That's here in the US as well Cronos...and rampid unfortunately. I saw a gal today who couldn't wait to "SPEND" her income tax check....a waitress at a local family food rest. She bought five pieces of Jewelry to the tune of $500! The entitlement attitude was in full swing. But I couldn't help thinking that is pretty much the mindset of many adults here as well as the youth. It must be fascinating living in Europe...does your work require you move from time to time? I was a field sales rep for several years and loved having control of my time. The hardest part of work now is punching a timeclock...so not use to that!
This culture of "gimme gimme, gimme" can only lead to bad things. Why not put that $500 down towards the mortgage? Kids education? College bills? Even a fixed deposit?
Maybe people are not taught that waiting for something is better? Take hardships now but you will really value something later. There was a test I read where a bunch of 5 year olds were given a question: you can eat 1 chocolate now, or if you wait for 3 hours you will get 3 chocolates.
Most couldn't wait. The ones who waited were followed by the sociolists for the next 20 years and it was found out that these kids were better at handling their money. No rocket science that. And yet, this attitude can be trained.
There is a family here in Warsaw that I admire a lot -- the father was studying to be a priest but left it before being ordained and came back to Warsaw from Italy. He was not trained for anything besides knowing Italian and wonders -- he got a job in a steel factory here translating as the factory had just got taken over by Italians.
Then he studied and learnt and now he's a line manager.
The wife gave up her studies to become a house wife as both are very traditional Catholics -- they belong to a community of Catholics that are called Nowa Catechumenates. Very, very strict and religious and sticking to the doctrine.
And they have 4 kids with a fifth on the way. The kids are a wonder -- when we brought chocolates for them, they did not grab it and start eating. They shyly accepted it and gave it to their mother who kept them away for after dinner. After dinner, she gave them just a few blocks and kept the rest aside for another time.
They have, of their own accord refused colas when they come to our house.
And, recently the eldest boy (14) came back angry from school. The teacher had asked what would be the happiest thing for each kid and he said "to be in heaven" -- but the teacher couldn't understand this -- she thought it should be getting a new dress or going on a trip or something.
And yet they are normal, healthy, rambunctious kids who like to run and play and shout (they have no TV in the house which I think is a very key point along with the mom staying at home, parents taking active interest in the children and giving them a sound religious grounding)
Then moved to another company and was shuffled between New York, Houston, Philly and then to Bahrain, india, hong kong. That was tiring -- I remember having a month in which I flew 24 hours from Bombay to New York for a 3 day meeting, then back, and two days later to hong kong, then to bangalore and bahrain. My body clock is just recovering!
Met the princess (my wife) in the UK and two years ago we got married in Warsaw. She tried living in the hotter climates (Bombay/Bahrain) but couldn't take it, so I quite my job and we moved to Warsaw. Now we're based permanently here, residence permit and all. Yes, a few trips to Prague, Riga, Sofia, Germany, Austria etc. but these are shorter, not months at a time. As we start a family I don't intend spending more time on the travelling -- we've saved and invested a lot and kids are more important than material things.