5.IndependenceinAmerica美国人的独立观

Ihadmyfirstjobattheageofthirteen,whenafriendofmymotherswhoownedabookshophiredmeforsixhoursaweektohelpherintheshop.IwasveryproudtoearnmyownpocketmoneyandmyparentsneverinterferedwithhowIspentit,evenwhenIwasspendingitfoolishly.Theybelievedthatbyearningmoney,spendingit,andlearningfrommymistakes,Iwouldbecomemorematureandresponsibleabouthowtohandlework,relationshipswithothers,andmoney.

LikemanyAmericanparents,myparentsalsoletmeandmybrothersdothingsoverwhichtheyworriedagreatdeal.WhenIwassixteen,forexample,afterIfinishedhighschoolandbeforeIentereduniversity,IwantedtospendthesummermonthstravelingaroundEurope.Mymotherwasagainsttheideaofmytravelingaloneatsuchayoungage,butmyfatherfeltthatitwouldbeagreatexperienceforme.Intheend,myfatherwontheargumentontheconditionthatIlimitedmytravelingtoFrance,mymothershome,whereIhadmanyuncles,auntsandcousinsspreadoutthroughthecountrywhocouldprovideshelterandhelpifIneededit.

Threeyearslaterwhenhewaseighteen,myyoungerbrotherdecidedtotakeayearoffafterhisfirstyearinuniversityandtravelthroughtheUnitedStatesandtheCaribbean.Againmymotherwasveryworriedandnoteagertoseemybrotherleaveschool,butmyfatherencouragedmybrotherhadafascinatingyearworkinghiswayontrainsandshipstoearnmoneytodifferentportsandcities,anddiscoveringmanyfascinatingplacesandpeople.

ThesekindsofexperiencesareprobablyrareforchildreninmanycountriesbutintheUStheyarefairlycommon.Mostparentsstartpushingtheirchildrenatayoungagetodosmallthingsbythemselves.Bythetimetheyhavefinishedhighschool,manyAmericankidshavealreadyhadpart-timejobs,traveledaroundtheUSorothercountriesontheirown,haveselectedtheuniversitytheyplanto