Explore. Dream. Discover. / Photo: satbir
Some people believe the American Dream is the possibility of fame and fortune. In reality, it’s about the freedom to live as you choose.
Go to school, get good grades and one day you will grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer. If you are lucky you will marry someone, have two kids and own a big house in the suburbs.
Ah, the American Dream.
For decades, the rest of the world has fantasized about going to America and living the good life. They thought that the only way to be truly successful was to be in the United States living with the stars in Hollywood and schmoozing with celebrities.
With travel becoming more affordable, the growing popularity of the Internet, and developing countries emerging in the global market, things have changed.
People are realizing that there is more to life than what you own.
Life Passing By
With the world economy collapsing, people are questioning why they have put so much of their hard earned money into properties and investments as life passes them by.
People have started to feel that life is an experience and what you do with it enriches you in a way that possessions cannot.
Those who travel extensively tend to not want the weight of bills and mortgages. Their beliefs are slowing influencing everyone else. At one time everyone’s goal was to save for a dream home, now they are saving for that dream vacation.
People have started to feel that life is an experience and what you do with it enriches you in a way that possessions cannot.
International travel has opened people’s eyes to exciting possibilities. When once a family would only consider driving to Disneyland for a vacation, they will now go to Cairo or Paris to learn about ancient civilizations history.
Education is also changing. When children learn about geography and places in history, chances are someone has been there before. Locations linked to American history like Normandy, France and Hiroshima, Japan don’t seem that far away anymore.
A (Big) Small World
Photo: bitzcelt
The world is shrinking and cultures are blending.
Countries like China and India have developed their own middle class and their own brand of celebrity. They no longer only look to the U.S. for leadership and are comfortable with developing their own version of the American dream.
In contrast, travel has enriched the lives of Americans and opened up their eyes to different ways of living and thinking. They have learned that people are comfortable and happy in other countries and that they too can learn something from other cultures.
As flights become more affordable and staying connected with home becomes simpler, people are traveling to more exotic locations.
Millions of Americans travel abroad each year and the same can be said for tourists traveling to America. The more exposure one has to other cultures, the more one is influenced by that way of life. People are enjoying ethnic cuisine, practicing different religions and adopting values from countries that they have visited.
These travelers come home with a different perspective, adopt a new outlook on life and incorporate their new ideas into their lives at home.
Freedom to Choose
As we enter the 21st century, there seems to be a new way of thinking on earth. The definition of the American Dream is changing.
What was once considered strange and unusual is now normal.
What the American Dream truly is and always has been is the freedom to choose. Just because people are choosing to live their lives differently, doesn’t mean that it isn’t still the American dream.
Americans have the freedom to explore any way of life that they desire and that is what keeps the dream alive.
What do you think about travel and the American Dream? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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26 Comments... join the discussion!
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The quote in the image at the top of this article (Twenty years from now…) is by Mark Twain.
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Great quote and so true.
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I enjoyed most of the sentiments in this piece, but this — “For decades, the rest of the world has fantasized about going to America and living the good life” — hurts my Canadian soul a little bit.
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I am Canadian myself and I wrote the article. I have to admit that I have always wanted the rest of the world to love Canada as much as I do. We really have a great country. But the truth is, the general feeling around the world is that America is where it’s at. I really enjoyed writing this article, because I tried to put myself in the shoes of how an American would see it. Thanks for the comment. Deb
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Sorry to be unclear! I wasn’t objecting in the sense that I wish people love Canada… I was saying, as a non-American (I assumed you were American, Deb) that I don’t think the statement is true. Or at least, it’s a huge overstatement. Large chunks of the world’s population — Canadians, for instance, or the bulk of Europe — are generally pretty happy where they are. Most of the Europeans I met while living in England actually look down on the North American way of life in many ways, and not just in a “Down with George Bush” kind of way.
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“For decades, the rest of the world has fantasized about going to America and living the good life. They thought that the only way to be truly successful was to be in the United States living with the stars in Hollywood and schmoozing with celebrities.”
Sorry, I’m a flag-waving, red-blooded American and this quote even bothers me.
In my experience meeting people from other countries, the overwhelming majority have no desire to live in America or to schmooz with Hollywood celebrities. Sure, some may want to visit some day, but most of them are pretty happy with their own lives in their own countries.
I can appreciate the discussion of the way the American Dream has changed, but please lets leave the sweeping generalizations about ‘the rest of the world’ out of it. =)
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True, many poorer nations around the world see the USA as the golden land of opportunity (or at least they did), which is why the idea is recognized around the world. The “American Dream” is really just an idea, which can be cultivated and followed anywhere.
Great post!
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Agreed, And I love America Too!
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I agree that the “American dream” is an idea and that it is about the freedom to choose. Not everyone wants the big house and to hob-nob with the stars. I’ve always had a strong desire for freedom..I want to do what I want to do NOT what someone else thinks I should do. In fact, I do my best to avoid using words such as should, ought to, have to, etc..Thank goodness travel has become more affordable. You can hop in the car and take a road trip or sail around the world.
One part of “My American Dream” is to have a flat in Edinburgh, Scotland or London and live there for a few months out of the year. I just love the UK!
BTW: I would love to visit Canada. I just watched a PBS special on Ottawa, very picturesque. I’m interested in visiting Toronto and Vancouver as well.
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Wonderful reflections.. thank you for sharing!
The theme of last year’s Burning Man was the ‘American Dream’ – and it was awesome to see how nearly 50,000 free spirited folks came together to create a temporary city with that theme in mind.
