Different Places, Different Dreams? "We're one but we're not the same..." --U2           We all have dreams.  No matter where you are from or who you are, you dream some kind of dream every day and every night.  You also have some sort of goals and aspirations, whatever you may perceive them to be.  Everyone wants to achieve something, be it to become a gold medalist in speed skating or simply to own a nice garden that provides fresh fruits and vegetables.  Everyone sets these types goals.  Over the last century, the term "American Dream" has been coined to describe something that all Americans supposedly try and attain: wealth, a family, and fame.  With the huge immigration of the 1880s and 1890s, millions of Europeans and Asians flocked to attractive "melting pot" America to live in a world of free will and opportunity.  Everyone thought that they could live the dream in America.
    This stereotype has beem played on for years and has reflected the views of our foreign counterparts across the globe.  I couldn't help but just laugh at some of the Swedish comments; it wasn't their fault that the United States is so commericial and that this was the way that we came across.  We are a very stereotypical country, and unfortunately that truth echoes across the land.

    Most people do want some sort of comfort in their lives.  But I personally do not strive for the luxury automobiles or mansions.  Personal possessions can only get you so far.  In actuality, possessions may make you less happy then you think, giving you a larger appetite for material goods.  A Swedish counterpart also agreed with my ideal, stating "we think that in the beginning you are very happy...but then you want more and more."  They see material possessions as a waste as well.
    So what is it that we all want?  According to one Swedish student, "a house, two kids, a Volvo, and a dog."  Is that what you want?  I do believe that in our modern age it is very difficult to describe the dreams of Americans or the Swedish in general.  What I want is most certainly different than what my neighbor down the street wants.  What if all I want to do is to sail around the world, lounging in the sun and writing poetry all day.  Does that typify the American Dream?  Not quite.  And I do see myself to be a fairly average American kid.  But what I want and dream about are not wealth and fame.  If those entities do come then I'll take them as I get them.  But all that anyone really wants is happiness.  What good is your mansion or Volvo if you're not happy?
    There is not as large of a discrepency between the ideal American dream and the Swedish.  As a counterpart said, "dreams are the same everywhere.  There is no difference between the Americans and the Swedes."  This attitude is one that I enjoy.  By separating ourselves from each other we are doing little good; realizing that we are more alike than different will help us learn even more than we had expected.
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