local town let alone a neighbouring state or
outside of America.  These people are the most backward stupid people living in a country that is supposed to
be a super power.  New Zealand is way further advanced that many places in the USA and tat includes peoples
rights, politics, racism, and most of all GLOBAL WARMING

KIWI people (New Zealander's) see our Beautiful Country as ONE PEOPLE - ONE LAND - a Population of only 4
million people but we show humanity towards our fellow countrymen.
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