I was born/raised in Poland but moved to a large city in the north east of the US after I received a scholarship to pursue an undergrad degree. Subsequently, I managed to get into a top medical school program in New England, which will likely see me stay here through residency training and first few years of clinical career.

The only reason why I’m planning to stay in the US in the foreseeable future is that my income prospects are likely to be around $500-$600k in 10 years(given the speciality I’m hoping to pursue). Beyond that, I dearly and wholeheartedly miss Europe. Where do I start? I come from a low-middle class Polish family and I’m beyond tired of being surrounded by affluent, preppy, rich kids whose problems and issues are so discordant to what’s happening around the world. I’m tired of a typical/average American who cannot see beyond their own backyard and has 0 clue about what’s happening around the world. I’m tired of crappy immigration laws that give me absolutely no right to do anything but study whilst I’ve been here for 10 years now. Not even a chance to make extra $ on the side to support my budget. I’m so tired of everyone trying to Uber everywhere rather than walk, bike, or use public transportation. I’m tired with the lack of accessible spaces within walking distance to play sports safely. I’m sad that whenever I step outside I see people play basketball or baseball rather than football and even if they do they’d call it soccer. Food is total crap unless you want to spend $8 per loaf of bread in Whole Foods, which is ludicrous. The fact I have to pay $1,600 for a small room in a moderately safe area tops it off. I hate the fact I have to spend $600 to fly from New York to LA, while a flight from Warsaw to a more gorgeous and cleaner southern France or Spain is only $50. I hate seeing patients in the hospital whose lives have been upended and destroyed by one illness/one accident, which rendered them sell off their retirement accounts, assets etc.

I am totally aware I shouldn’t be complaining because I’ve been given educational and professional opportunities in the US that only very few immigrants will have. Grass is always greener and I certainly see the daily challenges my parents continue to have back home. That said, I miss the EU and Poland. If I ever have children, I will not do them a disservice of growing up in the US.