California Dreams vs. Reality: An International Student's View

The Mythic Image of California

Unless a person has been born and raised in California, his or her image of the state will differ greatly from its realities once one finally sets foot in this world-famous, far-western place. From abroad especially, the traditional vision of the California "good life" springs mainly from Hollywood films and television images, the state's reputation for year-round sunshine (largely inaccurate), its supposedly "laid-back" mood (also misleading), and the myth that in sunny California everything is acceptable and everyone is accepted.

Part of this vision is accurate. California's weather is warmer and more temperate than most places on earth, and the state is an international trendsetter and cutting-edge destination—qualities that attracted me as an international student. As Maasik and Solomon write in their textbook:

"California is not only the most populous state in the union; it is also the most culturally evocative. Everything that happens in America, they say, happens in California first. A special case of the American dream, California—thanks to the efforts of the television and film industries—is often the place where dreams begin. And, in a nation of immigrants, California stands as America's premier immigrant state, attracting residents from all over the country and around the world."

Speaking from an international student's perspective, what is considered "cool" in fashion and entertainment is often said to originate in California (or sometimes Florida or New York), seldom anywhere in between. However, based on my own experience and on the essays and images in the textbook, I would still have to say that California's myths and images differ significantly from reality.

History, Immigration, and the Melting Pot

To encounter images and descriptions of California's history—its mistreatment of Native Americans, immigration from Mexico and China, the Gold Rush, and more—is to learn something very different about California than television, movies, or flattering tourist brochures would ever show. The vision of a "melting pot" develops historically from those pleasant, enticing images. However, California's happy melting pot is not as harmonious as one might think. Much of the "melting away" of Native Americans, for example, was accomplished long ago so that other groups could integrate more smoothly into California society—meaning some groups were absorbed over others rather than blending together equally.

Much of California's hard labor has historically been performed by Mexican immigrants (in rural, service, and agricultural work) and Chinese immigrants (building railroads, running food markets, providing cleaning services, sewing garments, and more). These immigrant communities were often treated unfairly, especially in the early days. As the textbook illustrates, the image of the melting pot developed historically through the experiences of Mexican, Chinese, and other immigrant groups—but not all of these groups were welcomed or treated equally.

Rawls states in his essay "California, a Place, a People, a Dream": "The promise of the California Dream raises the expectation of the millions who come to California, hoping that their lives here will be better than what they left behind." But as Yeh Ling-Ling argues in "The Welcome Mat is Bare," excessive immigration—past and present—is draining the state's resources. Ling-Ling states, "Almost every week, we hear about thousands of our workers losing their jobs." California remains a land of opportunity, but one of increasingly limited opportunity, as the sheer volume of immigration has strained its infrastructure and quality of life for everyone—newcomers and long-term residents alike.

My own past image of California included glamour, wide-open spaces, sunshine, friendly smiles, and everyone perpetually sunbathing and relaxing. My current image is nearly the opposite: gridlock (as described by David Carle in "Sprawling Gridlock"), high prices, a scarcity of parking, crowds, and a constant sense of rushing and pushing. I rarely see the relaxed, laid-back lifestyle I imagined—perhaps at the beach, in parks, at sporting events, or at parties, but certainly not as a feature of everyday life.

Personal Experience vs. the California Stereotype

The California stereotype also holds that everyone here is friendly and unhurried, but this is simply not true—and not only from the vantage point of an international student. Every day I observe people being rude to one another across all ethnic groups: white, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and others. It does not happen all the time, but it happens often enough to dispel the myth.

At first I wondered whether life might simply be harder for an international student than for Americans, but American friends agree: California life means highway driving, crowding, high costs, and long lines for everything. I came partly because of the state's large international population and because California higher education remains among the best in America for international students. We have nothing comparable in my home country, and I and other international students genuinely appreciate the opportunities available here.

Initially, I planned to experience California and perhaps remain after graduating. Now I am reconsidering that plan. California, while appealing in many ways—beautiful beaches, good food, good entertainment, good friends—does not match the "paradise" I expected. In its pace of life, it often reminds me of other crowded, intense cities I have visited: Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and major cities in Europe, in terms of intensity, expense, housing pressures, and scarcity of space. What brought me here was my quest for the best education, and I feel I am receiving it. In that most important respect, I am personally grateful to California's higher education system, its government, and its citizens for making my education possible. Education was my primary goal, and it has not disappointed me.