>Well said, and honest. It's nice to know that it's not the entire country and all it contains that you dislike, but rather only those things that you dislike. I'm obviously biased as I've only know one country, but I understand what you mean. If not for the things you've mentioned here, like job, costs, freedom, etc., would you prefer to go "home?" Culture-wise, is it preferable?

Culturewise (and other-wise), my plan is to work for maybe a dozen more years, then spend half a year here bothering everybody with stories of how great it is in Serbia, and then travel there and bother everybody with stories how great the life is in the US of A :).

I'm probably a stereo type (space intended), working two channels at a time. On one channel, I can fit here easily, on the other, I fit there just as easily.

The main difference is the space and the people. Space: everything's so much closer. Walking makes sense. Bicycle as transportation makes perfect sense. There aren't any malls (yet), you got mom'n'pop shops on every corner and they're freely mixed with residential neighborhoods. And that doesn't increase the traffic much, because most of the customers are on foot or on bike. The people: much easier to get in contact with, less courtesy smiles, more real smiles (or curses), not afraid of litigation on every step, ready to stop and have a chat almost anytime. Still smoking freely almost anywhere, you get turkish coffee anywhere you visit. And the place is so much more colorful - sorry to say this, but USA is gray, drab and creamy compared to bright red, ink blue and vibrant green of Serbia.

Off to beach now ...