Mike Schwab wrote:
> Congrats on (nearly) finishing your preparations for college.  It's a 
> great time if you do it at all correctly.  While I don't have any 
> experience at universities in other nations, I want to caution you 
> against moving to the US.  Our political screw-ups have a really sad 
> effect on our day-to-day lives.  I'm not just talking about 
> counterproductive drug policies and arrogant torture policy; the 
> hypocrisy goes much deeper than you might realize.  Our cities and towns 
> have been built in a way that favors cars so strongly that bikes are an 
> uncommon sight in many communities, and drivers lose touch with their 
> peers because they are always behind a thick layer of steel and glass.  
> This in turn makes it quite dangerous to ride bikes in such communities, 
> because drivers aren't aware that you might be on the road as well.  So 
> parents forbid their children from biking; social isolation mounts among 
> those who are too young to drive or too frugal to own a car; the economy 
> fails to provide any entertainment for those under 21 because they 
> aren't mobile enough to be profitable; and the only diversions kids show 
> interest in are alcohol and pot.  But these substances are forbidden and 
> users persecuted, which doesn't reduce consumption but forces it into 
> unsupervised situations, where it becomes all the more dangerous 
> (especially because of the copious driving involved in this constant 
> cover-up).
> 
> College life is a wonderful escape compared to growing up in the 
> suburbs, especially if you're at a school like mine that recognizes that 
> alcohol is a health issue and not a disciplinary issue (sadly I don't 
> know of any other US schools that have such an enlightened policy).  
> Still, the culture of substance abuse persists; and our national 
> obsession with big-box sporting events also has a crappy effect because 
> it drastically increases social segregation on campus (and essentially 
> steals the lives, and destroys the cartilage, of those who are talented 
> enough to be recruited).  Great teachers are far between, as are 
> students who unabashedly show an insatiable interest in anything.  
> Schools in other nations may not have the same social unity, but at 
> least people know why they are there (to learn) and they value that 
> opportunity pretty highly.
> 
> Now, I know that people abuse substances the world over, but I am 
> certain that the patterns of use in most places are not so pointless and 
> boring as they tend to be here.  Go somewhere (like Canada) that has a 
> drinking age of 19 or lower; you'll find yourself in a much nicer 
> environment.  Personally, I am hoping to get myself to your part of the 
> world by any means possible... I understand your regard for US schools, 
> but I again caution you against leaving the warm embrace of social 
> democracy.
> 
> California is a bit of a different story.  Failing Europe or Canada 
> that's probably where I'll end up, so if you make it there let me know!
> 
> -Mike

Thank you for your reply. I know that studying in the US will be very 
different from Denmark, where there's a very high degree of 
independence, even in high school. I hate driving, and love riding a 
bike in the fresh air (I even live in the self-proclaimed "bike city" of 
Denmark, Odense). I also realise that the drinking laws aren't as 
liberal as here, where the drinking is 16.

But neither of those points make me not want to study in the US. I'm 
drawn by the American ideas and dreams. To tell you the truth, it's 
after spending time on mailing lists such as this.


Cheers,
Daniel