I know someone who used to drive a taxi, lived alone in a small apartment, and yes still paid for rent, utilities, food and still was able to support his family in the D.R. I know someone else with the same job, who lived with a roommate and shared expenses. Same thing!
Someone having a "decent" life, for gringos that might mean 4 flatscreen tv?s, a Mercedes, etc. but remember that for an immigrant, it may have a different meaning. For someone from a poor country, if they have electricity, water, good, a clean place to live in a neighborhood where kids can freely ride their bikes, that?s a decent life!!!
There?s a great variety of jobs that are not considered good in certain countries, but that in the U.S. make more money, or are considered better. For example, Shalena, she?s a nurse.She?s said it herself that she?d like to find a nursing job here that pays as much as the one she has over there. Here, nursing is a job that not many want. It?s something that women get into "to do something", because of their limited options. A job here as a nurse is not lucrative or desired. It?s almost like being a police officer.
By the way, getting back to "title or pay", which is what started this discussion. I?ll give you an example: Most people who work in the courts as secretaries, have university degrees. If everyone cared so much for titles, all of these jobs would be vacant. But they are not because they provide stability, health insurance, school bonds to help out those who have kids, etc.
No doubt many people care about titles, but what most people really want is a stable job to support their family.
