In American Life, 'Unsubstantiated Rumors' Don't Work

Today, I finally got some satisfying answers regarding my mother's social security application, which she submitted at the end of last year. While I didn't get an answer as to why the amount was smaller than expected, I confirmed that my last-minute trip to cancel the application (which I did without an appointment) wasn't a wasted effort.

I managed to reach the social security worker who helped with the application. Initially, I was completely lost when she explained things, so I politely asked for an interpreter, since I wasn't the one who needed the explanation. Thankfully, interpretation services were available. Listening to the three-way call with my mother, I finally understood the word "spouse," a term I already knew conceptually.

(Unlike most people, my listening comprehension is my weakest point in any language.)

With the interpreter, I understood the situation clearly, and even when my mother repeated the same question multiple times, both people on the other end of the line were incredibly patient and kind. My mother was pleased to finally understand the situation and how things would proceed, so I thanked them profusely and hung up. I also wrote a Google review at her request.

This whole experience reinforced something I already suspected, and that's the importance of not blindly trusting what others say in the US. What one person says doesn't represent the entire country, and everyone's circumstances and location are different. Just because something works for one person (A) doesn't mean it'll work for you.

The situation today was a perfect example. My research on the Social Security website didn't paint the whole picture, which became clear during the call. The kind and thorough answers helped my mother understand that the things she'd heard from others weren't necessarily applicable to her situation.

While relying on others is important, if you plan to settle in a foreign country, it's much better to directly approach locals or public officials and actively seek answers than to rely on people who share your language. This experience reinforced that for me.

This is actually one of the main reasons I avoid the Korean community. I'll share more about it sometime, but I've witnessed so much corruption and wrongdoing in Korean-run groups and clubs that it’s become healthier for my mental well-being to stay away.