The Moon in California

There's a Chinese saying goes, ' The moon is rounder in foreign countries.'

There's a Malay saying goes, 'There are golden rains in foreign countries.'

I had doubts towards the sayings before I came here. Now, I think that maybe in some points, the sayings are right.

In california, there are actually MORE illegal immigrants than legal citizens. There are too many Hispanic people came here either legally or illegally, yearning for a better working opportunity. As such, whenever I go, I will hear a lot of people speaking in Spanish, rather than American style of English.

I met some other Hispanic baby-sitters from Mexico last week. They came here through all different means, carrying the only purpose to get paid in US dollars. According to them, Mexico is still a poor country and the workers do not get good salary. And, Hell yes, they get paid SO well here. One of the nannies work three days week, from 8am to 5pm. You know what? She receives 350 US dollars every single week! Another Hispanic nanny who is elder and about the age of my mum works four days a week and she receives 475US dollars a week!! WoW! Can you imagine that? I dont even dare to have a thought of my salary with them.. it's wayyyy too far away. After making friends with them, they are really surprised that I am University graduate of Malaysia ( which is not really a poor country) would travel so far away from home to babysit for Americans. For them, that's a crazy idea. I tried to explain to them that it's a culture exchange program, I will be studying in one local college, plus the sponsored holidays, stuff like that. Though, to them, it's the same..They just couldnt understand as The work I am having everyday is more or less the same, and actually heavier than theirs. In fact, in certain points, I couldn't even convince myself that there's a huge difference between me and them, too...

I don't wish to talk about my own things here. I am fed up with it and I am sure each and everyone of you do. The point is that there's really golden rain in US, which is a unresistable attraction for people from all over the world. They are willing to risk their lives, leave their families behind, just to work here. Besides the babysitting job, they can also get a HUGE amounts of tips to work in restaurants and some other service oriented departments. It's true, It's a MUST to give tips in US. My friend and I forked out 5 US dollars for one meals in the restaurants. That's really a lucrative business! No wonder. Everyday, there are swarms of people trying their very best to work in US.

Basically, I won't do that and I will never do that. If i drwa a comparison, I still prefer Malaysia but US relly has its own unique points. I am not those patrotic freaks but I really love my homeland as it's the place I truly feel myself belong to. US is a wonderful place to enjoy life, and to gain experience. For me, it's a plce for me to grow and learn. I really wish that I can study full time here, as a real student rather than doing the things I am doing right now. However, let's think from other aspects, it's really a good way to learn soemthing different though living with real Americans. Seeing the way they speak, they think, they eat, they laugh, they work. You will realise how weird they are.

No, the moon in California is not rounder, if compare to the one in Malaysia, I think the later is bigger and brighter. Actually, there's only one moon, it merely depends on the way you see it.

No, I don't believe the golden rains thing. It's subjective as some people think that the monetary aspect is the greatest attraction. To me, I prefer happiness, which I can achieve only via self- satisfaction and enjoyable lifestyle. That's the true GOLD, isn't it??