Perspective Cont: The American Dream

Living as an expat in London, I witness firsthand the infatuation with America. I recently volunteered at a public British school where the kids were more eager to learn about America than what their teacher had to say about the history of England. They mimicked our accents, saying cliché phrases that they believe sound uniquely American such as, "Let's go to the mall, it's like totally awesome!" We were bombarded with questions about the weather and the food in the United States. "Is everything bigger?" "I heard the food was really good," "Is it a lot warmer?" Most of the kids couldn't even locate the US on a map, yet all of them had heard some rumor about the quintessential place. For them, America represented the unknown and adventure.

Just the other day, my taxi driver questioned me about the states. I was on my way home from SAT tutor and he asked me what the SAT's were used for. Having always complained about having to take the standardized test, I never considered how fortunate I was to have the opportunity to go to college in the US. "I never went to university, especially not AMERICAN university" he said, "But my friend's brother's son goes there, and he says it's the best experience of his life. He told me about all the things he's studying. I don't even know where I would begin." For the taxi driver, America represented endless opportunities and his dream was to explore this world of possibilities. His dream is handed to me with ease, and I take it for granted.

When Jasmine is noticing the changes in town she says, "...every little flat had a television set, and everyone had a close relative in Canada or the United States bringing back the latest gadgets" (88). For Jasmine, America seems like an advanced place where technology is apart of even the poorest people's lives. When her and Prakash are talking about leaving for America, they discuss opening their own store and what they would call it. "'Vijh & Wife,' my husband said from deep inside my embrace. 'Maybe even Vijh & Vijh'" (89). For Jasmine and Prakash, the United States appears to lend itself to social and economic mobility, something that is not very prevalent in India. Similarly to the students and the taxi driver's goals, Jasmine and Prakash want to experience their very own American Dream.

After analyzing different perspectives regarding the "American Dream," I wanted to examine my own thoughts on the subject. When I think of the American Dream, I think of an executive in New York City, who worked his way up from nothing. I think of women working side by side with men. I think of democracy. In short, the American Dream for me represents equal opportunity. And isn't that all Jasmine, the taxi driver, and the underprivileged students want? They yearn for the same opportunities as their counterparts in America.