A prominent value and element of U.S. culture I recognize are the beliefs surrounding “The American Dream”. This cliched yet longstanding American ideology deems that a happy and successful life can be earned strictly through hard work and monetary gain. This grind mentality has been unconsciously adopted by countless Americans with the main motivation of life being to make money. It’s difficult not to possess this frame of mind when living in the United States as capitalism has inherently created a system celebrating economic prosperity and mass consumption, which both fuel each other.
From my perspective, this mindset doesn’t provide true fulfillment. Genuine happiness can’t be gained solely through avarice and materialism and I feel as though so many Americans’ are forced to conform to this way of living because of the economic system in place. The negative impacts of capitalism on our society’s mental health is widespread, with high rates of depression and anxiety present among so many citizens. I believe if the U.S. lessened the adherence to monetary attainment, our society would be more focused on cultivating joy, love, and peace among all citizens.
I believe most people outside of the United States would view this cultural aspect as relatively normal. Across the world, money is extremely valued as it’s the main form of commodity exchange. However, I think the United States goes a bit overboard with the amount of financial pressures and stress felt among its citizens in comparison with European countries. Upon researching Italy’s culture, there’s a more “go with the flow” attitude towards work. Furthermore, community relationships are valued more than individual autonomy; quality of life holds more importance than one’s wealth.
This exercise has helped me prepare for my four month abroad experience in Europe as it’s allowed me to think in contrasting perspectives and have a deeper understanding of what to expect upon arrival. Viewing the United States’ relationship with work and money in comparison to other countries exemplifies how strongly differences lie in values, behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs from place to place. Europe harnesses a much more relaxed and slow-paced way of life that isn’t as present within the United States. Being aware of this aspect can promote a smoother transition into a new environment and adjust with less anxiety. When in Italy and exploring other European countries, I am pushing myself to remain open minded and adapt to the culture around me as best I can. Constantly pushing myself out of my comfort zone through new experiences, people, food, and activities will be the key to my personal and academic success while in Rome. Ciao!