It was also the year that we hosted our first ‘Camp Nomadia’ – which was a theme camp for nomadic minded folks from around the world. We couldn’t imagine a more prefect way to celebrate the theme than by connecting with others who have chosen a path of travel.
We’ll be hosting the camp this year again.. the theme of Burning Man is ‘Evolution’.
Pleasure to encounter other travel spirited folks.. you guys rock!
– Cherie
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Nice post!
I am an American currently living and working in China as an English teacher. Needless to say, the title of this article caught my eye. One of my students asked me recently, “What is the American Dream?” I hesitated, because I didn’t know exactly what to tell her. But I think your last few sentences nailed it, and my answer was that the ‘American Dream’ is rather subjective! My ‘American Dream’ is quite different from the McMansion-owning, Hummer-driving stock broker with all his/her toys. Those things, as far as I can tell, represent a kind of *slavery*.
Dylan said “you gotta serve somebody”; a Chinese proverb tells us, “a wise bird chooses its branch–a wise servant, his master.”
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Pete, well put! It is amazing that even children in China have heard of the phrase “The American Dream”
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Excellent article!
I truly believe that no amount of possessions and wealth can make us “really” happy. With the current economy, I think that people are having a wake up call as to what really matters to them, who are their “real” friends and what direction should their lives take now.
I love traveling and I honestly believe that you cannot truly say that you’ve lived until you’ve traveled.
That is MY “American Dream” …. to travel and be with the people I truly care for – nothing else really matters.
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Nice article and sentiment.
Yes, the freedom and choice to travel is more important than status and wealth.
It doesn’t count for much when you return to society though, although you always have the memories and experiences.
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Hi Greenygrey,
Thanks for your reply.
Too bad you think that it didn’t count so much when you returned to society.
Maybe that is the key, Most people have to return to their homes and jobs but do we really have to return to society? We can continue thinking outside of the box and change the way that we live even.
After our first big trip, we sold almost everything. I can’t even remember half of the things that I owned, so really I am not missing them at all. Just a thought.↵ -
my sentiments exactly about “more to life than what you own!” People we have met here in Thailand (even Cambodia and Burma) try to tell us we can get a very large place in Asia with a maid, a driver, etc The truth is we are trying to get rid of our large place so we can posses less “things” allowing us the freedom of experiencing/learning a different way of living away from the rat-race! I so love this article – you took the words right out of my mouth/brain!
Thank you for writing it!
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It is very true. It is hard to live differently than what is perceived as normal. But I do love the simplicity of life, living with less. I don’t know how I survived when we owned our house and 2 cars and commuted to work 1 hour each way every day. We look back and wonder how we paid our bills.
It is not for everyone, but for us, we love living a more simple life with less things. And that is exactly the point of the article, The American (or any dream for that matter) is having the freedom to choose how you want to live.↵ -
I don’t know why, but this article hits a nerve with me. I don’t think you have a clue about the American Dream or our culture. The American Dream has nothing to do with fame. Fortune yes, but fame, not really! (That may be what Hollywood is telling you!)
You make it sound like American’s are a bunch of arrogants who couldn’t possibly be compassionate toward other cultures over our own. You make is sound shocking that American’s would even conceive to travel beyond their own borders, meanwhile American’s travel extensively and constantly.
I think you have a lot to learn about American’s and your so called version of our Dream.
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Hi Michael,
Thanks for being so passionate about the article, but I have a couple of questions for you.
Where does it say that I think Americans are arrogant and are not compassionate towards other cultures? I actually say that millions of Americans travel. I say that people are thinking outside of the box and that America is a country made up of many different cultures. re: “When children learn about geography and places in history, chances are someone has been there before.”
Also, if you read the article you will see that it is how the world perceives the American Dream. America has always been the land of opportunity to people outside of the U.S. I would take that as a compliment.
There is a reason that people have always used the quote “The American Dream” It is not an insult, it is the dream of success. Go to America and live the dream. I don’t understand why you take it as an insult.
Maybe you should read the article more closely to see what it actually says.
I also end the article stating that the American Dream is having the freedom to choose. That is a wonderful thing that many citizens in this world do not have.
And like the American Dream, you have the freedom to share your opinion and I appreciate that.
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Truly awesome post. Deb, you’ve done it again!
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Thanks Keith!
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Very well thought out and well written philosophical statement on travel and it’s meaning! I think you struck a chord with most and a nerve with a few over defining the American Dream. Our neighbors to the north have been much more open to allowing people from other lands to pursue their “dream” these days so how appropriate that you are writing this. Great job!
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Thanks Tom. When I saw the posting on this topic, I was very intrigued to write about it. It is definitely a topic that generates a discussion, and it is interesting to see what everyone’s different idea is of their own American Dream. The American Dream is a difficult thing to define since everyone has their own idea of what makes a comfortable and successful life.
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I lived in the US for 20-plus years and can guarantee, there’s no such thing as the American Dream. Plus, 99% of the world has NO interest in living in the US. I left it as soon as I could (I’m British originally and never liked living in the US). I’ve been in Thailand for almost eight years now and couldn’t be happier. You couldn’t pay me to live in the US again. Worst country in the world on so many levels, IMO.
I’d love to live in Canada though
Always enjoyed my trips there and found most Canadians to be down-to-earth, incredibly friendly and genuine.
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Making blanket statements such as the one you made about the United States being the worst country is just absurd.
The American Dream is what you make of it. Don’t blame the American Dream for your failures.
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